Societal Responsibility of the Practicing Chemist - Advances in

9 Societal Responsibility of the Practicing Chemist

Downloaded by EAST CAROLINA UNIV on January 4, 2018 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1977 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1977-0161.ch009

A L B E R T J. F R I T S C H Center for Science in the Public Interest, 1757 S Street, N.W., Washington, D . C . 20009

Chemists have helped fashion modern society. entific procedures and acquired

Their sci-

knowledge have societal

content, especially in the area of toxic chemical substances. This content extends to choices of research topics, information flow, and public

policy making.

Quite often the

chemist is able to alert the public to possible dangers in the use of certain chemicals.

If whistleblowing

is the only effec-

tive recourse, proper procedures should be followed.

As a

member of a professional group, the chemist is becoming conscious of the need to champion

good hiring

practices,

working conditions, job security, and pension policies. awareness is broadening

to procedures for securing

gathering data, chemical applications,

This grants,

and the method for

revealing published results. Examples of concrete problems are included.

c h e m i s t s h a v e u n l o c k e d the secrets of n a t u r e , h a v e e x p e r i m e n t e d o n ^

material things, a n d have discovered a n d created n e w chemicals a n d

i n t r o d u c e d these to h u m a n use. I n t h e process, c h e m i s t r y has c h a n g e d a n d h e l p e d to m o l d society.

S i n c e c h e m i s t r y is n o t o n l y a d i s c i p l i n e of

t h e past b u t is o n g o i n g a n d v i t a l t o d a y , t h e p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t has a s o c i e t a l i m p a c t . T h e p h y s i c a l a n d s o c i a l e n v i r o n m e n t is affected b y the w o r k of the p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t .

A l o n g w i t h a f r e e d o m to u n l o c k the

c h e m i c a l secrets of n a t u r e goes a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to use t h e a c q u i r e d knowledge properly. E v e n t h o u g h t h e p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t c a n , u p t o a p o i n t , separate his or her personal life a n d professional life, certain societal responsibilities f a l l w i t h i n e a c h sphere.

T h e c h e m i s t as a p r o f e s s i o n a l bears s o c i e t a l

r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s to colleagues, to m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e i n s t i t u t i o n w h e r e h e 82

Niederhauser and Meyer; Legal Rights of Chemists and Engineers Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1977.

9.

FRiTSCH

83

Societal Responsibility

o r she w o r k s , a n d t o t h e t e c h n i c a l staff; to colleagues t h r o u g h h o n e s t y i n d a t a c o l l e c t i o n a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d f a i r c r i t i c i s m of others' w o r k ; t o management

t h r o u g h frankness i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n as t o p o s s i b l e h a r m

f r o m c u r r e n t r e s e a r c h p r a c t i c e s ; a n d t o t e c h n i c a l staff t h r o u g h a s p i r i t of t e a m w o r k a n d p r o p e r c r e d i t f o r t h e i r p a r t i n r e s e a r c h efforts.

These pro-

fessional r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s h a v e b o t h i n t e r p e r s o n a l a n d s o c i e t a l character. E v e n t h e use of c h e m i c a l e q u i p m e n t a n d laboratories has a n i m p a c t o n society.

L a b s cost m o n e y to operate; t h e y n e e d r e p a i r s ; e q u i p m e n t

needs m a i n t e n a n c e a n d spare parts. C h e m i c a l s m u s t b e p r o p e r l y s h i p p e d ,


stored, a n d d i s p o s e d of.

L a b emissions m a y f o u l the a i r , w a t e r , a n d l a n d

t o a n o t i c e a b l e degree. T h e t o t a l r e s e a r c h s y s t e m — p e r s o n n e l , l a b , e q u i p ment, a n d material—has economic a n d societal impacts. T h e allocation of f u n d i n g , q u a l i t y of l a b o r a t o r y safeguards, a n d e m p h a s i s o n one r e s e a r c h t o p i c or a n o t h e r i m p a c t o n b o t h the scientific a n d non-scientific c o m m u n i t y a n d i n c l u d e s o c i e t a l factors. The

practicing chemist

also bears

a societal r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w i t h

r e g a r d s t o t h e f r u i t s of his o r h e r l a b o r . I t is n o t e n o u g h t o d i s c o v e r o r to synthesize a n e w c h e m i c a l c o m p o u n d ; the c h e m i s t m u s t b e

