Exposure industrial

There are approximately 80,000 industrial and commercial chemicals in use in the world today and many more are added each year. Essentially all of these exhibit toxicity individually to humans. Toxicological information for many, but not all, of these chemicals is available in the literature. This book is not written to explore the individual toxicities of chemicals. Rather, the intention here is to address mixtures. With so many chemicals in use, an extremely large number of mixtures are possible. Testing of all possible mixtures is impossible and most of the information available about the toxicities of mixtures arises from studies that track impacted workers. 

Human Toxicology of Chemical Mixtures. DOI 10.1016/B97S 1-4377 3463 8.0001 8 2011 Elsevier Inc, All rights reserved. 

In this chapter, examples of toxic effects of chemical mixtures on workers will be presented to demonstrate toxic impacts on those exposed on the job. In order to properly recognize mixture effects, one must have good information on the chemicals to which the individuals are exposed and one must also examine the toxicities of the individual chemicals to ascertain that the impact(s) on workers is due to a mixture effect and not simply that of a single chemical. 

The toxicities of single chemicals are available from a number of databases and sources. Those listed here are not the exclusive resources, but they do provide toxicological information for most single chemicals. 

Sittig s Handbook of Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens provides toxicological data on some 1300 specific industrial chemicals [1]. 

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In additional EPA studies, subchronic inhalation was evaluated ia the rat for 4 and 13 weeks, respectively, and no adverse effects other than nasal irritation were noted. In the above-mentioned NTP chronic toxicity study ia mice, no chronic toxic effects other than those resulting from bronchial irritation were noted. There was no treatment-related increase ia tumors ia male mice, but female mice had a slight increase in bronchial tumors. Neither species had an increase in cancer. Naphthalene showed no biological activity in other chemical carcinogen tests, indicating Htde cancer risk (44). No incidents of chronic effects have been reported as a result of industrial exposure to naphthalene (28,41). 

Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA has set no specific limits for sodium and potassium sibcates (88). A pmdent industrial exposure standard could range from the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for inert or nuisance particulates to the PEL for sodium hydroxide, depending on the rate of dissolution and the concentration of airborne material. Material safety data sheets issued by siUcate producers should be consulted for specific handling precautions, recommended personal protective equipment, and other important safety information. 

Industrial Exposure A.nd Control Technologies ForOSHA Regulated Hac rdous Substances Yo. I, U.S. National Technical Information Service, Sptingfield, Va., 1989, pp. 366-369. 

The primary routes of entry for animal exposure to chromium compounds are inhalation, ingestion, and, for hexavalent compounds, skin penetration. This last route is more important in industrial exposures. Most hexavalent chromium compounds are readily absorbed, are more soluble than trivalent chromium in the pH range 5 to 7, and react with cell membranes. Although hexavalent compounds are more toxic than those of Cr(III), an overexposure to compounds of either oxidation state may lead to inflammation and irritation of the eyes, skin, and the mucous membranes associated with the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Skin ulcers and perforations of nasal septa have been observed in some industrial workers after prolonged exposure to certain hexavalent chromium compounds (108—110), ie, to chromic acid mist or sodium and potassium dichromate. 

The CASS Test. In the copper-accelerated acetic acid salt spray (CASS) test (42), the positioning of the test surface is restricted to 15 2°, and the salt fog corrosivity is increased by increasing temperature and acidity, pH about 3.2, along with the addition of cupric chloride dihydrate. The CASS test is used extensively by the U.S. automobile industry for decorative nickel—chromium deposits, but is not common for other deposits or industries. Exposure cycle requirements are usually 22 hours, rarely more than 44 hours. Another corrosion test, now decreasing in use, for decorative nickel—chromium finishes is the Corrodkote test (43). This test utilizes a specific corrosive paste combined with a warm humidity cabinet test. Test cycles are usually 20 hours. 

The hazards of chemicals are commonly detected in the workplace first, because exposure levels there are higher than in the general environment. In addition, the exposed population is well known, which allows early detection of the association between deleterious health effects and the exposure. The toxic effects of some chemicals, such as mercury compounds and soot, have been known already for centuries. Already at the end of the eighteenth century, small boys who were employed to climb up the inside of chimneys to clean them suffered from a cancer of the scrotum due to exposure to soot. This was the first occupational cancer ever identified. In the viscose industry, exposure to carbon disulfide was already known to cause psychoses among exposed workers during the nineteenth century. As late as the 1970s, vinyl chloride was found to induce angiosarcoma of the liver, a tumor that was practically unknown in ocher instances. ... 

Landrigan PJ, Stein GF, Kominsky JR, et al. 1987. Common-source community and industrial exposure to trichloroethylene. Arch Environ Health 42 327-332. 

Kehoe, who was considered the leading authority on workers industrial exposure to lead, had been the Ethyl Corporation s medical director for many years. The lead industry had built the Kettering Laboratory for him at... 

Baxter RA. 1979. Evaluation and control of industrial exposure to acrylonitrile. Ann Occup Hyg 22 429-435. 

