Chemical risks

Since 2005, the Agency has been responsible for organising the independent, multidisciplinary, collective scientific expert appraisal needed for setting occupational exposure limits (OELs). A dedicated expert committee has therefore been set up to support the Agency in this mission. At the same time, ANSES is also responsible for drafting a list of chemicals for priority assessment, which it proposes to the French Ministry of Labour, thus enabling the Ministry to develop the programme for the OEL expert mission after consultation with the social partners.

Man-made vitreous (silicate) fibres, also called man-made mineral fibres (MMMF) are a group of materials that include refractory ceramic fibres (RCF), special-purpose glass fibres, glass wool, rock wool, slag wool and continuous glass filaments. Their insulating properties mean that some of these fibres may replace asbestos in certain applications. Accordingly, questions have arisen as to their potential impact on the health of people exposed to them. In this context, the Agency received a solicited request to specify MMMF applications and assess the resulting exposure of both the general population and that of workers. In response, it produced two reports.