The Nordic Expert Group for Crit 157. Wood dust

Evaluation of health hazards as basis for an occupational exposure limit

Abstract

The current evaluation of Wood dust is a collaboration between NEG and DECOS. The main task of the Nordic Expert Group for Criteria Documentation of Health Risks from Chemicals (NEG) is to produce criteria documents to be used by the Nordic regulatory authorities as the scientific basis for setting health-based calculated occupational cancer risk values (HBC-OCRVs) for chemical agents. At the request of the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, the Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Safety (DECOS), a committee of the Health Council of the Netherlands, performs scientific evaluations on the toxicity of chemical substances that are used in the workplace. The purpose of these evaluations is to recommend HBC-OCRVs for the concentration of a substance in the air, provided that the data allows the derivation of such values. These recommendations serve as a basis in setting final, legally binding occupational exposure limits (OELs) by the Dutch and Nordic authorities.

NEG and DECOS have an agreement to collaborate in the evaluation and recommendation of HBC-OCRVs if a chemical substance is on the work programme of both committees. The committees both have permanent roles in giving scientific advice to help protect workers against the potentially harmful effects of chemical substances that they may encounter in the course of their work. In this connection, the committees assess the toxic properties and health effects of these substances and make recommendations for HBC-OCRVs. The joint advisory report can be used by the regulatory authorities in the Netherlands and in the Nordic countries when setting legally binding OELs. Additional information on
the tasks of the committees can be found at www.gezondheidsraad.nl and at www.nordicexpertgroup.org. The members of the NEG and DECOS, and the consulted experts, are listed in Appendix 4 of this advisory report.

This advisory report has been prepared by both the NEG and the DECOS. In November 2025, the president of the Dutch Health Council released a draft of this advisory report for public review. The comments received have been considered by the committees of both NEG and DECOS in deciding on the final recommendation and contents of this advisory report. The comments and the replies can be found on the website of the Dutch Health Council.