New EU Exposure Limits for Cobalt, PAHs and 1,4-Dioxane Set to Reshape Chemical Risk Management

The policy shift will significantly impact companies operating in battery manufacturing, metalworking, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors reliant on these substances. Employers must align with the updated occupational exposure limits (OELs) within two years of the Directive’s entry into force—though transitional periods up to six years apply to certain industries.

Cobalt, PAHs, and 1,4-Dioxane: New Risk Thresholds Defined

Cobalt and its inorganic compounds—critical in electric vehicle batteries, magnets and hard metals—now face dual OELs: 0.01 mg/m³ (inhalable fraction) and 0.0025 mg/m³ (respirable fraction). A six-year transitional limit of 0.02 mg/m³ and 0.0042 mg/m³ applies, providing breathing space for adaptation.

PAHs, particularly those containing benzo[a]pyrene, are widely present in foundries, road paving and welding. The Commission has established a limit of 0.00007 mg/m³, with a transitional value of 0.00014 mg/m³ allowed for high-impact sectors such as aluminium and steel manufacturing.

1,4-dioxane, a solvent found in chemical processing and detergents, now carries an 8-hour exposure limit of 7.3 mg/m³ and a short-term ceiling of 73 mg/m³. A biological limit value has also been set: 45 mg of HEAA per gram of creatinine in urine.

Welding Fumes Now Under CMRD Scope

Welding fumes have officially been added to Annex I of the CMRD. While not classified under the EU’s CLP Regulation, their inclusion follows IARC findings linking fumes to lung cancer. This regulatory shift mandates risk assessments and exposure controls where welding fumes may contain carcinogenic or reprotoxic substances such as chromium (VI) or cadmium.

Wider Implications for Supply Chains and Regulators

The update affects not only manufacturers but also public authorities, occupational health professionals, and downstream users. With wide disparities in national OELs, the EU-wide limits will level the playing field while boosting legal clarity and enforcement efficiency.

Sector-wide, the changes also feed into broader goals—from Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to the Green Deal—by incentivising substitution, safer practices and innovation in chemical use.