Biological tolerance values

PCP concentrations in blood of 20 workers ranged between 0.023 and 0.775 mg/L and were below the biological tolerance value of 1.0 mg/L no effect on sister chromatid exchange or chromosomal aberrations (Ziemsen et al. 1987)... 

Data for humans show that adverse effects occur at concentrations in air >1.0 mg PCP/m3 and in tissues at more than 8 mg/kg fresh weight (Table 23.7). No adverse effects were noted at daily intakes of 2.1 mg per 70-kg adult or 30 pg/kg BW, up to 1.01 mg/L in drinking water, <0.5 mg/m3 in air, <0.5 mg/L in blood plasma, and <1.0 mg/L in blood (Table 23.7). It is noteworthy that the recommended PCP air concentration of 0.5 mg/m3 results in a daily intake of 2.5 to 3.8 mg (based on 15 to 23 m3 of air inhaled daily, 8-h exposure), equivalent to 42 to 63 pg/kg BW for a 60-kg female. These levels are higher than the currently recommended no-adverse-effect level of 30 pg/kg BW daily (Table 23.7), and overlap or exceed the 58 to 74 pg/kg BW daily range — a level recommended by Williams (1982). Air concentrations >1.0 mg PCP/m3 can produce respiratory irritation in unacclimatized individuals, but concentrations as high as 2.4 mg/m3 can be tolerated by conditioned individuals (USEPA 1980). The biological tolerance value of <1000 pg PCP/L in blood, recommended by Ziemsen etal. (1987), is based on occupational air exposure studies exposure to maximum average air concentrations of 0.18 mg PCP/m3 for up to 34 years produced blood PCP residues of 23 to 775 pg/L, with no measurable adverse effects. The authors concluded... 

DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). 1997. List of MAK and BAT Values 1997. Maximum Concentrations and Biological Tolerance Values at the Workplace. Report No. 33.1st Ed. Weinheim Wiley-VCH. 

Most BEIs are defined as concentrations of determinants or biomarkers anticipated in biological specimens collected from healthy workers whose exposure to certain chemicals by all routes is equivalent to that of workers with inhalation only exposure at the OEL. Others measure reversible effects on the body, and still others are those that are below the concentrations associated with health effects. However, other definitions are common. For example, the German biological tolerance values (BAT) can be defined as rates of excretion of the chemical or its metabolites, or the maximum possible deviation from the norm of biological parameters induced by these substances in exposed humans. BEIs for some chemicals use other criteria, such as direct comparison with a measurable toxic effect, like carboxyhemoglobin in blood for carbon monoxide. 

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (2004) Biological Tolerance Values. List ofMAK and BAT Values, pp. 189-197. Weinheim, Germany Wiley-VCH. 

MAK (1988) Maximum Concentrations at the Workplace and Biological Tolerance Values for Working Materials, DFG Report No. XXIV. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft Weinheim, Basel, Cambridge, New... 

DEG (2002) List ofMAK and BAT values 2002. Maximum concentrations and biological tolerance values at the workplace. Report No. 38. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. 

Biologische Arbeiisstoffioleranzwerte (Biological Tolerance Value for 0( pa mal e sutes). Arbeitspla gmtzwerte (workplace limit values). 

Biological Tolerance Value for occupational exposures (Biologische Arbeitsstofftoleranzwerte - BAT). 

Biological monitoring is mainly carried out for acute exposures in the workplace, and most typically Involves urine and serum collection. Although the NI content of these fluids does not in general Indicate specific health risks, biological tolerance values of 30 g Ni/L in urine and 8/specific sources of excessive exposure. 

MAK values, TRGS 900, maximum workplace concentrations and biological tolerance values... 

TABLE 5. Biological Tolerance Values (BATs) [31] and Biological Exposure Indices (BEls) [32] for Some Working Materials... 

BAT biologischer Arbeitsstoff-Toleranzwert = biological tolerance value for a working material for the detailed definition see [31] or section 3.2 in chapter 1 of [5]... 

Let us mention also the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of USA lists (OSHA), which publishes legal rules sueh as OSHA final rule, air contaminants — permissible exposure hmits, title 29, Code of federal regulations, part 1919-1000. In Germany, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinsehaft DFG publishes each year the MAK and BAT values, maximum concentrations at the workplace and biological tolerances values for working materials . 

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