title: [Epidemiology and prevention of occupational health hazards within the European Community].
abstract: Since 1978 the European Community has had an action programme on safety and health at work covering all 120 million workers in the Community. On the basis of this programme, directives (instruments of Community legislations) have been adopted by the Council of Ministers and new directives are being drafted. The aim of these directives is to improve safety at work and to protect the health of workers from mechanical, physical, chemical and biological hazards. The drafting of proposals by the Commission for presentation to the Council necessitates detailed and critical examination of the scientific data available, such as epidemiological studies, statistical data and the results of experiments. Epidemiological studies of cases of mesothelioma have led us to propose more stringent limit values for crocidolite than for other asbestos fibres in the air at the place of work. At present, in order to gain a clearer idea of the carcinogenicity of the various compounds of nickel, efforts are being made to collate and update all the epidemiological studies conducted on this subject throughout the world. Finally, particular attention is being paid to the opportunities provided by the anti-poison centres for developing clinical toxicology and epidemiology.
mesh_terms: D001195:Asbestosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000517:prevention & control; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000592:standards; D012306:Risk; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D009532:Nickel
vernacular_title: Epidémiologie et prévention des risques professionnels au niveau de la Communauté Européenne.