Cover: The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

German Research Foundation – Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area
(MAK Commission)

ISSN 2509-2383



Arsen und anorganische Arsenverbindungen (mit Ausnahme von Arsenwasserstoff) – Addendum: Reevaluierung von BLW und EKA

Beurteilungswerte in biologischem Material

Bernd Roßbach1
Stephan Letzel1
  Hans Drexler2 (Leitung der Arbeitsgruppe „Beurteilungswerte in biologischem Material“ der Ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  Andrea Hartwig3 (Vorsitz der Ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission4

1 Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Institut für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Obere Zahlbacher Str. 67, 55131 Mainz, Deutschland
2 Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Henkestraße 9–11, 91054 Erlangen, Deutschland
3 Institut für Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Abteilung Lebensmittelchemie und Toxikologie, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Geb. 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Deutschland
4 Ständige Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Deutschland

Abstract

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated the exposure equivalents for carcinogenic substances (EKA) as well as the biological guidance value (BLW) for arsenic [7440-38-2] and inorganic arsenic compounds with the exception of arsine. Recent findings on formation and renal excretion of the arsenic metabolite dimethylarsinic acid suggest substantial alimentary influence on this parameter, which has been used as biomarker besides other metabolites. In order to increase the diagnostic reliability, EKA were derived without the use of dimethylarsinic acid as marker for internal exposure, taking into account now the metabolites arsenic(III), arsenic(V) and monomethylarsonic acid. Furthermore, the range of the EKA was extended to concentrations below 1 µg/m3. Analogous to the EKA derivation, the BLW was re-evaluated based on the renal excretion of the species arsenic(III), arsenic(V) and monomethylarsonic acid. To prevent peripheral neuropathy as the most critical systemic toxic effect besides carcinogenicity, an average concentration of 10 µg/l for the sum of arsenic(III), arsenic(V) and monomethylarsonic acid should not be exceeded in post shift urine samples.


Keywords

arsenic, inorganic arsenic compounds, biological guidance value, BLW, exposure equivalents for carcinogenic substances, EKA