Toxicology of Industrial Chemicals

The Toxicology of Industrial Chemicals section, which is part of the Exposure and Risk Assessment department of the IFA (the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance), supports accident insurance institutions on issues relating to the toxic effects of chemicals. The focus is on conveying information about regulatory toxicology in connection with exposure to hazardous substances at work, and especially about carcinogenic substances.

The activities of this section include representation on subcommittees of the Hazardous Substance Committee (AGS), the Maternity Protection Committee (AfMU) and the Senate Commission for the Testing of Harmful Industrial Chemicals (MAK Commission).

As well as conducting toxicological research and assessments, deriving exposure limits and risk assessments and identifying substitutes, this section also carries out systematic summaries of occupational OSH issues (see box "More information").

Together with the Basic Principles, Methods and Software Solutions section in the Accident Prevention: Digitalisation - Technologies department, the Toxicology of Industrial Chemicals section has developed a programme entitled Children Explore Safety and Health. This is a collaborative project, undertaken with the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the public sector in Rhineland-Palatinate. The idea is to use child-friendly experiments and games with children of nursery and primary school age to sharpen their hazard awareness and to stimulate an understanding of correct protective measures.