Government Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Health in the Environment in the United States and the European Union

Abstract

The manufacturing, processing, and use of chemicals, materials, tools, machinery, and equipment in industrial, construction, mining, and agricultural workplaces often cause environmental, health, and safety hazards and risks. Occupational and environmental factors cause or exacerbate a wide variety of adverse health effects, placing heavy economic and social burdens on workers, employers, community residents, and taxpayers. In addition, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and contaminated food present health risks to consumers.

Because voluntary efforts in the unregulated market have not succeeded in reducing the incidence of many of these health effects, the public has demanded government intervention into the activities of the private sector. This intervention takes many regulatory forms, including standard-setting, government-imposed liability, pollution-reduction markets, and mandatory disclosure of information. This chapter addresses the major regulatory systems (regimes) designed to protect public health and worker health from chemicals discharged from sources that pollute the air, water, ground, and workplace.