The committee wishes to acknowledge and express their gratitude for the support and assistance of a few very helpful and generous individuals. H. Jenny Su, Harvard School of Public Health; Thomas L. Creer, Ohio University; and Mary Kay O'Rourke, University of Arizona, prepared provocative, informative background documents for the committee. These documents were extremely valuable in generating vigorous discussion and productive thought in relevant areas. The committee also thanks Jay Slater of Children's Hospital, District of Columbia, for his assistance in sorting out the issues related to latex allergy. Jim Frazier is acknowledged for his persevering scientific curiosity, which ultimately led to the conduct of this study.

The sponsors of this project are acknowledged for their assistance in providing information and guidance as well as for identifying this as an important area and requesting that the IOM conduct the study. In particular, the following sponsoring agencies and individuals are acknowledged: from the Environmental Protection Agency, Robert Axelrad and Pauline Johnston; from the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Disease, Robert Goldstein, Eugene Zimmerman, and Marshall Plaut; from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Suzanne Hurd; from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Kenneth Olden and C. W. Jameson; and from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Barry Johnson and Stephen Von Allmen.

Lastly, a debt of gratitude is owed to the IOM staff. No effort of this kind can be accomplished without the hard work and dedication of a talented staff. The committee thanks the following IOM staff members: Laura Baird, director of the IOM Library; Leah Mazade, technical editor; Polly Buechel, study assistant; Gary Ellis, former director of the Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (through 12/24/92), and Andrew Pope, study director.