Brief Overview of Recent Regulatory History in the USA:
Summary
Generally, attempts to quantify and regulate cancer hazards began in the early 1970s. Prior to that toxicity studies focused on acute toxicity and doses that caused death in 50% of the subjects (LD50s). Occupational and industrial workplace safety was the primary concern before the 1970s. For the most part, cancer bioassays did not appear until the late 1970s.
The California EPA Web site (see History of the California Environmental Protection Agency) has documented the historical context in which popular support for environmental regulation was delayed until the 1970s. Before World War II, the legislative emphasis was primarily on ensuring the quality of the pesticide. After World War II, the advent of miracle chemicals and high-yielding crops was enthusiastically received and heralded as a Green Revolution that would help feed the world. After accumulating adverse effects (and Rachel Carsons Silent Spring) changed many minds about this first Green Revolution, environmental activism opposing chemical intervention in nature (a second, diametrically opposed Green Revolution) led to the establishment of many federal agencies in the early 1970s: EPA, OSHA, NIOSH, and CPSC. In addition, the mission of the NCI was expanded at that time. Slightly later, the NTP and the ATSDR were established.
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 directed the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to prepare lists of the most significant hazardous substances at facilities on the CERCLA National Priorities List. These lists were published in the Federal Register (100 substances) on April 17, 1987; (100 substances) on October 20, 1988; (25 substances) on October 26, 1989; and (25 substances) on October 17, 1990. A revised list of 275 substances was published on October 17, 1991. |