US Congress

US Congress amended the Federal Clean Air Act in 1990 to address a large number of air pollutants that are known to cause or may reasonably be anticipated to cause adverse effects to human health or adverse environmental effects. 188 specific pollutants and chemical groups were initially identified as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and the list has been modified over time. 

Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), Pesticide Residues in Food Technologies for Detection, US Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Washington, DC (1988). 

The US Congress funded the Pesticide Data Program (PDP) in order to improve the accuracy of pesticide dietary risk assessments carried out by the US EPA. The USDA s Agricultural Marketing Service carries out the program. As recommended in the 1993 NAS/NRC report, the PDP focuses on the foods consumed most heavily by children and food is tested, to the extent possible, as eaten (Agricultural Market Service, 2004 National Research Council, 1987). For example, banana and orange samples are tested without the peel processed foods are tested as they come out of a can, jar or freezer bag. 

In 1970 the US Congress enacted a health and safety law that continues to have a significant impact on the practices of industrial hygiene in the chemical industry the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHAct). To appreciate the significance of the OSHAct, it is helpful to review regulations and practices2 before 1970. 

J. Saxton, Nanotechnology The Future is Coming Sooner Than You Think, Joint Economic Committee, US Congress, Washington, DC, 2007. 

US Congress, Office of Technical Assessment, Technology against Terrorism Structuring Security, OTA-ISC-511, US Government Printing OiEce, January (1992) 82. 

Alcohol and Health, 10th Special Report to the US Congress. Highlights from Current Research. Health and Human Services, June 2000. 

The US FDA tried but failed to win approval to regulate nicotine, and the US Congress has not stepped forward to allow the FDA to regulate this very potent drug. 

Adapted from Neurotoxicity US Congress, office of Technology Assessment (1990). 

In 1958, in response to the increased awareness that chemicals can cause cancer, the US Congress passed the Delaney clause, which prohibited the addition to the food supply of any substance known to cause cancer in animals or humans. Compared with today s standards, the analytical methods to detect a potentially harmful substance were very poor. As the analytical methods improved, it became apparent that the food supply had low levels of substances that were known to cause cancer in either animals or humans. The obvious question was Is a small amount of a substance safe to consume. This question in turn raised many others about how to interpret data or extrapolate data to very low doses. The 1970s saw a flourishing of activity to develop and refine risk assessment methodologies. 

DeLuca JR, ed. Fourth special report to the US Congress on alcohol. Washington, DC U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981. 

TM 3 225(1958) 10)S.Kinsman et al, "Radiological Health Handbook , US Dept of Health, Education and Welfare, Cincinnati, Ohio(1959) 11)ICRP, "Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection , Pergamon Press, NY(1959) 12)Glossary of Ord(1959), 38(Biological Warfare or "Biowar ) 69(Chemical Warfare), and 233(Radiological Warfare) 13)Anon, "Research in CBR , Dept of the Army Pamphlet, No 3 2(1960) 14)US Congress,... 

The date-shift code is not a method of tagging in the truest sense. However, since it is required by law in the USA it will be described briefly. Incidentally, from now on, we shall make frequent reference to the following Federal agencies BATF, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Treasury Department FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Justice Department and OTA, Office of Technology Assessment, US Congress... 

FQPA (1996). Food Quality Protection Act. US Congress. Public Law 104-170. Washington, DC US Government Printing Office, August 3. 

OTA] Office of Technology Assessment. Harmful non-indigenous species in the United States. Washington DC Office of Technology Assessment, US Congress 1993. 

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