Abstract
Exposure to toxic environmental and occupational agents can have different effects in different persons of differing age, socio-economic status (SES), ethnic background, gender, and genetic composition. Technologies that are currently available allow for the identification of susceptibility haplotypes that predispose individuals and/or subpopulations to certain environmentally related pathologies. The ability to analyze gene-environment interactions in response to social and physical environments and identify susceptibility haplotypes may provide opportunities to develop a new paradigm for risk assessment. However, these genomic technologies must be incorporated into a long-term strategy for preventing disease at a population level. Several existing and emerging research programs are highlighted to make the case for developing novel, multidisciplinary, integrative research programs to improve the public health of the nation, especially children and other vulnerable populations.