concerned

a b o u t the p r o p e r use or p o t e n t i a l abuse of the c h e m i c a l s p r o d u c e d . P u b l i c s p i r i t e d chemists are w e l l a w a r e of t h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t s : • T h e N a t i o n a l C a n c e r I n s t i t u t e a n d the W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n b e l i e v e t h a t a h i g h percentage of c a n c e r is e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y i n d u c e d . A m o n g t h e g e n e r a l p o p u l a t i o n t h e chances of d y i n g f r o m c a n c e r are one i n five, a n d the chances of d e v e l o p i n g some f o r m of i t are one i n four. • A p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e - t h i r d of w o r k e r s ' h e a l t h p r o b l e m s are c a u s e d b y exposure to t o x i c substances i n t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d at least 200,000 to 500,000 illnesses a n d 100,000 deaths are c a u s e d b y o c c u p a t i o n a l disease. • M o r e t h a n 200,000 infants are b o r n w i t h p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l d a m age e a c h year. A b o u t 2 0 % of a l l b i r t h defects are b e l i e v e d s t r i c t l y t h e result of e n v i r o n m e n t a l factors s u c h as d r u g s , c h e m i c a l s , or r a d i a t i o n , a n d a n o t h e r 6 0 % are b e l i e v e d to be the r e s u l t of a n i n t e r a c t i o n of e n v i r o n m e n t a l a n d h e r e d i t a r y factors. • F l u o r o c a r b o n s a n d aerosol s p r a y p r o d u c t s c o n t i n u e to c o n c e r n scientists because of t h e i r a p p a r e n t a b i l i t y to destroy the o z o n e l a y e r i n the u p p e r atmosphere, thus l e a d i n g to i n c r e a s e d i n c i d e n c e of s k i n cancer. • M e r c u r y , l e a d , a n d c a d m i u m c a n attack the c e n t r a l nervous syst e m ; c a r b o n t e t r a c h l o r i d e a n d c h l o r i n a t e d p h e n o l s c a n destroy the l i v e r ; e t h y l e n e g l y c o l a n d c a d m i u m sulfate p r o d u c e k i d n e y disease; asbestos a n d b e r y l l i u m l e a d to l u n g d i s o r d e r s ; a n d l e a d p o i s o n i n g c a n cause mental retardation. N o c h e m i s t c a n b e unaffected b y these reports. S o m e chemists w i s h t o d i s c o u n t the i m p a c t of the extensive list of c h e m i c a l h a z a r d s , so t h e y concentrate

o n one or t w o m i s n o m e r s or i n a c c u r a c i e s b y h e a l t h a n d

e n v i r o n m e n t a l advocates.

O t h e r chemists m i g h t assert t h a t to some d e -

gree a l l h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d to the p r o d u c t i o n , p r o m o t i o n , a n d c o n s u m p t i o n of these c h e m i c a l s .

E v e r y c h e m i s t , h o w e v e r , bears some r e s p o n s i b i l i t y


84

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RIGHTS O F CHEMISTS A N D

ENGINEERS

to society f o r t h e p o t e n t i a l threat to the e n v i r o n m e n t a n d h u m a n h e a l t h s t e m m i n g f r o m t h e 30,000 e x i s t i n g , u n t e s t e d c o m m e r c i a l c h e m i c a l s a n d t h e h u n d r e d s of n e w ones i n t r o d u c e d e a c h y e a r . W h a t e v e r w a y the c h e m i s t is affected, he or she s h o u l d c o n s i d e r the following questions: ( 1 ) W h a t is the p o s s i b l e use of this c h e m i c a l ? ( 2 ) A r e there s e c o n d a r y uses w h i c h m i g h t p r o v e h a r m f u l to a v e r age citizens?


(3)

H o w m u c h of the p a r t i c u l a r c h e m i c a l is g o i n g to b e

produced?

( 4 ) D o e s t h e process b e i n g u s e d i n m a n u f a c t u r i n g the c h e m i c a l r e q u i r e excessive amounts of energy a n d scarce resources? (5) storage?

W i l l t h e c h e m i c a l e x p l o d e o r b e dangerous i n s h i p m e n t a n d

(6)

W i l l the c h e m i c a l ' s use a l l o w for c o n s u m e r abuse?

(7)

W h a t is the a n i m a l a n d h u m a n t o x i c i t y of the c h e m i c a l ?

( 8 ) W i l l laborers b e h a r m e d i n the m a n u f a c t u r i n g process? ( 9 ) A r e there c o n t r o l l e d c h e m i c a l emissions f r o m the m a n u f a c t u r ing plant? (10) (11)

Is the c h e m i c a l b i o d e g r a d a b l e ? Is the c o m p a n y m a k i n g false or m i s l e a d i n g a d v e r t i s i n g c l a i m s ?

