The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has re‐evaluated the “Biologischer Arbeitsstoff‐Referenzwert” (BAR) as well as the exposure equivalents for carcinogenic substances (EKA) for arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds (with the exception of arsenic hydride). Available publications are described in detail. The quantification of the various arsenic species is essential to understand the hazardous potential of the arsenic compounds which differ highly in their toxicity. Therefore the BAR for the sum of different arsenic species is no longer valid. Considering published data from occupational not exposed persons, new BAR for the arsenic species of 0.5 µg/l urine for arsenic (+III), 0.5 µg/l urine for arsenic (+V), 2 µg/l urine for monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and 10 µg/l urine for dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were evaluated. The differentiation of arsenic species now allows for the estimation of the individual health risks taking into account special influences like seafood consumption. Sampling time is at the end of exposure or the end of the working shift and after long term exposure at the end of the working shift after several shifts. Data of a correlation of arsenic in the air and the sum of the arsenic species in urine were considered for the evaluation of the exposure equivalents for carcinogenic substances. This correlation is in good accordance with the EKA correlation of arsenic trioxide, which is based on former studies in which also the urinary concentrations of the sum of As (+III), As (+V), MMA and DMA were measured. Sampling time is at the end of exposure or the end of the working shift and after long term exposure at the end of the working shift after several shifts.
Ochsmann et al. (2026) studied this question.