Binding occupational exposure limit values (OELs) of the European Commission

Section 7 (11) of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance transposes the binding limit values of the European Union into national law. The values in question are the atmospheric limit values stated in the table. The list was updated at the end of July 2022 by Directive (EU) 2022/431 (to be transposed into national law by 5 April 2024). The binding EU occupational exposure limit values must be adopted as minimum standards by the Member States. BOELV are not occupational exposure limit values (Arbeitsplatzgrenzwerte - AGW) in the sense of Section 2 (8) of the German Ordinance on hazardous substances (GefStoffV), below which acute or chronic harmful effects upon health need not generally be anticipated.

In response to a proposal by the Committee for Hazardous Substances (Ausschuss für Gefahrstoffe - AGS), the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) has issued other assessment criteria for numerous substances for which EU occupational exposure limit values exist. Additional measures are required where these criteria are exceeded. These national assessment criteria are also stated in the table. During the definition of measures and protective measures, consideration must be given to other aspects including the provisions and requirements of the relevant substance-specific Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances (TRGS), where they exist.

Substances with EU binding occupational exposure limit values (as of July 2022):


Substance
EU directive EU limit value National assessment criteria Source
Acrylamide 2004/37/EC
2017/2398		 0.1 mg/m3 AC: 0.07 mg/m3
TC: 0.15 mg/m3 		TRGS 910
Acrylonitrile 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 1 mg/m3 AC: 0.26 mg/m3
TC: 2.6 mg/m3 		TRGS 910
Arsenic acid and its salts, as well as inorganic arsenic compounds 2004/37/EC
2019/983		 0.01 mg/m3 (IF) AC: 0.00083 mg/m3 (IF)
TC: 0.0083 mg/m3 (IF)		 TRGS 910
Asbestos 2009/148/EC 100.000 F/m3 AC: 10000 F/m3
TC: 100000 F/m3		 TRGS 517, 519, 910
Benzene 2004/37/EC
2022/431
 0.66 mg/m3 AC: 0.2 mg/m3
TC: 1.9 mg/m3 		TRGS 910
Beryllium and inorganic beryllium compounds 2004/37/EC
2019/983		 0.0002 mg/m3 (IF) AGW: 0.00006 mg/m3 (RF)
0.00014 mg/m3 (IF)		 TRGS 900
Bisphenol A: 4,4'-propane-2,2-diyldiphenol 2004/37/EG 2022/431 2 mg/m3 (IF) AGW: 5 mg/m3 (IF) TRGS 900
Bromoethylene (vinyl bromide) 2004/37/EC
2017/2398		 4.4 mg/m3 AGW: 4.4 mg/m3 TRGS 900
1,3-Butadiene 2004/37/EC
2017/2398		 2.2 mg/m3 AC: 0.5 mg/m3
TC: 5 mg/m3 		TRGS 910
Cadmium and its inorganic compounds 2004/37/EC
2019/983		 0.001 mg/m3 (IF) AC: 0.00016 mg/m3 (RF)
TC: 0.001 mg/m3 (IF)		 TRGS 910
Carbon monoxide 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 23 mg/m3 AGW: 35 mg/m3 TRGS 900
Chromium (VI) compounds 2004/37/EC
2017/2398		 0.005 mg/m3
(as chromium) 		0.001 mg/m3 (IF) TRGS 910
Diesel engine exhaust emissions 2004/37/EC
2019/130		 0.05 mg/m3 (EC) AGW: 0.05 mg/m3(EC) TRGS 900
N,N-Dimethylacetamide 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 36 mg/m3 AGW: 18 mg/m3 TRGS 900
N,N-Dimethylformamide 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 15 mg/m3 AGW: 15 mg/m3 TRGS 900
Epichlorohydrine 2004/37/EC
2019/130		 1.9 mg/m3 AC: 1.9 mg/m3
TC: 8 mg/m3		 TRGS 910
1,2-Epoxypropane (propylene oxide) 2004/37/EC
2017/2398 		2.4 mg/m3 AGW: 2.4 mg/m3 TRGS 900
2-Ethoxyethanol 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 8 mg/m3 AGW: 7.6 mg/m3 TRGS 900
2-Ethoxyethyl acetate 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 11 mg/m3 AGW: 10.8 mg/m3 TRGS 900
Ethylene dibromide 2004/37/EC
2019/130		 0.8 mg/m3 AGW: 0.8 mg/m3 TRGS 900
Ethylene dichloride 2004/37/EC
2019/130		 8.2 mg/m3 AC: 0.8 mg/m3
TC: 4 mg/m3		 TRGS 910
Ethylene oxide 2004/37/EC
2017/2398 		1.8 mg/m3 AC: 0.2 mg/m3
TC: 2 mg/m3 		TRGS 910
Formaldehyde 2004/37/EC
2019/983		 0.37 mg/m3 AGW: 0.37 mg/m3 TRGS 900
Hardwood dusts 2004/37/EC
2017/2398		 2 mg/m3 (IF) 2 mg/m3 (IF)
 TRGS 553
Hydrazine 2004/37/EC
2017/2398 		0.013 mg/m3 AC: 2.2 µg/m3
TC: 22 µg/m3 		TRGS 910
Lead and inorganic lead compounds 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 0.15 mg/m3 TRGS 505
Mercury and divalent anorganic mercury compounds including mercury oxide and mercury chloride (measured as mercury) 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 0.02 mg/m3 AGW: 0.02 mg/m3 TRGS 900
2-Methoxyethanol 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 1 ppm AGW: 3.2 mg/m3 (1 ppm) TRGS 900
2-Methoxyethyl acetate 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 1 ppm AGW: 9.9 mg/m3 (1 ppm) TRGS 900
4,4′-Methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline) 2004/37/EC
2019/983		 0.01 mg/m3 AC: 10 μg/m3 (IF)
TC: 410 μg/m3(IF)
4,4′-Methylenedianiline 2004/37/EC
2019/130		 0.08 mg/m3 AC: 0.07 mg/m3
TC: 0.7 mg/m3		 TRGS 910
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 40 mg/m3 AGW: 82 mg/m3 TRGS 900
Nickel compounds 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 0.01 mg/m3 (RF)


