The convergence of multiple elements has highlighted
the evolving ethical dynamics of toxicology. First, experience and new
discoveries in the biological sciences have emphasized our interconnectedness
with nature and the need for well-articulated visions of human,
animal, and environmental health. One Vision is that we have"condition that ensure that
all living things have the best opportunity to reach and maintain their full genetic potential".
Second, we have experience with the health consequence of exposure to such things as lead, asbestos,
and tobacco, along with the detailed mechanistic research to understand the long-term risks to individuals
and society. This has precipitated many regulatory and legal actions and public policy decisions,
not to mention costly and time-consuming lawsuits. Third, we have an increasingly well-defined framework
for discussing our social and ethical responsibilities. There is growing recognition that ethics play a
crucial role in public health decision-making that involve conflicts between individual, corporate, and social justice goals.
Fourth, is the appreciation that all research involving humans or animals must be conducted in a responsible and ethical manner.
Fifth, is managing biological sciences. Decision-making often includes making judgments with limited or uncertain information,
which often includes an overlay of individual values and ethics. Finally individual involved in toxicological research must be aware of and
accountable to their own individual biases and possible conflicts of interest and adhere to the highest ethical standards of the profession.