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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 Aug 25.
Published in final edited form as: Crit Rev Toxicol. 2014 Oct;44(Suppl 4):1–80. doi: 10.3109/10408444.2014.934439

Table 7.

Aluminum occupational exposure limits.

Metallic aluminum (mg/m3)

Country 8 h time-
Weighted-
Average (TWA)
15 min short-
term exposure
limit (STEL)
Comments Source References
Argentina 10 None Total dust http://infoleg.mecon.gov.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/30000–34999/3201/dto351-1979-anexo3.htm
http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm
Australia 5 None Fume http://hsis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/ExposureStandards Safe Work Australia 2012
Australia 10 None Respirable dust http://hsis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/ExposureStandards Safe Work Australia 2012
Austria 10 20 (60 min) Fume Dust http://www.arbeitsinspektion.gv.at/NR/rdonlyres/F173280B-D4FB-44D2-8269-8DB2CB1D2078/0/GKV2007.pdf
Belgium 1 None Fume Powder (Fraction alvéolaire) http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=23914
Finland 1.5 None Welding fume http://pre20090115.stm.fi/hm1113394626349/passthru.pdf
Denmark 5 10 Inhalable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
Denmark 2 4 Respirable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
France 10 None Inhalable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
France 5 None Respirable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
Germany 4 (under review) None Inhalable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx DFG (2007)
http://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/dfg_im_profil/gremien/senat/arbeitsstoffe/mak_bat_werte_liste_2013.pdf IFA (2011a)
DFG (2013)
Germany 1.5 (under review) None Respirable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv/de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
http://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/dfg_im_profil/gremien/senat/arbeitsstoffe/mak_bat_werte_liste_2013.pdf
DFG (2007)
IFA (2011a)
DFG (2013)
Germany 10 None Inhalable dust Fume Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) IFA (2011b)
Germany 3 None Respirable Dust Fume Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) IFA (2011b)
Hong Kong 10 None Metal dust http://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/oh/AirImpure.pdf
Hong Kong 5 None Welding fume http://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/oh/AirImpure.pdf
Hungary 6 None Respirable aerosol http://www.emla.hu/prt/kembizt25_2000.pdf
http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm
Malaysia 10 None Metal dust http:/miosh.net/articles/OSH%20legislations/schedule1,II%26III.doc Ministry of Manpower Permissible Exposure Limits Schedule 1 Regulation 6 and 7
Malaysia 5 None Welding fume http:/miosh.net/articles/OSH%20legislations/schedule1,II%26III.doc Ministry of Manpower Permissible Exposure Limits Schedule 1 Regulation 6 and 7
Netherlands None None Not assigned http://www.gr.nl/sites/default/files/201005OSH.pdf
http://www.healthcouncil.nl
Health Council of the Netherlands. Aluminum and aluminum compounds. Publ. No. 2010/05OSH.
ISBN 978-90-554 9-806-2
New Zealand 10 None Metal dust http://www.osh.dol.govtnz/publications/booklets/wes-and-biological-indices-2013.pdf
http://www.mbie.govt.nz
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Workplace Exposure Standards and Biological Exposure Indices, 7th ed, 2013
New Zealand 5 None Welding fume http://www.osh.dol.govtnz/publications/booklets/wes-and-biological-indices-2013.pdf
http://www.mbie.govt.nz
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Workplace Exposure Standards and Biological Exposure Indices, 7th ed, 2013
Norway 5 None Al powder http://www.arbeidstilsynet.no/artikkel.html?tid=78880
South Africa 10 None Metal dust Total inhalable https://www.labour.gov.za/legislation/regulations/occupational-health-and-safety/regulation-ohs-hazardous-chemical-substances
South Africa 5 None Metal dust respirable https://www.labour.gov.za/legislation/regulations/occupational-health-and-safety/regulation-ohs-hazardous-chemical-substances
South Korea 10 None Metal dust http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
Spain 10 None Inhalable aerosol http://www.insht.Es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Documentacion/TextosOnline/Valores_limite/GT-lEPN024-07%20VlA%202008%20negro_2.pdf Limites de Exposición Profesional para Agentes Quimicos en España, 2008
Spain 5 None Respirable aerosol http://www.insht.Es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Documentacion/TextosOnline/Valores_limite/GT-lEPN024-07%20VlA%202008%20negro_2.pdf Limites de Exposición Profesional para Agentes Quimicos en España, 2008
Sweden 5 None Total dust http://www.av.se/document/afs/AFS2005_17.pdf
http://www.av.se/dokument/inenglish/legislations/eng0517.pdf
Provisions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority on Occupational Exposure Limit Values and Measures Against Air Contaminants, 13 June 2005
Sweden 2 None Respirable dust http://www.av.se/dokument/inenglish/legislations/eng0517.pdf
http://www.av.se/document/afs/AFS2005_17.pdf
Provisions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority on Occupational Exposure Limit Values and Measures Against Air Contaminants, 13 June 2005
Switzerland 3 None Respirable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
United Kingdom 10 None Inhalable dust/aerosol http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/table1.pdf http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx HSE (2011)
United Kingdom 4 None Respirable dust/aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/table1.pdf HSE (2011)
United States 10 (total) 5 (respirable) None Metal dust, powder, elemental Al http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0022.html NIOSH REL
United States 5 None Welding fume http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0022.html
Federal Register 54 (12): 2508, 2554, 2589, 2621, Wednesday January 19, 1989