Colorless liquid with a strong, sharp, pungent odor. However, less than 10% of attentive persons can detect this material at the industrial exposure limits. This material is hazardous through inhalation, skin absorption, penetration through broken skin, and ingestion, and produces local skin/eye impacts. 

Herskowitz A, Ishii N, Schaumburg H. 1971. -Hexane neuropathy A syndrome occurring as a result of industrial exposure. N Engl J Med 285 82-85. 

Cyanide can enter your body if you breathe air, eat food, or drink water that contains cyanide. Cyanide can enter your body through the skin, but this is common only for people who work in cyanide-related industries. Exposure to contaminated water, air, or soil can occur at hazardous waste sites. Once it is in your body, cyanide can quickly enter the bloodstream. Some of the cyanide is changed to thiocyanate, which is less harmful, and leaves the body in the urine. Some... 

Peden NR, Taha A, McSorley PD, et al. 1986. Industrial exposure to hydrogen cyanide Implications for treatment. Br Med J 293 538. 

Flickinger CW. 1976. The benzenediols Catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone - A review of the industrial toxicology and current industrial exposure limits. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 37 596-606. 

Cadmium, in trace amounts, is common in our foods, and as we age, our bodies cannot eliminate it effectively, so cadmium poisoning may result. The symptoms of mild poisoning are burning of the eyes, irritation of the mouth and throat, and headaches. As the intoxication increases, there may be severe coughing, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. There is a 15% chance of death from cadmium poisoning. The main risk from cadmium poisoning comes from industrial exposure—not from a healthy diet. 

The National Occupational Exposure Survey, conducted by NIOSH between 1980 and 1983, estimated that 96,345 employees (including 590 females) were exposed to fuel oil no. 2, 1,526 employees were exposed to fuel oil no. 4 and 1,076,518 employees were exposed to kerosene in the workplace (NOES 1992). Most exposure to fuel oil no. 2 was in the electric, gas, and sanitary services industries exposure to fuel oil no. 4 was greatest in the primary metal industries, and exposure to kerosene was greatest for machinists. 

EHC monographs examine the physical and chemical properties and analytical methods sources of environmental and industrial exposure and environmental transport kinetics and meta-bohsm including absorption, distribution, transformation, and elimination short- and long-term effects on animals, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and teratogenicity and finally, an evaluation of risks for human health and the effects on the environment. 

Most cases of intoxication from industrial exposure have been mild, with rapid onset of eye irritation, headache, sneezing, and nausea weakness, light-headedness, and vomiting may also occur. Acute exposure to high concentrations may produce profound weakness, asphyxia, and death. Acrylonitrile is metabolized to cyanide by hepatic microsomal reactions. Deaths from acute poisoning result from inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase activity by metabolically liberated cyanide. Inhalation of more moderate concentrations for a longer period of time leads to damage to the liver tissues in addition to central nervous system (CNS) effects. ... 

No systemic effects have been reported from industrial exposure. At an average concentration of 3.4ppm in an onion dehydrating plant there was irritation of eyes, nose, and throat in some workers. ... 

Linch AL Biological monitoring for industrial exposure to cyanogenic aromatic nitro and amino compounds. Am Ind Hyg Assoc 35 426 32, 1974... 

Ingestion of the liquid has produced central nervous system depression with coma and loss of reflexes at doses in the range of 150mg/kg smaller doses have led to listlessness, headache, and vertigo 300mg/kg is considered to be the approximate lethal dose in humans. Chronic effects have not been reported from industrial exposure. 

TabershawIR, FahyJP, Skinner JB Industrial exposure to butanol. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 26 328-330, 1944... 

In the occupational setting, exposure to cobalt alone occurs primarily in the production of cobalt powders. With other industrial exposures, such as hard metal exposure, additional... 

In eight cases of corneal injury reported from industrial exposure to crotonaldehyde, healing was complete in 48 hours the severity of exposure was not specified. ... 

Because cyclopentane is not sufficiently stable to occur naturally in large quantities, most exposures involve a mixture of substances. In the Italian shoe industry, exposure to glue solvents containing up to 18% cyclopentane has been associated with polyneuropathy. However, it is assumed that -hexane is present in these solvents and accounts for the polyneuropathy. 

No effects have been reported from industrial exposures. 

Dermatitis and conjunctivitis are occasionally observed in chemical workers after prolonged exposure. No systemic effects from industrial exposure have been reported. 

The vapor is moderately irritating at 4 ppm, and it is believed that workers would not tolerate 25 ppm for any length of time. However, in another report, prolonged exposure to 50-75 ppm supposedly produced drowsiness, headache, and nausea. Skin sensitization has occurred from industrial exposure a 4% concentration in petrolatum produced sensitization reactions in 10 of 24 volunteers. ... 

Chronic effects from industrial exposure have not been reported, although skin absorption is said to occur. In liquid form this substance may cause frostbite. 

Exposure. Inhalation skin absorption. Data on toxic effects are reported chiefly from industrial exposures to ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN)-NG mixed vapors. 

Workers exposed to unspecified concentrations developed slight irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. Systemic effects have not been reported from industrial exposure. 

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