The Nordic Expert Group

The Nordic Expert Group - a Nordic collaboration for production of criteria documents on chemicals for occupational exposure limits.


Nordic expert groupThe Nordic Expert Group for Criteria Documentation of Health Risks from Chemicals (NEG) consists of scientific experts from the Nordic countries representing different fields of science, such as toxicology, occupational hygiene and occupational medicine. The main task is to produce criteria documents to be used by the regulatory authorities of the Nordic countries as the scientific basis for setting occupational exposure limits (OELs) for chemical substances. Thus, the actual setting of an OEL is a national concern.

NEG is mainly financed by the Swedish Work Environment Authority and the Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. All countries contribute with scientific expertise. The documents, written in English, are published by the University of Gothenburg in the scientific serial Arbete och Hälsa. The documents are also available as pdf downloads via this website under Publications.

The decision to produce a document is mainly based on requests from the Nordic regulatory authorities. The availability of scientific data, recently published criteria documents and ongoing activities at the international level are also considered.

The responsibility of preparing a document is allocated to a scientist in one of the Nordic countries.

NEG has a bilateral co-operation with US NIOSH and the Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Safety (DECOS).

New criteria document

Approaches for the setting of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for carcinogens, opens in a new window

Occupational chemical exposures and cardiovascular disease, opens in new window

Annual report 2021

NEG Annual report 2021, in Swedish (pdf, will open in a new window)

Publications

Published documents (click to expand)

Publications
No Substance Year:Issue Lang.
154 Approaches for the setting of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for carcinogens 2022;56(2) Eng
153 Occupational chemical exposures and cardiovascular disease 2020;54(2) Eng
152 Inorganic chloramines 2019;53(2) Eng
151 Occupational skin exposure to chemicals 2018;52(3) Eng
150 Silicon carbide 2018;52(1) Eng
149 Diesel engine exhaust 2016;49(6) Eng
148 Carbon nanotubes 2013;47(5) Eng
147 Carbon monoxide 2012;46(7) Eng
146 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) 2012;46(1) Eng
145 Aluminium and aluminium compounds 2011;45(7) Eng
144 Endotoxins 2011;45(4) Eng
143 Photosphate triesters with flame retardant properties 2010;44(6) Eng

