Table Exposure Limits Chemical Biological Substances PDF en
Table Exposure Limits Chemical Biological Substances PDF en
Table Exposure Limits Chemical Biological Substances PDF en
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation section 5.48 provides established exposure limits for a worker's exposure to hazardous
chemical substances. Generally, these exposure limits are established according to the Threshold Limit Values ("TLVs") adopted by the
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ("ACGIH"). WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board) has the
authority to make exceptions and adopt exposure limits for specific chemical substances that are not consistent with the TLVs established
by the ACGIH. Policy R5.48-1 sets out those exceptions. The below Table of Exposure Limits for Chemical and Biological Substances
shows all exposure limits for British Columbia workplaces, i.e., adopted TLVs and exposure limits developed by exception.
WorkSafeBC publishes this exposure limit table in accordance with its mandate under the Workers Compensation Act to provide
information and promote public awareness. This table does not represent the official exposure limits and designations. WorkSafeBC does
not warrant the accuracy or the completeness of the information in this table, and none of its board of directors, employees or agents shall
be liable to any person for any loss or damage of any nature arising from this version.
Where WorkSafeBC has adopted a TLV or ACGIH designation, the official exposure limit is in the ACGIH TLV documentation. Where
an exposure limit is adopted by exception, the official exposure limit is found in Policy R5.48-1. The official source of the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenicity designations is the IARC set of monographs.
TWA column
This is the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) limit, as defined in section 5.1 of the OHS Regulation.
• Units: Exposure limits are reported in ppm, mg/m3, or f/cc. In general, substances present in air as a vapour or gas are reported in
parts per million (ppm). Substances present in air as an aerosol (dust, fume, mist) and mixtures such as diesel fuel are typically reported in
milligrams per cubic metre (mg/m3). See OHS Guideline G5.48-4 for a procedure to convert from one type of unit to the other. Fibrous
substances, such as synthetic vitreous fibres (e.g., glass wool fibres) are reported in fibres per cubic centimetre (f/cc). This is equivalent to
fibres per millilitre, or f/ml, which is another common term.
STEL/Ceiling column
This is the short-term exposure limit or STEL, which is defined in section 5.1 of the OHS Regulation . Note that:
• "C" indicates a ceiling limit, which is defined in section 5.1 of the OHS Regulation.
• The units ppm and mg/m3 are used as in the TWA column.
• In some cases, the term "simple asphyxiant" is used. This is a gas or vapour that can displace oxygen in the air, resulting in possible
suffocation from lack of oxygen. Because simple asphyxiants do not have other significant toxic effects, an exposure limit is not
applicable. The limiting factor is the available oxygen. See section 5.56 of the OHS Regulation (Oxygen deficiency).
Notations column
The notations identify substances considered to be carcinogens, sensitizers and those with adverse reproductive effect under section 5.57
of the OHS Regulation . Section 5.57 deals with requirements for substitution and keeping exposure as low as reasonably achievable
below the exposure limit. The notations column also indicates substances that contribute significantly to overall exposure by the skin
route, in which case section 5.52 of the OHS Regulation applies. Note that:
• ACGIH notations A1 and A2 and IARC notations 1, 2A and 2B indicate substances designated as carcinogens under section 5.57(1)
of the OHS Regulation . The different categories used by the two organizations indicate different levels of certainty of carcinogenic effect,
eg. from confirmed carcinogen to probable or possible. For more information see OHS Guideline G5.57.
• Three terms, "S", "S(D)", and "S(R)", indicate a substance is an ACGIH sensitizer under section 5.57(1) of the OHS Regulation. The
ACGIH indicates that a substance is a sensitizer with a "SEN" notation or it states a substance as having a sensitizing effect in the TLV
Basis column in the ACGIH booklet. "S" indicates that a substance has the potential to produce sensitization, as confirmed by human or
animal data. "S(D)" indicates a substance with specific evidence of sensitization by dermal route and "S(R)" indicates a substance with
specific evidence of sensitization by respiratory route. The absence of a sensitization notation does not mean that a substance lacks the
ability to produce sensitization, but may reflect the inconclusiveness of scientific evidence. For more information, see OHS Guideline
G5.57.
• The letter "R" means that the substance has an adverse reproductive effect under section 5.57(1) of the OHS Regulation. For more
information see OHS Guideline G5.57.
