Sponsor:
Federal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (FIOSH) (
project 1922)
Realisation:
FoBIG GmbH, Freiburg, Dr. Klaus Schneider (project management), Jan Oltmann
Hydrotox GmbH, Freiburg, Stefan Gartiser
Project duration:
July 2006 – January 2008
Project description
Directive 98/8/EC governs the authorisation and the placing on the market of biocidal products in the European Union and the use of existing (marketed in the EU before 14.05.2000) and new biocidal active substances by their approval for inclusion into Annex I, IA or IB of the Directive. For the evaluation of active substances by authorities risk assessments are required which comprise also an estimation of the expected human exposure.
The project investigated the occupational exposure from the use of molluscicides (PT 16), insecticides, acaricides and products to control other arthropods (PT 18) and repellents and attractants (PT 19). There exist guidelines to assist the evaluation of occupational exposure to biocides. But detailed exposure scenarios and exposure data to allow for reliable exposure estimates are lacking for the mentioned product types. Therefore, the following information was compiled within this project:
- the type of active substances and biocidal products and their application areas
- activities with relevant exposure, including the characterisation of active substances, user groups and exposure pathways
- techniques used and the specific conditions of use (duration, frequency, possible application errors, protection measures, company-specific conditions).
It was shown that occupational exposure to biocidal products of product type 16 is practically non-existent. For product types 18 and 19, use patterns and exposure scenarios were developed. For typical scenarios and activities the exposure was estimated quantitatively and applications with increased risks were identified. For the latter, „good practices“ (in terms of organisational, informational and personal risk management measures) were described.
Further information
The final report has been published by the FIOSH and can be downloaded here.
Contact person
Dr. Stefan Gartiser (
gartiser(at)hydrotox.de, Tel: #49-(0)761-45512-24)