require exposure monitoring studies for
consumer products, and possibly restrict
or ban consumer products containing
uncured MDI or TDI.
The EPA news release is available
from www.epa.gov/newsroom. For more
information about EPA’s chemical action
plans, visit www.epa.gov/oppt/existing
chemicals.
[From: 14]
.
NIOSH Publishes Skin Exposure
Data Online
In May, NIOSH posted information on
skin exposures to a variety of chemicals
to the NIOSH “What’s New?” web page
at www.cdc.gov/niosh/whatsnew.html.
These NIOSH “skin notation profiles” are
worldwide hazard alerts used to warn
workers and employers of the dangers
associated with skin exposures to chemicals in work environments. The profiles
posted May 18 include information on
formaldehyde, bisphenol A, 2-bu-
toxyethanol, hydrogen fluoride/hydro-fluoric acid, and several other chemicals.
Workplace skin diseases account for
15–20 percent of all reported occupational diseases in the U.S., with nearly
$1 billion in estimated total annual
costs, according to NIOSH. Skin notation
information helps NIOSH implement improved risk management methods and
controls for the prevention of workplace
skin exposures and other occupational
diseases related to skin exposures.
In 2009, NIOSH issued “Current Intelligence Bulletin 61: A Strategy for Assigning New NIOSH Skin Notations,”
which provides justifications for assigning new NIOSH skin notations and increases knowledge of the risks posed by
skin exposures to chemicals. That document is available at www.cdc.gov/niosh/
docs/2009-147/pdfs/2009-147.pdf.
.
NIOSH Addresses Exposure to Fine
and Ultrafine Titanium Dioxide
On April 18, NIOSH released “Current In-
telligence Bulletin 63: Occupational Ex-
posure to Titanium Dioxide” a guidance
document aimed at protecting workers
who handle titanium dioxide (TiO2). An
insoluble white powder used in commer-
cial products such as paint, cosmetics,
food, plastics and paper, TiO2 varies in
particle-size fractions, including fine and
ultrafine sizes. Current Intelligence Bul-
letin (CIB) 63 marks the first time NIOSH
has published two different guidelines
for the same chemical based on size. The
agency concludes that ultrafine TiO2 is a
“potential occupational carcinogen.”
The publication examines data related
to the assessment of carcinogenicity and
other negative health effects associated
with TiO2 exposure; establishes recom-
mended exposure limits of 2.4 mg/m3 for
fine and 0.3 mg/m3 for ultrafine TiO2;
and explains exposure monitoring tech-
niques, exposure control strategies, and
future research needs. The OSHA permis-
sible exposure limit for TiO2 is 15 mg/m3.
For more information about CIB 63,
visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2011-160.
