Public Employees' Chemical Right To Know Act Page 22
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31at large, such as angiosarcomas caused by vinyl chloride exposure, thus making it easier
to ascertain that the occupational exposure was the primary causative factor. More often,
however, the effects are common, such as lung cancer.
The situation is further
complicated by the fact that most chemicals have not been adequately tested to determine
their health hazard potential, and data do not exist to substantiate these effects.
There have been many attempts to categorize effects and to define them in
various ways. Generally, the terms "acute" and "chronic" are used to delineate between
effects on the basis of severity or duration. "Acute" effects usually occur rapidly as a
result of short-term exposures, and are of short duration. "Chronic" effects generally
occur as a result of long-term exposure, and are of long duration.
The acute effects referred to most frequently are those defined by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard for Precautionary Labeling of Hazardous
Industrial Chemicals (Z129.1-1982) - irritation, corrosivity, sensitization and lethal dose.
Although these are important health effects, they do not adequately cover the
considerable range of acute effects which may occur as a result of occupational exposure,
such as, for example, narcosis.
Similarly, the term chronic effect is often used to cover only carcinogenicity,
teratogenicity, and mutagenicity. These effects are obviously a concern in the workplace,
but again, do not adequately cover the area of chronic effects, excluding, for example,
blood dyscrasias (such as anemia), chronic bronchitis and liver atrophy.
The goal of defining precisely, in measurable terms, every possible health effect
that may occur in the workplace as a result of chemical exposures cannot realistically be
accomplished. This does not negate the need for employees to be informed of such effects
and protected from them. Appendix C, which is also mandatory, outlines the principles
and procedures of hazardous assessment.
For purposes of this section, any chemicals which meet any of the following
definitions, as determined by the criteria set forth in Appendix C are health hazards:
(1)
Carcinogen: A chemical is considered to be a carcinogen if:
(a)
It has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC), and found to be a carcinogen or potential carcinogen; or
(b)
It is listed as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen in the Annual
Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) (latest
edition); or,
(c)
It is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen.
(2)
Corrosive: A chemical that causes visible destruction of, or irreversible
alterations in, living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact. For example, a
chemical is considered to be corrosive if, when tested on the intact skin of albino rabbits
by the method described by the U.S. Department of Transportation in Appendix A to 49
CFR Part 173, it destroys or changes irreversibly the structure of the tissue at the site of
contact following an exposure period of four hours. This term shall not refer to action on
inanimate surfaces.
(3)
Highly toxic: A chemical falling within any of the following categories:
(a)
A chemical that has a median lethal dose of 50 milligrams or less
per kilogram of body weight when administered orally to albino rats weighing between
200 and 300 grams each.
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