Ethics in community-based environmental epidemiology and public health practice: some considerations

Community-based environmental epidemiology poses a variety of ethical challenges. These include issues of data disclosure, whistle-blowing, responsiveness to public versus scientific agendas, and the acknowledgement of the limitations of scientific investigation. Little is written for the practitioner, and little training or discussion is available. Yet, this is an issue of great importance to the field of public health. Openness and honesty with the community studied are essential if environmental epidemiology is to maintain public credibility.