Since 1942, occupational health professionals in the pharmaceutical industry have recognized the potential for occupational disease caused by overexposure to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), potent compounds and hazardous drugs. In their article, Health effects of exposure to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), Heron and Pickering (2003) provided an in-depth review of adverse health effects within the industry.

More recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have had limited involvement regarding this issue. Read more…