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ON THE ISSUE OF IMPROVING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES IN WORKPLACE AIR IN ACCORDANCE WITH EU REQUIREMENTS

ON THE ISSUE OF IMPROVING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES IN WORKPLACE AIR IN ACCORDANCE WITH EU REQUIREMENTS

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.21, No 3, 2025

https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2025.03.195

ON THE ISSUE OF IMPROVING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES IN WORKPLACE AIR IN ACCORDANCE WITH EU REQUIREMENTS

Chernychenko I.O., Babii V.F., Hlavachek D.O., Lytvychenko O.M., Kondratenko O.Ye.

SI “O.M. Marzieiev Institute for Public Health, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”

Full article (PDF), UKR

In the system of quality management of the working environment and the prevention of occupational cancer due to exposure to chemical carcinogens, the hygienic regulation of carcinogenic substances plays a key role in protecting workers' health. The national regulatory framework contains a significant number of such compounds; however, the methodological approach to their regulation in Ukraine does not always align with current international standards.

The aim of the study was to analyze methodological approaches to the assessment of carcinogenic substances and evaluate the safety of their occupational exposure limits in workplace air using a risk-based criterion, in accordance with European Union requirements.

Materials and methods. Bibliosemantic, bibliographic, and hygienic research methods were used. The study analyzed national hygienic standards for carcinogenic substances, EU regulatory acts, data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and methodological documents from the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Risk-based dose-response assessment methods were applied to evaluate compliance of occupational exposure limits with the criterion of acceptable carcinogenic risk.

Results. The analysis revealed that among 57 carcinogenic substances included in the national regulatory framework for workplace air, only 21 have hygienic standards that do not require revision. However, for 36 substances, the estimated risk level exceeds the internationally accepted threshold of 1×10-3, indicating the need for mandatory revision of the exposure limits towards more stringent values. The situation is further complicated by the absence of a nationally defined level of acceptable carcinogenic risk in Ukraine. Therefore, this study used the international benchmark, where a risk level of 1×10-3 was previously considered acceptable for workplace air, and now a stricter level of 1×10-4 is being considered. Based on this, dose-response relationships were calculated for major groups of carcinogens according to their IARC classification.

Conclusions. The results indicate the need to revise hygienic standards for a significant number of carcinogenic substances included in the national regulatory framework, as most of them do not ensure an acceptable level of carcinogenic risk for the working population. To harmonize with European approaches to the assessment and regulation of occupational carcinogens, it is advisable to implement a dose-risk-based approach. This method allows for a more scientifically grounded determination of occupational exposure limits based on risk criteria. Such harmonization would not only enhance worker health protection but also support the integration of the national hygienic regulation system into the European occupational health and safety space.

Keywords: carcinogenic substances, hygienic regulation, carcinogenic risk, acceptable risk level, workplace air, regulatory framework, prevention, international standards.

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