Peer-Reviewed Scientific Rigor for Setting Occupational Exposure Standards

OUR CHALLENGE

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) is a well-recognized nongovernmental agency with influence over occupational exposure standards that dates back to its pre-World War II beginnings. Revisions of ACGIH’s existing standards occur regularly, with a formal comment period but very little transparency. A client representing one of the most important industrial trade associations approached us in an effort to compile comprehensive safety data to support ACGIH’s revisions.

OUR APPROACH

Integral scientists gathered material-specific safety information beginning with early reports from the 1940s to the present day. We reinterpreted old occupational exposures and conclusions with modern insights in respiratory health, and we compared manufacturing technologies and analytical capabilities over the years and aligned production volumes with reported disease manifestation in the context of exposure time and induction period.

OUR IMPACT

Integral’s dossier was made available to ACGIH for consideration within the submission specifications set by the organization. Furthermore, we published our findings in the peer-reviewed literature as an open access article to provide other researchers and competent authorities worldwide with access to our comprehensive review. Our publication outlines the strengths and weaknesses of specific data and crystallizes our key conclusions regarding occupational safety.