- Email: [email protected]
OELs in the EU
Information Section
637
12.2%, respectively compared with 4.1% in the control group). Other types of lung damage (pulmonary alveolar proteinosis) were seen in both the males and females at both tested dose levels. The Japanese investigators concluded that 2-methylnaphthalene ~does not possess unequivocal carcinogenic potential in B6C3F1 mice" (Murata Y. et aL, Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1997, 36, 90).
compounds to which the risk-phrase R45 *may cause cancer ~ has been applied. Indicative limit values have been adopted for 30 chemicals or chemical groups and recommended for over 50 more. A further list of over 100 chemicals, which have given cause for concern, is now the subject of SCOEL's attention (Hunter W.J. et aL, Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1997, 54, 217).
Simultaneous exposure to nine
Nitro musks non-genotoxic in human cells
c h e m i c a l s in rals - - effects o n NOAELs
A study in which ral~swere exposed for 4 weeks to multicomponent mixtures led the Dutch investigators to conclude that "simultaneous exposure to these nine chemicals does not constitute an evidenl:ly increased hazard compared to exposure to each of the chemicals separately, provided the exposure level of each chemical in the mixture is at most similar to or lower than its own NOAEL" (no observed adverse effect level). The animals were exposed to dichloromethane 00-500 ppm) and formaldehyde (0.3-3 ppm) by inhalation (6 hours/day, 5 days/week), and aspirin (15-260 mg/kg body weight/day), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, 3--50 mg/kg body weight/day), cadmium chloride (C.2-2.5 mg/kg body weight/ day), stannous chloride (15-155 mg/kg body weight/day), butyl ELydroxyanisole (BHA, 15-155 mg/kg body weight/day), loperamide (0.1-1.5 mg/kg body weight/day) and spermine (5-100 mg/kg body weight/day) in the diet (Groten J.P. et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1997, 36, 15).
OEl.s in the EU A group from Directorate-General V of the European Commission has published an informative overview of the European Union's approach to occupational exposure limits (OELs). The Scientific Comraittee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents (SCOEL) was established by the Commission in 1995 to evaluate the scientific data, identify the critical health effects and recommend hea~ith-based OEI_*. Two types of limit are envisaged: the ~binding limit value", which must be incorporated in national legislation as a minimum requirement and the ~indicative limit value", which natiorLal authorities must take into account when setting measures for the protection of workers. Binding limit values, framed in some cases as a prohibition on production or use, already exist for seven chemicals or chemical groups; it is likely that binding limits will also be applied to those
Musk xylene, musk ketone, musk ambrette, musk moskene and musk tibetene have given no evidence of genotoxicity in human lymphocytes and in a human liver cancer 0aepatoma) cell line. None of the chemicals induced chromosome damage (micronuclei) when tested up to the cytotoxic doses (Kevekordes S. et al., Toxicology Letters 1997, 91, 13).
Hydrofluoric acid and lung damage Inflammation and damage to the lung have been described in a previously healthy 26-year-old American woman exposed to a household cleaning agent containing 8% hydrofluoric acid. The patient had experienced immediate eye irritation on application of the cleaner and when the 30-minute procedure had been repeated later the same evening. The investigators claimed hydrofluoric acid exposure to be ~the most likely causative factor" (Bennion J.R. and Franzblau A., American Journal oflndustrialMedicine 1997, 31,474).
Passive smoking and heart disease A study of Chinese women who had never smoked has shown that the risk of suffering narrowing of the coronary arteries may be related to their exposure to the cigarette smoke of their husbands. The number of coronary arteries affected was determined by arteriography in the women (78 cases and 83 controls), and the severity of the disease was found to be associated with increasing exposure levels (He Y. et aL, Atherosclerosis 1996, 127, 229).
