Agent‡ | Cut-off level (mg/m3) | Dust fraction | Exposed occupations |
Exposed to small particles | |||
Benzo(a)pyrene§ | 0.002 | – | Furnacemen; metal annealers, temperers and case hardeners |
Welding fumes§ | 0.5 | – | Welders |
Other organic dust¶ | 0.5 | Total dust | Firefighters |
Exposed to large particles | |||
Ferrous dust§ | 0.35 | Respirable dust | Metal casters and moulders, welders |
Flour dust¶ | 0.3 | Inhalable dust | Bakers and pastry cooks |
Oil mist¶ | 0.1 | – | Toolmakers, machine-tool setters and operators |
Paper dust¶ | 0.2 | Total dust | Paper and paperboard products workers |
Quartz dust§ | 0.01 | Respirable dust | Concrete and construction workers; well drillers, diamond drillers; potters; metal casters and moulders; miners, quarrymen, furnacemen; bricklayers; stone cutters and carvers; masons; glass and ceramics kilnmen |
Stone/concrete dust¶ | 1.0 | Inhalable dust | Concrete and construction workers; well drillers, diamond drillers; potters; miners, quarrymen; bricklayers; stone cutters and carvers; mining and quarrying work n.e.c. |
Textile dust¶ | 0.1 | Total dust | Fur tailors: pressers; tailors and dressmakers upholsterers; spinners, weavers, knitters and dyers; launderers and dry-cleaners |
Wood dust§ | 0.2 | Inhalable dust | Construction carpenters and joiners; wood work; n.e.c.; bench carpenters and cabinet makers; frame and circular sawyers and planers |
Other organic dust¶ | 0.5 | Total dust | Working proprietors, agricultural, horticultural and forestry enterprises; horticultural workers; agricultural and livestock workers |
Other inorganic dust and fibres¶ | 1.0 | Inhalable dust | Insulators |
↵* Cut-off level: ≥1/10 of OEL.
↵† Definition of exposed occupations: prevalence ≥80% and level ≥1/10 of OEL.
↵‡ The following agents were not assessed with high exposure in any occupation in the PARCC-JEM: asbestos dust, animal-derived dust, bitumen fumes, chromium dust, cooking fumes, diesel exhaust, lead fumes/dust and nickel dust.
↵§ Exposure data from the Nordic Occupational Cancer Study.
↵¶ Exposure data from the Airway Irritating Exposure-JEM.
JEM, job-exposure matrix; N.e.c., not elsewhere classified; OEL, occupational exposure limits; PARCC, PARrticles and Cardio- and Cerebrovascular diseases.