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KMID : 0895420130230010027
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Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Enviromental Hygiene
2013 Volume.23 No. 1 p.27 ~ p.34
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Evaluation of the Application of worker-DNELs under REACH Guidance as Provisional Occupational Exposure Limits in the Workplace
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Yoon Young-Hee
Lee Seok-Won
Jung Hyun-Hee
Kim Kwan-Sick
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Abstract
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Objectives : The purpose of this study is to calculate the worker-DNEL (Derived No Effect Level) values using the REACH guidance and compare the calculated DNELs with existing Korea occupational exposure limits (KOELs) for evaluation of the applicability of the worker-DNELs as provisional occupational exposure limits for chemicals that are not established KOELs in the workplace.
Methods : The worker-DNELs for 46 chemicals among 113 hazardous substance requiring management were calculated using the REACH guidance, and a paired t-test was performed to see if there is any statistical difference between two lists (worker-DNELs vs KOELs). The ratios of KOELs over worker-DNELs were also calculated to compare the overall levels of two lists using the geometric means method.
Results : The calculated worker-DNELs for 46 chemicals ranged from 0.001 to 329 mg/m3 (GM= 6.9, GSD = 10.8), and appeared to be a significant difference between the worker-DNELs and the KOELs (p < 0.01). In addition, the ratios of KOELs over worker-DNELs ranged from 0.3 to 394 times (GM = 10.2, GSD = 3.9), indicating that the worker-DNELs were, on average, 27 times lower than the KOELs.
Conclusions : Therefore, the study results show that the calculated worker-DNELs can be applied and used as provisional occupational exposure limits in the workplace in order to reduce worker exposures to chemicals and health risks, and manage potential worker exposures based on the precautionary principle through comprehensive chemical risk assessment.
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KEYWORD
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REACH, worker-DNEL, OEL, Dose Descriptor, Assessment Factors, Risk Characterization
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