Republic

Republic of of Turkey
Turkey
Ministry of
Ministry ofLabour
Labour and
andSocial Security,
Social Security
Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational Health and Safety Center

Özgen TİMUÇİN
Chemical Engineer
Hygiene Department
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS

(OELs)
INDUSTRIAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Working Environment Control

Work Control Health Control

Safety and Health Education

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

 Chemical Risk Assessment

 Measurement and Evaluation Methods for

Harmful Substance Exposure Concentrations
MEASUREMENT and EVALUATION METHODS
for HARMFUL SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE
CONCENTRATIONS

Method for Estimating Exposure Concentration

Measurement of exposure concentration

A) Working environment measurement
(Area monitoring)
B) Exposure concentration of each worker
(Personal monitoring)
C) Biological monitoring
 MEASUREMENT and EVALUATION METHODS
for HARMFUL SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE
CONCENTRATIONS
Personal monitoring
Area monitoring

Biological monitoring
 Health and engineering control

The health

*Subjective Sensitivity monitoring

symptom test
*The change test
of the living body Effect monitoring
metabolism
* Solvent in blood
* Solvent in urine Biological monitoring
*Metabolite in
urine

*Individual exposure Exposure monitoring

*Special work's exposure

*Concentration of the general

workshop in air Area monitoring
* Concentration of the emission source
at the workshop in air
Engineering control
(Measurement of emission source )
 EXPOSURE

• Exposure is contact
Exposure is the the contact with substances,
with chemical chemical
high/low temperatures,
substances, high/low noise, vibrations or noise,
temperatures, other
hazard by persons in the workplace.
vibrations or other hazard by persons in the
The exposure to chemical substances occurs by
workplace.
inhalation, skin contact or swallowing, though
inhalation is often the route in workplaces.
• .For a given hazard,the greater the exposure,the
greater the risk of an adverse effect on
health.This is the because of the exposure-
response relationship.
 CHEMICAL EXPOSURE LIMIT

• Exposure is thelimit
Exposure contact with maximum
is the chemical
substances,
concentration high/low
that atemperatures,
large numbernoise,of
vibrations
workers or canother hazard without
tolerate by persons in the
adverse
workplace.
affects on health, even if repeated for
consecutive days. (Tolerance Levels /
Threshold
• The exposure Limit Values substances
to chemical [TLV] by American
occurs by
Conferenceskinofcontact
inhalation, Governmental Industrial
or swallowing, though
Hygienistsis[ACGIH])
inhalation often the route in workplaces.
 CHEMICAL EXPOSURE LIMITS

Recommend or mandotary occupational

exposure limits (OELs) have been
developed in many countries for airborne
exposure to gases,vapours and
particulates.The most widely used
limits,called threshold limit values
(TLVs),are those issued in the USA by the
American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH)
 Occupational Exposure Limits

ACGIH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial

Hygienists
NIOSH: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
 Occupational Exposure Limit Values:
Definitions

•Short term exposure limit(TLV-STEL);or

maximum concentration of a substance (a)
for a continuous 15-minute exposure period,
(b) for maximum of 4 such periods for day,(c)
with at least one 60-minute exposure-free
period between two exposure periods,and (d)
provided the daily TLV-TWA is met.
 Occupational Exposure Limit Values:
Protecting Workers Health
Definitions
Threshold Limit Value (TLV): For gases and
vapors,TLV is stated as parts per million
(ppm) of surrounding air,and for
fumes,mists,and dusts as milligrams per cubic
meter (mg / m³) of surrounding air.
TLV is classified in three ways:
•Time-weighted average (TLV-TWA)
exposure limit:The maximum average
concentration of a chemical in air for a
normal 8-hour working day and 40-hour week.
Occupational Exposure Limit Values:
Protecting Workers Health
Definitions
 Occupational Exposure Limit Values:
Definitions

•Ceiling exposure limit (TLV-C) or maximum

exposure concentration that should not be
exceeded under any circumstance,while
meeting the daily TLV-TWA.

•Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL):The

difference between TLVs and PELs is the
agencies from which they come.

