IBM, Elsevier Science, and academic freedom.
Elsevier Science refused to publish a study of IBM workers that IBM sought to keep from public view. Occupational and environmental health (OEH) suffers from the absence of a level playing field on which science can thrive. Industry pays for a substantial portion of OEH research. Studies done by private consulting firms or academic institutions may be published if the results suit the sponsoring companies, or they may be censored. OEH journals often reflect the dominance of industry influence on research in the papers they publish, sometimes withdrawing or modifying papers in line with industry and advertising agendas. Although such practices are widely recognized, no fundamental change is supported by government and industry or by professional organizations.
Bailar
John C
JC
Cicolella
Andre
A
Harrison
Robert
R
LaDou
Joseph
J
Levy
Barry S
BS
Rohm
Timothy
T
Teitelbaum
Daniel T
DT
Wang
Yung-Der
YD
Watterson
Andrew
A
Yoshida
Fumikazu
F
D016265:Conflict of Interest; D004782:Environmental Health; D005610:Freedom; D007221:Industry; D016272:Occupational Health; D011643:Publishing; D012106:Research; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D014495:Universities