Haskell Laboratory

Haskell Laboratory is a pioneering industrial toxicology research facility. It was founded in 1935 by the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company to study the health effects of chemicals on workers. Named for Harry G. Haskell, a former company vice president, it is recognized as one of the first laboratories in the United States dedicated to occupational health within a corporate structure. Its work has significantly influenced modern industrial hygiene practices and regulatory standards.

History

The laboratory was established in direct response to growing concerns over worker safety in the chemical industry during the early 20th century, particularly following incidents like the Hawk's Nest Tunnel disaster. Its creation was championed by figures within DuPont such as Crawford H. Greenewalt and was part of a broader movement that included the founding of institutions like the Kettering Laboratory. Initially located in Wilmington, Delaware, the facility moved to its current site in Newark, Delaware in the 1950s. Throughout its history, it has served as a model for similar corporate research initiatives, influencing the development of organizations like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Research and contributions

Research has historically focused on understanding the toxicological profiles of industrial materials, including solvents, monomers, pesticides, and heavy metals. Pioneering studies on benzene, vinyl chloride, and asbestos were conducted, contributing critical data to agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. The laboratory developed many standard testing protocols for inhalation toxicology and dermal absorption that are now used globally. Its work has been published in journals like the American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal and the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health.

Facilities and operations

The Newark campus houses specialized facilities for conducting controlled exposure studies, including inhalation chambers, analytical chemistry suites, and histopathology laboratories. It operates under strict guidelines aligned with the Good Laboratory Practice standards and has been accredited by organizations like the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. The laboratory collaborates extensively with academic institutions, including the University of Delaware and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Its operations are integrated into the safety assessment processes for products developed across the DuPont enterprise and its successor companies.

Notable personnel

The laboratory's first director was Dr. Robert A. Kehoe, a prominent figure in industrial toxicology who also led the Kettering Laboratory. Other key scientists have included Dr. John Zapp, Jr., who contributed to seminal work on urethane toxicity, and Dr. Herbert Stokinger, a renowned expert on industrial air standards who later worked with the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Many alumni have assumed influential roles in regulatory bodies, academia, and organizations like the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology.

Impact and legacy

Its establishment marked a paradigm shift, demonstrating that proactive occupational health research was both an ethical responsibility and a sound business practice for the chemical industry. The data and methods generated have directly informed the creation of exposure limits such as Threshold Limit Values and permissible exposure limits enforced by OSHA. The "Haskell Model" of integrated toxicology testing has been emulated by corporations worldwide. While now part of larger entities like Corteva Agriscience, its foundational role in advancing worker safety and shaping modern toxicology remains a significant part of its enduring legacy.

Category:Research institutes in the United States Category:Toxicology organizations Category:Occupational safety and health Category:Organizations based in Delaware Category:1935 establishments in Delaware