[Indoor air guide values for benzaldehyde].
To protect public health the German Working Group on Indoor Guidelines of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the States' Health Authorities is issuing indoor air guide values. For health evaluation of benzaldehyde in indoor air only two poorly documented human studies and a valid subacute inhalation animal study are available. Occupational exposure data suggest a lowest observed adverse effect level of 5 mg benzaldehyde per cubic meter for the endpoint irritation. This was used as pivotal information for the risk assessment by the Working Group. A safe LOAEL could not be derived from the subacute animal study due to several limitations. By applying a factor of 3 for extrapolation to continuous exposure, a factor of 5 for interindividual variability and a modifying factor of 2 regarding data gaps especially for children a tentative health hazard guide value (RW II) of 0.2 mg benzaldehyde/m3 indoor air is obtained. To protect from unpleasant odour a tentative health precaution guide value (RW I) of 0.02 mg benzaldehyde/m3 indoor is recommended.
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards*; D005858:Germany; D017408:Guidelines as Topic