Lead, diisocyanates ...

EU Parliament approves new limit values

Negotiators from Parliament and the EU member states had already agreed on the new limit values in November, and Parliament has now formally confirmed the agreement.

(Bild: (C) Andreas Franke, stock.adobe.com (Symbolbild))

The EU Parliament has given the green light for new limit values for harmful chemicals in the workplace. For the first time in forty years, lower limit values for lead and, for the first time ever, limit values for so-called diisocyanates have been adopted. 

These substances are likely to be increasingly used in the course of the energy transition because they are used for batteries and the construction of electric cars, wind turbines and building renovations, for example.

The new EU limit values here should be less than a quarter of the previous values. "It is not everyday that we can significantly improve working conditions for more than four million workers," said the responsible rapporteur and MEP Nikolaj Villumsen.

150,000 workers are exposed to diisocyanates
It is estimated that up to 150,000 workers in the EU are exposed to lead and around 4.2 million workers are exposed to diisocyanates. These are found in foams, paints and adhesives, for example, and are one of the most common causes of occupational asthma. They can also cause allergic reactions. Exposure to lead can in turn affect fertility, damage the nervous system and kidneys and lead to high blood pressure.