On Tuesday 22 September, the European Commission proposed revising Directive 2004/37/EC, which protects workers from the risks of carcinogens and mutagens, by adding acrylonitrile and nickel compounds and by revising downwards the exposure limits for benzene.
Acrylonitrile, which affects between 10,000 and 33,000 workers in the European Union, according to the Commission, is used in many sectors ranging from textiles to construction. The substance is believed to cause many cancers of the...