鄰苯二甲酸酯類是一種塑膠製品的添加物，能讓塑膠商品更符合消費者的使用需求，在鄰苯二甲酸酯類塑化劑被工業大量使用之際，卻也被科學界歸類為疑似環境荷爾蒙物質，可能影響人類生殖系統與生長發育。然而決策者、專家學者、廠商和民眾對於此類物質所造成的健康效應卻仍無法全面掌握，現有科學證據尚無法完全證實鄰苯二甲酸酯類塑化劑對人體健康之影響，致使政府相關單位目前並未全面禁止或限制使用所有種類之鄰苯二甲酸酯類塑化劑，仍在觀望其他國家的作法。預警原則的推動有助於政府處理被科學家懷疑具危害性且與民眾生活高度相關，但目前科學證據還無法提供正確解答的問題，避免將來發生無可彌補的遺憾。 本研究以預警原則探討如何預防鄰苯二甲酸酯類塑化劑可能產生之健康危害，採用文獻分析法與深度訪談法，以瞭解政府、廠商、非營利組織與科學社群之利害關係人對於鄰苯二甲酸酯類塑化劑之潛在影響的看法，檢討目前政府管制鄰苯二甲酸酯類塑化劑措施的缺失，探究政府採行預警原則以解決具科學不確定性問題時將會面臨何種問題，並且提供實務上推動預警原則的建議。研究發現如下：（一）由於危害證據不足，不同利害關係人對於鄰苯二甲酸酯類塑化劑之潛在影響的認知存有差異，分歧的風險認知導致其對政府管制或危害預防行動採取不同立場。（二）受訪廠商、非營利組織和科學社群皆表達出對政府的不信任，質疑政策執行的確實度和成效，不相信政府制定的政策能夠真正保障民眾健康，政府的公權力若不能採取危害預防行動，等到遺憾發生後再設法彌補，將再度重挫民眾對政府的信心。（三）政府、廠商和消費者皆應落實危害預防的行動，培養公眾關心未來世代權益與保護環境生態之長遠思維，方能真正降低危害的風險，朝向永續發展。 Phthalate esters are one of the numerous additives put in plastic-made products. Phthalate ester plasticizers are widely employed by industries, but scientists suspect that they could be one sort of environmental hormones and may affect human reproduction and growth. Current scientific evidences cannot completely prove the potential harm of phthalate ester plasticizers, thus the government does not forbid or limit the use of all the varieties of phthalate ester plasticizers. More mature measures have not been taken, and the government has observed closely how other countries deal with such issues. The precautionary principle will help the government address these issues that could cause potential harms to human health and are close to people’s daily life. This research examines the precautionary principle and how to prevent possible harms caused by phthalate ester plasticizers. The research method adopted are documentary analysis and in-depth interviews. It explores how the government, the industry, the non-governmental organizations and the scientific community perceive the potential influences of phthalate ester plasticizers. This research also discusses current problems of the government’s regulation of the use of phthalate ester plasticizers and the possible obstacles in employing the precautionary principle to address these issues. It also provides suggestions on implementing the precautionary principle. This research leads to the following results: (1) Different stakeholders have various perceptions on the potential influences of phthalate ester plasticizer. Such differences make them adopt different positions on the government’s regulations and other prevention actions; (2) The industry, the non-governmental organizations and the scientific community expressed their distrust of the government and doubt of the implementation of relevant policies and their outcomes. They do not think that the government will be capable of protecting public health. If the authority fails to prevent damages, it will deepen public distrust in the government; (3) The government, the industry and consumers can all take actions to prevent possible disasters. It becomes crucial to raise public awareness of rights of future generations and environmental protection in order to reduce the risks and uncertainties.
