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Updating of exposure limit values for occupational exposure to chemicals

Twelve publications were recently published in continuation of a special series of recommendations issued by the Health Council of the Netherlands for the State Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. These recommendations contain scientific information for the revision of the ‘old’ exposure limit values for occupational exposure to chemicals. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment specifies what are referred to as Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (‘MAC’) of chemicals in air at the workplace. These limits are in part based on the Health Council of the Netherlands’ scientific evaluation of the toxicological data of the relevant chemicals. In the past, practical reasons gave cause to the government’s adoption of MAC data for several hundred chemicals from foreign lists. However, over the course of time there were indications that some of these limits did not offer adequate protection to the health of employees. The State Secretary has requested a committee formed especially for the purpose to test the ‘old’ MAC limits against the scientific information currently available and, where relevant, submit recommended exposure limit values required to protect employees. The committee is reviewing a total of more than 160 chemicals.

Source: Press release issued by the Health Council of the Netherlands