Document 9Je8eO9BMoGJwRxpbLZZExNOL

THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY OF CANADA LA SOC!t OES INDUSTRIES DU PLASTIQUE DU CANADA 1262 DON MILLS ROAO. SUITE 2. DON MILLS. ONTARIO M3B2W7 TELEPHONE 440.3*44 October 7, 1974. Dr. V. L. Tidey, Acting Director, Occupational Health Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health, 15 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario. ! Dear Sir: / The Canadian VCM/PVC Industry "Ad Hoc" Committee has reviewed the vinyl chloride data sheet draft number 5 prepared by the Occupational Health Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health. The Committee has a number of comments and suggestions (attached) for your consideration in preparing the final draft of this data sheet. The Canadian VCM/PVC Industry "Ad Hoc" Committee was formed on May 31, 1974 and consists of technical representatives of Dow Chemical of Canada Limi ted, Esso Chanical Canada, B. P. Goodrich Canada Limited, and Monsanto Canada Limited who are knowledgeable In the technology of producing and handling of VCM and/or PVC. This Committee acts under the auspices of The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) Canada and is active In the rapid communication of information which will assist the members In the early resolution of the VCM health prob lem, and in liaison with governmental and other agencies concerned with the VCM situation.. The activities of. the "Ad Hoc" Comnittee do not restrict direct commu nication between the individual companies represented and the Ontario Ministry of Health or with other government agencies. Our activities are intended to complement such direct communication and to assist the individual companies involved to implement the techniques essen tial to the resolution of the problem. We believe that It is to the mutual advantage of the Ontario Ministry of Health and to the VCM/PVC industry and to the public that a document such ah the subject vinyl chloride data sheet be factually accurate, effective in ..cont. RSV 0000190 Dr. V. L. Tidey 2 October 7, 1974 controlling the health problem, concise and still remain technically feasible It is with this belief and in this spirit that we offer the attached suggestions for preparation of the final draft of this document. Respectfully yours, VCM/PVC "Ad Roc" Committee Monsanto Canada Limited $ Suttee^ E. R. Evason The Society of the Plastics Industry of Canada End. Dow Chemical of Canada Limited RSV 0000191 ftsv 0000192 H&HVCM DRAFT NO. S VINYL CHLORIDE HONOKR *Ai> Cmn. RECOWENDEP CHANCES COMMENTS DESCRIPTION Vinyl Chloride Monoaer (VCM) is made by oxychlorination of ethylene or bjr hydrochlorination of acetylene. It can be polymerised to fora polyvinyl chloride or copolymrlsed with other aonoasrs to fora materials such as Saran. DESCRIPTION S' Vinyl Chloride Monoaer (VCM) is aanufactured by theraal dehydrochlorinition of ethylene dichlorlde or by hydrochlorination of acetylene. VCM can be polyaerised to fora polyvinyl chloride or copoly* periled with other aonoaere to fora copolyaer plastic materia)* Cff't) The oxychlorlnation of ethylene does not produce VCM, per se. Seran is only ono copolymor of VCM and It Is a registered Dow product trade naee. Ve do net recoeaend its use at such In this docuaont. it has been used in the United States of Aaerlca, i tut r.ot in Canada > a propollant in pressurise! 5pcy containers. Delete sentence ''It he* been used.........................spray containers". Spray cans using VCM as a propsllant have been aarkstad and ussd in Canada. They have possibly not been packaged in Canada but ve do not know this 1| true. It is a colourless flsawable gss at normal conditions of tecipcrati'ro and pressure but is usually trans posed and stored ts e liquid under pressure (40 psig). It has e pleasant ethereal odour and is practically Insoluble in water, but soluble In alcohol, ether and carbon tetrachloride. VCM la a colourless fliuaaabls gss at normal condi tions of teaperature and pressure butTVTT usually stored end transported as e liquid under its own vapour pressure. Chemical Povaula Molecular helghr Roiling I'olnt Density Hash Point Au-.o Ignition Temp. Explosive Haiti CH2 - CHC1 62.5 -1J.37C (B.9F) 2.SS ga/litre -?gC (-10BP) 472C (62F) 2.5-69,91 by weight in air con't..........2 Bolling Point (760 >Nf Hf) -1J.J7C (7.9P) Density (Vapour) 2.15 (Air P 1.00) (Liquid) 0.9121 g/ml 20/20C Explosive Limits 4-221 by vsltae in air v -IJ.37C calculates *7.9f Me recoaaand that both liquid density and vapour density bo stated. Explosive limits of 4-22% by volume in air la the