A strategy for delineating risks due to exposure to neurotoxic chemicals

A method for delineating the risks due to exposure to neurotoxic chemicals based upon the linkage of four national computer-based registers is described. The four registers are: the Danish Product Register database, PROBAS; Register of air pollution measurements in Danish workplaces, ATABAS; Register of notified occupational diseases; and Register of work force. Based on the information from the four registers, risk profiles for neurotoxic chemicals in 69 industrial groups were generated. The risk profiles describe the number of neurotoxic chemicals, their potency, the number of exposure measurements exceeding the occupational exposure limit (OEL), and the total and relative number of diseases caused by the chemicals in each group. Based on this linkage, twelve industries are noted to be potentially at high risk due to exposure to neurotoxic chemicals; therein, 18 chemicals are identified as "risk chemicals," primarily used in 8 main groups of products. The goal of the evaluation is to develop a tool for priority setting of preventive measures. The evaluation may also serve as a tool for assessing improvements and selecting areas for further epidemiological studies.