Handling carcinogenic, reprotoxic and mutagenic substances

Last updated on 27 July 2026

Risk inventory and evaluation

For this group of substances, the more hazardous a substance is, the more data must be registered. For the risk inventory and evaluation, the department must assess the nature (what substances, hazards, procedures), amount and time of exposure (estimating or measuring the exposure level). This is legally mandated, to correctly assess the dangers or amount of nuisance for employees and limit as much as possible. For carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substances, more data have to be registered.

Central registration

At VU Amsterdam, we work with hazardous substances in a number of places - mostly for research. In order to let the purchase and registration of these substances run safely, efficiently and compliant with legal norms, VU Amsterdam uses the programme Lab Servant. Via Lab Servant, you can also request information about hazardous substances.

In Lab Servant, everyone who has a VUnetID can search up to date information of all substances with a CAS number to safely work with hazardous substances, such as MSDSes with the associated dangers and precautions (in Dutch and English).

All biologic agents that we have on our campus or are on a governmental list are retrievable here as well. Go to Lab Servant, log in, click on 'inventory' and then on 'substances', and then search for a name or CAS number.

Consequences for workplace hygiene?

Handling toxic substances in general requires good workplace hygiene: in this regard, you don't need to treat carcinogenic/mutagenic and reprotoxic substances differently from toxic or sensitising substances. What you do need to know is how the substance can enter the body; usually this happens by breathing or via the hands. Substances that the skin absorbs relatively well deserve extra attention. You find these for example in the Chemiekaartenboek (in Dutch) or the SER database with exposure limits designated with the letter H.

If you are pregnant, you can consult the occupational health physician for advice if necessary. See also Working healthily and safely during pregnancy (in Dutch).