•Biological exposure indices (BEIs)

 Occupational Exposure Limit Values:
Protecting Workers Health (EU)

There are three main types of limit values:

 Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit

Values (IOELVs)

 Binding Occupational Exposure Limit

Values (BOELVs)

 Biological Limit Values (BLVs)

SCOEL:Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits

DG EMPL: DG for Employment

 Determination of Occupational
Exposure Limit Values (EU
procedure)
DG EMPL consults with the Advisory Committee of
Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) in developing OELs.

When an OEL is proposed by DGEMPL, the legislative

procedure starts.
 Significance of EU- Indicative
Occupational Exposure Limit Values
(IOELVs)
Community IOELVs are health-based, non-binding
values, derived from the most recent scientific data
available and taking into account the availability of
measurement techniques. They set threshold levels of
exposure below which, in general, no detrimental effects
are expected for any given substance after short term or
daily exposure over a working life time. They are
European objectives to assist the employers in
determining and assessing risks.

Socio-economic and technical feasibility factors are not

taken into account when establishing IOELVs.
(Art 3 Council Directive 98/24/EC )
 Significance of EU- Indicative
Occupational Exposure Limit Values
(IOELVs)
For any chemical agent for which an indicative OEL
value is established at EU level, Member States must
establish a national exposure limit value, taking into
account the Community indicative limit value,
determining its nature in accordance with national
legislation and practice.
(Art 3 (3) Council Directive 98/24/EC)
 Significance of EU- Indicative
Occupational Exposure Limit Values
(IOELVs)
The Directives:
Council Directive 98/24/EC
• Directive 2000/39/EC, establishing a first list of
IOELVs
• Directive 2006/15/EC, establishing a second list
of IOELVs.
• Directive 91/322/EEC, which was based on an
earlier legal framework (Directive 80/1107/EEC), is
still in force.
• Directive 89/391/EC
 Significance of EU- Binding
Occupational Exposure Limit Values
(BOELVs)
BOELVs take account of socio-economic and technical
feasibility factors as well as the factors considered when
establishing IOELVs. Therefore, when setting a BOELV policy
considerations are of major importance.

(Art 3 (4) Council Directive 98/24/EC)

For any chemical agent for which a BOELV value is established

at EU level, Member States must establish a corresponding
national binding OEL value which can be stricter,but cannot
exceed the Community limit value.
( Art 3 (5) Council Directive 98/24/EC)
 Biological Limit Values (BLVs) &
Biological Exposure Indıces (BEIs)

Biological limit value or biological tolerance value

for occupational exposures is defined as the
maximum permissible deviation from the norm of
biological parameters induced by these substances
in exposed humans.The BLV is established on the
basis of currently available scientific data which
indicate that these concentrations generally do not
affect the health of the employee adversely,even
they are attained regularly under workplace
conditions.
 Biological Limit Values (BLVs) &
Biological Exposure Indıces (BEIs)

BLV can be defined as concentration or rates of

formation or excretion (quantity per unit
time).BLVs are conceived as ceiling values for
healthy individuals.They are generally
established for blood and urine and take into
account the effects of the substance and an
appropriate safety margin,being based on
occupational medical and toxilogical criteria for
the prevention of adverse effects on health.
 Derivation of Biological Limit Values
(BLVs) & Biological Exposure Indıces
(BEIs)

The derivation of a BLV can be based on

various constellations of scientific data
which reveal a quantitive relation ship
between exposure concentration and body
burden and therefore permit the linking
of OEL and BLVs.
 Criteria for the selection of priority
substances
When selecting candidate priority substances for setting
OELs, the following criteria are taken into account:

• Epidemiological evidence including reported cases of ill-

health in the workplace
• Availability of toxicological data
• Severity of effects
• Number of persons exposed
• Availability of data on exposure
• Availability of measurement methods
 Exposure limits data of each country
Argentina:

Maximum permissible concentrations or threshold level values (TLVs)

are listed (in Spanish) in Annex III of Decree No.351/79 introducing
regulations under Law Nº 19.587 concerning occupational safety and
health.

