Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology - Report Example

Running head: Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology (Formaldehyde, Naphthalene and Hexavalent chromium) Student’s name Institution Course Professor Date A. Formaldehyde Descriptions of chemical concern It is a colourless and flammable gas at standard room temperature. It is characterize by a pungent smell. It is useful in research and clinical diagnostic laboratories as a preservative or fixative. Moreover, it has ability to form cross-links between soluble and structural proteins thus its mechanical of action of fixing (Patnaik, 2007). The gas is found dissolve in water or in methanol solution known as formalin or in a powdered form; paraformaldehyde. In addition, less that milliliters amounts of formaldehyde can used for cross-linking proteins, tissue perfusions, fixing mammalian cell lines and denaturing of Ribonucleic acid (RNA). Typical formaldehyde contains 10% formalin or 4% paraformaldehyde. Consequently, it is widely used as industrial fungicide, germicide and disinfectant (Weissermel, Arpe, 2008). Route of exposure It can be inhale as a gas or vapour or absorb through the skin as a liquid. Routes of exposure include skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Workers can be exposed to formaldehyde during the treatment of textiles and production of resins. Since it is soluble in water, if affects the mucous membrane. Small amounts of concentrated of formaldehyde solution can be ingested through mouth. Healthcare professional, medical lab technicians, teachers and students are at risks of exposure to the chemical (Bingham, Cohrssen, Powell,2001). Applicable exposure limits Permissible exposure limits are the maximum concentrations of a chemical that a worker can be exposed to under OSHA regulations. According to the Occupation Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, there are two permissible exposure limits (PELs) for formaldehyde. They include: a) An 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit of 0.75ppm b) A 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2.0ppm. Consequently, OSHA standard has adopted an action level (AL) exposure limit of 0.5ppm as an 8–hour Time Weighted average (TWA). Type of industries that you find the chemical Industries include a) Manufacture of building materials and household products b) Manufacture of resins c) Making of plastics and chemicals d) Automobile exhaust from cars Type of Personal Protective Equipment required The equipments that form of personal protection include; A quick drench hose or an emergency shower An eye wash Respirators It is mandatory for every person to use goggles or a face shields especially when handling formaldehyde solutions. This minimizes the risk of small splash or vapour exposure. Impervious clothing for instance gown or an apron must be worn. Gloves which ranges from nitrile, neoprene, natural rubber to PVC ones can be used for bodily protection. The NIOSH or Sampling method Description of the method Method 3500: Visible absorption spectroscopy It is the most sampling method of formaldehyde under the NIOSH Manual of Analytic Methods. It can measure ceiling levels as 0.1ppm. This sampling method is best suited to determine formaldehyde in area samples. It is also referred to as chromatographic acid method. Brief description of the equipment needed. a) Sampler- 1-3µm pore size supported by stainless steel screen, 37mm filter cassette with 37mm polytetrafluoroethylene membrane filter. b) Personal sampling pump (0.2-1.0Litres per minute) with flexible connecting tubing c) Bottles; screw-cap low density polyethylene d) Spectrophotometer; visible 580 nm, with cuvettes,1-cm e) Volumetric pipettes with pipet bulb f) Others include; Volumetric flasks, burettes, PH meter, flasks, graduated cylinder, waterbath at 95C,magnetic stirrer and beaker,50mL Type of lab analysis required The analyses include calculation of mass of formaldehyde (µg) and the concentration, C of formaldehyde in the air volume sampled, V (L). Thus will determine whether the concentrations of formaldehyde are within the permissible limits of exposure or not. B. Naphthalene Brief description of chemical concern It occurs naturally in the fossil fuels together with oil and coal. Is a bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with molecular weight of 128.16, white in colour when pure and insoluble in water and solid under room temperature. Normally it is produced when fossil fuels or wood is burned (distillation and fractionalization of petroleum or coal tar). Also it a strong odour that tar. The chemical is useful in making dyes, leather goods and insecticides (NTP, 2002). Products such as moth balls can repel and keep moths away. Moreover, it can be used as deodorizer for diaper pails and toilets. It is chiefly used in the production of phthalic anhydride through vapour-phase catalytic oxidation (Bingham, et al, 2001). Route of exposure It can enter through inhalation of ambient and indoor air, or eat and drink contaminated food and water. While inside the body, it damages the red blood cells. Indeed it can be absorbed through the skin, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. Dermal exposure can occur especially wearing of clothing stored with moth repellents having naphthalene. Applicable exposure limits According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standards, there are two recommended exposure limits (RELs) for naphthalene. They include; an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit of 50mg/m3 (10ppm) and a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 75mg/m3 (15ppm). Types of industries that you can find the chemical Get exposed to the naphthalene from breathing air in an industry that produces it. Such industries include Coal tar production Wood preserving Tanning Ink and dye production Type of Personal Protective Equipment required These include Splash goggles and chemical resistant clothing; for instance gloves and aprons. Approved eyewash facility, fire extinguishers and safety shower must be readily available in a working area. Approved organic vapour canister unit, face shield, rubber boots and coveralls The NIOSH or sampling method & number A brief description of the method Method 35: