Standards, regulation, and public health.

Abstract

The period from 1900 to about 1914 produced more than 100 initiatives by the federal government to regulate the food and drug supply. In the period from about 1914 until the latter part of the 1930s, attention focused on occupational exposures. The passage of the Walsh-Healey Act in 1936 led to the need to develop exposure limits (standards) for contaminants in industrial operations. During the 1960s, the environmental movement emerged, resulting in various laws to protect the public health beginning around 1970. The interplay of factors necessary to prevent environmentally induced diseases is complex, but standards are considered to be objective indicators of successful preventive measures or strategies. The roles or activities of various entities in establishing these standards are critical and include research, education, health professionals, professional organizations, and the government.