Hazardous Workplace Factors, Occupational Exposure Limits: Harmful Chemical Factors (gbz2.1-2007) In Chemical Harmful Factors In The Occupational Exposure Limits The Application Of Investigation And Analysis

BackgroundIn order to comply with Law of the People's Republic of China on Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases,Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace(GBZ2) was developed by Ministry of Health in 2002 and revised in 2004,and Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace Part 1:Chemical hazardous agents(GBZ2.1-2007) and Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace Part 2:Physical agents(GBZ2.2-2007) were promulgated in 2007.In the revising process,experts reviewed standards and documentations of ACGIH,NIOSH and OSHA.As so many occupational exposure limits(OELs) used in America were introduced into China, many problems are urgent for us to solve,such as investigating whether the limits are fit for the status of China and it is necessary to set determination methods standards for the chemical hazardous agents without determination methods,and etc..ObjectiveEvaluate the application of the OELs of chemical hazardous agents in GBZ2.2-2007 and explore the methods of investigation and evaluation on the application of OELs.Compare OELs in China with that in America and establish the comparative study database.According to the two parts above,the application of the OELs,the problems existing in OELs in China and how to improve them will be analyzed and recommendation for standards setting and revising will be proposed.MethodInvestigat the occupational health technical service institutions.Train the persons filling the questionaire of the occupational health service at province level and the Occupational Health Standards Committee under MOH informed public health administrative department of 31 provinces who transferred the questionnaire to the institutions to be investigeted.The contents of the questionnaire include the.rate of application of OELs,the capability of the institutions on chemical hazardous agents determination,the works the OELs are used in,the evaluation on the level of the OELs,the percent of pass of the sites each OEL concerned,the treatment when no determination methods can be used,and the requirement for OELs and relevant determination methods.Compare the level of OELs and the management in standards setting and revising in China with that in America.In the light of the investigation results from the fore part,suggestions for standards setting and revising in China will be proposed.ResultsResults of investigation1.In GBZ2.2-2007,at least 93.2 percent of chemical hazardous agents are used in practice.The standard covers most of the chemical hazardous agents which may cause serious adverse effect to heath.2.In GBZ2.2-2007,105 OELs haven't had relevant determination method and 48 of that are planning to be set.On the other side,in the 304 determination methods already existed,71 still haven't had relevant OELs.3.In this investigation,23 in 343 OELs have never been used;inversely,some other chemical hazardous agents often used in practice haven't had OELs,which result in some difficulties in work.4.The determination methods of 18 chemicals in urgent need have not been listed in the standards setting program yet,although they should be considered firstly.Results of comparative study1.Comparing the level of the OELs in China with that of ACGIH.88 TWA in China are lower than ACGIH,48 are higher and 88 are equal.32 STEL of China are lower than ACGIH,6 are higher and 16 are equal.4 MAC of China are lower than Ceiling ofACGIH,7 are higher and 10 are equal.Comparing the level of the OELs in China with that of NIOSH.76 TWA in China are lower than NIOSH,29 are higher and 78 are equal.25 STEL of China are lower than NIOSH,6 are higher and 14 are equal.7 MAC of China are lower than Ceiling ofNIOSH,4 are higher and 13 are equal.Comparing the level of the OELs in China with that of OSHA.104 TWA in China are lower than OSHA,10 are higher and 40 are equal.1 STEL of China is lower than OSHA.3 MAC of China are lower than Ceiling of OSHA and 5 are equal.2.The designation of carcinogenicity,sensitization and skin in GBZ2.2-2007 is corresponding to the concept in ACGIH.3.Compared with occupational standards used in America,we have several urgent problems in the process of standards setting,the contribution of interested party, the peer-reviewed and public information,toxicology,occupational health field investigation and occupational epidemiology research before standards setting,the reasonable application of the concept of excursion limits,adjustment of occupational exposure limits for unusual work schedules,the concept and reasonable application of combined action,description of the feature of chemical hazardous agents,and etc..Conclusions1.GBZ2.2-2007 covers most of the chemical hazardous agents which may cause serious adverse effect to heath.The designation of carcinogenicity,sensitization and skin in GBZ2.2-2007 is corresponding to the concept in ACGIH.2.At present,there are problems in several aspects in the application of GBZ2.2 -2007,such as the mismatch of OELs and determination methods,the needs of soliciting opinions from all walks of life before occupational health standards setting and revising,and etc..3.We should develop Standards Completion Program or other similar programs for the OELs widely used.We should also make sure whether we need develop standard determination methods for the OELs of chemical hazardous agents that none of the institutions is competent for their determination,which should initiate,with the purpose of improving our occupational health standards and on the basis of further study.4.We should revise the OELs that the occupational health technical service institutions consider lower or higher on the basis of further systematically evaluation and occupational health field investigations.5.We should make further study on the process of standards setting,the contribution of interested party,the peer-reviewed and public information,toxicology, occupational health field investigation and occupational epidemiology research before standards setting,the reasonable application of the concept of excursion limits, adjustment of occupational exposure limits for unusual work schedules,the concept and reasonable application of combined action,description of the feature of chemical hazardous agents,and etc..