(12)

Is the c h e m i c a l p r o d u c t p r o p e r l y l a b e l l e d w h e n s h i p p e d or

sold? T h e o r d i n a r y p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t m a y find i t i m p o s s i b l e to

answer

m a n y o r a n y of these questions, e s p e c i a l l y i f h e or she w o r k s i n a p u r e l y r e s e a r c h section of a c o m p a n y or a c a d e m i c i n s t i t u t i o n . H e o r she is n o t i n p r o m o t i o n or a d v e r t i s i n g , or c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g or sales, o r e n v i r o n m e n t a l sciences.

I n fact, a n y p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t o r other

professional

p e r s o n m i g h t w i s h to excuse h i m s e l f or herself f r o m a n s w e r i n g these q u e s t i o n s — b u t is s u c h a n excuse justified? A n o i l c o m p a n y scientist once s a i d t h a t he w a s h a p p y his c o m p a n y w a s r e p r i m a n d e d f o r some of t h e i r a d v e r t i s e m e n t s ; h e s a i d t h e chemists i n his l a b w e r e s o m e w h a t p i q u e d t h a t m a n a g e m e n t n e v e r s h o w e d ads to scientists to c h e c k for a c c u r a c y ; t h e y left i t e n t i r e l y i n t h e h a n d s Madison Avenue.

of

H e w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t c o m m e n t i n g o n ads w a s p a r t

of the chemist's w o r k a n d s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . T h e a b o v e series of questions is n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y c h e m i c a l i n n a t u r e b u t is i n t i m a t e l y c o n n e c t e d t o t h e c o m m e r c i a l v a l u e a n d s o c i e t a l i m p a c t of t h e c h e m i c a l . I n fact, these questions are o f t e n m o r e i m p o r t a n t f r o m a s o c i e t a l v i e w p o i n t t h a n t h e color r e t e n t i o n , a b s o r b e n c y , o r d u r a b i l i t y of

a particular chemical product.

M e r e l y k n o w i n g the

effects of a c e r t a i n c h e m i c a l is not e n o u g h .

toxicological

T h e p u b l i c has a

right

to

k n o w a m o u n t s , uses, a n d o t h e r characteristics of t h e m a t e r i a l . T h e p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t q u i t e o f t e n is t h e most k n o w l e d g e a b l e p e r s o n to hoist a w a r n i n g flag a b o u t a p o t e n t i a l l y dangerous

compound.


9.

FRiTSCH

85


T r a d i t i o n a l c h e m i s t r y p r o g r a m s h a v e offered toxicology training. field

l i t t l e i n the w a y

of

W h a t t h e p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t u s u a l l y learns i n this

is s t r i c t l y e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r . S t i l l , d a t a d e r i v e d f r o m

toxicological

testing, r e p o r t i n g , a n d d i s c l o s u r e is of u t m o s t i m p o r t a n c e i n j u d g i n g e c o n o m i c a n d h e a l t h effects.

A r e c h e m i c a l p l a n t w o r k e r s a w a r e of t h e

dangers of the m a t e r i a l s w i t h w h i c h t h e y w o r k ? A r e consumers a w a r e of p o t e n t i a l h a r m a c h e m i c a l p r o d u c t presents?

T h r o u g h years of l a b o r a -

t o r y w o r k chemists l e a r n to h a n d l e c h e m i c a l s w i t h c a u t i o n ; t h e y k n o w t h a t t h e i r o w n lifespans c a n b e s h o r t e n e d b y f a i l u r e to take p r o p e r safe-


g u a r d s ; t h e y h e a r t h a t m a n y f a m o u s chemists l i v e r e m a r k a b l y short l i v e s , a n d t h a t the average c h e m i s t l i v e s 10 years less t h a n t h e average m e d i c a l doctor.

B u t w h i l e n o t w i l l i n g to w o r k i n m e r c u r y - f i l l e d laboratories or

to taste e a c h n e w o r g a n i c c h e m i c a l — a s w a s d o n e i n t h e last c e n t u r y — chemists m a y s t i l l b e u n w i l l i n g t o share t h e i r o w n e m p i r i c a l l y b a s e d c a u t i o n w i t h the g e n e r a l p o p u l a c e . O n e cannot predict w h e r e a n d w h e n societal responsibility ought to b e a p p l i e d . A m e r e use of c o m m o n sense or l e a r n e d scientific k n o w l e d g e is n o t e n o u g h .

