Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Report No. TA 79-10, Environmental Protection Agency, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland

摘要

Employee exposure to benzene (71432), acetonitrile (75058), tetrahydrofuran (109999) and 1,4-dioxane vapors (123911) was evaluated on January 17 and 30, 1979 at Lab Building 409 of the Environmental Protection Agency's Beltsville Agriculture Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. The evaluation was prompted by a request from the OSHA Office of Federal Agency Programs resulting from employee and union complaints about laboratory fume hoods and toxic materials storage in the building. Breathing zone samples were collected on activated charcoal tubes. Eight-hour Time Weighted Average samples and ceiling value samples were obtained and compared to environmental standards and criteria. All samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. Results show that employee exposure was below the reliable analytical limit of detection. It is recommended that exhaust roof ventilation be replaced with fans and stacks appropriate for lab hood exhaust, air replacement within the laboratory be at least six changes per hour, and plumbing be checked for the presence of the required number of vents and traps.