175402 Genetic Susceptibility Testing for Beryllium: For and against

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 10:30 AM

Susan L. Rose, PhD , Office for the Protection of Research Subjects, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Elaine Draper, PhD, JD , California State University, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, CA
Geoffrey Lomax, PhD, MPH , CIRM, San Francisco, CA
Lewis Pepper, MD, MPH , Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Richard Sharp, PhD , Department of Bioethics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Ken Silver, SM, DSc , Department of Environmental Health, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
Tim Takaro, MD, MS, MPH , Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
     
Beryllium is the first industrial toxicant for which a scientifically valid test of genetic susceptibility may soon be available. This panel will present arguments for and against the use of such a test. First, the genetic test will be distinguished from the widely used lymphocyte proliferation test, an immunological marker. An overview of exposed worker populations will also be presented. Next, the conditions under which such a test could be applied for preventive purposes, while minimizing harm to workers, will be debated. Discussants will then place the beryllium debate in the wider context of ethical issues and policy choices for genetic testing in the workplace.

Learning Objectives:
1. Distinguish the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation immunologic test from the Glu69 genetic marker. 2. Describe worker populations exposed to beryllium. 3. Contrast the arguments for and against the use of a genetic susceptibility test in workers exposed to beryllium

Keywords: Genetics, Labor

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I publish and conduct research on this topic. Also, I've organized the panel.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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