T h e c h e m i s t m u s t b e r e a d y to m a k e v a l u e

judgments

w h i c h i n c l u d e the i m p o r t a n c e of society to his or h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l l i f e . S o c i e t y is m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y of p u b l i c a t i o n s o r one's career a d v a n c e m e n t . matter.

A f f i r m i n g this b e l i e f b y a c t i o n is a n o t h e r

O f t e n a g o o d w a y to raise oneself to a h i g h e r l e v e l of p u b l i c

interest consciousness

is to c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h a v e r a g e c i t i z e n s

about

issues of m u t u a l c o n c e r n . T h e average A m e r i c a n is i m m e r s e d i n a c o n s u m e r c u l t u r e w h i c h has e n c o u r a g e d i n t a k e o f i n c r e a s i n g q u a n t i t i e s of c h e m i c a l s . A m e r i c a n s are h o o k e d o n c h e m i c a l s : a l c o h o l , h a r d d r u g s , o v e r - t h e - c o u n t e r

drugs,

p r e s c r i p t i o n d r u g s , aerosol sprays, h o u s e h o l d c h e m i c a l s , pesticides, a n d a host of other p r o d u c t s .

I n s t e a d o f a n a l y z i n g the u n d e r l y i n g factors

that cause o v e r d e p e n d e n c e o n c h e m i c a l s , A m e r i c a n s are a p t to focus o n one c h e m i c a l w h i c h causes h a r m or p o t e n t i a l h a r m — a f o o d a d d i t i v e or a d e t e r g e n t — b u t to neglect t h e w h o l e p i c t u r e . C h e m i s t s c a n offer v a l u a b l e assistance i n e d u c a t i n g the p u b l i c to respect a l l c h e m i c a l s , n o t just those p u b l i c i z e d at one or other t i m e as d a n g e r o u s . W a t e r c a n b o t h g i v e l i f e a n d cause d e a t h b y d r o w n i n g . Salt is ncessary f o r l i f e b u t is u n h e a l t h y i n excess. P e o p l e h a v e to c h a r t the d i f f i c u l t course b e t w e e n w h a t is o v e r l y abstemious a n d w h a t is excessive. T h i s takes t h o u g h t a n d e d u c a t i o n . T h e s m a l l b a n d of p u b l i c interest advocates are too o v e r w o r k e d to p e r f o r m this task alone.

P r a c t i c i n g chemists c a n

h e l p w i t h this e d u c a t i o n b y : ( 1 ) A l e r t i n g consumers to overuse of c e r t a i n i t e m s , e v e n b e f o r e t o x i c i t y has b e e n firmly e s t a b l i s h e d . ( 2 ) D i s c u s s i n g w i t h c i t i z e n s substitutes f o r p o t e n t i a l l y d a n g e r o u s consumer products.


86

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RIGHTS

O F

C H E M I S T S

A N D

ENGINEERS

( 3 ) W o r k i n g w i t h P T A s a n d c i v i c a n d c h u r c h groups problems.

on

drug

( 4 ) W o r k i n g w i t h those w h o h a v e n o s y m p a t h y w i t h d r u g abusers so t h e y c a n b e l e d to see that t h e i r o w n overuse of c h e m i c a l s is a source of t h e p r o b l e m . (5) Supporting local consumer a n d environmental offering t h e m a d v i c e a n d encouragement.

organizations,


( 6 ) A s s i s t i n g as t e c h n i c a l aids i n m a k i n g film strips, e d u c a t i o n a l games, a n d i n f o r m a t i o n a l packets o n h a z a r d o u s wastes, i n d o o r p o l l u t a n t s , a n d n a t u r a l a n d s y n t h e t i c toxins. (7) Joining a toxicology study group. ( 8 ) T a l k i n g w i t h reporters w h o w a n t to c o v e r a n e w s story a b o u t a t o x i c m a t e r i a l . S o often chemists w a n t n o t h i n g to d o w i t h those w h o m i g h t m i s q u o t e t h e m ; h o w e v e r , the r i s k of m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n is m u c h s m a l l e r t h a n the ever-present r i s k of m i s i n f o r m i n g t h e p u b l i c . ( 9 ) T e a c h i n g a course i n p u b l i c interest c h e m i s t r y at the l o c a l h i g h s c h o o l or c o m m u n i t y college. H o w e v e r v a l u a b l e the e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k o n a n i n d i v i d u a l l e v e l is i n r a i s i n g the chemists' s o c i a l consciousness, i t is not n e a r l y as i m p o r t a n t as extending

one's societal r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o the l e v e l of

public

interest

action. T h e chemist could: ( 1 ) P e t i t i o n the F e d e r a l T r a d e C o m m i s s i o n f o r p r o p e r l a b e l l i n g of chemicals. (2)

S u p p o r t t o x i c substance l e g i s l a t i o n o n state a n d n a t i o n a l levels.

