1.5 What Is a CMR Agent?
11
(3.1) Reduction of amounts
(3.2) Reduction of the number of employees exposed
(3.3) Capture at the source (extremely important in food environments where
the compound is continually generated/produced)
(3.4) Implementation of hygiene measures
(3.5) Information and training for workers
(3.6) Area limitation of risk zones
(3.7) Setting up devices to be used in case of emergency
(3.8) Safe collection, storage, and disposal of waste
(3.9) Medical supervision.
Should CMR present other hazards, for example physicochemical dangers, the
employer would put in place measures needed to suppress or reduce them (Brossat
et al. 2012).
It has to be noted that some CMR agents have well-defined exposure limits: for
example, benzene (3.25 mg/m
3 ); vinyl chloride monomer (2.59 mg/m
3 ); wood dust
(1 mg/m
3 ); and metallic lead and its compounds (0.10 mg/m
3 ) (Cheng et al. 2000;
European Commission 1991; Lewis 2008; Puntari´ c et al. 2005).
Another note concerns exposure to certain toxic chemicals (e.g., acrylic fibers
and nylons) before the age of 36 and related possible risk of breast cancer after
menopause, according to a Canadian study (Labrèche et al. 2010).
1.6 Elements of Occupational Toxicology
Occupational toxicology is an essential discipline concerning (i) primary prevention
to avoid the occurrence of a chemical risk and (ii) secondary prevention in order to
avoid further damages as soon as possible. Occupational toxicology must be developed within the framework of a multi-disciplinary chemical risk control: Harmful
effects of chemicals, in terms of occupational health and also in terms of the environment, need to be pursued intensively. Epidemiological and toxicological studies
concern approximately 100,000 chemicals, and this number is constantly growing
while a very small number of them have been thoroughly tested for detecting their
risks, especially carcinogens (Silbergeld 1998).
Occupational (or industrial) toxicology is used with the following aims:
(1) To describe biological effects of different industrial chemical agents used in the
workplace
(2) To define permissible exposure levels and means for measuring the concentration of these substances in the air or on surfaces
(3) To define biological monitoring and screening for toxic effects in workers.
11
(3.1) Reduction of amounts
(3.2) Reduction of the number of employees exposed
(3.3) Capture at the source (extremely important in food environments where
the compound is continually generated/produced)
(3.4) Implementation of hygiene measures
(3.5) Information and training for workers
(3.6) Area limitation of risk zones
(3.7) Setting up devices to be used in case of emergency
(3.8) Safe collection, storage, and disposal of waste
(3.9) Medical supervision.
Should CMR present other hazards, for example physicochemical dangers, the
employer would put in place measures needed to suppress or reduce them (Brossat
et al. 2012).
It has to be noted that some CMR agents have well-defined exposure limits: for
example, benzene (3.25 mg/m
3 ); vinyl chloride monomer (2.59 mg/m
3 ); wood dust
(1 mg/m
3 ); and metallic lead and its compounds (0.10 mg/m
3 ) (Cheng et al. 2000;
European Commission 1991; Lewis 2008; Puntari´ c et al. 2005).
Another note concerns exposure to certain toxic chemicals (e.g., acrylic fibers
and nylons) before the age of 36 and related possible risk of breast cancer after
menopause, according to a Canadian study (Labrèche et al. 2010).
1.6 Elements of Occupational Toxicology
Occupational toxicology is an essential discipline concerning (i) primary prevention
to avoid the occurrence of a chemical risk and (ii) secondary prevention in order to
avoid further damages as soon as possible. Occupational toxicology must be developed within the framework of a multi-disciplinary chemical risk control: Harmful
effects of chemicals, in terms of occupational health and also in terms of the environment, need to be pursued intensively. Epidemiological and toxicological studies
concern approximately 100,000 chemicals, and this number is constantly growing
while a very small number of them have been thoroughly tested for detecting their
risks, especially carcinogens (Silbergeld 1998).
Occupational (or industrial) toxicology is used with the following aims:
(1) To describe biological effects of different industrial chemical agents used in the
workplace
(2) To define permissible exposure levels and means for measuring the concentration of these substances in the air or on surfaces
(3) To define biological monitoring and screening for toxic effects in workers.