0,05 mg/m3 (IF)		 AC: 0,006 mg/m3 (RF)
TC: 0.006 mg/m3 (RF)

AGW: 0.03 mg/m3 (IF)		 TRGS 910


TGRS 900
Nitrobenzene 2004/37/EG
2022/431		 1 mg/m3 AGW: 0.51 mg/m3 TRGS 900
2-Nitropropane 2004/37/EC
2017/2398 		18 mg/m3 AC: 0.18 mg/m3
TC: 1.8 mg/m3 		TRGS 910
Refractory ceramic fibres 2004/37/EC
2017/2398 		0.3 F/ml AC: 0.01 F/ml
TC: 0.1 F/ml
Aluminium silicate fibres		 TRGS 910
Respirable Crystalline silica dust 2004/37/EC
2017/2398 		0.1 mg/m3 0.05 mg/m3 TRGS 559
o-Toluidine 2004/37/EC
2017/2398 		0.5 mg/m3 Manufacture/use only in enclosed systems

AGW: 0.5 mg/m3		 GefStoffV, Annex II (6)


TRGS 900
Trichloroethylene 2004/37/EC
2019/130		 54.7 mg/m3 AC: 33 mg/m3
TC: 33 mg/m3		 TRGS 910
Vinyl chloride 2004/37/EC
2017/2398		 2.6 mg/m3 AGW: 2.6 mg/m3 TRGS 900

AC = acceptable concentration
TC = tolerable concentration
EC = elemental carbon
RF = respirable fraction
IF = inhalable fraction
F = fibres
AGW = occupational exposure limit (GefStoffV Section 2 (8))

Links

Directive 2004/37/EG

Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work

Amending directives for directive 2004/37/EG:

Directive (EU) 2017/2398

Directive (EU) 2019/130

Directive (EU) 2019/983

Directive (EU) 2022/431

Contact:

Dr Marco Steinhausen

Division 1: Information technology, Risk management

Tel: +49 30 13001-3150
Fax: +49 30 13001-38001