Occupational Exposures During the Preparation of Pseudo Narcotics for Canine Training

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dowell, Chad H.
• Description:
  NIOSH received a request for a Health Hazard Evaluation at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Canine Enforcement Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The request concerned potential exposures from the preparation of pseudo narcotics. Seven personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples were collected for total particulates on workers in the mix room. Nine general area (GA) air samples were collected for total particulates in the mix and package rooms. Two PBZ air samples were collected for acetic acid on workers in the mix room and 4 GA air samples were collected in the mix and package room. Three GA air samples were collected for benzaldehyde and piperonal and 4 GA air samples for methyl benzoate in the mix room. The particulate contained cab-o-sil and microcrystalline cellulose. All of the total particulate PBZ air samples collected on workers in the mix room exceed the OSHA PEL for particulates not otherwise classified (PNOC) and the ACGIH TLV for cellulose. Their concentrations ranged from 21 to 110 mg/m3 with an average of 43 mg/m3. Workers lean forward and place their heads inside drums, scooping out powder near the bottom. This accounts for the high airborne dust concentrations. One of 2 acetic acid PBZ air samples collected on workers in the mix room exceed the NIOSH REL, OSHA PEL, and ACGIH TLV. This sample was collected on the worker who measures acetic acid. All other air samples collected were below relevant evaluation criteria. There is a potential for excessive particulate and acetic acid exposure in the mix room of the pseudo drug building. Based on a description of other work activities not directly observed, there is also a potential for respiratory hazards during the chopping of marijuana bales. Recommendations included ventilation improvements, modified work practices, and use of respiratory protection. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Law Enforcement Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Law-enforcement Law-enforcement-workers Respiratory-protection Respiratory-protective-equipment Ventilation-systems
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  58
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026929
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 21-26, 2005, Anaheim, California. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2005 May; :58
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 21-26, 2005, Anaheim, California
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:71361b4020167184f23b49fc21274b85ef057c151e33f9ec62c6b053f5f473b52a98ed1a7e8b91bb29c348c5f33abe995feee3ac28a4f036d43713ad36a8668f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197411/cdc_197411_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.89 MB ]