Efforts by the United States to coordinate the prevention of occupational allergic diseases in the workplace

Abstract

The investigator who studies OADs must realize that results may impact social, ethical, and moral issues and create economic dilemmas. This is different from most research endeavors, which create warm appreciation for research findings. Finally, the researcher may be asked to support, defend, or deny a position that argues or extrapolates beyond the scientific findings--a situation that does not usually occur in "pure" research. Many investigators are poorly equipped to deal with these broader issues, and thus confusion and distrust occasionally result. Working on OAD requires enormous understanding from the interested parties. Task force recommendations that fail to consider nonmedical and nonscientific needs for industry and labor are not likely to be welcomed or implemented.