Questions and Answers – Methylene Chloride Control in Furniture Stripping (Superseded) [1997]

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Methylene chloride control in furniture stripping
• Journal Article:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Personal Author:
  Estill, Cheryl F. ; Hall, Ronald M. ; Schoenborn, Theodore F.
• Description:
  This document has been superseded and the new version can be found here. Common questions regarding the hazards of methylene-chloride (75092) (MC) exposure were considered in this pamphlet. Short term effects of exposure included irritation to the skin, eyes, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract. Dizziness, headache, and lack of coordination were also common symptoms. Possible long term effects included cancer as shown in certain laboratory animal tests. There was evidence that workers exposed to MC may be at increased risk of developing ischemic heart disease. A proposed standard would set a limit of exposure at 25 parts per million (ppm) for 8 hour time weighted average exposures and a short term exposure limit of 125ppm. Exposure to MC may be by inhalation of vapors, absorption through the skin, or through contamination of hands, clothes, food or drink. The odor threshold for MC was 300ppm, so that odor was not a good warning. Installation of a local exhaust ventilation system can help reduce the levels of exposure. Several suggestions were offered for workers to help in reducing exposure levels. Another problem likely to be encountered during the stripping of furniture is exposure to phosgene (75445) if kerosene heaters are used in areas where MC vapors are present. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Content Notes:
  Includes bibliographical references (p. [5]).
• Subjects:
  Carcinogens Dichloromethane Epidemiology Furniture Hazardous Substances Hydrocarbons Methylene Chloride Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Paint Repairing Respiratory System Safety Safety Measures Solvents

  More +
• Keywords:
  Organic-solvents; Solvent-vapors; Carcinogens; Inhalation-studies; Epidemiology; Toxic-effects; Chlorinated-hydrocarbons; Occupational-exposure; Paint-removers
• Source:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 93-133, 1993 Sep; :1-6
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  8 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00217271
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB94-140415
• CAS Registry Number:
  Dichloromethane (CAS RN 75-09-2) ; Phosgene (CAS RN 75-44-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1993
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:82b2f6864f17e0d6844abf3b05875362ba10a893d7a4d3e83fec2cbd2d85db70bdc9668af740689b50e45182e6889040b5c98b9c268ee9565b4612c3535c4c71
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/11465/cdc_11465_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.76 MB ]