The Development of Substitute Inks and Controls for Reducing Workplace Concentrations of Organic Solvent Vapors in a Vinyl Shower Curtain Printing Plant

Details

• Personal Author:
  Piltingsrud HV ; Rourke AB ; Zimmer, Anthony T.
• Description:
  During the summer of 1994, football players at a practice field reported noxious odors in the area. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) investigations of industries surrounding the field included a printing facility producing vinyl shower curtains with screen-printed designs. Though not the source of the odor, they were discharging volatile organic compounds directly to the environs in violation of OEPA regulations. To achieve compliance they installed a catalytic oxidizer for treating discharged air. Due to high equipment costs, the capacity of the installed catalytic oxidizer resulted in a substantial reduction in discharged air flow rates and increased solvent vapor concentrations within the workplace. Vapor levels caused worker discomfort, prompting a request for assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation. The vapor concentrations were found to exceed NIOSH, OSHA, and ACGIH(R) acceptable exposure levels. The workers were then required to wear organic vapor removing respirators full-time while printing as a temporary protective measure. The company requested NIOSH assistance in finding methods to reduce solvent vapor concentrations. NIOSH studies included the identification of the sources and relative magnitude of solvent emissions from the printing process, the design of controls for the emissions, and the development of substitute inks using non-photochemically reactive solvents. The new ink system and controls allowed OEPA removal of the requirement for the treatment of discharged air and substantial increases in dilution ventilation. Increased ventilation would permit reduction in worker exposures to less than 1/3 mixture TLV(R) levels and removal of requirements for respirator usage. This solution was the result of a comprehensive review of all facets of the problem, including OEPA regulations. It also required cooperative work between the company and federal, state, and local governmental agencies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Engineering Environmental Exposure Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Solvents Ventilation Volatile Organic Compounds
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Vinyl Printing Inks Control Technology Engineering Controls Environmental Control Equipment Exposure Levels Exposure Limits Industrial Emission Sources Industrial Ventilation Occupational Exposure Organic Solvents Printing Inks Region 5 Regulations Single-Pass Ventilation Vapors Vapor Volume Ventilation Systems Vinyl Plastics VOC Volatiles

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• ISSN:
  1047-322X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  18
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20023320
• Citation:
  Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2003 Aug; 18(8):597-619
• CAS Registry Number:
  1-Methoxy-2-propyl acetate (CAS RN 108-65-6) ; 2-Pentanone (CAS RN 107-87-9) ; Acetone (CAS RN 67-64-1) ; Butyl acetate (CAS RN 123-86-4) ; Cyclohexanone (CAS RN 108-94-1) ; Diacetone alcohol (CAS RN 123-42-2) ; Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (CAS RN 3454,4′-Bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone (CAS RN 90-94-8)) ; Ethanol (CAS RN 64-17-5) ; Ethyl acetate (CAS RN 141-78-6) ; Methanol (CAS RN 67-56-1) ; Methyl isobutyl ketone (CAS RN 108-10-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• NORA Priority Area:
  Research Tools and Approaches: Control Technology and Personal Protective Equipment
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20040930
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2031a35b0b115f721e76af9405446df698cbce10414b843a52c4427208a39659d658a5fabf49341e54d86c5194508764b9409912f207ae9de5c41c9f0608fdf8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/195827/cdc_195827_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 670.53 KB ]