142

 Occupational exposure to chemicals and hearing impairment 2010;44(4) Eng
141 Isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane 2009;43(9) Eng
140 Sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric and phosphoric acids 2009;43(7) Eng
139 Fungal spores 2006:21 Eng
138 Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) 2006:13 Eng
137 Ammonia 2005:13 Eng
136 Cyclic acid anhydrides 2004:15 Eng
135 gamma-Butyrolactone 2004:07 Eng
134 Penicillins 2004:06 Eng
133 Tetrachloroethene 2003:14 Eng
132 Formaldehyde 2003:11 Eng
131 Lithium and lithium compounds 2002:16 Eng
130 Tin and inorganic tin compounds 2002:10 Eng
129 Chlorotrimethylsilane 2002:02 Eng
128 Triglycidyl isocyanurate 2001:18 Eng
127 Hydrogen sulphide 2001:14 Eng
126 1,2,3-Bensotriazole 2000:24 Eng
125 Toluene 2000:19 Swe
124 Thermal degradation products of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and polytetrafluoroethylene in the processing of plastics 1998:12 Eng
123 Antimony 1998:11 Eng
122 Dichlorobenzenes 1998:20 Swe
122 Dichlorobenzenes 1998:04 Eng
121 Refractory Ceramic Fibres 1998:20 Nor
121 Refractory Ceramic Fibres 1996:30 Eng
120 Flour dust 1998:20 Swe
120 Flour dust 1996:27 Eng
119 Nickel and nickel compounds 1995:27 Swe
119 Nickel and nickel compounds 1995:26 Eng
118 Cyanoacrylates 1995:27 Swe
118 Cyanoacrylates 1995:25 Eng
117 Propene 1995:27 Swe
117 Propene 1995:07 Eng
116 Glyoxal 1995:27 Swe
116 Glyoxal 1995:02 Eng
115 N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) 1994:42 Swe
115 N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) 1994:40 Eng
114 Cobalt and cobalt compounds 1994:42 Dan
114 Cobalt and cobalt compounds 1994:39 Eng
113 1,3-Butadiene 1994:42 Swe
113 1,3-Butadiene 1994:36 Eng
112 2-Ethylhexanoic acid 1994:42 Swe
112 2-Ethylhexanoic acid 1994:31 Eng
111 Industrial enzymes 1994:42 Swe
111 Industrial enzymes 1994:28 Eng
110 Diethylamine, Diethylene-triamine, Dimethylamine, Ethylenediamine 1994:42 Swe
110 Diethylamine, Diethylene-triamine, Dimethylamine, Ethylenediamine 1994:23 Eng
109 Diesel exhaust 1993:35 Eng
109 Diesel exhaust 1993:34 Swe
108 Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates and ethylenethiourea 1993:35 Eng
108 Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates and ethylenethiourea 1993:24 Swe
107 Limonene 1993:35 Eng
107 Limonene 1993:14 Swe
106 Crystalline silica 1993:35 Eng
106 Crystalline silica 1993:02 Nor
105 Aluminium 1993:01 Eng
105 Aluminium 1992:45 Swe
104 Lead, inorganic 1993:01 Eng
104 Lead, inorganic 1992:43 Swe
103 Selenium 1993:01 Eng
103 Selenium 1992:35 Swe
102 Inorganic acid aerosols 1993:01 Eng
102 Inorganic acid aerosols 1992:33 Nor
101 Cadmium 1993:01 Eng
101 Cadmium 1992:26 Swe
100 Acrolein 1991:45 Dan
99 Microorganisms 1991:50 Eng
99 Microorganisms 1991:44 Swe
98 Trichloroethene 1991:50 Eng
98 Trichloroethene 1991:43 Nor
97 Dimethylsulfoxide 1991:50 Eng
97 Dimethylsulfoxide 1991:37 Dan
96 Dimethylethylamine 1991:50 Eng
96 Dimethylethylamine 1991:26 Swe
95 Isophorone 1991:50 Eng
95 Isophorone 1991:14 Swe
94 Inorganic arsenic 1991:50 Eng
94 Inorganic arsenic 1991:09 Swe
93 Styrene 1991:02 Eng
93 Styrene 1990:49 Swe
92 Organic acid anhydrides 1991:02 Eng
92 Organic acid anhydrides 1990:48 Swe
91 N-Nitroso compounds and cancer 1991:02 Eng
91 N-Nitroso compounds and cancer 1990:33 Nor
90 Welding gases and fumes 1991:02 Eng
90 Welding gases and fumes 1990:28 Swe
89 Thiurams and dimethyl dithiocarbamates 1991:02 Eng
89 Thiurams and dimethyl dithiocarbamates 1990:26 Swe
88 Paper dust 1989:37 Eng
88 Paper dust 1989:30 Swe
87 Methyl formate 1989:37 Eng
87 Methyl formate 1989:29 Swe
86 Acetonitrile 1989:37 Eng
