Successful Engineering Controls for 1-, and 2-Bromopropane Exposures in Spray Adhesive Applications

Details

• Personal Author:
  Harney, Joshua M. ; Mortimer, Vincent D. ; Reh, Christopher M.
• Description:
  NIOSH investigators conducted Health Hazard Evaluations at two companies that fabricate foam seat cushions. Historically, different solvent vehicles, such as methylene chloride and acetone have been used to fabricate cushions. 1-bromopropane (usually with residual amounts of 2-bromopropane present as a contaminant of refinement) has been used due to its favorable flammability properties (compared to acetone) and its potentially reduced toxicity hazard compared to methylene chloride. Because little information is available regarding the toxicological effects of this compound in humans, NIOSH has recommended that workplace exposures be lowered as much as possible. Methods: Full-shift exposures to 1-, and 2- bromopropane for spray booth operators were assessed both before and after local exhaust ventilation controls were improved at two plants. At the second plant, short-term (15 minute) exposures were also assessed before and after improvements to engineering controls were made. All air samples were analyzed according to a NIOSH Draft Method for 1-, and 2-bromopropane. In Plant #1, the construction of ventilation booths that enclosed each spray station resulted in a decrease in 1-bromopropane mean full-shift concentrations from over 160 ppm to below 30 ppm. In Plant #2, fully enclosing the already existing ventilated spray booths resulted in a similar decrease from 62 ppm to 22 ppm. Short-term samples with 1-bromopropane peaks as high as 174 ppm at Plant #1 were reduced to below 56 ppm. Exposures to 2-brompropane were decreased similarly. Personal exposures to I-bromopropane can be controlled in spray applications by using rather simple engineering control strategies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Adhesives Engineering Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Air-samples Engineering-controls Exposure-levels Hazards Health-hazards Sampling Sprays Workplace-studies
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Massachusetts ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  63
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20022455
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 1-6, 2002, San Diego, California. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2002 Jun; :63
• CAS Registry Number:
  1-Bromopropane (CAS RN 106-94-5) ; 2-Bromopropane (CAS RN 75-26-3) ; Dichloromethane (CAS RN 75-09-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 1-6, 2002, San Diego, California
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0e15676c732754af6a0a68729d1e33a7d72ec09faa840c7c0dac9b5d30598fc297d6d2ed97816a222b19d21530f4f0a7019bd0a03923088f99f05207e803bc44
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199226/cdc_199226_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 483.95 KB ]