A Screening Method for Occupational Reproductive Health Risk

Abstract

Most currently recognized occupational exposure limits do not consider reproductive toxicological end points consistently when establishing recommended exposure limits. In many cases the information is not available, but perhaps as often, existing data is not employed. Further, many manufacturer's material safety data sheets omit reproductive hazard information. A method for identifying potential reproductive toxins and screening levels for associated health risks useful for hazard communication and exposure control is presented. To date, the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances lists between 5000 and 6000 chemicals, drugs, and natural substances that show a positive outcome in at least 1 reproductive effects study. This reproductive health risk assessment began with these substances. Using elements of the Environmental Protection Agency's health risk assessment process, the list was reduced to 213chemicals during the hazard identification step. Occupational reproductive guidelines (ORGs)were developed in the dose-response evaluation step. At the time of this writing, 85% of the chemicals identified in the hazard identification step have had a screening level dose–response assessment completed. Of these, 13% are greater than or equal to a threshold limit value (TLV®). The remaining 87% do not have a TLV or ORGs below the TLV. The reproductive toxins list, along with the corresponding dose–response–derived ORGs that have been completed, appears at the end of the text.