New Swedish occupational standards for some organic solvents.
In 1987, the Swedish government requested a unique investigation of the consequences of a 50% reduction of permissible exposure levels (PEL) for organic solvents. As a result, 29 solvents were investigated and for 25 of them a reduction--if not to 50%--was suggested. For 13 of the solvents, there existed scientific arguments for a reduction of the PEL. For 12 solvents, no specific biomedical information was available. Presumed interactions between solvents may have influenced the decisions, but technological/economic feasibility criteria may also have been used by the regulators. This suggests that the use of technological/economic feasibility criteria can give lower PELs than health criteria. This is within the intentions of the Swedish Work Environment Act.
Lundberg
P
P
Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Solna, Sweden.
Löf
A
A
Johanson
G
G
Wennberg
A
A
Högberg
J
J
Holmberg
B
B
D000085:Acetates; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000473:Alkanes; D000440:Butanols; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000592:standards*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D006586:Hexanes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D012997:Solvents; D013548:Sweden; D014240:Trichloroethanes; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D014691:Ventilation / Q000191:economics
D000085:Acetates; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000473:Alkanes; D000440:Butanols; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D006586:Hexanes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012997:Solvents; D014240:Trichloroethanes; C024566:1,1,1-trichloroethane; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D008752:Methylene Chloride; C013089:ligroin; C007650:ethyl acetate; C012867:decane