January 31, 2003—ACGIH recently announced that its Board of Directors ratified the 2003 Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs). The Board also approved recommendations for additions to the Notice of Intended Changes (NIC).
TLVs and BEIs are guidelines to be used by professionals trained in the practice of industrial hygiene; they are not designed to be used as standards. The TLVs and BEIs are health-based values established by committees that review existing published and peer-reviewed literature in various scientific disciplines. Based on the available information, ACGIH formulates a conclusion on what level of exposure the typical worker can experience without an unreasonable risk of disease or injury. There is no consideration given to economic or technical feasibility.
The Notice of Intended Changes (NIC) is comprised of those substances and physical agents for which a limit is proposed for the first time, or for which a change in the Adopted value is proposed. Those proposed values should be considered trial values for the year following ratification.
For a Statement of Position outlining the proper usage of TLVs and BEIs, as well as a listing of the substances that were acted upon, visit ACGIH.
Draft Documentation for the substances on the Notice of Intended Changes (NIC) are currently available for purchase from ACGIH or by calling 513/742-2020.
