Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 94-0253-2451, Pan American HealthOrganization, Bogota, Colombia, South America

摘要

In response to a request from the Pan American Health Organization, aninvestigation was begun into possible hazardous working conditions at the ECOPETROL Oil Refinery in Barrancabermeja (SIC-2911), Colombia. The study was to evaluate employee exposure to benzene (71432), toluene (108883), xylene (1330207), ethyl-benzene (100414), and cyclohexane (110827) in various areas of the refinery. ECOPETROL was an integrated oil refinery with a refining capacity of 200,000 barrels per day. In the aromatics facility benzene, toluene, xylene, ethyl-benzene, and cyclohexane were refined from napththa. The author concludes that a hazard existed for some workers from exposure to benzene. The author recommends that benzene exposure be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and environmental monitoring programs.