Health and employment practices: ethical, legal, and social implications of advances in toxicogenomics

Abstract

Advances in toxicogenomics research may allow the identification of individuals who may be hyper-susceptible to occupational exposures and could create a shift from population to individual-based risk assessment in occupational health. Although many states have passed legislation to prevent the misuse of genetic information in employment, there is no general federal protection from the use of genetic information after a conditional offer of employment. Occupational health professionals have a crucial role in shaping future guidelines governing the use of genetic information in employment.