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SUMMARY 
Planned Industrial applications of biotechnologies resulting from advances In 
Molecular genetics will Increase potential exposures of skilled and unskilled 
workers to Microorganisms containing recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DMA) 
and to their products. The health hatards of e;^osures to altered 
Microorgar Isms appear Minimal, given current use of highly attenuated 
Microbial species. The hazards of occupational exposures to the biologically 
active products of those organisms appear, however, to be more substantial; 
product exposures In other sectors of the pharmaceutical Industry have caused 
diseases such as gynecomastia, Cushing's syndrome, and toxic hepatitis. 
Sensitization to microbial peptides can produce occupational asthma. 
Strict physical containment of recombined microorganisms and their products 
constitutes the primary defense against occupational exposures. Establishment 
of proper work practices and worker education programs is also of great 
Importance. 'Biological containment", achieved through the use of attenuated 
microbial species, provides a further defense. Medical surveillance of 
workers, although inherently limited in its ability to detect disease, affords 
a means for assessing the effectiveness of physical and biological containment 
and for early detection of unanticipated Illness. Medical surveillance 
programs should be highly specific; they must evaluate the particular hazards 
which confront an occupational group. At a minimum, medical surveillance of 
biotechnology workers should include: (1) pre -employment examination with 
collection of baseline serian; (2) periodic follow-up; (3) evaluation of all 
Illnesses causing 48 hours' absence from 
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