The Nordic Expert Group

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

The 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

Respirable crystalline silica, external site

Occupational chemical exposures in combination with unusual working hours, external site

Annual report 2024

NEG Annual report 2024, in Swedish, pdf

Publications

Publications
No	Substance	Year:Issue	Lang.
156	Respirable crystalline silica	2024;58(2)	Eng
155	Occupational chemical exposures in combination with unusual working hours	2023;57(2)	Eng
154	Approaches for the setting of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for carcinogens, English	2022;56(2)	Eng
153	Occupational chemical exposures and cardiovascular disease, English	2020;54(2)	Eng
152	Inorganic chloramines, English	2019;53(2)	Eng
151	Occupational skin exposure to chemicals, English	2018;52(3)	Eng
150	Silicon carbide, English	2018;52(1)	Eng
149	Diesel engine exhaust, English	2016;49(6)	Eng
148	Carbon nanotubes, English	2013;47(5)	Eng
147	Carbon monoxide, English	2012;46(7)	Eng
146	Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), English	2012;46(1)	Eng
145	Aluminium and aluminium compounds, English	2011;45(7)	Eng
144	Endotoxins, English	2011;45(4)	Eng
143	Photosphate triesters with flame retardant properties, English	2010;44(6)	Eng
142	Occupational exposure to chemicals and hearing impairment, English	2010;44(4)	Eng
141	Isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane, English	2009;43(9)	Eng
140	Sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric and phosphoric acids, English	2009;43(7)	Eng
139	Fungal spores, English	2006:21	Eng
138	Microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), English	2006:13	Eng
137	Ammonia, English	2005:13	Eng
136	Cyclic acid anhydrides, English	2004:15	Eng
135	gamma-Butyrolactone, English	2004:07	Eng
134	Penicillins, English	2004:06	Eng
133	Tetrachloroethene, English	2003:14	Eng
132	Formaldehyde, English	2003:11	Eng
131	Lithium and lithium compounds, English	2002:16	Eng
130	Tin and inorganic tin compounds, English	2002:10	Eng
129	Chlorotrimethylsilane, English	2002:02	Eng
128	Triglycidyl isocyanurate, English	2001:18	Eng
127	Hydrogen sulphide, English	2001:14	Eng
126	1,2,3-Bensotriazole, English	2000:24	Eng
125	Toluene, Swedish	2000:19	Swe
124	Thermal degradation products of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, and polytetrafluoroethylene in the processing of plastics, English	1998:12	Eng
123	Antimony, English	1998:11	Eng
122	Dichlorobenzenes, Swedish	1998:20	Swe
122	Dichlorobenzenes, English	1998:04	Eng
121	Refractory Ceramic Fibres, Norwegian	1998:20	Nor
121	Refractory Ceramic Fibres, English	1996:30	Eng
120	Flour dust, Swedish	1998:20	Swe
120	Flour dust, English	1996:27	Eng
119	Nickel and nickel compounds, Swedish	1995:27	Swe
119	Nickel and nickel compounds, English	1995:26	Eng
118	Cyanoacrylates, Swedish	1995:27	Swe
118	Cyanoacrylates, English	1995:25	Eng
117	Propene, Swedish	1995:27	Swe
117	Propene, English	1995:07	Eng
116	Glyoxal, Swedish	1995:27	Swe
116	Glyoxal, English	1995:02	Eng
115	N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), Swedish	1994:42	Swe
115	N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), English	1994:40	Eng
114	Cobalt and cobalt compounds, Danish	1994:42	Dan
114	Cobalt and cobalt compounds, English	1994:39	Eng
113	1,3-Butadiene, Swedish	1994:42	Swe
113	1,3-Butadiene, English	1994:36	Eng
112	2-Ethylhexanoic acid, Swedish	1994:42	Swe
