REACH Exposure scenarios a case study

1
REACH Exposure scenarios a case study

• Case study on REACH exposure scenarios in the
  paint industry
• Developed under the Dutch VASt programme
• Jaco Westra, Ministry of Social Affairs and
  Employment, The Netherlands

2
Outline

• Exposure scenarios General considerations
• Case study in the paint industry
• Conclusions

3
Some basic considerations

• An exposure scenario is a description of how a
  substance or preparation can be used in a safe way

• Chemical Risk Assessment

• (Some measure of) exposure

• Chemical Risk

• (Some measure of) toxicity

4
Some basic considerations
Toxicity data
Manufacturer
Formulator 1

• Intended use info
• Handling use
• Exposure levels
• Risk reduction measures

Formulator 2
User
5
Case study paint production (workers)
Surfactant

• Q How to draft meaningful exposure scenarios
  that cover a complete sector
• Starting points
• Paint production is similar throughout the sector
• Much info on working conditions already available
• Conditions will in many cases be REACH-proof

Additive package
Paint production
Paint application
6
Case study paint production (workers)
Surfactant

• Approach
• Description of production
• Inventory of handling and use aspects, exposure
  information and risk reduction measures
• Information sources
• Documents on BAT
• Workplace visits by occupational hygienists
• Round-table discussion with paint manufacturers

Additive package
Paint production
Paint application
7
Case study paint production (workers)
Process description
Surfactant

• Inventory of
• Task description
• Task duration
• Exposure controls
• Task frequency
• Exposure data
• Amounts used

Additive package
Paint production
Paint application
8
Case study paint production (workers)
Surfactant
Sector inventory data availability
Additive package
Paint production
Paint application
9
Case study paint production (workers)
Sector inventory data interpretation
Surfactant

• The inventory of data is a picture of the
  exposure control situation within the paint
  sector, based on the current working conditions.
• There is a spread in the exposure control
  situations due to differences in working
  conditions within the paint sector.
• This spread can be used to describe the different
  options for exposure control within the paint
  sector.

Additive package
Paint production
Paint application
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Case study paint production (workers)
Sector specific exposure control options
Surfactant
Optimum control
Minimum control
Weighing and adding
Additive package
Mixing (base paint)
Colour making
Paint production
Filling packages
Paint application
Cleaning (mixing vessel)
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Case study paint production (workers)
Substance X toxicity data
Surfactant
Additive package
Paint production
Paint application
12
Case study paint production (workers)
Surfactant
Preparation Y toxicity data
Additive package
Paint production
Paint application
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Some conclusions

• Major findings (paint industry)
• Much useful data available to draft REACH ES
• Useful for substances as well as preparations
• Large part of paint industry covered
• REACH ES written in language of paint sector
• More effort needed to fill data gaps

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Is this approach useful for your sector?

• Majority of uses in a sector can be covered
• Suitable for substances and preparations
• Result suitable scenarios which are
  understandable by sector members
• Strong involvement of DU combine knowledge
• Sector involvement
• Sector needs are secured
• Stronger position in supply chain
• Problem handling on sector level (e.g. CBI)
• Good level of abstraction for exposure scenarios
• Specific enough to fulfill REACH needs
• General enough to leave room for individual DU
  (employer responsibility according to CAD)

15
Why bother?

• The paint case study shows that DUs are
  important players and not only on the receiving
  end.
• DUs should take control of their own data to
  create negotiating position with supplier
• This is the way we work please supply us with
  substances that fit our needs.
• DUs on sector level can facilitate manufacturer
  may help to keep substances on market
• DUs activity on sector level
• Lower costs per individual company
• CBI handling on sector level

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Finally

• There is more work to be done!
• Conceptual futher development of idea
• Further involvement of DU industries is needed
• Support tools (IT) may be developed (e.g.
  stoffenmanager from Netherlands)