Project partners: German Social Accident Insurance Institutions
Under the EU REACH Chemical Regulation, a manufacturer registering substances under REACH must state assessment metrics which serve as a basis for the corresponding protective measures. Deduced levels of exposure below which a substance does not adversely affect human health are described as “derived no-effect levels” (DNELs).
Last February, the GESTIS DNEL Database was launched on the internet. This database provides workplace-related DNELs which have been established by manufacturers and importers under their own responsibility and have been published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), in the first instance without review. Key data for each substance are also listed for its identification (synonyms, index numbers, formulae) together with a link to further substance data in the GESTIS Substance Database.
The GESTIS hazardous substance information system currently contains DNELs for employees (local and/or systemic effects in the event of inhalative long-term exposure) with additional information for approximately 1,200 substances. The list is continually being extended, including DNELs from safety data sheets.
Users thus have access to an overview of the DNELs published to date that have been stated for inhalative long-term workplace exposure. The values can be employed for risk assessment in respect of tasks involving hazardous substances, for example for the specification of protective measures and for evaluation of their efficacy.
If a national German occupational exposure limit (AGW) exists for an individual substance, attention is drawn in the document output that the AGW is binding at workplaces in Germany. Similarly, a warning notice is given where DNELs have been stated for a substance classified as being clearly carcinogenic.
Beside the access to the database, the internet portal offers extensive information about definition and types of DNELs and DMEL (derived minimum effect levels) values. An additional module providing practical examples on how to utilize DNELs as an OSH tool is in progress.
Maintained by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), the GESTIS DNEL Database has been set up upon request of the German Social Accident Insurance Institutions and with their specialized support.
More information: http://www.dguv.de/webcode.jsp?q=e145564
Contact: Dr Eberhard Nies, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Germany, eberhard.nies@dguv.de
