1,3-Butadiene; Health-based calculated occupational cancer risk values

1,3-Butadiene is a gas that is used for many purposes in industry. The Health Council has evaluated the health risks of this gas due to occupational exposure. It concludes that inhalation may lead to leukaemia and related types of cancers. Therefore, the council advises to classify the compound as ‘known to be carcinogenic to man’ (category 1A). Hence, the council has estimated which concentration of 1,3-butadiene in the air corresponds to a certain risk of cancer death due to exposure, based on a working period of 40 years. Today, the advisory report is submitted to the minister of Social Affairs and Employment.