International Cadmium association members Area
ICdA & IZA/REACH Cadmium Consortium publish on the effectiveness of the implementation of a combination of air- and biomonitoring at the workplace.
ICdA & IZA/REACH Cadmium Consortium publish on the effectiveness of the implementation of a combination of air- and biomonitoring at the workplace.
PDF
Cadmium monitoring at the workplace: effectiveness of a combination of air-and biomonitoring
The process of setting occupational exposure limit values for cadmium is still ongoing. The EU Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive recommended in 2019 values for the inhalable air fraction and the respirable fraction but the latter in combination with a biological urinary limit only for an 8-years transition period.
This article presents an approach to derive a respirable fraction value in air, using recent human data and demonstrates the successful implementation of the 2017 SCOEL recommendation (4µg Cd/m³ respirable fraction OEL and 2µg Cd/g creatinine BLV) by ICdA and its Industry Members for more than a decade, to protect the workforce.
This commentary paper will be used at the level of tripartite Working Party on Chemicals (WPC) and in convincing Commission and Member States that a respirable fraction value helps protect workers against local respiratory adverse health effects. But, air monitoring alone is not sufficient to protect workers against systemic effects of cadmium, therefore, complementary biomonitoring and the implementation of a biological limit value is recommended.
