How is the ABC News report "Untested Chemicals in Beauty Products" related to the concept of the precautionary principle, and how might the U.S....

That ABC News report, which aired April 30, 2012, was about the great number of untested chemicals that are in the beauty products women use daily. According to this report, women use on average 120 chemicals every day in their beauty products, creams, and shampoos, and most of these chemicals have not been tested. Men use about 80 chemicals per day, most of which are also untested. Europe has decided to ban about 1,200 chemicals,...

That ABC News report, which aired April 30, 2012, was about the great number of untested chemicals that are in the beauty products women use daily. According to this report, women use on average 120 chemicals every day in their beauty products, creams, and shampoos, and most of these chemicals have not been tested. Men use about 80 chemicals per day, most of which are also untested. Europe has decided to ban about 1,200 chemicals, while the U.S. has only banned 10.

The precautionary principle states that if a substance or action poses a potential risk to people or the environment, the person taking the action or making the substance bears the burden of proving it is not harmful. This concept is related to the ABC news report because it means the makers of the beauty products bear the social responsibility of proving these chemicals are not harmful and that the protections put in place against using chemicals suspected of being harmful can only be taken away if the chemicals are scientifically proven not to be harmful. The U.S. might follow Europe's lead in applying the precautionary principle and banning substances in beauty products that are suspected of being harmful until these substances are proven not to be harmful.