In-Depth Survey Report: Spray Polyurethane Foam Chemical Exposures During Spray Application: Priority 1, Cincinnati, Ohio

Details

• Personal Author:
  DeCapite, Joseph ; Marlow, David A.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Description:
  The American Resource and Recovery Act of 2009 promoted green jobs and energy efficiency. The use of spray polyurethane foam (SPF), as an insulation material, has increased with the promotion of green jobs. Because of its insulating properties, SPF is a highly-effective and widely used insulation and air sealant material. However, exposure to its key ingredients (isocyanates, and other SPF chemicals) during and after installation can cause asthma, sensitization, lung damage, occupational asthma, and skin and eye irritation. SPF is a two-component system with an A-side containing 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and a B-side containing polyols such as ethylene glycol, amine catalyst, blowing agents, and flame retardants. Past studies have shown that sprayers' exposures to MDI can range from 7.0 to 205 microg/m3, exceeding the OSHA permissible exposure limit (200 microg/m3 as a 15 minute ceiling limit). No air sampling has been conducted to assess both MDI exposure as well as exposures to the other chemicals present in SPF. This survey was conducted to more fully evaluate worker exposures during the application of SPF. Air sampling was conducted to characterize the chemical exposures during spray polyurethane foam installation at three different sites. Personal breathing zone air samples were collected for MDI, isocyanate functional group (NCO) monomer, and NCO oligomer. The mean MDI concentration for the sprayers was 47.4 microg/m3 ranging from 7.98 to 105 microg/m3. The helper mean MDI concentration for the sprayer was 6.27 microg/m3 ranging from 0.33 to 9.74 microg/m3. The mean concentration for MDI for the sprayers was 47.4 microg/m3, approaching the NIOSH TWA REL of 50 microg/m3. Area samples were collected for glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, amine catalysts, flame retardants (tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate and triethyl phosphate), blowing agents (1,1,1,3,3,-pentafluoropropane), and organic vapors (acetone). These air samples showed the presence of all the chemical compounds sampled. Based on concentrations found in the personal breathing zone air sample results the sprayer and helpers should use supplied-air full-face respirators and wear coveralls, head and foot covers, and chemical resistant gloves. The results from the samples collected from the perimeter area indicated that all workers should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e. full-face respirator, coveralls, head and foot covers, and gloves) at all times while in the work area and those workers without the proper PPE should remain outside of the work area. The sampling results indict that MDI as well as chemical compounds found in the B-component side are present in the spraying area.
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Chemistry Engineering Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Eye Foreign Bodies Glycols Hypersensitivity Isocyanates Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Respiratory Protective Devices Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Skin

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• Keywords:
  4,4'methylenebisphenyl Isocyanate Air Sampling Breathing Zone Bronchial-asthma Chemical Agents Chemical Processing Chemical Protective Clothing Control-technology Diisocyanates Diphenyls Engineering-controls Ethylene Glycol Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Exposure Limits Eye-irritants Full Facepiece Respirators Gloves Green Jobs Insulation-industry Insulation-materials Insulation-workers MDI Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI) OSHA Region 5 PELs Permissible Exposure Limits Personal-protective-equipment Polyurethane Foams Protective-clothing Protective-equipment Pulmonary-system-disorders Recommended Exposure Limits RELs Respiratory-protective-equipment Respiratory-system-disorders Respiratory Protection Sampling Sealants Sensitization Skin Irritants Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation Sprays Time Weighted Average Exposure

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• Series:
  Engineering and Physical Hazards Survey Reports
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHEPHB005166
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology ; EPHB - Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-17
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049955
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2017-102654
• Citation:
  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, EPHB 005-166, 2017 Apr ; :1-17
• CAS Registry Number:
  Polyurethane (CAS RN 9009-54-5) ; Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (CAS RN 101-68-8) ; Ethylene glycol (CAS RN 107-21-1) ; (±)-Propylene glycol (CAS RN 57-55-6) ; Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (CAS RN 13674-84-5) ; Triethyl phosphate (CAS RN 78-40-0) ; 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluoropropane (CAS RN 460-73-1) ; Acetone (CAS RN 67-64-1) ; N1-[3-(Dimethylamino)propyl]-N1,N3,N3-trimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (CAS RN 3855-32-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  238310 - Drywall and Insulation Contractors - (NAICS)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0a94b312b1c63b9d3d715afcfe210f4859f7403a2c2af0ff9b5d9d00c961c26de90f5d9a66890d4b40df830c9d0beba7218bb0e3c1bb4b6745123c8016f17a22
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/174824/cdc_174824_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 292.13 KB ]