What type of pollutants do TLVs primarily refer to?

Tolerable Limit Values (TLVs) primarily refer to airborne chemical substances. TLVs are guidelines established to indicate the maximum concentration of specific air contaminants that workers can be exposed to over a specified time without suffering adverse health effects. These values are critical for ensuring workplace safety and protecting public health, as they help in evaluating the potential risks associated with inhalation exposure to various chemicals in the air.

In the context of workplace environments and industrial operations, airborne pollutants can include gases, vapors, dusts, and aerosols that arise from chemical processes, equipment emissions, or material handling. TLVs assist in establishing permissible limits, thereby informing safety regulations and standards that aim to minimize health risks.

The other options pertain to different types of pollutants that are managed under separate guidelines and regulatory frameworks. Soil contaminants deal with pollutants affecting the terrestrial environment, waterborne pathogens focus on microorganisms in water supplies, and waste materials encompass a variety of solid and liquid wastes that are subject to waste management protocols.