Occupational exposure limits based on biological monitoring: the Japan Society for Occupational Health.

The Japan Society for Occupational Health started to recommend an occupational exposure limit based on biological monitoring (OEL-B) in 1993. Up to 1998, OEL-Bs for mercury, lead, hexane and 3,3'-dichloro-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane had been adopted and those for 17 chemical substances (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, acetone, methanol, benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, N,N-dimethylacetoamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, carbon disulfide, carbon monoxide, and organophospate insecticides) are in preparation.