What is the maximum concentration of an airborne contaminant to which a worker may be exposed referred to as?

The maximum concentration of an airborne contaminant to which a worker may be exposed is known as the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). This limit is established by regulatory agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States, to protect workers from the adverse health effects that can arise from exposure to harmful substances. PELs are legally enforceable and are based on extensive research regarding the health risks associated with various airborne contaminants in the workplace.

Permissible Exposure Limits are set for different contaminants and typically refer to an average exposure over an 8-hour workday. These limits take into account the nature of the substance and its effects on human health, ensuring that workers are protected from excessive exposure during the performance of their duties.

In contrast, other terms such as Threshold Limit Value (TLV) represent guidelines suggested by organizations such as the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) but do not have the same legal standing as PELs. Ceiling exposure values refer to concentrations that should never be exceeded, but they focus on specific scenarios rather than overall limits for periodic exposure, and average exposure values do not sufficiently account for peak exposure limits which can be dangerous. Therefore, PEL is