Melanie Trottman reports in today’s Wall Street Journal that Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will set strict standards to limit worker’s exposures to the chemical diacetyl. Diacetyl is a chemical found in microwave popcorn and has caused lung problems for food processsors. It has been linked to three deaths.

The so-called "popcorn lung" is not a problem for the general public. It is, however, potentially deadly for a coterie of workers who, beyond United Food and Commercial Workers representation, lack much political clout. The Bush administration, therefore, could ignore their concerns. Maybe this rule is the start of Barack Obama and new Labor Sec. Hilda Solis gradually restoring OSHA to its original role as guardian of worker safety.-MB

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