Aren’t all chemicals regulated to prevent health damage before they are used in workplaces?
Many chemicals are regulated before use, but some are not. For chemicals that are regulated, many of the standards protect workers from short-term health effects such as headaches and eye, nose, or throat irritation that are experienced immediately after exposure. The standards may not protect against long-term health effects like cancer and reproductive damage. These effects can be difficult to link to exposure because they are delayed. Long-term health effects related to chemical exposures are difficult to study; the studies can take a long time to complete, and interpretations of the results often vary.
