| Environmental Health Research and the Observer’s Dilemma David B. Resnik National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA Abstract
Background: Environmental health researchers frequently study people in occupational, educational, recreational, or domestic settings who are exposed to hazardous agents. Objective/discussion: Deciding whether—and how—to inform research subjects about risks they face in their environment can be a challenging task for investigators. Because legal rules and professional guidelines do not cover this topic, investigators must carefully consider their ethical obligations in light of the facts and circumstances. Conclusion: To navigate through this dilemma, investigators should consider the evidence for the risks, the nature of the risks, the usefulness of risk information to the subjects, and the effects on the study and community of informing subjects about risks. Key words: beneficence, environmental health research, ethics, human subjects, observation, regulations, risk, risk communication. Environ Health Perspect 117:1191–1194 (2009) . doi:10.1289/ehp.0900861 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 26 May 2009]
Address correspondence to D.B. Resnik, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Mail Drop CU 03, Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA. Telephone: (919) 541-5658. Fax: (919) 541-9854. E-mail: resnikd@niehs.nih.gov This research was sponsored by the intramural program of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) , National Institutes of Health (NIH) . It does not represent the views of the NIEHS, NIH, or U.S. government. The author declares he has no competing financial interests. Received 1 April 2009 ; accepted 26 May 2009.
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