Recent News & Blogs

As a result of long-term field work in subtropical Texas, USA, three novel genera and three new species are introduced in Pezizomycotina to accommodate new or previously described taxa lacking DNA sequence data.

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is one of the most significant occupational hazards in mining. With MSHA’s recent final rule lowering permissible exposure limits (PEL) to 50 µg/m³ (8-h TWA) and introducing an action level of 25 µg/m³, mine operators must now adopt more precise monitoring and analytical strategies.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rolled out a critical new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) compliance requirement for facilities that use Trichloroethylene (TCE). This update is a game-changer, demanding technical precision and meticulous record-keeping from EHS professionals and Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs).

USP General Chapter <800> sets rigorous expectations for the handling of hazardous drugs (HDs), with the goal of protecting healthcare workers, patients, and the environment from exposure.

Navigating the new regulatory landscape for chemical exposure can be challenging, especially with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) introducing new mandates. In this environment, industrial hygienists need scientifically sound data to ensure compliance and protect worker health.

Hexavalent chromium, or Cr6+ is a highly regulated hazard in industrial hygiene with a strict permissible exposure limit (PEL) of just 5 µg/m³ for an 8-hour time-weighted average. This low limit makes meticulous sampling and analysis crucial, but it also means that seemingly small errors can have a big impact.

In August 2025, the EPA issued another postponement of Section 6(g) exemptions under TSCA’s risk management rule for trichloroethylene (TCE), extending implementation to November 17, 2025. This delay offers short term relief but doesn’t alter the long term trend toward stricter exposure control. At Eurofins Built Environment Testing, we’re not waiting—our team is already prepared to deliver TCE air monitoring using validated industrial hygiene methods.

Beryllium is a highly toxic element that poses serious health risks, including Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD), debilitating lung condition, and lung cancer. It can also cause sensitization at extremely low airborne concentrations. Because of these dangers, beryllium has some of the lowest occupational exposure limits in existence.

Benzene remains one of the most scrutinized occupational hazards in the fuel retail industry. Classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), benzene exposure is strongly associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other hematopoietic disorders.

In April 2024, the EPA finalized a major update under TSCA that slashes the occupational exposure limit for methylene chloride—also known as dichloromethane—to just 2 ppm as an 8 hour TWA (Time Weighted Average) , and sets a sharp 15 minute STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit) of 16 ppm. It now falls under a rigorous Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP), which includes mandatory exposure monitoring, regulated areas, exposure control plans, and more.