Metals EU Risk Assessments:

In the past decade, EBRC was involved in several EU risk assessments on major metals, which can be summarised briefly as follows:

Zinc (metal), Zinc oxide, Zinc chloride, Zinc sulphate, Zinc phosphate, Zinc distearate

Appointment as principal industry co-ordinator with overall responsibility for the human health section of the RAR on Zinc and Zinc compounds (Rapporteur Member State: NL). In this context, EBRC organised the collection and evaluation of occupational exposure data for four of the six leading producers and their major downstream user industries, including inhalation and dermal exposure monitoring programmes, and also represented the Zinc industry at TCNES meetings and in negotiations with rapporteurs and Member States. In addition, EBRC was contracted with collating environmental emission inventories for production and downstream uses of various zinc compounds.

Nickel (metal), Nickel sulphate, Nickel carbonate, Nickel chloride, Nickel dinitrate

During the conduct of the human health risk assessment of Nickel and its compounds, EBRC was contracted as advisor to the European Nickel Development Institute, and also attended TCNES meetings on behalf of the Ni industry. EBRC continues to be involved in subsequent exposure and risk-assessment issues, and in risk management related projects.

Copper (metal), Copper (I) oxide, Copper (II) oxide, Copper sulphate, Dicopper chloride trihydroxide

Involvement in the Voluntary Risk Assessment for Copper and Copper compounds by chairmanship of the Scientific Peer Review Panel, including attendance of meetings with the reviewing country and at TCNES level.

Lead and lead compounds

Co-authorship on the Voluntary Risk Assessment Report on Lead and a total of thirteen lead compounds, with special emphasis on occupational exposure. The report addresses several dozen downstream user industries, and entails the statistical evaluation of a data base of more than 120,000 individual inhalation exposure or blood lead monitoring data points. EBRC actively presented and defended this dossier at TCNES level and in discussions with EU Member State competent authorities.

Antimony trioxide

EBRC provides continuous support to the Antimony industry in their on-going EU risk assessment (rapporteur: SWE), attends TCNES meetings and bilateral meetings with the rapporteur country. EBRC conducted a full downstream user survey on all ATO-consuming industries, involving questionnaire development in several EU languages, reporting and defence of the outcome with the rapporteur country.

Other metals

EBRC has been contracted by other metal industry associations (such as Silver, Molybdenum, Cobalt, selenium and Tellurium) to provide support in preparation for REACH, for example by conducting data gathering and evaluation exercises, including an analysis of data gaps and testing requirements.