THE DEVELOPMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR CHEMICAL-SUBSTANCES IN CHINA

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the occupational exposur e limits (OELs) of chemical substances in China. It provides historica l background on the development of OELs in this country, with a comple te list of traditionally adopted and newly developed OELs for chemical s in workplaces. The philosophical thoughts, the administrative system , the scientific protocols for setting and amending health standards, with emphasis on making health a basic criterion for setting health st andards, strengthening epidemiological studies of the human population , integrating epidemiological and toxicological studies, considering t echnological and economical feasibilities, and making full use of lite rature information sources are discussed. Further perspectives with re spect to practical issues of maximum allowable concentration and time- weighted average, selection of safety factors, and establishment of bi ological exposure limits are also considered, with the authors' contri butions to a discussion on these topics. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.