Nitrogen dioxide and asthmatic reactions Exposure of pollen-allergic asthmatics to low levels of nitrogen dioxide enhanced their asthmatic reactions to pollen. Lung function was measured in 18 Swedish subjects during inhalation exposure to pollen or 490 ~tg/m3 nitrogen dioxide in random order. Peak expiratory flow after allergen challenge was on average 6.6% lower after nitrogen dioxide
637
12.2%, respectively compared with 4.1% in the control group). Other types of lung damage (pulmonary alveolar proteinosis) were seen in both the males and females at both tested dose levels. The Japanese investigators concluded that 2-methylnaphthalene ~does not possess unequivocal carcinogenic potential in B6C3F1 mice" (Murata Y. et aL, Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1997, 36, 90).
compounds to which the risk-phrase R45 *may cause cancer ~ has been applied. Indicative limit values have been adopted for 30 chemicals or chemical groups and recommended for over 50 more. A further list of over 100 chemicals, which have given cause for concern, is now the subject of SCOEL's attention (Hunter W.J. et aL, Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1997, 54, 217).
Simultaneous exposure to nine
Nitro musks non-genotoxic in human cells
c h e m i c a l s in rals - - effects o n NOAELs
A study in which ral~swere exposed for 4 weeks to multicomponent mixtures led the Dutch investigators to conclude that "simultaneous exposure to these nine chemicals does not constitute an evidenl:ly increased hazard compared to exposure to each of the chemicals separately, provided the exposure level of each chemical in the mixture is at most similar to or lower than its own NOAEL" (no observed adverse effect level). The animals were exposed to dichloromethane 00-500 ppm) and formaldehyde (0.3-3 ppm) by inhalation (6 hours/day, 5 days/week), and aspirin (15-260 mg/kg body weight/day), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, 3--50 mg/kg body weight/day), cadmium chloride (C.2-2.5 mg/kg body weight/ day), stannous chloride (15-155 mg/kg body weight/day), butyl ELydroxyanisole (BHA, 15-155 mg/kg body weight/day), loperamide (0.1-1.5 mg/kg body weight/day) and spermine (5-100 mg/kg body weight/day) in the diet (Groten J.P. et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1997, 36, 15).
OEl.s in the EU A group from Directorate-General V of the European Commission has published an informative overview of the European Union's approach to occupational exposure limits (OELs). The Scientific Comraittee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents (SCOEL) was established by the Commission in 1995 to evaluate the scientific data, identify the critical health effects and recommend hea~ith-based OEI_*. Two types of limit are envisaged: the ~binding limit value", which must be incorporated in national legislation as a minimum requirement and the ~indicative limit value", which natiorLal authorities must take into account when setting measures for the protection of workers. Binding limit values, framed in some cases as a prohibition on production or use, already exist for seven chemicals or chemical groups; it is likely that binding limits will also be applied to those
Musk xylene, musk ketone, musk ambrette, musk moskene and musk tibetene have given no evidence of genotoxicity in human lymphocytes and in a human liver cancer 0aepatoma) cell line. None of the chemicals induced chromosome damage (micronuclei) when tested up to the cytotoxic doses (Kevekordes S. et al., Toxicology Letters 1997, 91, 13).
Hydrofluoric acid and lung damage Inflammation and damage to the lung have been described in a previously healthy 26-year-old American woman exposed to a household cleaning agent containing 8% hydrofluoric acid. The patient had experienced immediate eye irritation on application of the cleaner and when the 30-minute procedure had been repeated later the same evening. The investigators claimed hydrofluoric acid exposure to be ~the most likely causative factor" (Bennion J.R. and Franzblau A., American Journal oflndustrialMedicine 1997, 31,474).
Passive smoking and heart disease A study of Chinese women who had never smoked has shown that the risk of suffering narrowing of the coronary arteries may be related to their exposure to the cigarette smoke of their husbands. The number of coronary arteries affected was determined by arteriography in the women (78 cases and 83 controls), and the severity of the disease was found to be associated with increasing exposure levels (He Y. et aL, Atherosclerosis 1996, 127, 229).
Nitrogen dioxide and asthmatic reactions Exposure of pollen-allergic asthmatics to low levels of nitrogen dioxide enhanced their asthmatic reactions to pollen. Lung function was measured in 18 Swedish subjects during inhalation exposure to pollen or 490 ~tg/m3 nitrogen dioxide in random order. Peak expiratory flow after allergen challenge was on average 6.6% lower after nitrogen dioxide