The Senate Commission of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) on the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has presented the 2004 Maximum Allowable Concentration (Maximale Arbeitsplatzkonzentrationen MAK) and Biological Tolerance Value (Biologische Arbeitsstofftoleranzwerte BAT) list and submitted it to the German Federal Minister of Economics and Labour. It contains suggestions for MAK values, i.e., the maximum allowable concentration of a working substance in the workplace atmosphere as a gas, steam or aerosol that according to current knowledge does not impair the health of employees exposed during eight-hour working days over the long term. Furthermore, the working substances are classified according to their carcinogenic, germ cell mutagenic, reproduction-endangering, sensitising or skin-absorptive effect. Compared to the previous year, there were 91 changes and new entries.

This year, two metals that were classified as carcinogenic in humans deserve particular notice: based on epidemiological data, cadmium and its inorganic compounds as well as tungsten carbide and cobalt-containing hard metals were classified as carcinogenic in humans and, therefore, placed in carcinogenicity category 1. Another heavy metal compound, indium phosphide, and 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, were proven to be carcinogenic in animal experiments and were assigned to carcinogenicity category 2.

Talcum (asbestos-fibre free) as a suspected carcinogenic working substance was placed in carcinogenicity category 3B, and the previous MAK value of 2 mg/m³ was suspended because the mechanism of action is unclear. Benzoyl chloride, ethyl chloroformate, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroaniline, glyoxal and 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate were also classified in this category as suspected carcinogens.

There were 15 examinations or new listings for carcinogenic working substances.

In the course of examining
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Contact: Dr. Jutta Rateike
49-228-885-2665
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
29-Jul-2004

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