NEW RELEASE NEW WORK EXPOSURE LIMIT SET FOR 19 SUBSTANCES Produced by: Ontario Ministry of Labour Stricter work exposure limits have been set for 19 hazardous substances by the Ministry of Labour's Joint Steering Committee on Hazardous Substances. The new limits go into effect on October 31, 1994. Among the most commonly used hazardous substances slated to have exposure limits reduced are two types of asbestos, cadmium, silica, carbon tetrachloride and 2-Hexanone. The remaining 14 substances are not widely used in Ontario. The two types of asbestos affected by the new daily exposure limits are amosite and crocidolite. Amosite will have its limit reduced to 0.1 from 0.5 fibres per cubic centimetre and crocidolite will have its limit reduced to 0.1 from 0.2 fibres per cubic centimetre. The exposure limit for cadmium, which is used in such things as the manufacture of nickel-cadmium batteries and in electroplating, will be reduced to 0.2 from 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre. Carbon tetrachloride, used as a solvent, will have its maximum exposure limit reduced to two parts per million from five parts per million. Precipitated silica and silica gel, used in the manufacture of such things as glass, ceramics and abrasives, will have its exposure limit reduced to four from 10 milligrams per cubic metre. The exposure limit for 2-Hexanone or methyl butyl ketone, a solvent, will be reduced to one part from five parts per million. In making its recommendations, the bi-partite committee compared exposure limits for 99 hazardous substances in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands with Ontario limits. It then held extensive public consultations with business, labour and other interested parties to determine whether changes would result in significant adverse economic impact. As a result of this process, new exposure limits have been set for 19 substances and the limits for seven will remain the same. The Ministry will make recommendations to the Minister on reducing the exposure limits on the remaining 73 hazardous substances before the end of 1994. Notices setting new proposed limits for a further 134 substances, will be published in the near future. Business, labour and other interested parties will again be invited to make submissions on them. Contacts: Dr Barry Lubek Occupational Health and Safety Branch Ministry of Labour (416) 326-7888