European Parliament approves new EU limits on workplace exposure to carcinogens

The European Parliament on Tuesday approved a sixth revision of the EU directive on carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances, setting new exposure limit values for cobalt, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 1,4-dioxane and a long-term limit for isoprene.

Parliament endorsed the updates by 499 votes to 49, with 104 abstentions. Parliament and the Council had already provisionally agreed them. The European Commission says the measures will prevent about 1,700 lung cancer cases and 19,000 other illnesses over the next 40 years. According to Parliament, the rules also clarify provisions on personal protective equipment. They require employers to ensure additional protection measures for firefighters and other emergency services personnel.

Member states will have two years from the directive's entry into force to transpose its provisions, with longer transitional periods for certain occupational exposure limit values, Parliament said. The European Commission will have to assess the need to set additional limit values for substances contained in welding fumes.