Australia:

Exposure standards are available on the Hazardous Substances

Information System (HSIS) database of the Australian Safety and
Compensation Council (formerly the Australian National Occupational
Health and Safety Commission, NOHSC).
 Exposure limits data of each country

Austria :

Austrian occupational exposure limits are based on international and

national sources such as the American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists and the German MAK-Commission. The limits are
fixed by the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit (BMWA,
Ministry of the Economy and Labour) and are published in the Austrian
Governmental Journal as an ordinance

Belgium:

Occupational exposure limits (valeurs limites d'exposition

professionnelle) are issued by the Ministry of Employment and Work
and are listed in Annex 1 of the Arrêté royal du 11 mars 2002 relatif à
la protection de la santé et de la sécurité des travailleurs contre les
risques liés à des agents chimiques sur le lieu de travail .
 Exposure limits data of each country
Brazil :

Exposure limits in Brazil are given in the Tabela de Limites de

Tolerância in Annex 11 of Regulatory Standard NR N-15. They are
issued under the authority of Decree Portaria No:34 of 8 June 1978.

Bulgaria :

Exposure limits are listed (in Bulgarian) in Decree No:13 of 30

December 2003 on the protection of workers against the risks
ofexposure to chemical agents at work.

Canada :

Occupational exposure limits in Canada are regulated within each

Province. In Alberta, exposure limits are listed in the Chemical Hazards
Regulation (Alberta Regulation 393/88).
 Exposure limits data of each country
Cyprus:

Exposure limits for Cyprus are listed (in Greek) in the Safety and
Health at Work (Chemical Agents of Regulations 2001.)

Denmark:

Exposure limits are listed in Danish in Grænseværdier for stoffer og

materialer and in English in Limit Values for Substances and Materials.

Estonia :

In Estonia, occupational exposure limits are prepared and endorsed by

the Ministry of Social Affairs. The limits are set with reference to
current European Union and Swedish occupational exposure limits.
 Exposure limits data of each country
European Union:

The legal basis for the preparation of occupational exposure limits and
biological limits in the European Union is contained in Directive
98/24/EC on chemical agents and Directive 2004/37/EC on carcinogens
and mutagens. Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values (IOELVs)
are adopted through Commission Directives while Binding Occupational
Exposure Limit Values (BOELVs) are adopted through Council and
European Parliament Directives.
IOELVs listed in Directives 91/322/EEC and 2000/39/EC and BOELVs
listed in Directives 98/24/EC, 99/38/EC and 2003/18/EC.

On 7 February 2006, the Commission adopted Directive 2006/15/CE

establishing a second list of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit
Values (IOELVs) in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC and
amending Directives 91/322/EEC and 2000/39/EC. This Directive
establishes IOELVs for 33 substances following an evaluation by the
Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) of the
latest available scientific data.
 Exposure limits data of each country

Finland:

Concentrations of impurities in workplace air known to be hazardous and

corresponding limit values for biological exposure indicators are
published by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

France:

Exposure limits are listed in Danish in Grænseværdier for stoffer og

materialer and in English in Limit Values for Substances and Materials.
 Exposure limits data of each country
Hungary:

Exposure limits are listed in A munkahelyek kémiai biztonságáról szóló

25/2000. (IX. 30.) EüM-SZCSM rendelet [Ordinance No.25/2000, of
30 Sept., concerning the chemical safety of workplaces].

Ireland:
Occupational exposure limits are listed by Ireland's National Authority
for Occupational Safety and Health in Schedule 1 to the 2002 Code of
Practice for the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents)
Regulations, 2001 .
Japan :

Occupational exposure limits for chemical substances are recommended

by the Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH). Current values
are listed in the Journal of Occupational Health.
 Exposure limits data of each country
Luxembourg:

Exposure limits in Luxembourg are listed in Regulations concerning the

protection of the health and safety of workers against the hazards of
chemical agents, carcinogens and mutagens in the workplace, July 2002.

Netherlands:
Occupational exposure limits are listed by Ireland's National Authority
for Occupational Safety and Health in Schedule 1 to the 2002 Code of
Practice for the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents)
Regulations, 2001 .

New Zealand:
Exposure limits are available in Workplace Exposure Standards
effective from 2002 published by the Occupational Safety and Health
Service of the Department of Labour.
 Exposure limits data of each country
Norway:

Administrative standards for contaminants in workplace air (Veiledning

om administrative normer for forurensning i arbeidsatmosfaere) are
available from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Directorate.

