The European institutions reached an agreement on the respirable fraction of crystalline silica. A binding limit value for the respirable fraction of crystalline silicate was proposed at 0.1 mg / m³. However, this limit value will be revised by the European Commission as part of the next assessment of the implementation of the Directive 2004/37 / EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens and mutagens.
On the 28th of June the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union voted on the amendment of the Directive 2004/37/EC. The directive proposes to set exposure limits for a further 11 carcinogens in addition to those covered by the existing 2004 directive.
At the below mentioned table you may find the amended Annex III with the Limit values and other directly related provisions
| CAS No ([1]) | EC No ([2]) | NAME OF AGENT | LIMIT VALUES([3]) | Notation([4]) | Transitional measures | ||
| mg/m3 ([5]) | ppm ([6]) | f/ml([7]) | |||||
| – | – | Hardwood dusts | 2 ([8]),
|
– | – | – | Limit value 3 mg/m3
|
| – | – | Chromium (VI) compounds which are carcinogens within the meaning of Article 2 (a) (i) of the Directive
(as Chromium) |
0,005 | – | – | – | Limit value 0,010 mg/m3
Limit value: 0.025 mg/m3 for welding or plasma cutting processes or similar work processes that generate fume until
|
| – | – | Refractory Ceramic Fibres
which are carcinogens within the meaning of Article 2 (a) (i) of the Directive |
– | – | 0,3 | – | |
| – | – | Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust | 0,1 ([9]) | – | – | – | |
| 71-43-2 | 200-753-7 | Benzene | 3,25 | 1 | – | skin | |
| 75-01-4 | 200-831-0 | Vinyl chloride monomer | 2,6 | 1 | – | – | |
| 75-21-8 | 200-849-9 | Ethylene oxide | 1,8 | 1 | – | skin | |
| 75-56-9 | 200-879-2 | 1,2-Epoxypropane | 2,4 | 1 | – | – | |
| 79-06-1 | 201-173-7 | Acrylamide | 0,1 | – | – | skin | |
| 79-46-9 | 201-209-1 | 2-Nitropropane | 18 | 5 | – | – | |
| 95-53-4 | 202-429-0 | o-Toluidine | 0,5 | 0,1 | – | skin | |
| 106-99-0 | 203-450-8 | 1,3-Butadiene | 2,2 | 1 | – | – | |
| 302-01-2 | 206-114-9 | Hydrazine | 0,013 | 0,01 | – | skin | |
| 593-60-2 | 209-800-6 | Bromoethylene | 4,4 | 1 | – | – | |
[1] CAS No: Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number.
[2] EC No, i.e. EINECS, ELINCS or NLP, is the official number of the substance within the European Union, as defined in section 1.1.1.2 in Annex VI, Part 1, of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
[3] Measured or calculated in relation to a reference period of eight hours.
[4] Substantial contribution to the total body burden via dermal exposure possible.
[5] mg/m3 = milligrams per cubic metre of air at 20°C and 101,3 kPa (760 mm mercury pressure).
[6] ppm = parts per million by volume in air (ml/m3).
[7] f/ml = fibres per millilitre.
[8] Inhalable fraction: if hardwood dusts are mixed with other wood dusts, the limit value shall apply to all wood dusts present in that mixture.
[9] Respirable fraction.
More information:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/press-releases-pdf/2017/6/47244661997_en.pdf