2. With many toxic chemicals, it takes a long time after exposure before the disease appears. This latency period may give us a false sense of security when we work with very dangerous toxic chemicals.

3. It is true that not everyone who gets exposed to a toxic chemical gets sick. But it is impossible to identify which exposed person will get sick. You are playing Russian roulette with your life if you think you are immune to toxic chemicals.

4. Yes, many of us do have lifestyle factors, such as smoking and drinking, which can harm us. But these problems will be made worse by toxic chemical exposures.

5. Not all chemicals cause cancer, either in animals or in humans.

6. Toxic chemicals cause other serious problems in addition to cancer. We now know that the reproductive systems of men and women workers may be damaged or impaired. Also, research suggests that many toxic chemicals affect the brain and nerves throughout the body.

7. Animal studies are, in fact, very useful for warning us which chemicals might cause cancer in humans. The alternative to animal studies is to wait until human exposure shows cancer. By that time, millions may have been exposed.

8. Most carcinogens are not regulated properly. The official OSHA standards do not universally protect you from getting cancer. In many cases the OSHA standard is too high to protect you adequately. Even if your exposure level is below OSHA standards, you may still be exposed to very dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals.

Summary written by Dr. Steven Markowitz, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.