Overview

Major technological advances in the last few decades have increased our knowledge of the role that genetics plays in occupational diseases. Our understanding of genetic changes that are acquired during a lifetime as a result of exposures and the interaction between genes and environmental factors have been studied. However, the use of genetic information in occupational safety and health research and practice presents both potential benefits and concerns and raises medical, ethical, legal and social issues. Combined with knowledge of other factors that contribute to occupational morbidity and mortality, genetic information will play an increasing role in preventing occupational disease. Genetic information includes many different types of information. For example, it may include information on acquired genetic effects such as a change in a person's genetic material (e.g., mutations in DNA, RNA, etc.) which occurred as a result of exposure to a harmful agent. It could also indicate inherited characteristics, such as genes that interact with environmental agents to increase or decrease the risk of disease. Genetic tests are not the only source of genetic information in the workplace. Genetic information may be found in workers' personnel and workplace health records or reports of family history of diseases with known strong genetic etiologies, and results from physical examinations and common laboratory tests. This type of medical information is reported routinely by workers and obtained by employers from workers' job applications, health questionnaires, health and life insurance applications, physicals, and workers' compensation proceedings.

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9781496075987

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