Extent-of Exposure Study: 1,3-Butadiene Polymer Production Industry

摘要

An extent of exposure study of the 1,3-butadiene (106990) polymer industry was conducted to determine the size of the exposed workforce, evaluate control technologies and personal protective equipment programs, and assess occupational exposure to the chemical. A total of 17 polymer facilities were surveyed. A representative sample of 5 facilities was selected for in-depth industrial hygiene surveys. These firms manufacture styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile-butadiene rubber, adiponitrile, polybutadiene rubber of neoprene. All worker exposures were well below the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 1000 parts per million (ppm). Exposures ranged from less than 0.006 ppm to 209.6 ppm; the average exposure was less than 2 ppm. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value for 1,3-butadiene was 10 ppm; 19 of the 451 samples exceeded this 10 ppm level. Several recommendations were made: to reduce the potential for occupational exposure it was recommended that quality control sampling be conducted with a closed loop; all process pumps should be retrofitted with dual mechanical seals; magnetic gauges should be used in the loading and unloading of rail cars; engineering controls should be designed for the safe voiding of quality control cylinders.