Advisory letter: Comparison of recommended exposure limits for hydrogen sulphide

In 2006 DECOS assessed the consequences of occupational exposure to hydrogen sulphide and recommended a health-based occupational exposure limit for hydrogen sulphide of 2.3 mg/m³ (1.6 ppm). This Health Council advisory report then served as the basis for the SCOEL recommendation issued early 2007. Although the SCOEL derived its health-based occupational exposure limit from the same critical study and the same health effect (nasal tissue damage), the SCOEL recommended a higher health-based occupational exposure limit than DECOS.

Committee

• G.J. Mulder, Emeritus Professor of Toxicology, Leiden University, Leiden, chairman
• R.B. Beems, Toxicologic pathologist, formerly employed at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven
• P.J. Boogaard, Toxicologist, Shell International BV, The Hague
• J.J.A.M. Brokamp, Social and Economic Council, The Hague, advisor
• D.J.J. Heederik, Professor of Health risk analysis, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht
• R. Houba, Occupational hygienist, Netherlands Expertise Centre for Occupational Respiratory Disorders (NECORD), Utrecht
• H. van Loveren, Professor of Immunotoxicology, Maastricht University, Maastricht; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven
• T.M. Pal, Occupational physician, Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases, Amsterdam
• A.H. Piersma, Professor of Reproductive toxicology, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven
• H.P.J. te Riele, Professor of Molecular biology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam
• I.M.C.M. Rietjens, Professor of Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen
• H. Roelfzema, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, advisor
• G.M.H. Swaen, Epidemiologist, Dow Benelux N.V., Terneuzen
• R.C.H. Vermeulen, Epidemiologist, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht
• R.A. Woutersen, Toxicologic pathologist, TNO Quality of Life, Zeist; Professor of translational toxicology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen
• P.B. Wulp, Occupational physician, Labour Inspectorate, Groningen
• A.S.A.M van der Burght, Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, scientific secretary