112	2-Ethylhexanoic acid, English	1994:31	Eng
111	Industrial enzymes, Swedish	1994:42	Swe
111	Industrial enzymes, English	1994:28	Eng
110	Diethylamine, Diethylene-triamine, Dimethylamine, Ethylenediamine, Swedish	1994:42	Swe
110	Diethylamine, Diethylene-triamine, Dimethylamine, Ethylenediamine, English	1994:23	Eng
109	Diesel exhaust, English	1993:35	Eng
109	Diesel exhaust, Swedish	1993:34	Swe
108	Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates and ethylenethiourea, English	1993:35	Eng
108	Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates and ethylenethiourea, Swedish	1993:24	Swe
107	Limonene, English	1993:35	Eng
107	Limonene, Swedish	1993:14	Swe
106	Crystalline silica, English	1993:35	Eng
106	Crystalline silica, Norwegian	1993:02	Nor
105	Aluminium, English	1993:01	Eng
105	Aluminium, Swedish	1992:45	Swe
104	Lead, inorganic, English	1993:01	Eng
104	Lead, inorganic, Swedish	1992:43	Swe
103	Selenium, English	1993:01	Eng
103	Selenium, Swedish	1992:35	Swe
102	Inorganic acid aerosols, English	1993:01	Eng
102	Inorganic acid aerosols, Norwegian	1992:33	Nor
101	Cadmium, English	1993:01	Eng
101	Cadmium, Swedish	1992:26	Swe
100	Acrolein, Danish	1991:45	Dan
99	Microorganisms, English	1991:50	Eng
99	Microorganisms, Swedish	1991:44	Swe
98	Trichloroethene, English	1991:50	Eng
98	Trichloroethene, Norwegian	1991:43	Nor
97	Dimethylsulfoxide, English	1991:50	Eng
97	Dimethylsulfoxide, Danish	1991:37	Dan
96	Dimethylethylamine, English	1991:50	Eng
96	Dimethylethylamine, Swedish	1991:26	Swe
95	Isophorone, English	1991:50	Eng
95	Isophorone, Swedish	1991:14	Swe
94	Inorganic arsenic, English	1991:50	Eng
94	Inorganic arsenic, Swedish	1991:09	Swe
93	Styrene, English	1991:02	Eng
93	Styrene, Swedish	1990:49	Swe
92	Organic acid anhydrides, English	1991:02	Eng
92	Organic acid anhydrides, Swedish	1990:48	Swe
91	N-Nitroso compounds and cancer, English	1991:02	Eng
91	N-Nitroso compounds and cancer, Norwegian	1990:33	Nor
90	Welding gases and fumes, English	1991:02	Eng
90	Welding gases and fumes, Swedish	1990:28	Swe
89	Thiurams and dimethyl dithiocarbamates, English	1991:02	Eng
89	Thiurams and dimethyl dithiocarbamates, Swedish	1990:26	Swe
88	Paper dust, English	1989:37	Eng
88	Paper dust, Swedish	1989:30	Swe
87	Methyl formate, English	1989:37	Eng
87	Methyl formate, Swedish	1989:29	Swe
86	Acetonitrile, English	1989:37	Eng
86	Acetonitrile, Swedish	1989:22	Swe
85	Nitrilotriacetic acid and salts, English	1989:37	Eng
85	Nitrilotriacetic acid and salts, Danish	1989:16	Dan
84	Hydroquinone, English	1989:37	Eng
84	Hydroquinone, Swedish	1989:15	Swe
83	Diacetone alcohol, English	1989:37	Eng
83	Diacetone alcohol, Swedish	1989:04	Swe
82	Toluene, English	1989:37	Eng
82	Toluene, Danish	1989:03	Dan
81	Nitroalkanes, English	1988:33	Eng
81	Nitroalkanes, Swedish	1988:29	Swe
80	Vinyl acetate, English	1988:33	Eng
80	Vinyl acetate, Swedish	1988:26	Swe
79	Methyl isobutyl ketone, English	1988:33	Eng
79	Methyl isobutyl ketone, Swedish	1988:20	Swe
78	Creosote, English	1988:33	Eng
78	Creosote, Swedish	1988:13	Swe
77	Wood dust, Danish	1987:36	Dan
76	Methylene chloride, English	1987:40	Eng
76	Methylene chloride, Swedish	1987:29	Swe
75	n-Decane and n-Undecane, English	1987:40	Eng
75	n-Decane and n-Undecane, Danish	1987:25	Dan
74	Methyl bromide, English	1987:40	Eng
74	Methyl bromide, Swedish	1987:18	Swe
73	Arsine, Norwegian	1986:41	Nor
72	Acetone, Danish	1986:39	Dan
71	Ammonia, Norwegian	1986:31	Nor
70	Ozone, Swedish	1986:28	Swe
69	Acetaldehyde, Norwegian	1986:25	Nor
68	n-Hexane, Danish	1986:20	Dan
