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FEED SAFETY ▶▶▶


Protecting workers from hazardous minerals


In the EU, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluates the efficacy and the safety of additives before they can be authorised for use in animal feeds by the European Commission. Safety in relation to the environment, animals and consumers is assessed as well as workers’ safety, which is becoming a crucial consideration.


BY VALÉRIE KROMM, PRODUCT MANAGER AND AGATHE ROMÉO, R&D MANAGER, ANIMINE FRANCE


H


azards for workers are directly linked to the chemi- cal composition of an additive. This is why CLP reg- ulation (Regulation UE 1272/2008 on Classifica- tion, Labelling and Packaging) requires companies


to label their substances appropriately before placing them on the market. The level of risk for workers mainly depends on the dusting potential of the hazardous substances. In


recent years the European Commission has paid more atten- tion to this parameter and the latest authorisations have even mentioned provisions related to product particle size. In order to prevent workers from inhaling dust from chemical substances, occupational exposure limits (OELs) are defined. These indicate the levels of exposure that are considered to be safe in the air of a workplace at a given time. In the feed industry, trace minerals are the compounds which are the most affected by OELs and the related risks.


Manganese: new exposure limits in force While manganese did not have specific exposition limits de- fined at the European level, the EU recently published in the Directive (EU) 2017/164 some OELs for this element, recog- nised as a neurotoxic. Two values have been defined: 0.2 mg/ m³ for the inhalable fraction – which is breathed in through the nose or mouth – and 0.05 mg/m³ for the respirable frac- tion – which reaches deep into the lungs. Now most European countries have integrated these values into their national reg- ulations. Information related to manganese exposure in plants manufacturing premixes and mineral feeds is very limited. In France, where the new OELs for manganese have been imple- mented since July 2020, a study showed that manganese ex- position in six feed factories exceeded the thresholds defined in the EU directive in more than 20% of the measurements (206 measurements, INRS 2004). The technological properties of manganese sources which are available on the market vary considerably (Figure 1) and selecting the sources with the low- est dusting potential will be part of the prevention measures used to secure workplaces.


Figure 1: The technological properties of manganese sources vary considerably 10 ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 28, No. 9, 2020


Growing regulatory pressure on cobalt As all cobalt salts are classified as Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, toxic to Reproduction (CMR) and as skin and respiratory sen- sitisers, workers’ exposure to cobalt dust also requires specific attention. Workers chronically exposed to cobalt dust are sus- ceptible to developing respiratory problems: diminished pul- monary function, pneumonia, wheezing ... In recent years, various measures have been adopted to regulate the use of cobalt in the feed sector. Since 2013, for example, cobalt can- not be used in species for which it is not essential (swine, poultry, dogs and cats). There is still no OEL defined in a Euro- pean directive, but most countries have established national limits. The value set by the American Conference of


PHOTO: ANIMINE


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