OELs 6 - Final report V3 Isoprene

This study supports the European Commission’s Impact Assessment of a potential Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) value for isoprene under the scope of Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic substances Directive (CMRD, Directive 2004/37/EC). This report estimates costs and benefits for a range of potential OELs for isoprene. The monetised impacts relate primarily to the compliance costs of achieving the OEL and the avoided costs of ill health for conditions including liver cancer and the two non-cancer endpoints (degradation of olfactory epithelium and degeneration of spinal cord white matter). Isoprene in its monomeric form is used to manufacture rubber materials and an estimated 10,500 workers are exposed to isoprene monomer in the EU. Four reference OELs are assessed against the baseline: 1.3, 8.5, 40 and 129.4 mg/m3. The cost benefit ratios for all policy options indicate higher costs than benefits, with no benefits estimated for any policy options as current exposure levels are not high enough to result in a case of ill health. All estimated impacts are minimal for the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) recommended OEL of 8.5 mg/m3: the costs are €1.5 million over 40 years at this OEL and all estimates have low levels of uncertainty.