( 3 ) P e t i t i o n for c o m p l e t e corporate records to t h e i n d i v i d u a l s c o n c e r n e d . (4)

d i s c l o s u r e of m e d i c a l h e a l t h

Serve o n a d v i s o r y b o a r d s for one's state or f e d e r a l representative.

S o c i e t a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y c a n b e fostered t h r o u g h c o n s u m e r a n d p o l i t i c a l a n d p u b l i c interest a c t i o n .

education

E x p e r i e n c e i n exercise o f this

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y prepares one t o v i e w t h e benefits a n d t h e risks of c e r t a i n c h e m i c a l practices i n a p r u d e n t m a n n e r .

I say p r u d e n t i n s t e a d of u n -

b i a s e d b e c a u s e a l l h u m a n b e i n g s , e v e n scientists, h a v e biases w h i c h m u s t be

recognized

as p a r t of one's s u b j e c t i v i t y .

N o one

makes

j u d g m e n t s , n o r is there s u c h a t h i n g as a p u r e l y o b j e c t i v e

valueless risk-benefit

analysis. T h e b a l a n c i n g of risks a n d benefits a n d the p l a c i n g o n t h e

proper

p a r t y t h e b u r d e n of p r o o f a b o u t t o x i c substances c a n create a n u m b e r of c o m p l e x l e g a l , e c o n o m i c , a n d s o c i a l p r o b l e m s . Albert F . Plant said

I n a journal editorial

(I):

I t h i n k the heaviest b u r d e n of p r o o f s h o u l d l i e w i t h those w h o w i l l profit f r o m a n e w d e v e l o p m e n t , n o t w i t h those w h o w i l l b e e x p o s e d t o i t , b u t the d e c i s i o n s h o u l d s t i l l t r y to b a l a n c e the benefits versus t h e risks. C r e a t i n g a b a l a n c e d s o c i a l j u d g m e n t means w e i g h i n g risks a n d b e n e fits. W h a t one p e r s o n v i e w s as a benefit, h o w e v e r , m a y b e a t r u e benefit f o r o n l y a s m a l l p o r t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e . E n e r g y " n e e d s " are o f t e n e x t e n -


9.

FRiTSCH

87


sions of a waste e t h i c w h i c h has profit as t h e m o t i v a t i n g force.

Chemical

" n e e d s " are often c o n v e n i e n c e items w h i c h are p o t e n t i a l l y h a r m f u l w h e n a p p l i e d . A r e m o t e benefit m u s t b e w e i g h e d against e q u a l l y r e m o t e risks. T h e t r o u b l e is that the p r a c t i c i n g c h e m i s t is often i m m e r s e d i n the j u d g ments w h i c h h a v e a l r e a d y gone i n t o d e t e r m i n i n g a s o - c a l l e d c o m m e r c i a l benefit.

W h i l e safety c a n n o t be a b s o l u t e l y p r o v e d , n e i t h e r c a n absolute

p r o o f of h a r m b e d e t e r m i n e d p r i o r to use.

Society must make

value

j u d g m e n t s , a n d t h a t is w h a t t e c h n o l o g y assessment is a l l a b o u t .


R e c e n t l y c o n s i d e r a b l e a t t e n t i o n has b e e n p a i d to t h e l i m i t s t o g r o w t h i n b o t h p o p u l a t i o n a n d e c o m o n i c areas. L i t t l e has b e e n s a i d ,

however,

a b o u t l i m i t i n g c h e m i c a l r e s e a r c h or p r o d u c t i o n .

perhaps,

A r e there,

times w h e n c h e m i c a l s s i m p l y s h o u l d not b e p r o d u c e d b e c a u s e society is u n p r e p a r e d to use t h e m p r o p e r l y ?

T h e b e g i n n i n g s of s u c h l i m i t a t i o n o n

r e s e a r c h m a y b e e m e r g i n g a l r e a d y i n the b i o l o g i c a l sciences.

Research i n

r e c o m b i n a n t D N A has l e d to c o n c e r n that researchers m i g h t i n a d v e r t e n t l y a l l o w b a c t e r i a b e a r i n g n e w a n d u n u s u a l genetic c o m b i n a t i o n s i n t o labs w h e r e t h e y m i g h t p r o d u c e a d v e r s e effects o n p l a n t , a n i m a l , a n d h u m a n p o p u l a t i o n s . A series of committees has b e e n c r e a t e d t o p r o d u c e r e s e a r c h g u i d e l i n e s a n d to p r o t e c t against m i s h a p . P e r h a p s a f e w specific r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s

are i n order.