86 Acetonitrile 1989:22 Swe
85 Nitrilotriacetic acid and salts 1989:37 Eng
85 Nitrilotriacetic acid and salts 1989:16 Dan
84 Hydroquinone 1989:37 Eng
84 Hydroquinone 1989:15 Swe
83 Diacetone alcohol 1989:37 Eng
83 Diacetone alcohol 1989:04 Swe
82 Toluene 1989:37 Eng
82 Toluene 1989:03 Dan
81 Nitroalkanes 1988:33 Eng
81 Nitroalkanes 1988:29 Swe
80 Vinyl acetate 1988:33 Eng
80 Vinyl acetate 1988:26 Swe
79 Methyl isobutyl ketone 1988:33 Eng
79 Methyl isobutyl ketone 1988:20 Swe
78 Creosote 1988:33 Eng
78 Creosote 1988:13 Swe
77 Wood dust 1987:36 Dan
76 Methylene chloride 1987:40 Eng
76 Methylene chloride 1987:29 Swe
75 n-Decane and n-Undecane 1987:40 Eng
75 n-Decane and n-Undecane 1987:25 Dan
74 Methyl bromide 1987:40 Eng
74 Methyl bromide 1987:18 Swe
73 Arsine 1986:41 Nor
72 Acetone 1986:39 Dan
71 Ammonia 1986:31 Nor
70 Ozone 1986:28 Swe
69 Acetaldehyde 1986:25 Nor
68 n-Hexane 1986:20 Dan
67 Ethyl benzene 1986:19 Swe
66 Vinyl chloride 1986:17 Nor
65 Allyl alcohol 1986:08 Swe
64 White spirit (mineral spirit, Stoddard solvent) 1986:01 Dan
63 Cyclohexanone Cyclopentanone 1985:42 Swe
62 Ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers+acetates 1985:34 Swe
61 Deodorised kerosene 1985:24 Dan
60 Propylene oxide 1985:23 Dan
59 Inorganic mercury 1985:20 Swe
58 Diisocyanates 1985:19 Swe
57 Oil mist 1985:13 Nor
56 Hydrazine and hydrazine salts 1985:06 Dan
55 Acrylonitrile 1985:04 Nor
54 Chlorophenols 1984:46 Swe
53 Methanol 1984:41 Nor
52 Chloromequat chloride 1984:36 Swe
51 Phenol 1984:33 Dan
50 Benomyl 1984:28 Swe
49 Furfuryl alcohol 1984:24 Swe
48 Sulphur dioxide 1984:18 Swe
47 Halothane 1984:17 Swe
46 Petrol (gasoline) 1984:07 Dan
45 Nitrogen oxides 1983:28 Swe
44 Propylene glycol 1983:27 Swe
43 Methyl ethyl ketone 1983:25 Swe
42 Acrylates och methacrylates 1983:21 Dan
41 Hydrogen fluoride 1983:17 Nor
40 Dihydrogen sulphide 1982:31 Swe
39 Asbest 1982:29 Swe
38 Dimethylformamide 1982:28 Swe
37 Formaldehyde 1982:27 Swe
36 Synthetic pyretroids Permethrin 1982:22 Swe
35 Refined petroleum solvents 1982:21 Dan
34 Nitrous oxide 1982:20 Swe
33 Vanadium 1982:18 Nor
32 Cobalt 1982:16 Swe
31 Phtalates 1982:12 Swe
30 Manganese, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl 1982:10 Swe
29 Ethyleneoxide 1982:07 Swe
28 Dioxane 1982:06 Swe
27 Cadmium 1981:29 Swe
26 Nickel 1981:28 Nor
25 Mineral fibers 1981:26 Dan
24 Arsenic except arsenic hydride 1981:22 Swe
23 MCPA (4-Chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy acetic acid 1981:14 Swe
22 Zinc 1981:13 Swe
21 Methylchloroform (1,1,1-Trichloroethane) 1980:12 Nor
20 Benzene 1981:11 Dan
19 Epichlorohydrin 1981:10 Swe
18 Copper 1980:21 Nor
17 1-Butanol 1980:20 Nor
16 Hexane 1980:19 Dan
15 Isopropanol 1980:18 Swe
14 Ethylene glycol 1980:14 Swe
13 Boric acid and Borax 1980:13 Swe
12 Carbon monoxide 1980:08 Swe
11 Chlorine, Chlorine dioxide 1980:06 Swe
10 Xylene 1979:35 Swe
9 Diisocyanates 1979:34 Swe
8 Chromium 1979:33 Nor
7 Tetrachloro ethylene 1979:25 Swe
6 Lead, inorganic 1979:24 Swe
5 Methylenechloride 1979:15 Swe
4 Styrene 1979:14 Swe
3 Trichloroethylene 1979:13 Nor
2 Toluene 1979:05 Dan
1 Formaldehyde 1978:21 Swe
  2-Diethylaminoethanol 1994:25 Eng
  7/8-Carbon chain aliphatic monoketones (2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, ethylamylketone, methylisoamylketone) 1990:02 Eng
  Ethyl acetate 1990:35 Eng
  Ethyl ether 1992:30 Eng
  Glutaraldehyde 1998:20 Swe
  Glutaraldehyde 1997:20 Eng
  Methyl chloride 1992:27 Eng
  Methyl methacrylate 1991:36 Eng
  Methyl-tert-butyl ether 1994:22 Eng
  Platinum 1998:20 Swe
  Platinum 1997:14 Eng
  Propylene glycol ethers and their acetates 1990:32 Eng
  Tetrachloroethane 1996:28 Eng

