Abstract
Dr Eula Bingham, ACT President 1981-1982 (term served by Dr Ronald W. Hart) passed away on June 14, 2020. She was 90 years old. Dr Bingham was Professor Emerita of Toxicology in the University of Cincinnati Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences (DEPHS) at the time of her death. The impact of Dr Bingham’s career on the fields of toxicology and worker health and safety cannot be overstated. In 1976, Dr Bingham was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to be Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Labor, heading Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). She was incredibly productive during her tenure with OSHA. She identified occupational chemical carcinogens, promulgated workplace chemical standards, inaugurated the policy that workers had the right to know what chemicals they were being exposed to, and began programs to train workers so that they could understand what to do with the information. These educational programs continue today. She also authored a number of chapters in Patty’s Toxicology, and served as coeditor of the 5th edition of Patty’s (with Barbara Cohrssen and Charles H. Powell) and the 6th edition of Patty’s (with Barbara Cohrssen).
After leaving OSHA, Dr Bingham rejoined the Department and University, becoming Dean of the University of Cincinnati Graduate School and Vice President for Research. During her tenure, the research enterprise of the Department and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine grew dramatically. She returned to the faculty of DEPHS and began work studying workers at Department of Energy sites for their exposures to radioactive materials and toxic agents such as beryllium.