Protection from occupational carcinogens and mutagens in Italy: A criticism of the new threshold limit values listed in the Inter-ministerial Decree of 11 February 2021 in the transposition of the European Commission Directives 2019/130/EC and 2019/983/EC

Abstract

This technical report provides an updating on Italian legislation regarding occupational carcinogen and mutagen agents. A Law Decree (chapter IX of law 81/08), deals specifically with carcinogen agents and provides a series of mandatory measures under the responsibility of a specific company preventive task aimed towards risk reduction or its complete elimination. The new Italian In- ter-ministerial Decree no of 11 February 2021 is a consequence of the recent European Directives (no. 2019/130 of 16 January 2019, and no. 2019/983 of 5 June 2019) on the protection of workers from risks related to carcinogens/mutagens exposure during work time. These amendments re- gard both occupational exposure limits (Directive no. 2019/130) and list of working process with exposure to carcinogens (Directive no.219/983). The occupational limits released by European and Italian lawmakers are not irrelevant and need to be harmonized by competent authorities and international bodies.

Keywords

• carcinogens
• european directive
• italy
• law
• mutagens
• occupational health and safety regulations