Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-2008-0175-3111, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, July 2010. Evaluation of 1-Bromopropane Use in Four New Jersey Commercial Dry Cleaning Facilities

摘要

On May 2, 2008, NIOSH received a technical assistance request from the NJ DHSS regarding potential health effects of 1-BP in drycleaners. This solvent can be used in the same machine as perc after a conversion process. One New Jersey dry cleaner owner required medical evaluation after becoming symptomatic while doing the 1-BP conversion himself. Initial reports indicated the possibility of peripheral neuropathy. Because 1-BP has been documented in the medical literature to cause peripheral neuropathy, NIOSH was asked to evaluate possible exposures and health effects among dry cleaner operators who used 1-BP. In August 2008, we visited four of eight facilities in New Jersey that had been approved to use 1-BP in dry cleaning operations. We interviewed owners, operators, and an employee about the conversion process, work practices, and adverse health effects they associated with 1-BP use. PBZ and area air sampling was performed during normal operation of the 1-BP system during our second site visit in November 2008. Six interviews were conducted with owners, operators, and employees. One person reported transient lightheadedness, which is consistent with general solvent exposure.