A Description of the Standardized Measurement Procedures and Recommended Threshold Limit Values for Biological Hazards in Germany

On the basis of EU directives 89/391/EEC (to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work) and 2000/54/EC (on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work), biological hazards at work have to be assessed and preventive measures have to be introduced in all member states of the EU. In Germany, national legislation (Biological Agents Ordinance - BioStoffV and Technical Rules on Biological Agents, TRBA) and recommendations of workers' compensation boards define standardized methods for the assessment of airborne mold, bacteria, and endotoxins. This article describes policies and practices in Germany for measurement of airborne bioaerosols and for interpretation of measurements relative to the standards. As an example, methods and results of measurements in agriculture are shown. The standardized measurement procedures proved suitable for use in livestock buildings. The results of the exploratory measurements in different livestock buildings confirmed the often high concentrations of airborne biological hazards in agriculture that are reported in the literature.