China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace
— Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents（GBZ 2.1‑2019）-chemical hazardous agents in Air is a mandatory standard issued by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. This standard specifies the permissible concentration-time weighted average (PC-TWA), permissible concentration-short term exposure limit (PC-STEL), and maximum allowable concentration (MAC) for chemical hazardous factors in workplace air. Covering various categories including inorganic compounds, organic solvents, and high molecular polymers, the standard includes hundreds of chemical substances and defines sampling protocols and testing methods for each category, serving as the statutory basis for employers to conduct detection and assessment of occupational disease hazards.

China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace — Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents(GBZ 2.1‑2019)-chemical hazardous agents in Air

China Occupational Exposure Limits Query | GBZ 2.1‑2019 Limits for Chemical Hazardous agents  Query | PC‑TWA/STEL/MAC Concentration Query | Workplace Air Testing Standards

China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace
— Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents（GBZ 2.1‑2019）-Dust in Air establish clear exposure limits for various types of production dust. The standard specifies PC-TWA and excursion limits for both total dust and respirable dust, with particularly stringent concentration control requirements for highly fibrogenic dusts such as silica dust (containing ≥10% free crystalline silica) and coal dust. Employers are required to conduct periodic detection and assessment in accordance with this standard to prevent the occurrence of pneumoconiosis.

China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace — Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents(GBZ 2.1‑2019)-Dust in Air

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China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace
— Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents（GBZ 2.1‑2019）-Biological Agents in Air constitute the mandatory standard in this field. This standard defines the maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) for bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their toxins and metabolites in workplace air. A total of 11 biological factors are included, among which highly infectious pathogens such as Brucella and Bacillus anthracis are classified as extremely hazardous categories subject to zero-tolerance MAC limit control, applicable to industries including laboratory animal facilities, fermentation industries, and medical waste treatment.

China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace — Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents(GBZ 2.1‑2019)-Biological Agents in Air

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China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace
— Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents（GBZ 2.1‑2019）-Biological Monitoring Indicator and Biological Limit Value assess workers' internal dose exposure levels by measuring the concentrations of toxic substances or their metabolites in human biological materials (such as blood, urine, and exhaled breath). The standard specifies permissible limits (BEL) for each indicator and optimal sample collection timing, providing criteria for early detection of subclinical health impairment in workers.

China Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace — Part 1: Chemical hazardous agents(GBZ 2.1‑2019)-Biological Monitoring Indicator and Biological Limit Value

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Japan Technical Guidelines for Application of Concentration Standards for Prevention of Health Impairment Caused by Chemical Substances are formulated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in conjunction with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment, issued as official technical documents under the Industrial Safety and Health Act. Based on international toxicological data and domestic Japanese epidemiological studies, these guidelines establish category-specific concentration standards by substance class (such as organic solvents, heavy metals, and specified chemical substances), including time-weighted average concentrations (TWA), short-term exposure concentrations (STEL), and maximum allowable concentrations (MAC). Extremely stringent control limits are set for high-risk substances such as benzene, asbestos, and lead, accompanied by special prevention rules.

Japan Technical Guidelines for Application of Concentration Standards for Prevention of Health Impairment Caused by Chemical Substances

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EU List of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values（IOELVs）originates from Council Directive 98/24/EC of the European Union and is continuously updated through subsequent directives (2000/39/EC, 2006/15/EC, etc.), serving as the benchmark legal document for EU member states in protecting workers from chemical substance risks. This list defines "indicative limit values" (IOELV), requiring member states to adopt these limits or establish more stringent national standards. Carcinogens such as benzene, asbestos, and formaldehyde are listed as priority control substances. The directive explicitly requires enterprises to ensure that worker exposure levels do not exceed the limits when complete avoidance is impossible, and mandates compliance risk assessments.

EU List of Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values(IOELVs)

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EU List of on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work（ 2004/37/EC ）establishes statutory exposure limits for specific high-risk substances by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). This list focuses primarily on substances with carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR) properties. ECHA regularly reviews and updates environmental, health, and safety data for these substances through its scientific committees, issuing legally binding limit value opinions. Enterprises producing or importing these substances must strictly comply with exposure assessment and control obligations, implementing comprehensive risk management from molecule to factory.

