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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 occupational 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 occupational 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.
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)
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 [75-86-5] C 1ppm Skin
Acetonitrile [75-05-8] 20 ppm Skin
Acetophenone [98-86-2] 10 ppm R
Simple
Acetylene [74-86-2] EX
asphyxiant
Acetylene tetrabromide (See 1,1,2,2 Tetrabromoethane)
Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) [50-78-2] 5 mg/m3
Acrolein [107-02-8] C 0.1 ppm Skin
Acrylamide, Inhalable [79-06-1] Revised 2005 0.03 mg/m3 (V) Skin; 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 1.0 mg/m3 (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 S
Allyl methacrylate [96-05-9] Skin; (I)
Bracketed letters are end notes, e.g., "(L)" and "(V)";
STEL column C = Ceiling limit;
Notations column R = Adverse reproductive effect; S = Sensitizer;
A1, A2, 1, 2A, 2B = Carcinogen designations Page 2 of 22
Table of exposure limits for chemical and biological substances Updated 2019/05/01
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
(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.