Hj. Cross et al., ESTABLISHING AN OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT FOR HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM IN THE EUROPEAN-UNION, Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology, 26(1), 1997, pp. 72-76
A Criteria Document for hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], currently under
preparation at the Institute of Occupational Health, University of Bir
mingham, is intended for use in setting an occupational exposure limit
(GEL) for Cr(VI) in the European Union (EU). The requirement for esta
blishing OELs, specifically known as indicative limit values, in the E
U is set out in Council Directive 80/1107/EEC, amended by Council Dire
ctive 88/642/EEC, To facilitate this procedure the Commission has set
up a Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical
Agents, The Committee, which is composed of independent scientific ex
perts from member states, is responsible for reviewing available scien
tific data. A Criteria Document forms the basis of the scientific data
considered during this process and contains an up-to-date, critical e
valuation of available information which is relevant to setting an exp
osure limit. After consideration of the scientific data for a particul
ar substance, the Committee advises the Commission on setting a health
-based GEL, Consideration of other questions such as technical matters
and socioeconomic issues occurs during later stages of the procedure,
before an OEL is finally adopted, The procedure allows for consultati
on with interested parties. The Criteria Document for Cr(VI) contains
sections on substance identification, chemical and physical properties
, production and use data, recent data on occupational exposure, curre
nt methods for measurement and analysis, and toxicology, The toxicolog
y section contains a critical evaluation of both human and animal data
and forms a major part of the document, This section enables identifi
cation of critical health effects associated with exposure to Cr(VI) a
nd consideration of dose-response relationships and provides the basis
for any risk assessment and recommendation for an GEL. (C) 1997 Acade
mic Press.