Gas-liquid Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (FID) This sampling method is used to determine the naphthalene content of other chemicals mixtures. Naphthalene is collected on charcoal tubes and desorption with carbon disulfide. It is separated from the methyl-and dimethylnaphthalene, thionaphthalene and other aromatics. Moreover, a high-resolution capillarity column is required so that other impurities can be analyzed. Equipment needed They include; a) Personal sampling pump b) Chromosorb 106 tubes The tube contains a 100-mg adsorbing section with a 50-mg back up section separated by 2-mm portion of urethane foam. Silanized glass wool placed before the adsorbing section and also the ends are flame sealed. c) Other equipment include; Gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector, GC column, An electronic integrator, pipettes, volumetric flasks, a balance Type of laboratory analysis required Determination of concentration of standard naphthalene and desorption efficiency were required. Flow rates and their respective temperature readings are recorded in the analysis. Injection size and evolution time is known. C. Hexavalent chromium Brief description of chemical concern Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] is a toxic form of chromium element. In Hexavalent state, it exists as oxo species such as CrO3 and CrO42-. These species are strongly oxidizing (OSHA, 2006). However, in solution, Hexavalent chromium exists as hydrochromate, chromate and dichromate ionic species. In addition, the proportion of each ion in solution is dependent on pH. Chromate chemicals that are used as rust inhibitors in cooling towers and emitted as mists represent the key sources of Hexavalent chromium (J. Ku. Salt Lake City, UT, 1991). It is removed from air by atmospheric fallout and precipitation. It may exist in aquatic media as water soluble complex ions and is also a strong oxidizing agent which with organic matter or other reducing agents to form trivalent chromium. It is widely used in electroplating, pigments, wood preservatives, an ingredient, catalyst and as fungicides. It can cause lung cancer, damage to respiratory tract, skin and eyes (Jacobs, Guertin, Independent Environmental Technical Evaluation Group,2005). Route of exposure a) Oral route by absorption of ingested Hexavalent chromium b) Inhalation of chromium as dust, fume or mist c) Skin exposure especially when handling coatings or solutions containing chromium Applicable exposure limits The permissible exposure limits of Hexavalent chromium is set as follows An 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PELs) of 5µg/m3 An action level (AL) exposure limit of 2.5µg/m3 as an 8–hour Time Weighted average (TWA) is established. Types of industries that you can find the chemical Plating industry- There is production of chromic acid mist. Manufacture and use of metal chromates whereby particulate matter is emitted Gold mining Leather tanning Alloy production industry Steel industry Type of PPE required They include Gloves Aprons Coveralls Foot coverings Goggles The NIOSH or sampling method & number A brief description of the method Method ID-103: Differential Pulse polarography It describes the air sampling and analysis of workplace exposures to chromic acid and other chromate compounds. This method allows the chromium to be analyzed after it has been extracted from the filter with the help of carbonate or bicarbonate buffer solution. This can be achieved due to minimal interferences and increased sensitivity (OSHA, 2006). Equipment needed They include; Personal sampling pump, 37-mm diameter polyvinyl chloride filter, filter holder which has 2-3 piece of cassette, 37-mm diameter backup pad, Membrane filter, Gel bands for sealing cassettes, assorted flexible tubing, stopwatch and bubble meter for pump calibration. For analysis; the equipment is a) Polarographic controller b) Glass polarographic cells, 15-ml c) Nitrogen purification system d) Filtration apparatus such as vacuum flask and PVC filters e) Micro- analytical balance (0.01mg) Type of laboratory analysis required The lab analysis range from Measuring of peak current (nA) allows the analysis of reagent blank (10 mL of Bee solution) together with the standards and the samples. The calculation of concentration of each sample and blank in µg/mL is required and determination of air concentration of CrO3 in each extraction sample is needed. Works cited “NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods”, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, second edition, Vol.3, method s292, 1977 Agency for Toxic substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR). “Public Health Statement for Naphthalene.” Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1990. Eula Bingham, Barbara Cohrssen, Charles H. Powell."Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology , 13 Volume Set: John Wiley & Sons, 2001 J. Ku. Salt Lake City, UT. “Occupational Safety and Health Administration Technical center: Hexavalent Chromium Backup Data Report (ID-103)”, 1991 James Alan Jacobs, Jacques Guertin, Independent Environmental Technical Evaluation Group. “Hexavalent Chromium Handbook.”CRC Press INC, 2005 John B. Sullivan, Gary R. Krieger. “Clinical Environmental Health and Toxic Exposures,” Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001 Klaus Weissermel, Hans-Jorgen Arpe. “Industrial Organic Chemistry.”John Wiley & Sons, 2008 NTP. “Report on Carcinogens Background Document for Naphthalene.” National Toxicology Program2002. Retrieved on 18th November 2012 at http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/newhomeroc/rol11/NaphthalenePub.pdf OSHA. “Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium.” Final Rule2006.71FR 10099-10385 Patty, F. A. “Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology,” John Wiley and Sons, New York, second edition, vol. 2, p.1238 Pradyot Patnaik. “A Comprehensive Guide to the Hazardous Properties of Chemical Substances.”John Wiley & Sons, 2007 Thomas J. Smith, David Kriebel. “A Biologic Approach to Environmental Assessment and Epidemiology,” Oxford University Press, 2010 Training requirements in OSHA standards and training guidelines: DIANE Publishing William F. Martin, Michael Gochfeld. “Protecting Personnel at Hazardous Waste, Butterworth- Heinemann,” 1999, pp138-187 Read More