title: Regulatory risk assessment approaches for synthetic mineral fibres.
abstract: Exposure to synthetic mineral fibres (SMF) may occur in a number of workplace scenarios. To protect worker health, a number of different organisations worldwide have assessed the health risk of these materials and established workplace exposure limits. This paper outlines the basic principles of risk assessment and the scientific methods used to derive valid (justifiable) occupational exposure limits (OELs) and goes on to show how, for SMF, and particularly for refractory ceramic fibre (otherwise known as aluminosilicate wool, RCF/ASW), the methods used and the associated outcomes differ widely. It is argued that the resulting differences in established OELs prevent consistent and appropriate risk management of SMF worldwide, and that development of a transparent and harmonised approach to fibre risk assessment and limit-setting is required.
authors.affiliation: IEH Consulting, No.4 The Lodge Business Centre, Rectory Farm, Marston Trussell, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9TU, UK. Electronic address: paul@iehconsulting.co.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: IEH Consulting, No.4 The Lodge Business Centre, Rectory Farm, Marston Trussell, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9TU, UK. Electronic address: phil@iehconsulting.co.uk.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: IEH Consulting, No.4 The Lodge Business Centre, Rectory Farm, Marston Trussell, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9TU, UK. Electronic address: ruth@iehconsulting.co.uk.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bevan
authors.affiliation: ECFIA, 3, rue du Colonel Moll, 75017 Paris, France. Electronic address: kkamps@unifrax.com.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamps
authors.affiliation: Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK. Electronic address: len.levy@cranfield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Technical University, Arcisstraße 21, D-80333 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: helmut.greim@lrz.tu-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greim
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management; D020711:Threshold Limit Values; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D019016:Mineral Fibers; C049037:aluminosilicate
keywords: ASW; Assessment; Harmonisation; Management; OEL; RCF; Regulatory; Risk; SMF; SVF