67	Ethyl benzene, Swedish	1986:19	Swe
66	Vinyl chloride, Norwegian	1986:17	Nor
65	Allyl alcohol, Swedish	1986:08	Swe
64	White spirit (mineral spirit, Stoddard solvent), Danish	1986:01	Dan
63	Cyclohexanone Cyclopentanone, Swedish	1985:42	Swe
62	Ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers+acetates, Swedish	1985:34	Swe
61	Deodorised kerosene, Danish	1985:24	Dan
60	Propylene oxide, Danish	1985:23	Dan
59	Inorganic mercury, Swedish	1985:20	Swe
58	Diisocyanates, Swedish	1985:19	Swe
57	Oil mist, Norwegian	1985:13	Nor
56	Hydrazine and hydrazine salts, Danish	1985:06	Dan
55	Acrylonitrile, Norwegian	1985:04	Nor
54	Chlorophenols, Swedish	1984:46	Swe
53	Methanol, Norwegian	1984:41	Nor
52	Chloromequat chloride, Swedish	1984:36	Swe
51	Phenol, Danish	1984:33	Dan
50	Benomyl, Swedish	1984:28	Swe
49	Furfuryl alcohol, Swedish	1984:24	Swe
48	Sulphur dioxide, Swedish	1984:18	Swe
47	Halothane, Swedish	1984:17	Swe
46	Petrol (gasoline), Danish	1984:07	Dan
45	Nitrogen oxides, Swedish	1983:28	Swe
44	Propylene glycol, Swedish	1983:27	Swe
43	Methyl ethyl ketone, Swedish	1983:25	Swe
42	Acrylates och methacrylates, Danish	1983:21	Dan
41	Hydrogen fluoride, Norwegian	1983:17	Nor
40	Dihydrogen sulphide, Swedish	1982:31	Swe
39	Asbest, Swedish	1982:29	Swe
38	Dimethylformamide, Swedish	1982:28	Swe
37	Formaldehyde, Swedish	1982:27	Swe
36	Synthetic pyrethroids Permethrin, Swedish	1982:22	Swe
35	Refined petroleum solvents, Danish	1982:21	Dan
34	Nitrous oxide, Swedish	1982:20	Swe
33	Vanadium, Norwegian	1982:18	Nor
32	Cobalt, Swedish	1982:16	Swe
31	Phtalates, Swedish	1982:12	Swe
30	Manganese, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, Swedish	1982:10	Swe
29	Ethyleneoxide, Swedish	1982:07	Swe
28	Dioxane, Swedish	1982:06	Swe
27	Cadmium, Norwegian	1981:29	Swe
26	Nickel, Norwegian	1981:28	Nor
25	Mineral fibers, Danish	1981:26	Dan
24	Arsenic except arsenic hydride, Swedish	1981:22	Swe
23	MCPA (4-Chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy acetic acid, Swedish	1981:14	Swe
22	Zinc, Swedish	1981:13	Swe
21	Methylchloroform (1,1,1-Trichloroethane), Norwegian	1980:12	Nor
20	Benzene, Danish	1981:11	Dan
19	Epichlorohydrin, Swedish	1981:10	Swe
18	Copper, Norwegian	1980:21	Nor
17	1-Butanol, Norwegian	1980:20	Nor
16	Hexane, Danish	1980:19	Dan
15	Isopropanol, Swedish	1980:18	Swe
14	Ethylene glycol, Swedish	1980:14	Swe
13	Boric acid and Borax, Swedish	1980:13	Swe
12	Carbon monoxide, Swedish	1980:08	Swe
11	Chlorine, Chlorine dioxide, Swedish	1980:06	Swe
10	Xylene, Swedish	1979:35	Swe
9	Diisocyanates, Swedish	1979:34	Swe
8	Chromium, Norwegian	1979:33	Nor
7	Tetrachloro ethylene, Swedish	1979:25	Swe
6	Lead, inorganic, Swedish	1979:24	Swe
5	Methylenechloride, Swedish	1979:15	Swe
4	Styrene, Swedish	1979:14	Swe
3	Trichloroethylene, Norwegian	1979:13	Nor
2	Toluene, Danish	1979:05	Dan
1	Formaldehyde, Swedish	1978:21	Swe
	2-Diethylaminoethanol, English	1994:25	Eng
	7/8-Carbon chain aliphatic monoketones (2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, ethylamylketone, methylisoamylketone), English	1990:02	Eng
	Ethyl acetate, English	1990:35	Eng
	Ethyl ether, English	1992:30	Eng
	Glutaraldehyde, Swedish	1998:20	Swe
	Glutaraldehyde, English	1997:20	Eng
	Methyl chloride, English	1992:27	Eng
	Methyl methacrylate, English	1991:36	Eng
	Methyl-tert-butyl ether, English	1994:22	Eng
	Platinum, Swedish	1998:20	Swe
	Platinum, English	1997:14	Eng
	Propylene glycol ethers and their acetates, English	1990:32	Eng
	Tetrachloroethane, English	1996:28	Eng