EU List of on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work( 2004/37/EC )

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UK  Workplace exposure limits(EH40/2005)-List of Approved Workplace Exposure Limits is published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the official document EH40/2005, serving as the core supporting document for the UK Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) with clear legal effect. This list specifies workplace exposure limits (WEL), divided into 8-hour TWA and 15-minute STEL. Inhalable dust (such as RCS silica) and carcinogenic substances (such as chromates) require special control strategies.

UK  Workplace exposure limits(EH40/2005)-List of Approved Workplace Exposure Limits

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Comments(The Carc, Sen and Sk notations are not exhaustive.)

Long-term exposure limit(8-hr TWA reference period,mg.m3)

Long-term exposure limit(8-hr TWA reference period,ppm)

Short-term exposure limit(15-minute reference period,mg.m3)

Short-term exposure limit(15-minute reference period,ppm)

UK  Workplace exposure limits(EH40/2005)-Biological Monitoring Guidance Values (BMGVs) are established by HSE for assessing worker health risks. This list primarily includes heavy metal indicators such as blood lead and urinary cadmium, as well as organic solvent indicators such as benzene metabolites. Unlike exposure limits alone, BMGV are mainly used to determine the effectiveness of existing control measures and whether workers are at abnormally high absorption risk. When monitoring results exceed BMGV, employers must initiate formal health risk assessment procedures, review exposure conditions, and decide whether to adjust work arrangements.

UK  Workplace exposure limits(EH40/2005)-Biological Monitoring Guidance Values (BMGVs)

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Ireland Chemical Agents and Carcinogens CoP(2024) is published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), based on the transposition of EU Directive 98/24/EC combined with national conditions to form a national recommended occupational exposure limit system. This list covers common toxic gases and vapors, with highly flammable and highly toxic substances listed as priority control objects. Risk assessments must reference this list; if recommended limits are not met, reasonable justification for controls or equivalent protective measures must be provided.

Ireland Chemical Agents and Carcinogens CoP(2024)

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Germany List of Occupational Exposure Limits and Short-term Exposure Limits (TRGS 900) is managed by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and published in Technical Rule TRGS 900. This list defines permissible workplace air concentrations (AGW) and short-term exposure limits (BGW), including hundreds of substances. The MAK value (maximum workplace concentration) serves as the core control indicator, considering not only acute and chronic toxicity but also specifically addressing sensitization and carcinogenicity. The standard sets more stringent limits than EU directives for many substances, renowned for its extremely high scientific rigor.

Germany List of Occupational Exposure Limits and Short-term Exposure Limits(TRGS 900)

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Netherlands Occupational Health and Safety Regulations-List of Legal Limit Values by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW), covering a wide range of industrial chemicals with 8-hour TWA and short-term exposure limits established for each substance. Carcinogenic substances and sensitizers (such as isocyanates) are subject to stricter "specific limit" management. Dutch standards require enterprises to demonstrate the effectiveness of control measures through the toolbox risk assessment tool, ensuring worker exposure remains below statutory MAC limits at all times.

Netherlands Occupational Health and Safety Regulations-List of Legal Limit Values

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Mexican Chemical Contaminants in the Work Environment——Recognition, Evaluation and Control-Exposure Limit Values for Chemical Contaminants in the Work Environment(NOM-010-STPS-2014) is a mandatory legal limit enforced by the Mexican Ministry of Labor. This list includes hundreds of chemical substances, specifying detailed 8-hour TWA and 15-minute STEL limits for each. Solvents with respiratory irritancy and neurotoxicity constitute the highest proportion in industrial hygiene compliance inspections. The standard explicitly requires enterprises to post limit notices in workplaces and regularly update hazard communication plans.

Mexican Chemical Contaminants in the Work Environment——Recognition, Evaluation and Control-Exposure Limit Values for Chemical Contaminants in the Work Environment(NOM-010-STPS-2014)

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Banco de Dados de Limites de Exposição Ocupacional