| Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing | | | | compound is typical classified or categorized into |
| organizations (CMOs) are retained by a wide | | | | the CMO's control banding scheme. The purpose |
| range of life science companies to perform a | | | | of placement of compounds into a control band is |
| even wider range of activities. These companies | | | | to define the potential range of exposures, and |
| can range from small start-up biotechnology | | | | the engineering, administrative and personal |
| companies with little experience in the drug | | | | protective equipment necessary to maintain |
| development process to large international | | | | occupational exposures to within a certain range |
| pharmaceutical companies who are in need of | | | | of airborne concentrations of the active |
| additional manufacturing capacity. Activities | | | | pharmaceutical ingredient. |
| performed by these organizations can range from | | | | In addition to classifying prospective compounds, |
| synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients to | | | | the occupational toxicologist may have additional |
| packaging and labeling of the final product. | | | | responsibilities such as authoring material safety |
| Frequently, pharmaceutical contract manufacturing | | | | data sheets for drug compounds, investigating |
| organizations will retain the services of a | | | | allegations of adverse health effects, and working |
| professional occupational toxicologist to evaluate | | | | with industrial hygiene professionals in defining or |
| prospective compounds for potential occupational | | | | evaluating the controls necessary to maintain |
| hazards. These hazards can include both acute | | | | exposure to a safe level. |
| effects such as dermatitis and/or central nervous | | | | With the recent expansion of chemical safety |
| system effects to chronic effects such as cancer | | | | regulations, both in Europe and in the United |
| or reproductive disorders. Once the potential | | | | States, the role of the occupational toxicologist in |
| occupational hazards have been evaluated by the | | | | the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing |
| occupational toxicologist, the prospective | | | | organization will become increasingly important. |