ABSTRACT
Occupational toxicology is a sub discipline of toxicology concerned with the health effects of chemicals encountered in the workplace. While focusing on the primarily industrial chemicals, the ultimate goal of the occupational toxicologist is to define the hazards of handling all types of industrial chemical raw materials, process intermediates, and finished products in order to determine appropriate handling practices. Occupational toxicology testing programs have been established to provide sufficient information to those responsible for assuring the safe handling of new products and associated intermediates. The Environmental Protection Agency has worker safety standards for those who use pesticides and several worker-related studies that need to be conducted for pesticide registration, while general chemicals may have no such data requirements. The Occupational Safety and Health Act established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the Department of Labor and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the former Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