• The term "EX" means that the substance is a flammable asphyxiant or excursions above the exposure limit could approach 10% of
the lower explosive limit.
• The term "Skin" identifies substances that contribute significantly to the overall exposure by the skin route. For more information see
OHS Guideline G5.52.
Substance [CAS No.] TWA STEL/Ceiling Notations
Abate (See Temephos)
Acetaldehyde [75-07-0] Revised 2014 C 25 ppm A2, 2B
Acetamide [60-35-5] 2B; (I)
Acetamiprid, Inhalable fraction and vapour [135410-20-7] R; (I)
Acetic acid [64-19-7] 10 ppm 15 ppm
Acetic anhydride [108-24-7] Revised 2011 1 ppm 3 ppm
Acetone [67-64-1] 250 ppm 500 ppm
Acetone cyanohydrin, as CN [75-86-5] C 1ppm Skin
Acetonitrile [75-05-8] 20 ppm Skin
Acetophenone [98-86-2] 10 ppm R
Acetylene [74-86-2] Simple EX
asphyxiant
Acetylene tetrabromide (See 1,1,2,2 Tetrabromoethane)
Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) [50-78-2] 5 mg/m3 S(R); Skin
Acrolein [107-02-8] C 0.1 ppm Skin; 2A
Acrylamide, Inhalable [79-06-1] Revised 2005 0.03 mg/m (V) 3 S(D); Skin; A2; 2A
Acrylic acid [79-10-7] 2 ppm Skin; R
Acrylonitrile [107-13-1] 2 ppm Skin; 2B
Adipic acid [124-04-9] 5 mg/m3
Adiponitrile [111-69-3] 2 ppm Skin
Alachlor, Inhalable [15972-60-8] Revised 2007 3
1.0 mg/m (V) S(D)
Aldicarb [116-06-3] Skin; (I)
Aldrin, Inhalable [309-00-2] Revised 2007 0.05mg/m3 (V) 2A; Skin
Allyl alcohol [107-18-6] 0.5 ppm Skin
Allyl amine [107-11-9] 2 ppm
Allyl bromide [106-95-6] Skin; (I)
Allyl chloride [107-05-1] Revised 2011 1 ppm 2 ppm Skin
Allyl glycidyl ether [106-92-3] 1 ppm
Allyl methacrylate [96-05-9] Skin; (I)
Allyl propyl disulfide [2179-59-1] Revised 2006 0.5 ppm S(D)
[61790-53-2]
Silica, Amorphous - Diatomaceous earth (uncalcined), Respirable 1.5 mg/m3
[61790-53-2]
Silica, Amorphous - Fume, Total [69012-64-2] 4 mg/m3
Silica, Amorphous - Fume, Respirable [69012-64-2] 1.5 mg/m3
Silica, Amorphous - Precipitated and gel, Total [112926-00-8] 4 mg/m3
Silica, Amorphous - Precipitated and gel, Respirable [112926-00-8] 1.5 mg/m3
Silica, Crystalline - alpha quartz [14808-60-7; 1317-95-9] and Cristobalite, 0.025 mg/m3 A2, 1
Respirable [14464-46-1] Revised 2006
Endnotes
(E) - the value is for particulate matter containing no asbestos and less than 1% crystalline silica.
(F) - the value for fibres longer than 5 microns, with an aspect ratio of equal than/greater than 3:1, as determined by the membrane filter method at
400-450 times magnification (4 mm objective), using phase-contrast illumination.
(G) - as measured by the vertical elutriator, cotton-dust sampler, see TLV Documentation.
(H) - reciprocal calculation method, see OHS Guideline G5.48-12.
(I) - see Special Notes in Table 1 below.
(J) - does not include stearates of toxic metals.
(K) - should not exceed 2 mg/m3 respirable particulate.
(L) - No exposure limit. Exposure by all routes should be carefully controlled to levels as low as possible.
(M) - refers to sulfuric acid contained in strong inorganic acid mists.
(N) - the 8-hour TWA listed in the Table is for the total dust. The substance also has an 8-hour TWA of 3 mg/m3 for the respirable fraction.
(O) - sampled by method that does not collect vapour.
(P) - application restricted to conditions in which there are negligible aerosol exposures.
(V) - vapour and inhalable aerosol.