Linkedin Facebook X-twitter Youtube Pinterest Envelope Viber

The Chemicals All Around Us?

April 2, 2022

 

We often hear folks talk about wanting to live a chemical-free life, or at least one associated with only natural chemicals. This talk often centers around the use of pesticides, a type of chemical used for killing pests that otherwise destroy or contaminate our food. For example, some folks rave about food grown organically, erroneous thinking that NO pesticides were used in its production, whereas food grown with conventional pesticides is less healthy. But is there really a difference between organic and conventional pesticides? Is it really possible to live without chemicals?

The short answer to the last question is an emphatic no. Life is chemistry. We are all exposed to tens of thousands of chemicals every day, the vast majority of them naturally occurring. A cup of coffee, for example, has about 1000 chemicals, the primary one being dihydrogen monoxide (H2O or water). A potato likely has just as many chemicals, including the naturally occurring pesticide solanine. This latter pesticide is the reason that eating potato leaves or the green parts of potatoes will make many people sick. Not surprisingly, the part of the potato that is not green, the part that most of us eat, also includes the natural pesticide solanine, but at a level that is lower than a toxic level. So we do not need to worry about eating potatoes even though they contain a lot of chemicals, including its natural pesticide. In general, plants routinely make their own pesticides from naturally occurring chemicals to protect themselves from pests or to eliminate competition. Anyone trying in vain to grow tomatoes underneath or near walnut trees will know this to be true. The chemical juglone, a naturally occurring pesticide, is highly destructive to sensitive plants, like tomatoes.

So is it better to eat only organic produce? Not at all. Much of the information about pesticides one can find from websites is one-sided, describing hypothetical dangers of low levels of synthetic pesticides, and showcasing organic farming as a pesticide-free alternative, which it is not. In fact, organic farming often results in more insect damage, which in turn causes the crop to make more of its naturally occurring pesticide. It is important to remember that each pesticide, whether organic or conventional, is intended to kill pests. The only overall difference in organic and conventional pesticides is that organic pesticides generally come from natural sources.

So should we worry about chemicals to which we are daily exposed? Well, it all depends on how much of the exposure one gets, as previously described. We can all be exposed to some chemicals in large amounts, like water, and still be safe, or mixtures of chemicals that make up most of our foods. But we all know that too much of any one thing is likely not to be good for us. This includes natural and conventional pesticides as well as many household products. Government agencies work very hard to keep us all safe. Following the labels on the various chemical products we use is a good start to a safer life.

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
Click Here

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.