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"Is it safe?": New ethics for reporting personal exposures to environmental chemicals

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  • Brody, J.G.
  • Morello-Frosch, R.
  • Brown, P.
  • Rudel, R.A.
  • Altman, R.G.
  • Frye, M.
  • Osimo, C.A.
  • Pérez, C.
  • Seryak, L.M.

Abstract

The recent flood of research concerning pollutants in personal environmental and biological samples - blood, urine, breastmilk, household dust and air, umbilical cord blood, and other media - raises questions about whether and how to report results to individual study participants. Clinical medicine provides an expert-driven framework, whereas community-based participatory research emphasizes participants' right to know and the potential to inform action even when health effects are uncertain. Activist efforts offer other models. We consider ethical issues involved in the decision to report individual results in exposure studies and what information should be included. Our discussion is informed by our experience with 120 women in a study of 89 pollutants in homes and by interviews with other researchers and institutional review board staff.

Suggested Citation

  • Brody, J.G. & Morello-Frosch, R. & Brown, P. & Rudel, R.A. & Altman, R.G. & Frye, M. & Osimo, C.A. & Pérez, C. & Seryak, L.M., 2007. ""Is it safe?": New ethics for reporting personal exposures to environmental chemicals," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(9), pages 1547-1554.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2006.094813_6
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.094813
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    Cited by:

    1. Erin Lebow-Skelley & Sarah Yelton & Brandi Janssen & Esther Erdei & Melanie A. Pearson, 2020. "Identifying Issues and Priorities in Reporting Back Environmental Health Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Arthur Moses & Jean E. T. McLain & Aminata Kilungo & Robert A. Root & Leif Abrell & Sanlyn Buxner & Flor Sandoval & Theresa Foley & Miriam Jones & Mónica D. Ramírez-Andreotta, 2022. "Minding the gap: socio-demographic factors linked to the perception of environmental pollution, water harvesting infrastructure, and gardening characteristics," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(3), pages 594-610, September.
    3. Robin Lee & Samantha Lampert & Lynn Wilder & Anne L. Sowell, 2011. "Subjects Agree to Participate in Environmental Health Studies without Fully Comprehending the Associated Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Johanna Amalia Robinson & Rok Novak & Tjaša Kanduč & Thomas Maggos & Demetra Pardali & Asimina Stamatelopoulou & Dikaia Saraga & Danielle Vienneau & Benjamin Flückiger & Ondřej Mikeš & Céline Degrende, 2021. "User-Centred Design of a Final Results Report for Participants in Multi-Sensor Personal Air Pollution Exposure Monitoring Campaigns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Diana Rohlman & Jamie Donatuto & Myk Heidt & Michael Barton & Larry Campbell & Kim A. Anderson & Molly L. Kile, 2019. "A Case Study Describing a Community-Engaged Approach for Evaluating Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure in a Native American Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, January.
    6. Julie Von Behren & Michelle Wong & Daniela Morales & Peggy Reynolds & Paul B. English & Gina Solomon, 2022. "Returning Individual Tap Water Testing Results to Research Study Participants after a Wildfire Disaster," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-13, January.
    7. Jose Ramon Saura & Pedro Palos-Sanchez & Miguel Angel Rios Martin, 2018. "Attitudes Expressed in Online Comments about Environmental Factors in the Tourism Sector: An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, March.
    8. Monica D. Ramirez-Andreotta & Julia Green Brody & Nathan Lothrop & Miranda Loh & Paloma I. Beamer & Phil Brown, 2016. "Improving Environmental Health Literacy and Justice through Environmental Exposure Results Communication," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-27, July.
    9. Erin Polka & Ellen Childs & Alexa Friedman & Kathryn S. Tomsho & Birgit Claus Henn & Madeleine K. Scammell & Chad W. Milando, 2021. "MCR: Open-Source Software to Automate Compilation of Health Study Report-Back," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, June.

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