[The ethical problem of the health-environment relationship]

The need for a specific ethical evaluation in environmental health has been emphasized in recent years, with special reference to the conduction of research in environmental epidemiology, and to the subsequent implementation of public health action. Deontologic aspects that have been extensively debated include the duties of investigators towards study subjects, conflicts of interest, and rules to respect when dealing with institutions and with society at large. Epistemologic issues concern the explicitation of underlying values that influence choices in the stages of priority setting and study design. Finally, moral value is relevant whenever decision making takes place. In this frame it is recommended to refer to the core values of the public health movement, and to apply them to new, emerging problems.