Help in identifying Carcinogen, Mutagen and toxic for Reproduction risks in waste treatment sector

Summary

During the first phase of the RECORD 02-0660/1A study, the Réseau Santé Déchets and POLDEN compiled the following characteristics of the 407 substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction by the European Union and 10 substances classified as carcinogenic by the IARC, which are of particular interest to waste treatment facilities, in a database known as the "CMR database": substance identification numbers (index number, CAS number, EC or EINECS number), chemical synonyms, risk phrases, physico-chemical properties, occupational exposure limit values (OELVs), biological exposure indices (BEIs) and toxicological reference values (TRVs), analysis methods and main industrial uses. During the second phase of the study (04-0660/2A), we completed the database of the 81 substances added by the EU to the list published by the INRS and researched the characteristics of these new substances. The sources consulted are indicated on the following page. We also searched for information missing from the "CMR database" and updated its content. The improvement of its appearance and use, and the possibilities offered for querying it, in particular from lists of pre-established substances, were submitted to the project's tutors and future users of the CMR database. For each of the 42 substances of interest for CMR risk assessment of waste treatment workers, this document indicates in various tables the documents containing the scientific references used to develop the reference values (VLEP, IBE and VTR) and published by the various bodies in France, the USA and Great Britain. Following the research carried out, it is possible to consider that access to scientific data does not exist for either VLEP or IBE in the case of France. For OELs, NIOSH and ACGIH in the USA and the UK HSE provide high-quality documents for the various substances concerned. For IBEs, the ACGIH and the HSE indicate the source of the scientific data used. A comparison of the ELVs established by the various bodies for the 42 substances of interest shows that the values established for regulatory purposes are generally higher than those established by bodies that are based on more scientific considerations. In developing TRVs, all the organisations consulted (EPA, ATSDR and WHO) provided documents of high scientific quality in support of their approach. An in-depth analysis of these numerous documents could make it possible to identify the scientific data relating to the dose-response relationships used to develop the reference values and the critical effects considered.