Involvement of which group raises ethical concerns that necessitate IRB review?

The involvement of living individuals in research raises ethical concerns that necessitate Institutional Review Board (IRB) review because these individuals are capable of experiencing harm, psychological impact, or violation of privacy. When research involves human subjects, it is essential to ensure that their rights and welfare are safeguarded.

This involves assessing the risks versus benefits of the research, obtaining informed consent, and considering how the study could affect participants. The IRB plays a critical role in reviewing research proposals to ensure that ethical standards are maintained, protecting individuals from potential exploitation or harm.

In contrast, the other groups mentioned do not typically pose the same level of ethical considerations. For example, pets may be protected by different regulations, inanimate objects do not have rights or concerns, and while environmental features can be subject to ethical scrutiny in some contexts, they do not involve living beings with the capacity for suffering or informed consent. Thus, the focus on living individuals is paramount in ethical research practices.