President Carter signed the Community Mental Health Centers Act
On Nov. 9, 1978, the President Jimmy Carter signed the Community Mental Health Centers Act (P.L. 95-622) amending…
Carl Woese, an American microbiologist, defined Archaea as a new domain
In 1978, Carl Woese, an American microbiologist defined Archaea as a new domain based upon genetic relationships that…
The Toxic Substances Control Act provided EPA with authority to regulate chemical substances and mixtures
In 1976, The U.S. Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which provided the U.S. Environmental Protection…
CDC | Disease | Energy | Environmental | EPA | Life Science History | Neurology
The CDC revealed blood lead levels related to gasoline exposure, leading to fuel changes by the EPA
In 1976, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Environmental Services Division revealed blood lead levels…
Disease | Energy | Environmental | EPA | Life Science History | Neurology | U.S. Congress
The Environmental Protection Agency required the phase-out of lead in gasoline
On Nov. 28, 1973, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Russell E. Train announced the final regulations to…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Environmental | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine
Molecular biologist Robert Pollack published “Biohazards in Biological Research”
In 1973, the publication “Biohazards in Biological Research,” was edited by S. Hellman, M. Oxman, and R. Pollack. …
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned DDT
On Jun. 14, 1972, an end to the continued domestic usage of the pesticide DDT was decreed when…
The UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm thrust the environmental movement into international view
On Jun. 5, 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden was the first…
Biology | CDC | Diagnostics | Disease | Environmental | EPA | Neurology | Women's Health
The CDC investigated lead exposure and discovered its effects on children’s development
In 1971, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated lead exposure in El Paso, Texas,…
The US Environmental Protection Agency was established
On Dec. 2, 1970, the EPA was established by President Richard Nixon with an Executive Order to consolidate…
President Nixon nominated William D Ruckelshaus to be the first Administrator of the EPA
On Nov. 6, 1970, President Nixon nominated William D. Ruckelshaus to be the first Administrator of the U.S….
The Olin Corporation stopped manufacturing DDT
On Jun. 30, 1970, the Olin Corporation stopped manufacturing DDT after intense pressure from the Army and environmental…
Agriculture | Biology | Chemical | Energy | Environmental | EPA | Forestry | Life Science History | Marine Science | U.S. Congress
Earth Day was held for the first time
On Apr. 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held and the modern environmental movement was born. A…
President Nixon signed National Environmental Policy Act into law
On Jan. 1, 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) into law and launched…
Agriculture | Disease | Environmental | USDA
The Southern Corn Leaf Blight swept across the South
In 1970, the Southern Corn Leaf Blight (SCLB) sweeps across the South, destroying 15% of the U.S. corn…
The National Communicable Disease Center was renamed the Center for Disease Control
In 1970, the National Communicable Disease Center (NCDC) was renamed the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The scope…
Agriculture | Biology | Chemical | Energy | Environmental | EPA | Forestry | Life Science History | Marine Science | U.S. Congress
A proposal to establish “Earth Day” was submitted to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
On Oct. 3, 1969, a proposal to establish “Earth Day” was submitted by John McConnell to Peter Tamaris…
Reorganization of federal health programs placed FDA in the Public Health Service
In March 1968, a reorganization of federal health programs placed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in…
Thermus aquaticus was first discovered in Yellowstone National Park
In 1966, Thermus aquaticus was first discovered in the Mushroom Pool of Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National…
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory was founded
In 1965, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, now known as Battelle Pacific Northwest Division, was founded in 1965…
FDA requested help in removing “X-33 Water Repellent” from the market
On Aug. 30, 1964, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested help in removing “X-33 Water Repellent”…
Researchers collected a sample of boiling water from hot springs in Yellowstone leading to discovery of extremophiles
On Jun. 20, 1964, a team of researchers led by Dr. Thomas Brock, then a professor at the…
The University of California Radiation Laboratory (Livermore) established the biomedical program
In 1963, the first biomedical and environmental research program began at Livermore. John Gofman, a distinguished professor at…
Silent Spring was published and the first generation of environmentalists were galvanized
In 1962, Silent Spring, a book by marine biologist Rachel Carson, galvanized the first generation of environmentalists. Silent…
The Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory was established
In Jun. 1960, the U.S. Congress passed an appropriations bill that included funding for a Federal Insect Laboratory…
Agriculture | Biology | Environmental | EPA | Forestry | Life Science History | USDA
USDA Forest Service Spayed DDT to Control spruce budworm in Oregon Forest
In Jul. 1955, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) sprayed DDT as…
First large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by FDA
In 1954, first large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when…
The University of California Radiation Laboratory (Livermore) was founded
On Sept. 2, 1952, the University of California Radiation Laboratory, now known as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory…
Diagnostics | Environmental | Life Science History | Medical Device | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Founders day at The University of California Radiation Laboratory (Livermore)
On Aug. 26, 1952, Founders Day marks the date that Ernest Lawrence received permission to open up a…
The Veterans Administration conducted epidemiologic studies of black army veterans
In 1950, Roger M. Cole and Byron J. Olson in collaboration with Veterans Administration physicians conducted epidemiologic studies…