T h e first is

t h a t the A C S e s t a b l i s h a c o m m i t t e e of r e s p o n s i b l e scientists to l o o k i n t o t h e q u e s t i o n of l i m i t s f o r c h e m i c a l use a n d research. O n e s u c h c a n d i d a t e f o r a p r o s c r i b e d list is / ^ n a p h t h y l a m i n e . I t w o u l d b e w i t h i n the m a n d a t e of this c o m m i t t e e to treat q u e s t i o n a b l e c o m p o u n d s a n d p r o d u c t i o n m e t h ods a n d to r e c o m m e n d t o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r less h a r m f u l substitutes. F o r t h e h e a l t h a n d e v e n t u a l e c o n o m i c v i a b i l i t y of the e n t i r e c h e m i c a l p r o fession, a p o l i c i n g of c h e m i c a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g m e t h o d s a n d p r o d u c t s is imperative. A s e c o n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n is t h a t the A C S s p e l l o u t t h a t p a r t of one's p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m is m a n d a t o r y d i s c l o s u r e of i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t o x i c a n d h a r m f u l effects of n e w o r c u r r e n t l y u s e d c h e m i c a l s . I t is n o t e n o u g h f o r a scientist s i m p l y to k n o w c e r t a i n i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h is of concern.

societal

I t is i m p e r a t i v e t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n go b e y o n d c o m p a n y

files

a n d scientific journals a n d enter the d o m a i n of p u b l i c interest. T h e a r t of d e l i v e r i n g this i n f o r m a t i o n m a y at times h a v e t o i n c l u d e w h i s t l e blowing. A s a m e m b e r of a p r o f e s s i o n a l g r o u p , the c h e m i s t is b e c o m i n g

con-

scious of t h e n e e d to c h a m p i o n g o o d h i r i n g p r a c t i c e s , w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s , j o b s e c u r i t y , a n d p e n s i o n p o l i c i e s . O n e finds this awareness

broadening

to i n c l u d e r e m o t e topics s u c h as the p o l i t i c s of s e c u r i n g grants.

When

one r e a l i z e s , h o w e v e r , t h a t i t is t h e p u b l i c ' s m o n e y at stake, efficient use of resources d e m a n d s a c c o u n t a b i l i t y f r o m a l l , i n c l u d i n g t h e researcher.

academic

T h u s , as a t h i r d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , t h e A C S s h o u l d


develop

88

LEGAL

RIGHTS O F C H E M I S T S A N D E N G I N E E R S

guidelines for treating a n d exposing the ethical practices dealing w i t h g r a n t s m a n s h i p a n d h e l p t o guarantee t h a t society's

financial

resources

are u s e d f o r the m o s t i n t e l l e c t u a l l y a n d h u m a n l y b e n e f i c i a l r e s e a r c h proposals. I h o p e t h a t these p r o b l e m s , r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , a n d strategies f o r a c t i o n i n c i t e p u b l i c s p i r i t e d chemists to b e c o m e m o r e c o n c e r n e d

about

their o w n societal responsibilities.


Literature Cited 1. Plant, A. F., Chem. Eng. News (March 15, 1976). 2. Fritsch, Albert J., "The Contrasumers: A Citizens Guide to Resource servation," Praeger, New York, 1974.