standard value used in Industry. Chemical Oafaty Data Sheet BD-|6. \ .i \ 4 i pg. 2 con't OCCUPATICilAL EXPOSURE Exposure to vinyl chloride ny occur In the unufacturo of the monomer and also In the polymerisa tion process. Loading and unloading of tank cars and tank trucks also presents an exposure risk. The polymerisation process is the stain source of expo sure especially whan cleaning the polymerisation kettle. The polymer usually contains free VCM which Is partially given off in the drying process, packtging operation and storage. Residual monomer extrusion of polyvinyl chloride. Polyvinyl chloride occc -.poses on heat inn to form hydrochloric acid. carton ct-noxldo. phosgene and p<issibly ether isses. No VCM is produced when"tlnrjfi>Iymer^is decomposed. PVC products do not constitute any known health hstards. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE Delete "Residual monomer.................... other gases". Replace with: "The laueacted VCM if present in the PVC resin, is given off durit.g nixing and compoisidlng. In generul only trace amounts of VCM are released during the extrusion or forming operation. Excessive hast leads to decomposition of PVC and the formation of hydrochloric acid gas, carbon nonoxide end truces of other gases. Levels of residual VCM In PVC resins currently' vtry from zero to 1000 ppn, depending on the nanufseturing process, handling and storage. Decomposition of PVC does not occur under normal processing conditions. In the event of fire or excessive heating, HC1 gas is the main decomposition product which Is readily detectable. Phosgene may be generated In trece amounts but this requires rather special conditions. (Sea joint report of Task Croup C, Manufacturing Chemists Association Safety and Fire Protection Committee, dated March 12, 1970.) supply VCM is supplied in tank care or tracks in liquid fora. TRANSPORTATION VCM la transported in dedicated tank cars and tank trucks as a liquid under Its own vapour pressure, and by dedicated pipeline under pimp pressure. VCM mist be stored and transported in the pure liquid state in the interest of safety, hence the phrese "under its own vapour pressure" is essentlel to any statement on storage and transportation. HEALTH ASPECTS Accuto exposure at 1000 ppm or oyer has been reported to produce dizziness and confusion and lead to unconciousness with possible respiratory arrest. HEALTH ASPECTS Acute exposure at 6000 ppm or over has been re ported to produce dixxlness and confusion and higher concentrations say lead to unconsciousness and possible death. con't......... 3 </*// The American Industrial Hygiene Association Hygienic Guide series reports: "Based on S minute exposures of human subjects, it Is estineted that prolonged exposure te e level Move 6000 ppm is necessary to produce J | 1 1 jo V* O O o o m* PS. 3 con1c Chronic exposure hes been reported in e feu cases to cause scleroderma - like skin changes, Raynaud's syndromes, vascular changes, acro-osteolysis,thrombo cytopenia, splenomegaly, esophagol varices, liver fibrosis, and pulmonary ventilation disturbances. After M................manual cleaners of polymerisation". Add: "Ho cases of acro-osteolysis or angiosarcoma have occurred among Canadian VCM and/or PVC workart1 4/4 7b VCM has beam recently reported to be carcinogenic, with angiosarcoma of the liver occuring among a small number of polymerisation workers. AcTO-osteo- lysis has boon reported as occurring in some manual cleaners of polymeriters. minimal syaqitons of intoxication". Syspeofia with exposure to 16000 ppm aro similar to thoso listed in Draft No. 5. THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists recoemendation for 1973 is 200 psrts per Billion or S10 mg/M*. This is reported, subject to change, pending investigation underway. For the present, the Occupational Health Protection Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health, is using a timeweighted averege of 10 ppm during an eight hour day and e celling of 35 ppm which is not to be exceeded for any"period of tisw. THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES For the present, the Occupational Health is pro posing a time weighted average of 10 ppm during an hour day and a ceiling level of 25 ppm aa maasurod over a IS minute time period. PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED ENGINEERING EH6IHEERIH6 1. Operations sre to be carried out in closed systems whenever possible. 