NIOSH REL
United States 15 None Total dust (as Al) Federal Register 58(124): 35341, Wednesday, June 30, 1993 OSHA PEL
United States 5 None Respirable fraction Federal Register 58(124): 35341, Wednesday, June 30, 1993 OSHA PEL
United States 1 None Respirable dust ACGIH TLV® ACGIH (2008)
Australia 10 None http://hsis.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/ExposureStandards Safe Work Australia, 2012
Austria 5 10 Respirable dust http://www.arbeitsinspektion.gv.at/NR/rdonlyres/F173280B-D4FB-44D2-8269-8DB2CB1D2078/0/GKV2007.pdf
Belgium 1 None Fraction alvéolaire http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=23914
Germany 4 (under review) None Inhalable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
http://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/dfg_im_profil/gremien/senat/arbeitsstoffe/mak_bat_werte_liste_2013.pdf
DFG (2007)
IFA (2011a)
DFG (2013)
Germany 1.5 (under review) None Respirable aerosol http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv/de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
http://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/dfg_im_profil/gremien/senat/arbeitsstoffe/mak_bat_werte_liste_2013.pdf
DFG (2007)
IFA (2011a)
DFG (2013)
Germany 10 None Inhalable dust Fume Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) IFA (2011b)
Germany 3 None Respirable dust Fume Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) IFA (2011b)
Hong Kong 10 None http://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/oh/AirImpure.pdf
Hungary 6 None Respirable http://www.emla.hu/prt/kembizt25_2000.pdf
http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm
Malaysia 10 None No asbestos; < 1% crystalline silica http://miosh.net/articles/OSH%20legislations/schedule1,II%26III.doc Ministry of Manpower Permissible Exposure Limits Schedule 1 Regulation 6 and 7
Norway 10 None http://www.arbeidstilsynet.no/artikkel.html?tid=78880
Poland 2.5 None Total dust http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
Poland 2.5 None Respirable dust http://limitvalue.ifa.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
South Africa 10 None Total inhalable dust Al2O3, AlOOH, Al(OH)3 https://www.labour.gov.za/legislation/regulations/occupational-health-and-safety/regulation-ohs-hazardous-chemical-substances
South Africa 5 None Respirable dust Al2O3, AlOOH, Al(OH)3 https://www.labour.gov.za/legislation/regulations/occupational-health-and-safety/regulation-ohs-hazardous-chemical-substances
Spain 10 None Inhalable aerosol http://www.insht.Es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Documentacion/TextosOnline/Valores_limite/GT-lEPN024-07%20VlA%202008%20negro_2.pdf Limites de Exposición Profesional para Agentes Quimicos en España, 2008
Spain 5 None Respirable aerosol http://www.insht.Es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Documentacion/TextosOnline/Valores_limite/GT-lEPN024-07%20VlA%202008%20negro_2.pdf Limites de Exposición Profesional para Agentes Quimicos en España, 2008
Sweden 5 None Total inhalable http://www.av.se/document/afs/AFS2005_17.pdf
http://www.av.se/dokument/inenglish/legislations/eng0517.pdf
Provisions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority on Occupational Exposure Limit Values and Measures Against Air Contaminants, 13 June 2005
Sweden 2 None Total dust http://www.av.se/document/afs/AFS2005_17.pdf
http://www.av.se/dokument/inenglish/legislations/eng0517.pdf
Provisions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority on Occupational Exposure Limit Values and Measures Against Air Contaminants, 13 June 2005
Switzerland 3 None Respirable aerosol http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm
http://www/sapros.ch/images/supplier/220/pdf/01903_f.pdf
http://limitvalue.ifs.dguv.de/WebForm_ueliste.aspx
United Kingdom 10 None Inhalable dust http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/table1.pdf
United Kingdom 4 None Respirable dust http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/table1.pdf
Argentina 2 None Total dust http://infoleg.mecon.gov.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/30000-34999/3201/dto351-1979-anexo3.htm
http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm
Belgium 2.5 None AlF3 http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=23914
Belgium 2 None http://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/WCMS_118291/lang--en/index.htm
http://www.emploi.belgique.be/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=23914
Finland 2 None http://pre20090115.stm.fi/hm1113394626349/passthru.pdf
Finland 1 None Al2(SO4)3 AlF3 http://pre20090115.stm.fi/hm1113394626349/passthru.pdf
Malaysia 2 None http://miosh.net/articles/OSH%20legislations/schedule1,II%26III.doc Ministry of Manpower Permissible Exposure Limits Schedule 1 Regulation 6 and 7
Norway 2 None http://www.arbeidstilsynet.no/artikkel.html?tid=78880
New Zealand 5 None http://www.osh.dol.govtnz/publications/booklets/wes-and-biological-indices-2013.pdf
http://www.mbie.govt.nz
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Workplace Exposure Standards and Biological Exposure Indices, 7th ed., 2013
South Africa 2 None https://www.labour.gov.za/legislation/regulations/occupational-health-and-safety/regulation-ohs-hazardous-chemical-substances
Spain 2 None http://www.insht.Es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Documentacion/TextosOnline/Valores_limite/GT-lEPN024-07%20VlA%202008%20negro_2.pdf Limites de Exposición Profesional para Agentes Quimicos en España, 2008
Sweden 1 None Total dust (as Al) http://www.av.se/dokument/inenglish/legislations/eng0517.pdf Provisions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority on Occupational Exposure Limit Values and Measures Against Air Contaminants, 13 June 2005
Switzerland 2 None Inhalable aerosol IFA (2011a)
United States 2 None AlCl3, Al2(SO4)3 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0022.html NIOSH REL
United States 2.5 None Na3AlF6 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0022.html NIOSH REL