Con

Bibliography American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Conference on "Scientists in the Pub lic Interest: The Role of Professional Societies," Alta, Utah, Sept. 7-9, 1973. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Symposium on "Ethics and the Corporate Scientist," Boston, Feb. 19, 1976. American Physical Society, Symposium on "Secrecy," Washington, D.C., Apr. 24, 1973. Baram, M. S., "Technology Assessment and Social Control," Science (1973) 180, 465. Barbour, I. G., "Science and Secularity: The Ethics of Technology," Harper & Row, New York, 1970. Brooks, H., "Technology and Values: New Ethical Issues Raised by Techno logical Progress," Zygon (1973) 8, 17. Brown, M., Ed., "The Social Responsibility of the Scientist," The Free Press, New York, 1971. Callahan, D., "The Tyranny of Survival," Macmillan, New York, 1973. Coates, J. F., "Why Public Participation Is Essential in Technology Assess ment," Pub. Adm. Rev., Jan./Feb. 1975, pp. 67-69. Cohen, M. L. and Stepan, J., "Literature of the Law-Science Confrontation, 1965-1975," Program on Public Conceptions of Science Newsletter, June 1975, # 12, pp. 28-54, Jan. 1976, # 14, pp. 32-84. Cranberg, L., "Science, Ethics and Law," Zygon (1967) 2, 262. Davis, B. D., "Science, Objectivity, and Moral Values," Program on Public Conceptions of Science Newsletter, Apr. 1975, # 11, pp. 39-47. Dror, Y., "Scientific Aid to Value Judgment," Ρroc. of the Second International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences, Tokyo, Nov. 18-21, 1973. Dubos, R., "Reason Awake: Science for Man," Columbia University Press, 1970. "A God Within," Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1972. Edsall, J. T., "Scientific Freedom and Responsibility," Science (1975) 188, 687. Feinberg, J., "Doing and Deserving: Essays in the Theory of Responsibility," Princeton University Press, 1974. Gingerich, O., "The Nature of Scientific Discovery," Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, 1974. Contains addresses from the forum on "Science and Ethics" in Washington, Apr. 1973. Henderson, H., "Philosophical Conflict: Reexamining the Goals of Knowledge," Pub. Adm. Rev., Jan./Feb. 1975, pp. 77-80. Jones, H. W., Ed., "Law and the Social Role of Science," Rockefeller Univer sity Press, New York, 1966. Juergensmeyer, M., "The Ethics of Secrecy," Ethics and Policy. Center for Ethics and Social Policy, Apr. 1976.



9.

FRITSCH

89


Kornhauser, W., "Scientists in Industry," University of California, Berkeley, 1962. Lepkowski, W., "The Limits to Cancer Control," Nature, in press. Lonergan, B. J., "Insight: A Study of Human Understanding," Philosophical Library, New York, 1957. Lowrance, W. W., "Of Acceptable Risk: Science and the Determination of Safety," William Kaufmann, Inc., Los Altos, 1976. Meyers, C. J. and Tarlock, A. D., "Selected Legal and Economic Aspects of Environmental Protection," Foundation Press, Mineola, 1974. "Mount Carmel Declaration," Technion-Israel Instiute of Technology, Dec. 21, 1974. Nader, R. et al., Eds., "Whistle Blowing: The Report of the Conference on Professional Responsibility," Bantam, New York, 1971. National Academy of Sciences, "Experiments and Research with Humans: Values in Conflict," 1975. "Principles for Evaluating Chemicals in the Environment," 1975. "Decision Making for Regulating Chemicals in the Environment, 1975. Perlman, D., "Science and the Mass Media," Daedalus, 1974, Summer, 207. Polyanyi, M., "Meaning," Chicago Press, 1975. "Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy," University of Chicago Press, 1974. Price, D., "Money and Influence: The Links of Science to Public Policy," Daedalus, 1974, Summer. Primack, J. and Von Hippel, F., "Advice and Dissent," "Scientists in the Political Arena," Basic Books, Inc., New York, 1974. Pugwash Symposium on Science and Ethics, "International Code of Ethics for Scientists," Jan. 8-10, 1976. Rabinowich, E., "Back into the Bottle?" Science and Public Affairs, Apr. 1973, pp. 19-23. Ravety, J. R., "Scientific Knowledge and Its Social Problems," Oxford Univer sity Press, London, 1971. Rokeach, M., "Convergence and Divergence between the Value Images of Science and the Values of Science," AAAS Workshop on the Interrelation ships between Science and Technology, Apr. 10-12, 1975. Rosenfeld, Α., "Who in Government Is Watching?" Saturday Review/World, Nov. 30, 1974, 49. Rubenstein, E., "Technology and the Public," IEEE Spectrum 12, Jan. 1975, pp. 58-64. Shils, E., "The Confidentiality and Anonymity of Assessment," Minerva xiii (1975) 2, 135. Sills, D. L., and Gates, R. Α., "Environmental Decision Making," Social Science Research Council Annual Report 1973-1974, New York, pp. 13-20. Swartz, Ε. M., "Hazardous Products Litigation," Lawyers Cooperative Pub lishing/Bancroft-Whitney, Rochester/San Francisco, 1974, p. 416. Thring, M., "A Hypocratic Oath for Applied Scientists," New Sci. (1971) 49, 25. Ziman, J., "Public Knowledge: The Social Dimension of Science," University Press, Cambridge, 1968. RECEIVED August 19, 1976.

Discussion Q.

W h a t do

y o u t h i n k of

the new

N S F Science F o r

Citizens

Program? A.

