carbon black production workers. Two studies, from the United Kingdom and Germany, with over 1,000 workers in each study group showed elevated mortality from lung cancer. A third study of over 5,000 carbon black workers in the United States did not show elevated mortality. Newer findings of increased lung cancer mortality in an update from the UK study suggest that carbon black could be a late-stage carcinogen. However, a more recent and larger study from Germany did not confirm this hypothesis. Occupational safety There are strict guidelines available and in place to ensure employees who manufacture carbon black are not at risk of inhaling unsafe doses of carbon black in its raw form. Respiratory personal protective equipment is recommended to properly protect workers from inhalation of carbon black. The recommended type of respiratory protection varies depending on the concentration of carbon black used. People can be exposed to carbon black in the workplace by inhalation and contact with the skin or eyes. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit (Permissible exposure limit) for carbon black exposure in the workplace at 3.5 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workday. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a Recommended exposure limit (REL) of 3.5 mg/m3 over an 8-hour workday. At levels of 1750 mg/m3, carbon black is immediately dangerous to life and health. See also Activated carbon Biochar George Oenslager - early use of carbon black in rubber Jean-Baptiste Donnet - carbon black pioneer Joseph C. Krejci - carbon black pioneer Kværner-process - production from hydrocarbons List of inorganic pigments Siegfried Wolff - carbon black pioneer William B. Wiegand - carbon black pioneer References Further reading Doerner, Max. The Materials of the Artist and Their Use in Painting: With Notes on the Techniques of the Old Masters, Revised Edition. Harcourt (1984). . This is a contemporary English language edition of a work originally published in German. Meyer, Ralph. The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques. Fifth Edition, Revised and Updated. Viking (1991) Carbon Black: A users guide. Published by the International Carbon Black Association. External links "Carbon black" – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, CDC website entry "Carbon Black Industry" from the Handbook of Texas Online International Carbon Black Association Special Carbon Blacks - PentaCarbon GmbH Carbon Carbon nanoparticles E-number additives Elastomers IARC Group 2B carcinogens Inorganic pigments Pigments Rubber properties carbon black