Slovakia:
Exposure limits are listed (in Slovak) in Order No.45/2002 of 16 Jan.
2002 on health protection while working with chemical agents and in
Order No.46/2002 of 16 Jan. 2002 on health protection while working
with carcinogenic and mutagenic agents.

South Africa:

Occupational Exposure Limits for airborne pollutants in the Republic of

South Africa are issued by both the Department of Labour and the
Department of Minerals and Energy. Values are listed on the site of
the South Africa Institute of Occupational Hygiene.
 Exposure limits data of each country
Spain:
Occupational exposure limits are published by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e
Higiene en el Trabajo, INSHT) in Límites de exposición profesional para
agentes químicos en España.
Sweden:
Exposure limits are listed in Swedish in Hygieniska gränsvärden och
åtgärder mot luftföroreningar (AFS 2005:17) and in English in
Occupational Exposure Limit Values and Measures Against Air
Contaminants (AFS 2005:17).

Switzerland:

Swiss occupational exposure limits are published by the Swiss Accident

Insurance Institute (SUVA) in SUVA - Valeurs limites d'exposition aux
postes de travail, published annually.
 Exposure limits data of each country
USA:

Recommended exposure limits are developed and periodically revised by

the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
These recommendations are then published and transmitted to the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA )for use in
promulgating legal standards.
Permissible exposure limits are published in the U.S. Code of Federal
Regulations, Occupational Safety and Health Standards on Toxic and
Hazardous Substances, 29 CFR 1910.1000, Tables Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3.
Permissible exposure limits and NIOSH recommended exposure limits
are also available in the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.
Threshold limit values (TLVs) and biological exposure indices (BEIs) are
also issued by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH). Information on the determination and use of these
values and their availability may be found on the ACGIH website.
 Exposure limits data of Turkey
We have regulations according to standards of EU:

 Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements Working with

Carcinogen and Mutagen Substances was published on 26th
of December,2003
(90/394/ EEC) – (97/42/EEC)– (99/38/EC)

 Regulation on Health and Safety Requirements Working with

Chemical Substances was published on 26th of
December,2003.Amendment on Official Journal 20th of
March,200
(98/24/EC ) – (2000/39/EC)

 Regulation on Protection of Workers from the Risks of

Explosive Atmospheres was published on 26th of
December,2003
(1999/92/EC)
 Biological limits data of Turkey

Recognising the importance of biological

monitoring, we have regulations (Regulation on
the Prevention of the Risks Related to Exposure
to Biological Agents was published on 10th of
June 2004) according to standards of EU
(2000/54/EC) about Biological monitoring.Under
these regulations,workers who exposed to
following hazards are regulated to undergo
specific pre-employment and periodic medical
examinations.These hazards are:
 Biological limits data of Turkey
 Leads and its compounds
 Mercury and its compounds
 Arsenic and its compounds
 Cadmium and its compounds
 Manganese and its compounds
 Chromium and its compounds
 Beryllium and its compounds
 Phosphor & white phosphor and its compounds
(organophosphates)
 Nitrogen oxide
 Carbon disulfide
 Benzene and its derivatives
 Halogenated hydrocarbons
 Aniline and its derivatives
 Hydrogen sulfide
 Free silica
 PARAMETERS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED

Parameter Specimen Method Reference Limit Values

Blood (with heparin) AAS

Lead 40 µg/ 100 ml 41-59 µg/ 100 > 59 µg/ 100 ml
(normal value) ml (acceptable (pathologic value)
value)
Urine Chromotographic & mg/100 ml mg/100 ml)
Delta Amino Spectrophotometri 0,60 (negative) 1,50-3,00 > 6,00 mg/100 ml
Levunilic Acid c&Colourimetric (high) critical level
0,60-1,50
(medium level 3,00-6,00
high) (more higher)

Urine Chromotographic &

Uro- spectrophotometric
Coproporphirin /
Coproporfirin Uro-
chromotographic& 35-150 µg/24 proporfirin
fluorometric hour 15-50 µg/24
hour

