OELs 6 - Final Report V3 Welding fumes

Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic substances Directive (Directive 2004/37/EC), hereinafter referred to as CMRD, protects workers from exposure to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances at work. Article 2 (in paragraph (a)(ii)) of the CMRD defines a ‘carcinogen’ as: “a substance, mixture or process referred to in Annex I to this Directive as well as a substance or mixture released by a process referred to in that Annex.” IARC (2018) classified welding fumes as a group one human carcinogen, and other studies since have confirmed the carcinogenic nature of welding fumes (9 studies analysed by ANSES, 20221). As welding fumes+ (as defined in section 2.1.1) are Process Generated Substances, the Commis-sion is considering an entry to Annex I in the CMRD for welding fumes+ that contain carcinogenic (or mutagenic or reprotoxic) substances. The study team were asked to “investigate the costs and benefits in relation to introducing an entry in Annex I to the Directive”, in order to reflect the most recent discussions within the steering committee, in particular the need to bring legal certainty about the scope of the CMRD.