BaP and PAH from coal-derived sources; Health-based calculated occupational cancer risk values of benzo[a]pyrene and unsubstituted non-heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from coal-derived sources

At the request of the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, the Committee on Occupational Standards (DECOS), a committee of the Health Council of the Netherlands, derives so-called health-based calculated – occupational cancer risk values (HBC-OCRVs) associated with excess mortality levels of 4 per 1,000 and 4 per 100,000 as a result of working life exposure to substances that have been classified by the European Union or the DECOS as genotoxic carcinogen. In this report the committee derives HBC-OCRVs for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and unsubstituted non-heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from coal-derived sources. PAH (and BaP) are formed by incomplete combustion of these coal-derived sources. Occupational exposure may occur in several industries, such as in: coke ovens and power plants; petroleum refining; aluminium production using Söderberg anodes; manufacture of anodes; and, steel and iron foundries.