Post-WWII the chemical industry rapidly expanded around the world with increased production of commodity chemicals and introduction of numerous new chemicals including chemicals widely used by consumers and in agriculture. There was also a dramatic increase in use of hydrocarbon fueled internal combustion engines and transportation, construction and agriculture. Increase concern developed for occupational and environmental exposures of people and development of adverse health effects. This was followed by legislation and creation of new government regulations. In the USA, in the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health were created. Similar developments occurred later around the world, especially in Europe. Existing organizations like the American Chemical Society begin focusing on health and safety issues. New organizations like the Society of Toxicology and Society for Risk Analysis were created. In 1971, CRC press initiated a new journal, <i>Critical Reviews in Toxicology</i> (CRT), with the late Leon Golberg as Editor-in-Chief. He served as Editor until his death in 1987 when Roger O. McClellan was appointed as Editor-in-Chief. Over the past 50 years, CRT has published over 1000 critical review papers. These reviews in the early years focused on specific chemical agents including the major commodity chemicals and newly discovered chemicals such as those widely used to increase agricultural production. Some papers considered the toxicology of complex mixtures such as air pollution. The journal was a leader in publishing papers that had a risk analysis orientation extending from sources of agents to their dispersal to population and personal exposure to dose delivered to specific organs and tissues and ultimately, altered morbidity and mortality. Over the decades there has been increased attention given to mechanistic linkage at each step in the analysis. Increased attention has been given in recent decades to how the integrated and synthesized information can be used to inform the setting of public policy, as well as development of regulations and workplace practices. During the last decade papers published in CRT have provided guidance for developing replacement compounds to replace more hazardous agents. Papers published in CRT have provided a foundation for the use of chemicals in a manner that limits any adverse impacts and promotes the health of workers and Society-at-large.

Fifty years of critical review papers in chemical toxicology

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.