Document JNZJrDNNp6Ow6vQpRvyj5Ve4a

a '^7_^ Reprinted from AMERICAN' INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ASSOCIATION JOURNAL Volume 30, September-October, 1969 Vinyl Acetate: A Study of Chronic Human Exposure D. E. DEESE and R. E. JOYNER, M.D. Gulf Coast Area, Union Carbide Corporation. Chemical and Plastics, Texas City, Texas 77590 Qg Atmospheric studies of vinyl acetate in three production units of a Gulf Coast chemical plant indicated chemical operators' average long-term exposures ranged from 5 to 10 ppm with intermittent exposures near 30 ppm and potential acute exposures to 300 ppm. Subjective response studies indicated odor to be detectable by some persons at levels as low as 0.4 ppm with no significant eye or upper respira tory irritation below 10 ppm. Levels of 21.6 ppm produced eye and throat irritation. Clinical studies and medical records revealed no evidence to suggest chronic effects at the determined long-term levels or serious residual injury from acute exposure if treated promptly. Introduction continued contact may result in severe irrita tion or blister formation on the skin of some FOR MANY YEARS vinyl acetate has persons. This study has been directed toward been generally regarded as a chemical establishing the average environmental ex of low toxicity and minimal physiologicapl osure levels of chemical operators, detecting hazard.1 Twenty-two years of experience in any chronic affects in these operators which a plant which produces and polymerizes this might be attributable to their exposure on a material suggests that this opinion is correct. long-term basis, and determining subjective Aside from its acknowledged capacity to irri human response to short-term exposures. tate and even burn the skin and eyes, we have Studies were conducted by the Medical Divi seen nothing else which suggests other toxic sion of a Gulf Coast chemical plant. properties. Its reactivity hazards have been well documented.-' No reports of long-term chronic effects in man are known to exist. Reported animal studies conclude that the systemic toxicity for laboratory animals of vinyl acetate is not remarkable; dogs exposed The Chemical Vinyl acetate is a monocarboxylic, unsatu rated aliphatic ester which will react violently with itself. six hours daily for several weeks at concen trations beginning at an average of 91 ppm and ending after about 11 weeks at 186 ppm. showed no circulatory abnormalities or evi dence of altered metabolism.3 Toxicity range HO H-- cI --c I\ H / finding studies* rated: (1) acute ingestion as a moderate hazard (LD}0 - 2.92 gm/Kg in H rats) ;(2) harmful skin absorption as unlikely The reaction is polymerization which can be to occur (LDjo > 5 ml/Kg in rabbits); (3) inhibited by hvdroquinone or diphenylamine. inhalation as a moderate hazard (1000 pm It is a clear and colorless flammable liquid not fatal to rats in four hours: 4000 ppm fatal which boils at 72.7C. Its vapor has a not to three of six rats in two hours; 8000 ppm unpleasant, sweetish smell. Russian investiga fatal to all in two hours): and (4) skin irri tors reported the odor threshold as 1 mg/ms tation as unreactive on rabbit belly. How (approxmately 0.3 ppm).3 The vapor pres ever industrial experience has shown that sure at 25.3C is 115 mm of mercury. It is 449