Schwangerschaftsgruppen, neue Gruppe B (Verdacht)
MAK-Begründung
Andrea Hartwig1 (Vorsitz der Ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)MAK Commission2
1 Institut für Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Abteilung Lebensmittelchemie und Toxikologie, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Geb. 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Deutschland
2 Ständige Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Deutschland
Abstract
The Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) derives limit values for hazardous chemical substances in the air and in biological material (MAK and BAT values) to protect employees at the workplace. However, observance of the MAK and BAT values does not guarantee that the unborn child is protected during pregnancy because these limit values are derived without considering this end point. Therefore, the Commission additionally evaluates all substances to determine whether they may potentially harm a foetus and assigns them to pregnancy risk groups based on the MAK/BAT values. The Pregnancy Risk Groups A, B, and C indicate whether adhering to the MAK or BAT value protects an unborn child. If adequate quantitative data are not available, the substances are assigned to Pregnancy Group D. The Pregnancy Group B (suspected) was introduced for substances that have been found to pose at least a potential hazard of causing developmental toxicity. Data for suspected developmental (neuro)toxic effects are collected for each substance. An expert judgement is prepared to assess the plausibility of a realistic potential hazard for humans at the workplace. Substances for which no MAK or BAT value can be established (such as carcinogenic substances or substances included in Section II b) may likewise be assigned to Pregnancy Group B (suspected).
