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Respirable Crystalline SilicaCrystalline silica (CS), which covers quartz, cristobalite and tridymite, is one of the major raw materials in the ferro-alloys and silicon Industry. CS flours have for many years been subject to self-classification and labelling by the industry as harmful with the label Xn and the risk phrases R48/20 (danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure through inhalation) under the Dangerous Substances Directive 67/548/EEC In the framework of the CLP Regulation, quartz and cristobalite in their respirable form – hereafter named as “RCS” – are self-classified by Industry (under the coordination of the Industrial Minerals Association/IMA be it in the form of an identified impurity, additive or individual constituent). This classification is based on the four following pillars: a) The health effects only appear at the workplace, not in the general environment. RCS has been added in the revised Carcinogenic Directive with as Binding Limit Value 0.1 mg/m³ which correspond to the Industry position. |