2. Those operations thst cannot be contained are to be fully enclosed and provided with local] exhaust. con*t......... 4 7 Those operations that ciuuiot be contained are to be fully enclosed or provided with adequate local exhaust. Jor- 4^ If- \ It is not technically feasible to adhere to m ceiling of 25 ppm which shall not be exceeded for any period of time. Fifteen minutes is. s realistic time period on which to base e ceiling standard compatible with the 10 ppm THA standard. Soma segments of the industry will require a reasonable tine period to implement process changes to achieve compliance. The individual companies will review their programs and tine tables with the Ontario Ministry of Health. \ R$V 0000194 RSV 0 0 0 0 1 9 5 pf. 4 can't 3. PVC polymer ventilated. to be adequately Adequate nechanical general exhaust Is to be provided In all process areas. S. Entry Into vessels (e.g, polymerisation kettles) is^ to be done with adequate safeguards Including wearing ofr air suppllee respirators and full_ protective clothing. "All other precautions forventering confined-spaces are to be followed. .6 Monitoring of work areas is to be provided where potential high exposures as/ occur, depending on the severity of the potential' exposure nonltoring stay be interalttent or continuous. 7. A carefully controlled nalntenance program Is to be carried out to reduce the possibility of leaks and spills to minimum. .8 In clean up of tpllla or leaks, full protective clothing including air supplied respirator is to be worn. 9. Ouring maintenance or repelr work or any opera-, tion where a worker is liable to have high exposure, he is to weer full protective clothing including an air supplied respirator. 10. Emergency procedures are to be developed, inclu ding evacuation of persoimel, for areas where it is possible to have a serious leak of VCM. 11. Ho food, drinks and tobaceo are to be permitted In the exposure erea. 4. Adequate ventilation la to be provided in all process anas. 5. Entry into vassels.................... including wearing of air supplied respirators (when the level of VCM in the vessel exceeds 10 ppm) and protective clothing. . 8. In clean up of'spills or leaks, protective clothing and air supplied nspintor is to be worn (when the level of VCM exceeds 10 ppm). 9. During maintenance........he la to wear pro tective clothing and an air supplied respirator. Air supplied respirators an currently being used for vessel entry where VCM level is above the threshold limit in use. The use of air supplied respirators should not be mandatory when VCM levels esh be maintained below the new THA of 10 ppm. /ft*# 8. Same as above. 9. Same as above. con't......... 5 4 pg. S cua't 12. No eating, drinking, chewing end smoking ere to he permitted in the exposure area. 13. Safety shower* and eye wash fountains are to he provided in VCM manufacturing, storage, loading and tailoading and polymerisation areas. 14. for persons who handle PVC powder containing > detectable levels of VCM ox who axe required to wear protective clothing, the following precau tions ay be required. 14. For persons who kindle PVC powder containing significant levels of residual VCM or who are required to wear protective clothing, the following procautions nay be requested. (e) A double lo&er tystdn is to be provided such that: (i) each worker has a locker for street clothes in a "clean" locker rows and a locker for work clothes In a "dirty" lockor roon. (a) Delate reference to dual locker rooms. (li) a shower is located between the two roana ao that etch worker nay taka a shower before putting on etreet clothes. (b) Each worker is ta be required to wash before eating, drinking, snoking, or using toilot faci lities and to shower at the and of his work shift. (b) Each worker is to bo encouraged.................. .at the end of his work shift (c) Lauidry facilitloa nr# to bo provided and each worker*a clothes are to be leundered at least weekly. As en alternative, disposable work clothing could be used. MEDICAL Tha medical aspects sr.d medical programs required are currently under discussion -between the company industrial physicians snd Ministry of Health staff physicians. 14. The problen is not residual VCM in tha rosin but relates to the VCM that eslts into the breating tone of the nan handling the resin. T (a) The dual locker arrangements sra generally in use, and we concur with this srrsngpnont (i.e. dual locker with a shower roon adjacent. Me do not agree that dual lockor roon* are necessary. It would be feasible to require thet dual locker roon with showers between in a new facility to be built, however, to incorpo rate this feature into existing plants is not feasible unless absolutely essential which we question. i 9610000 ASM J