ACGIH 2021 Changes to TLV’s and BEI’s

On January 7, 2021, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) released the 2021 Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs). The Board also approved recommendations for additions to the Notice of Intended Changes (NIC). While TLVs and BEIs are not to be used as standards, they are essential tools for safety and health professionals and employers to establish workplace safety and identify areas for improvement. Some of the changes include the previously established 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) TLV for:

• Toluene – reduced from 50 ppm to 20 ppm. The Cal/OSHA PEL is 10ppm.
• Perchloryl fluoride – reduced from 3 ppm to 0.5 ppm. The Cal/OSHA PEL is 3 ppm.
• Isopropylamine – reduced from 5ppm to 2ppm (TWA) TLV and 10ppm to 5ppm (STEL) TLV. The Cal/OSHA PEL is 5ppm.

The following are a couple substances identified as part of the 2021 notice of intended changes:

• Dipropylene glycol methyl ether – recommended change (TWA) TLV from 100 ppm to 50 ppm.
•  Xylene – recommended change (TWA) TLV from 100 ppm to 20 ppm.

ACGIH adopted changes for 22 chemical substance TLVs, one physical agent TLV, and one BEI chemical change. Documentation on the NICs listing of substances that were acted upon are available on the ACGIH website. The Cohen Group is able to assist in identifying workplace exposures to chemicals, biologic and physical agents that your employees may experience while on the job and measure if they are within the ACGIH recommended limits as well as Cal/OSHA PELs. Please contact us with any questions regarding changes to ACGIH TLVs or BEIs and how those changes may affect your workplace.