The European Group on Ethics and New Technologies, which advises the European Commission, has published an opinion paper on ethical aspects of genetic testing in the workplace. The paper goes well beyond the usual ethical issues, presenting a summary of genetic testing in the workplace in the United States and Europe and criteria for appropriate testing. Unlike many other documents on ethics, it pays close attention to the problem of false-positive and false-negative test results. Although no genetic tests are currently appropriate for screening workers or applicants for jobs in which occupational hazards exist, inappropriate testing has occurred and regulations are needed to ensure that only appropriate testing is used in the future. Workers or their representatives should be involved in deciding when and how genetic testing in the workplace is done.

1.
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies to the European Commission: Opinion on the Ethical Aspects of Genetic Testing in the Workplace. Opinion No. 18, 28th July 2003. http://europa.eu.int/comm/european_group_ethics/docs/avis18compl-EN.pdf.
2.
Norman-Bloodsaw v. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, 135 F.3d 1260. 9th Circuit, 1998.
3.
Piitulainen E, Tornling G, Eriksson S: Environmental correlates of impaired lung function in non-smokers with severe alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (PiZZ). Thorax 1998;53:939–943.
4.
Mayer AS, Stoller JK, Bucher BB, James RA, Sandhaus RA, Newman LS: Occupational exposure risks in individuals with PI*Z alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000;162:553–558.
5.
McCanlies E, Landsittel DP, Yucesoy B, Vallyathan V, Luster ML, Sharp DS: Significance of genetic information in risk assessment and individual classification using silicosis as a case model. Ann Occup Hyg 2002;46:375–381.
6.
Holtzman NA: Putting the search for genes in perspective. Int J Health Serv 2001;31:445–461.
7.
NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors: Report of the Subcommittee on Beryllium Research, 2002.
8.
Richeldi L, Sorrentino R, Saltini C: HLA-DPB1 glutamate 69: A genetic marker of beryllium disease. Science 1993;262:242–244.
9.
Wang Z, White PS, Petrovic M, Tatum OL, Newman LS, Maier LA, Marrone BL: Differential susceptibilities to chronic beryllium disease contributed by different Glu69 HLA-DPB1 and -DPA1 alleles. J Immunol 1999;163:1647–1653.
10.
Office of Technology Assessment, The Congress of the United States: The Role of Genetic Testing in the Prevention of Occupational Diseases. NTIS order No. PB83-233734. Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1983.
11.
Office of Technology Assessment, The Congress of the United States: Genetic Monitoring and Screening in the Workplace. OTA-BA-455. NTIS order No. PB91-105940. Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1990.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.