Ongoing documents

Reduced ambient oxygen levels
Wood dust
Occupational chemical exposures and COPD
Portland cement
Respirable and inhalable dusts
Styrene
Welding fumes

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

Nordic research institutes and regulatory authorities relating to the working environment

Sweden

Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket)

Nordic Occupational exposure limits (OELs)

Occupational exposure limits in Denmark, external site

Occupational exposure limits in Finland, external site

Occupational exposure limits in Norway, external site

Occupational exposure limits in Sweden

Contacts to experts

Gunnar Johanson (chairman)

Institute of Environmental Medicine, external site

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

Linda Schenk

Institute of Environmental Medicine, external site

Karolinska Institutet
Box 210
SE-171 77 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 524 879 68
E-mail: linda.schenk(at)ki.se

Mattias Öberg

Institute of Environmental Medicine, external site

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, external site

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

Piia Taxell

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, external site

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, external site

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

Susann Wolf

National Institute of Occupational Health, external site

PB 5330 Majorstuen
NO-0304 Oslo
Norway
Tel: +47 23 19 52 83
E-mail: susann.wolf(at)stami.no

Secretariat

Anna-Karin Alexandrie and Britt-Marie Larsson (scientific secretary)

Swedish Work Environment Authority
Box 9082
SE-171 09 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 10 730 90 84/+46 10 730 96 86
E-mail: anna-karin.alexandrie(at)av.se
E-mail: britt-marie.larsson(at)av.se

Last updated 2025-05-15

The Nordic Expert Group

New criteria document

Annual report 2024

Publications

Published documents (click to expand)

Ongoing documents

Author instructions

Nordic research institutes and regulatory authorities relating to the working environment

Sweden

Norway

Denmark

Finland

Nordic Occupational exposure limits (OELs)

Contacts to experts

Gunnar Johanson (chairman)

Linda Schenk

Mattias Öberg

Anne Thoustrup Saber

Piia Taxell

Merete D. Bugge

Susann Wolf

Secretariat

Anna-Karin Alexandrie and Britt-Marie Larsson (scientific secretary)