Petition File No. 619
Section 5155 Table AC-1
Petition File No. 619
Shourish Mukherjee
Petitioner is requesting the Board to initiate rulemaking to amend title 8, section 5155, Table AC-1, to reduce the current Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for wood dust, from 2 mg/m³ to a limit of 1 mg/m³ (measured as the inhalable fraction), applicable to all softwood and hardwood species.
The Petitioner asserts:
• Wood is a globally recognized occupational sensitizer.
• Epidemiological evidence demonstrates that non-malignant respiratory illness among wood-processing workers remains prevalent even when exposure remains below the current 2 mg/m³ standard.
• Current standards on wood dust exposure of some European countries are indicative of California’s need to establish stricter regulations.
• Modern technology and wood-processing equipment make lowering the PEL technically achievable and economically feasible.
- Petition 619 - Remediated for Accessibility
September 2026