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



Isopropylbenzene – Addendum: evaluation of a pregnancy risk group for the BAT value

Assessment Values in Biological Material – Translation of the German version from 2023

Wobbeke Weistenhöfer1
Sandra Michaelsen2
Gerlinde Schriever-Schwemmer2 (Head of the working group “Developmental Toxicity” of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  Hans Drexler1 (Head of the working group “Assessment Values in Biological Material” of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  Andrea Hartwig2 (Chair of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission3

1 Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9–11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
2 Institute of Applied Biosciences, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Building 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
3 Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Germany

Abstract

In 2012, the German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated the maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) of isopropylbenzene (cumene) [98-82-8]. If the MAK value of 10 ml isopropylbenzene/m3 (50 mg/m3) is observed, no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected. Therefore, Pregnancy Risk Group C was confirmed. In 2013, the biological tolerance value (BAT value) of 10 mg 2-phenyl-2-propanol (after hydrolysis)/g creatinine was derived in correlation to the MAK value. Pregnancy Risk Group C is also similarly valid for the BAT value. In adherence with the BAT value of 10 mg 2-phenyl-2-propanol (after hydrolysis)/g creatinine, no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected.


Keywords

isopropylbenzene, biological tolerance value, BAT value, developmental toxicity, prenatal toxicity