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Follow the Science?

July 6, 2022

 

“Follow the Science” is a phrase occasionally heard from our family and friends, and signs found in yards throughout various neighborhoods often state “Science is Real,” followed by “Water is Life.” So what exactly does this mean? Water certainly is an essential to life in our world, yet when we drink too much, water acts as a neurotoxin that can lead to death. So science says water is good but the science of toxicology says it can also be bad. Science really says it is the LEVEL of exposure that makes the difference.

The science of toxicology deals with exposure to levels of chemicals. Remember – LIFE IS CHEMISTRY. We are exposed to tens of thousands of chemicals every day, and most are naturally occurring and some even necessary. In fact, ALL chemicals are toxic at some level – even water, as noted above. So it comes down to the exposure that determines the toxicity, and all chemicals have a level with little or no toxicity.

Mercury in fish, for example, is naturally occurring. All fish in the world have some level of mercury (and of course may have more as a result of environmental pollution). Eating fish is very good for you; therefore, dietary guidelines are set to limit our exposure to mercury to below its safe level. [Dietary guidelines provide advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease]. Lead is another example of a naturally occurring chemical. However, we all know or have heard of the medical problems associated with too much lead from contamination. Here again, the exposure makes the difference. Ever heard of formaldehyde? If you ever dissected a frog in biology class, you most likely have smelled it. Guess what? Your body makes it every day. Yep, another naturally occurring chemical that is toxic at high levels, but which also has a safe level.

So when you hear someone claiming a particular chemical is toxic, ask yourself two questions. First, who is making the statement? A TV host, a news reporter, a lawyer, a physician, or a scientist with expertise in toxicology? Take time to consider the background of the person making the statement. Just as you wouldn’t go to a lawyer for advice about your swollen ankle, why would you make a judgment on a chemical without getting the facts from a toxicologist?

Second, find out “how much is the exposure?” A good rule of thumb here is to take a sugar packet, dump it out on the table, and find the smallest sugar grain you can see. Wet your finger and pick it up. Then put this sugar grain into a liter of water. The sugar grain weighs about 50 micro-grams. When you put this into the liter of water it becomes about 50 parts per billion (or ppb). This is not a lot, but gives you a sense of a chemical level. Many chemicals are safe at this level.

So should we follow the science? Of course! But make sure that the statements made regarding the toxicity of chemicals are from toxicologists, or that reporters sharing such information reference these experts. Otherwise, we are likely to stop eating some of our favorite foods, like lake Erie perch, a healthy part of any diet, because of misinformation. Or we are likely to stop using very helpful products, like lead batteries that start our cars, because of misguided fear? It is impossible to live in a world without chemicals. So be informed. That is following the science.

WEEL OEL

Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) are designed to safeguard the health of healthy workers during their careers. These limits are based on the assumption of repeated daily exposure throughout a working lifetime, typically averaged over an 8-hour workday. Their purpose is to prevent both immediate (acute) and long-term (chronic) health issues arising from workplace exposures. It’s important to note that OELs are not intended for the general public, which includes vulnerable groups like infants, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels (WEELs) are health-based guidelines for chemical hazards in the workplace. These values represent air concentrations believed to protect the majority of workers from negative health effects resulting from occupational chemical exposure.

The WEEL Process
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The development of new or revision of existing WEELs is typically assigned to voluntarily designated subcommittees. A subcommittee usually comprises 3 – 4 members from the WEEL Committee. New WEELs are developed using the OARS-WEEL administrative standard operating procedure (SOP), while existing WEELs are usually revised every 10 years, unless the availability of significant new data which may impact the existing WEEL value compels the committee to make a revision sooner. The OARS-WEEL SOP contains procedures and guidelines governing conflicts of interest, draft document preparation, literature searches, draft document review, balloting process, post-ballot WEEL documentation quality assurance scientific review, and publication.

Once a subcommittee has prepared a draft WEEL document, a review of the draft is scheduled for the next available Committee meeting. The WEEL Committee members are expected to have reviewed all such drafts prior to the meeting. If no major changes are necessary to a draft, the attending Committee membership may, by a simple majority, approve the WEEL for balloting. Alternatively, the Committee may direct the subcommittee to revise the WEEL and present it for further discussion at a future meeting. If a ballot is not approved by a two-thirds majority of non-abstaining Committee members, it is discussed at the next Committee meeting to determine the appropriate course of action. Once the WEEL is approved by a two-thirds majority of non-abstaining Committee members, copies of ballot comments are forwarded to the designated subcommittee and all substantive comments must be addressed in the final draft. If resolution of a substantive comment results in a change to the WEEL value or a change in the basis for the value, the draft must be re-balloted.

Once all comments have been addressed on a successfully balloted draft, document formatting and editorial review are performed by TERA, before the draft WEEL document is made available for public comment (usually for a period of 30 days but may be extended if the need arises). After the public comment period has elapsed, comments are addressed by the subcommittee responsible for that specific draft, after which the WEEL documentation is submitted to Toxicology and Industrial Health (TIH), a peer-reviewed medical journal that covers research in the fields of occupational health and toxicology, for publication. A thorough review of the galley proof by the scientific content quality coordinator at TERA, and proofreaders and editors at TIH is the penultimate step before eventual publication of the WEEL documentation.

The WEEL Committee

The OARS-WEEL Committee is composed of volunteer experts specializing in the scientific determination of occupational exposure levels. This committee actively seeks a balanced representation of professionals from toxicology and industrial hygiene, drawing upon a diverse range of experience from industry, government, academia, and consulting. Importantly, each member contributes to the Committee based on their individual expertise and not as an official representative of their respective employer, organization, or agency.