ANNEX IIIa / BIOLOGICAL LIMIT VALUES AND HEALTH SURVEILLANCE MEASURES
(Article 16(4))
Lead and its inorganic compounds
1.1. Biological monitoring must include measuring the blood lead level (PbB) using absorption spectrometry or a method giving equivalent results.
1.1.1. Until 31 December 2028, the binding biological limit value is:
30 μg Pb/100 ml blood
For workers whose blood lead level exceeds the biological limit value of 30 μg Pb/100 ml blood due to exposure which has occurred before 9 April 2026, but is below 70 μg Pb/100 ml blood, medical surveillance is carried out on a regular basis. If a declining trend towards the limit value of 30 μg Pb/100 ml blood is established in those workers, they may be allowed to continue with work involving exposure to lead.
1.1.2. From 1 January 2029, the binding biological limit value is:
15 μg Pb/100 ml blood ( 6 )
For workers whose blood lead level exceeds the biological limit value of 15 μg Pb/100 ml blood due to exposure which has occurred before 9 April 2026, but is below 30 μg Pb/100 ml blood, medical surveillance is carried out on a regular basis. If a declining trend towards the limit value of 15 μg Pb/100 ml blood is established in those workers, they may be allowed to continue with work involving exposure to lead.
1.2. Medical surveillance is carried out if exposure to a concentration of lead in air is greater than 0,015 mg/m3, calculated as a time-weighted average over 40 hours per week, or a blood lead level greater than 9 μg Pb/100 ml blood is measured in individual workers. Medical surveillance is also carried out with regard to female workers of childbearing age whose blood lead level exceeds 4,5 μg Pb/100 ml blood or the national reference value of the general population not occupationally exposed to lead, if such a value exists.