Which organization is primarily responsible for establishing health and safety standards for chemical hazards in the United States?

• A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• B. World Health Organization
• C. National Institutes of Health
• D. Food and Drug Administration

Answer: (A)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention oversees public health and, through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, conducts research on chemical exposures, evaluates risks, and issues recommended exposure limits and safety guidance that inform standards used to protect workers. The World Health Organization operates internationally and does not set U.S.-specific standards. The National Institutes of Health focuses on biomedical research rather than workplace hazard standards. The Food and Drug Administration regulates foods, drugs, and medical devices, not general chemical hazard standards in workplaces. Therefore, this organization is the primary source of establishing health and safety standards for chemical hazards in the United States.