Ongoing documents

 

  • Fluorine, chlorine and bromine
  • Reduced ambient oxygen levels
  • Occupational chemical exposures in combination with unusual working hours
  • Wood dust
  • Occupational chemical exposures and COPD
  • Cement dust
  • Crystalline silica
  • Respirable and inhalable dusts.

Author instructions

NEG strives towards a common procedure and format for the documents. Information and guidelines how to elaborate a NEG criteria document is found in the instructions below. 

Instructions to authors (pdf, will open in a new window)

Links

Nordic research institutes and regulatory authorities relating to the working environment

Sweden

Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket)

Norway

National Institute of Occupational Health (Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt), (will open in a new window)

The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet), (will open in a new window)

Denmark

National Research Centre for the Working Environment (Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø), (will open in a new window)

The Danish Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet), (will open in a new window)

Finland

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Työterveyslaitos), (will open in a new window)

Nordic OELs

Denmark (will open in a new window)

Finland (will open in a new window)

Norway (will open in a new window)

Sweden (will open in a new window)

Contacts

Experts:

Gunnar Johanson (chairman)

Institute of Environmental Medicine (will open in a new window)

Karolinska Institutet
Box 210
SE-171 77 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 524 877 52
E-mail: gunnar.johanson(at)ki.se

 

Mattias Öberg

Institute of Environmental Medicine (will open in a new window)

Karolinska Institutet
Box 210
SE-171 77 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 524 885 05 
E-mail: mattias.oberg(at)ki.se

 

Anne Thoustrup Saber

National Research Centre for the Working Environment (will open in a new window)

Lersø Parkallé 105
DK-2100 København Ø
Denmark
Tel: +45 39 16 52 12
E-mail: ats(at)ami.dk

 

Piia Taxell

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (will open in a new window)

PB 18
FI-00032 Arbetshälsoinstitutet
Finland
Tel: +358 30 474 2234
E-mail: piia.taxell(at)ttl.fi

 

Merete D. Bugge

National Institute of Occupational Health (will open in a new window)

PB 5330 Majorstuen
NO-0304 Oslo 
Norway
Tel: +47 23 19 53 83
E-mail: merete.bugge(at)stami.no

 

Helge Johnsen

National Institute of Occupational Health (will open in a new window)

PB 5330 Majorstuen
NO-0304 Oslo
Norway
Tel: +47 23 19 53 14
E-mail: helge.johnsen(at)stami.no

 

Gry Koller

National Institute of Occupational Health (will open in a new window)

PB 5330 Majorstuen
NO-0304 Oslo 
Norway
Tel: +47 23 19 53 98
E-mail: gry.koller(at)stami.no

Secretariat:

Anna-Karin Alexandrie (scientific secretary)
Jill Järnberg (scientific secretary)

Swedish Work Environment Authority

SE-112 79 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 10 730 90 84/91 79
E-mail: anna-karin.alexandrie(at)av.se
E-mail: jill.jarnberg(at)av.se

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Last updated 2022-07-05