EU action on carcinogens


In 2016 and 2017 the European Commission announced proposed changes to the carcinogens and mutagens directive to limit workplace exposure to 18 cancer-causing chemicals by including new or amended limit values. These set a maximum concentration for the presence of a chemical carcinogen in the workplace air. 
The European Trade Union Congress (ETUC) called on the Commission to adopt a more ambitious strategy and action plan to eliminate work-related cancers and, in February 2017, MEPs voted in favour of a series of amendments to the Commission’s proposals.


Particularly important, according to the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), is an amendment concerning “reprotoxics”, which MEPs believe should be covered by the directive. Millions of workers are exposed to these substances, which reduce fertility, cause miscarriage and birth defects and result in serious health problems for children, including childhood cancers, developmental disorders and learning delays. They also voted for lower occupational exposure limits for crystalline silica, wood dusts and chromium (VI) than those proposed by the European Commission and by industry.


Although the UK is set to leave the EU “… you would hope that this will change international standards and therefore lead to UK compliance,” said Dan Shears, national officer for health and safety at the GMB general union. “On the other hand, the UK has a fairly poor track record of keeping up with advancements and changes to occupational exposure standards so it is a bit of mixed picture.”