Solvent permeation through protective

C. Solvent Permeation Through Protective Garment Material... 

N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (commonly referred to as NMP or M-Pyrol) is used within the semiconductor industry as a degreaser, a resist stripper and as a solvent for phenolic die coat resins is known to cause skin irritation and to rapidly permeate through intact skin. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a final assessment document on NMP, found this material as a significant risk of reproductive and developmental effects for people working with NMP-based paint strippers. 

The components of the protective foil, which include inks, solvents, and unreacted monomers and oligomers derived from the adhesive material, have the potential to permeate through LDPE vials and contaminate the drug product... 

Use only chemical protective clothing that has undergone appropriate material and construction performance testing. If the concentration of vapor exceeds the level necessary to produce effects through dermal exposure, then responders should wear a Level A protective ensemble. Reported permeation rates may be affected by solvents if solutions of agents have been released. 

To determine the suitability of fluorinated HDPE containers as packaging material for the solvent-based formulations, the containers were placed in well-ventilated ovens at 50°C for 28 days. During this period the mass loss of the contents was monitored. To date more than 130 liquid crop protection chemical formulations have been evaluated at the AEC by this method with at least 91 of them having serious permeation problems through the untreated HDPE containers. In only two cases fluorinated containers did not have acceptable barrier properties. 

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