Carcinogens and mutagens directive

The council directive 90/394/EEC of 1990 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens was the sixth individual directive based on framework directive 89/391/EEC [6-36]. Up to now, a number of different amendments have been released, for example, the widening of the scope to include mutagens. In the interests of clarity and rationality, the said directive was codified in 2004 to give the new carcinogens and mutagens directive 2004/37/EC [6-37]. The central aim of the directive is the protection of workers from risks to their health and safety. It lays down minimum requirements including limit values. 

The carcinogens and mutagens directive requires the employer to provide information to the competent authorities upon request, which includes the following ... 

According to the carcinogen and mutagens directive 2004/37/EC, the EU member states have to establish provisions on health surveillance of workers, taking into consideration the already existing national laws or practices. The directive... 

Figure 6.14 provides a summary of the most important requirements and provisions for carcinogenic and mutageihc substance based on the carcinogens and mutagens directive 2004/37/EC. 

For carcinogenic and mutagenic substances of categories I and II, the carcinogens and mutagens directive 2004/37/EC is intended to establish binding occupational exposure limits which represent minimum requirements. So far a limit value has been determined for 3 substances only. The substances are benzene, vinyl chloride monomer, and hardwood dusts (see Tkble 6.9). 

Substances, preparations, and processes according to annex I of the carcinogens and mutagens directive 90/679/EEC (now 2004/37/EC i. e. auramine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and hardwood dusts, see also Section 6.4). 

For mutagenic activity, the risk of carcinogens and mutagens compounds which might be presented in the oil was also evaluated according to the international guidelines (OECD 471 and commission directive N° B13/14). Tests have been conducted at the CIT (International Center of Toxicity) Safety and Health Research Laboratories, 27005 Evreux, France. This test evaluates the potential of the Saro essential oil to induce reverse mutation in Salmonella typhimurium, knowing that the bacterial reverse test is able to identify substances that cause point mutations, by affections of DNA base-pairs (19, 20). Five strains of S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 TA 100 and TA 102 were supplied for the study by B.N. Ames Laboratory (University of California, Berkeley or Oakland Research Institute, USA). 

The TRGS 905 contains carcinogenic and mutagenic substances and substances toxic for reproduction and their German classification for which either a different or no classification has been established so r in Annex 1 of Directive 67/548/EEC. But they are only published in the TRGS 905 if neither MAK nor TRK value has yet been established. Verzeichnis sensibilisierender Stoffe, Ausgabe Oktober 2002. 

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