I a m n o t sure w h a t t h e i m p a c t of the n e w S c i e n c e f o r C i t i z e n s

P r o g r a m w i l l h a v e . I t h i n k this s c i e n c e - c i t i z e n d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h i n t h e


90

LEGAL

government

RIGHTS OF CHEMISTS A N D

ENGINEERS

a n d w i t h i n p r o f e s s i o n a l g r o u p s is g o i n g t o create a

new

c l i m a t e o n the p a r t of b o t h o r d i n a r y c i t i z e n s a n d scientists, e s p e c i a l l y w i t h respect

to e t h i c a l a n d m o r a l scientific p r o b l e m s .

B o t h ordinary

c i t i z e n s a n d scientists w i l l b e g i n t o see h o w scientific r e s e a r c h i m p a c t s o n o u r society. T h e p r o g r a m has p u b l i s h e d a b o u t t w o i n c h e s of

documentation.

W h i l e I h a v e n ' t r e a d i t a l l t h o r o u g h l y , i t does seem t o c o n t a i n g o o d material.

W h a t will happen

now

that the documentation

has

been

g a t h e r e d is anyone's guess. I t h i n k t h e c l i m a t e f o r p u b l i c interest science


is c h a n g i n g r a p i d l y b o t h i n W a s h i n g t o n a n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e States.

United

Scientists a n d citizens are b e g i n n i n g t o ask s o m e v e r y serious

questions.

T h a t is e s p e c i a l l y e x e m p l i f i e d b y r e c e n t i n p u t i n the f o r m o f

testimony o n certain bills before Congress w h i c h have chemical impact. T h e t i m e is ripe f o r a g o o d p r o g r a m . Q.

I w o n d e r i f y o u w o u l d c o m m e n t o n w h a t y o u m i g h t v i e w as p o s -

s i b l e p r o t e c t i o n f o r the i n d i v i d u a l scientist w h o , w h e n w o r k i n g f o r a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , discovers s o m e t h i n g t h a t h e feels is n o t r e a l l y i n t h e best interests of society a n d hasn't y e t b l o w n the w h i s t l e . A.

O n c e the s i t u a t i o n is u n d e r s t o o d , the i n d i v i d u a l scientist s h o u l d

s e a r c h out a f r i e n d , a confidante, a n d t e l l h i m o r h e r t h e p r o b l e m a n d find

o u t w h a t t h e y w o u l d d o a b o u t i t . So often one's m o t i v e s m a y not

be pure. A whistle blower m a y be a person w h o m i g h t w a n t to leave a c o m p a n y w i t h a b a n g , a n d this is the o p p o r t u n i t y . T h e p e r s o n m a y h a v e a g r u d g e against s o m e o n e i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n o r d e r t o d i s c e r n one's m o t i v a t i o n one needs t o t a l k the m a t t e r over w i t h a d i s i n t e r e s t e d p a r t y . T h e next step deals w i t h w h e t h e r the p r o b l e m c a n b e

resolved

w i t h i n the o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h o u t w h i s t l e b l o w i n g o r c o u l d it b e r e s o l v e d w i t h i n one's scientific p r o f e s s i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . I f e i t h e r w i l l w o r k , t h e n t h a t is the p r o p e r p l a c e .

A g a i n d i s c e r n m e n t is necessary.

b l o w e r m i g h t get fired o r get his o r h e r f u n d i n g r e m o v e d .

The whistle T h e r i s k is

great. T h e next step ( g r a n t i n g g o o d m o t i v a t i o n a n d i n a b i l i t y t o act w i t h i n t r a d i t i o n a l structures) is to choose a course of a c t i o n w h i c h has m a x i mum

impact.

message.

P i c k a responsible

p u b l i c m e d i a expert

M a k e sure the n e w s gets t o the p r o p e r p e o p l e .

to c a r r y

the

It is e x t r e m e l y

i m p o r t a n t to choose the p r o p e r p l a c e a n d the p r o p e r t i m e . P e r h a p s t h e c h o i c e m u s t b e a p e r i o d w h e n there is a l o w i n p u t of o t h e r news. G e t i t to w h e r e the p e o p l e w i l l r e a d i t . I f p o s s i b l e d o i t i n association w i t h the p r o f e s s i o n a l society so t h a t t h e r e w i l l b e p r o p e r s u p p o r t i n case of a threat. M a n y of the p o i n t s o n w h i s t l e b l o w i n g h a v e b e e n s p e l l e d out i n c u r r e n t l y a v a i l a b l e books

(2).


Societal Responsibility of the Practicing Chemist - Advances in

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