Exposure users

EU (2002b) Human exposure to biocidal products. User guidance version 1. Annex 4 in Technical notes for guidance Human exposure to biocidal products—Guidance on exposure estimation. Ispra, European Union, European Chemicals Bureau, 76 pp. (http //ecb.jrc.it/Documents/Biocides/TECHNICAL NOTES FOR GUIDANCE/TNsG ON HUMAN EXPOSURE/Users guidance to Report 2002.doc). 

Aerosol products are hermetically sealed, ensuring that the contents caimot leak, spill, or be contaminated. The packages can be considered to be tamper-proof. They deUver the product in an efficient manner generating Httie waste, often to sites of difficult access. By control of particle size, spray pattern, and volume deUvered per second, the product can be appHed directiy without contact by the user. For example, use of aerosol pesticides can minimize user exposure and aerosol first-aid products can soothe without applying painful pressure to a wound. Spray contact lens solutions can be appHed directiy and aerosol lubricants (qv) can be used on machinery in operation. Some preparations, such as stable foams, can only be packaged as aerosols. 

Tables 2—5 Hst some typical properties or ranges of properties for the more common film and sheet products. Although these values are good for comparative purposes, actual performance tests are best to determine suitabiHty for use. Properties of multiple-layer films or sheets in laminar stmctures cannot always be predicted from values for the individual polymer layers. Use conditions of stress, temperature, humidity, and light exposure all strongly influence performance. Film and sheet manufacturers can recommend product combinations or variations that may provide significant performance advantages to the user.

Nickel carbonyl should be used in totally enclosed systems or under good local exhaust. Plants and laboratories where nickel carbonyl is used should make use of air-monitoring devices, alarms should be present in case of accidental leakage, and appropriate personal respiratory protective devices should be readily available for emergency uses. Monitoring of urinary nickel levels is useful to help determine the severity of exposure and identify appropriate treatment measures. Some large-scale users of nickel carbonyl maintain a supply of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, or Antabuse, a therapeutic agent, on hand for use in case of overexposure. 

There is insufficient evidence to unequivocally link nitrosamine exposure to elevated risk for human cancer (159). There are, however, a number of specific cases, especially with respect to the tobacco-related nitrosamines, in which exposure to V/-nitroso compounds is of concern. The strongest evidence in this context is probably that relating to oral cancer rates among habitual users of smokeless tobacco (snuff). Oral cancer rates among this group are significantly elevated over those of nonusers, and /V-nitrosonornicotine, and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-l-(3-pyridinyl)-l-butanone [64091 -91 both of... 

Free formaldehyde is a mixture of formaldehyde, formaldehyde hydrates, and low molecular oligomers. It imparts a characteristic odor to padding bath or padded fabrics (76,77). CeUulosics fabrics are capable of retaining large quantities of free formaldehyde, which are gradually evolved. Because all finishes degrade to some extent, extractable formaldehyde and releasable formaldehyde must be considered with respect to user exposure. 

The relationship between workplace exposure to airborne asbestos fibers and respiratory diseases is one of the most widely studied subjects of modern epidemiology (37—39). Asbestos-related health concerns were first raised at the beginning of the century in the UK and the latter appears to have been the first country to regulate the asbestos-user industry (40). However, at that time, infectious respiratory diseases were a much greater concern than those arising from poor industrial hygiene practices. 

For worker exposure to trichloroethylene vapor, OSHA set a maximum eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of 100 ppm. This severely restricted certain appHcations, and many organizations converted to other chlorinated solvents. As a result, U.S. production of trichloroethylene declined about 70% from a peak in 1970 (Table 2). In 1989, OSHA lowered the permissible exposure limit (PEL) from 100 ppm eight-hour TWA to 50 ppm eight-hour TWA (33). This added further pressure for some users to consider changing to alternative solvents. 

An important factor, endorsed by many users, is the meeting location. This meeting should be held at the vendor s plant. It is important for the vendor s personnel to have some exposure to the user. This meeting is intended for the actual vendor working people to find out, first hand,... 

Major hazard aspects of the transport of dangerous substances 1991 Recommendations for training users of non-agricultural pesticides Health surveillance under COSHH. Guidance for employers Anaesthetic agents. Controlling exposure under COSHH Risk assessments of notified new substances... 

Hermetically sealed electrical devices must be verified by a testing laboratory to meet mechanical abuse and to withstand aging and exposure to expected chemicals. Devices potted with common silicones and similar materials by an end user or even a manufacturer, without testing, and devices merely provided with O-rings seldom meet acceptable criteria. Normally, hermetically sealed devices must be sealed through metal-to-metal or glass-to-metal fusion. Many electrical relays, switches, and sensors are available as hermetically sealed devices for common oil and gas producing facility applications. Hermetically sealed devices are often desirable to protect electrical contacts from exposure to salt air and other contaminants. 

Description of samples tested, specific test methods used, exposure medium notes, solubility parameters, and other important details are provided. Emphasis is on providing all relevant information so the most informed conclusions and decisions can be made by the user. Over 60,000 individual entries (specific tests) are covered in the database. Classes of materials covered include thermosets, thermosetting elastomers, thermoplastics, and thermoplastic elastomers. Approximately 700 different trade name and grade combinations representing over 130 families of materials are included. Over 3300 exposure environments are represented. 

Measures to limit exposure of users or patients to radiation. 

The significance of the exposure levels shown in the Levels of Significant Exposure (LSE) tables and figures may differ depending on the user s perspective. Public health officials and others concerned with appropriate actions to take at hazardous waste sites may want information on levels of exposure associated with more subtle effects in humans or animals (LOAELs) or exposure levels below which no adverse effects (NOAELs) have been observed. Estimates of levels posing minimal risk to humans (minimal risk levels or MRLs) may be of interest to health professionals and citizens alike. 

A User s Guide has been provided at the end of this profile (see Appendix B). This guide should aid in the interpretation of the tables and figures for Levels of Significant Exposure and the MRLs. 

MRL users should also understand the MRL derivation methodology. MRLs are derived using a modified version of the risk assessment methodology the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides (Barnes and Dourson 1988) to determine reference doses for lifetime exposure (RfDs). 

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