The Nordic Expert Group

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

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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 in combination with unusual working hours, opens in a new window

Annual report 2023

NEG Annual report 2023, in Swedish (pdf, will open in a new window)

Publications

Publications
No Substance Year:Issue Lang.
155 Substance: 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

  • Fluorine, chlorine and bromine
  • Reduced ambient oxygen levels
  • Wood dust
  • Occupational chemical exposures and COPD
  • Portland cement
  • Crystalline silica
  • 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, 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 to 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

Linda Schenk

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

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 (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

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 2024-02-22