Which statement correctly distinguishes PEL from TLV?

• A. PEL is legally enforceable; TLV is recommended by ACGIH and not legally binding.
• B. TLV is legally enforceable; PEL is a recommended value.
• C. PEL is set by EPA; TLV is set by OSHA.
• D. PEL and TLV are both legally binding.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is the difference between a legally binding limit and a professional guideline. A permissible exposure limit (PEL) is a regulatory limit set by OSHA and is legally enforceable. Employers must keep worker exposure at or below this level, and violations can lead to enforcement actions. A threshold limit value (TLV) is a guideline published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). TLVs are recommendations used by industrial hygienists to assess and control risks, but they are not laws and are not legally binding. The correct understanding is that PELs are enforceable by law, while TLVs are recommended standards. The other statements either misstate which organization sets the limits or wrongly claim that TLVs or PELs are both legally binding.