Urine Chromotographic &

Porphirin – T spectrophotometric 50-200 µg/ 24
/ hour (for men) 35-180 µg/ 24
chromotographic&
hour (for
fluorometric
women)

(qualitative)
 PARAMETERS THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED
Parameter Specimen Method Reference Limit Values

Blood (with EDTA and

Protoporphirin (IX ) heparin) 0,60 µg/ 100 ml 5,3 µg / gHb
(Erythrocyte) (normal value)

Urine Qualitative (-)

Porphoobilinogen

Urine (8 hour,24 hour) Colourometric-

TCA quantative <20 mg/lt 41-100 mg/lt > 200 mg/lt (high
(tetrachloroethylen Colourometric- (normal value) (affected degree of
(SGOT,SGPT,GGT,EKG
e) quantative & value) intoxication,hazar
) 20-40 mg/ lt
spectrophotometric (acceptable 100-200 mg/lt dous)
value) (intoxication)
Hippuric acid Urine (24 hour) Colourometric- 200-1600
mg/24 hour
quantative
 PARAMETERS THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED
Parameter Specimen Method Reference Limit Values

Urine Spectrophotometri 25 mg / lt (critical

Phenol c &Colourometric- > 20 mg/lt < 20 mg/lt maximum value)
quantative (normal value) (pathologic
value)

Benzole Blood 5 gama /dl

(critical
maximum
value)

Blood (with EDTA and Spectophotometric

Methemoglobin heparine)
(nitro derivatives
of alifatic
hydrocarbons)

Carboxyhemoglobi Blood (with EDTA and Spectophotometric

n (CO) heparine)
OEL VALUES EXAMPLE
(GERMANY)
OEL
OEL DATABASE
Identification and Classification of
Chemicals:Procedures of the Chemical
Substances Threshold Limit Value Committee
(ACGIH)

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial

Hygienists (ACGIH) is a professional organization whose
members are primarily industrial hygienists working for
local, state, or federal government agencies. The
Chemical Substances Threshold Limit Value Committee of
ACGIH produces guidelines for practicing industrial
hygienists,which are published annually as Threshold
Limit Values (TLVs).
 Procedures of the Chemical Substances
Threshold Limit Value Committee
(ACGIH)

 Epidemiologic studies having detailed exposure data;

 Toxicologic studies in whole-body bioassays in mammals;

 Epidemiologic studies of a descriptive nature;

 Case histories from clinical records;

 Short-term bioassays for genotoxicity;

 Toxicologic studies of non-mammalian species;

 Chemical structure analogy.

 Calculation of OEL

The approach used to set OELs was based on the

"no-observed-effect-level/safety
factor"(NOEL/SF)approach.

1. In this approach, all of the pertinent animal studies

are reviewed and the highest dose that did not cause an
effect in the most sensitive health endpoint (the NOEL)
is identified.
 Calculation of OEL

2.Once a NOEL has been identified, a set of uncertainty

(or safety) factors are applied to this value to
accommodate for limitations in the data and to try to
assure that workers are protected.
(The number and magnitude of these safety factors
depend on the quality of the data.)

***If a NOEL is not available, then a LOEL can be used. The

LOEL, or lowest-observed effect-level, is the lowest dose that
causes an effect in the most sensitive health endpoint.
 Calculation of OEL
OEL = [(NOEL) x (human body weight)]/[(safety factor)n

x (human breathing rate)]

NOEL is typically in units of milligram of chemical administered/kilogram

of animal body weight/day;

Human body weight typically is assumed to be 70 kilograms for an adult

male;

Safety factors for accomodating limitations in the data,

Breathing rate in workers typically is assumed to be 10 m 3/8-hour

workday.
 Example of OEL Calculation

 Example of using this approach for the synthetic

estrogen, ethinyl estradiol:
The NOEL in humans has been estimated to be around
3.5 μ g/day. (Because it is reported in these units,
there is no need to multiply by the human body weight).
If one assumes a safety factor of 10 for the human
variability in response and a breathing rate 10
m3/8-hour workday, then the OEL is estimated to be
0.035 μ g/m3.
Final Goal of the OHS Services:

To improve workers quality of life

 THANK YOU…

Hediye Özgen TİMUÇİN

otimucin@csgb.gov.tr