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Draft #9 September 1994 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CHLORINE AND SODIUM HYDROXIDE Edition 3 Draft #9 \ yU. -(J&tjg Draft Statement: This document is in draft form for consideration by appropriate Chlorine Institute committees. It has not been approved for issue for any other purpose and does not at this stage reflect official Institute position. Should reproduction of any portion be required for appropriate use, copies should be clearly marked "Draft" or some equivalent. CHLORINE INSTITUTE PAMPHLET 65 The Chlorine Institute, Inc., 2001 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 DO 072885 CONFIDENT I Al. TITLE: Page 5 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR Drafts CHLORINE AND SODIUM HYDROXIDE September 1, 1994 PAMPHLET 65: EDITION 3 _____________________________ AED 1 2.1.4 IDLH (NIOSH) 2 3 IDLH represents the maximum concentration from which, in the event of respiratory 4 failure, one could escape within 30 minutes without a respirator and without experiencing 5 any escape-impairing (e.g. severe eye irritation) or irreversible health effects. 6 7 2.2 Physiological Effects of Chlorine 8 9 2.2.1 General 10 11 Chlorine is a potential irritant to the eyes, skin, mucous membranes, and the respiratory 12 system. The primary concerns with exposure to chlorine are the respiratory system 13 followed by the eyes. The impact of exposure to chlorine is both concentration and time 14 dependent. (Reference 5 is one of several sources providing more information on the 15 health effects of exposure to chlorine.) The following table summarizes these health 16 effects: 17 18 EXPOSURE LEVEL (PPM) EFFECTS 19 Less than 0.5 No known acute or chronic effect. 20 21 0.5 Slight odor detectable. 22 ACGIH 8 hour TWA. 23 24 1.0 OSHA ceiling level 25 ACGIH STEL DO 072886 CONFIDENTIAL TITLE: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CHLORINE AND SODIUM HYDROXIDE PAMPHLET 65: EDITION 3__________________ Page 6 Drafts September 1, 1994 _____________ AED 1-10 * Definite odor detectable. Slight irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. 15 Effects are immediate with irritation of nose, throat and eyes accompanied with coughing. 30 NIOSH IDLH 100 Potentially lethal (depending on duration of exposure). 1000 Dangerous to life after a few inhalations. Proper personal protective equipment must be utilized to protect against these harmful effects. This pamphlet provides personal protective equipment recommendations for specific tasks. In 1989, OSHA established a time weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) per chlorine of 0.5 ppm and a short term exposure limit (STEL) PEL for chlorine of 1 ppm as part of a broad revision of its PELs. Subsequently, the Court of Appeals overturned the entire 1989 rulemaking. As a result of this court action, the only current OSHA regulation for chlorine is a 1 ppm ceiling level. DO 077887 CONFTDFNTTAl TITLE: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CHLORINE AND SODIUM HYDROXIDE PAMPHLET 65: EDITION 3 ____________ Page 7 Draft#9 September 1, 1994 _____________ AED 1 2.2.2 Non Respiratory Effects of Exposure to Gaseous Chlorine 2 3 Gaseous chlorine absorbs in water to form both hypochlorous and hydrochloric acids. 4 When exposed to high concentrations of chlorine gas, it can dissolve in body moisture (i.e., 5 perspiration) to form these acids. At 3,500 ppm chlorine in air, the pH of moisture on the 6 skin would be approximately 4. A pH of 4 is comparable to carbonated water. While a 7 burning sensation and skin irritation can occur due to such exposure, a review of the 8 literature has provided no specific human data to determine the concentration of chlorine 9 required to produce such effects. As previously stated, irritation of the eye, when exposed 10 to gaseous chlorine, begins to occur at the 1-10 ppm level. 11 12 2.2.3 Non Respiratory Effects of Exposure to Liquid Chlorine 13 14 Liquid chlorine is a refrigerated liquid. At atmospheric pressure, liquid chlorine vaporizes 15 at -34C (-29F). Typically, chlorine is stored in vessels as a liquid at atmospheric or 16 elevated pressures. Contact with liquid chlorine will cause eye and skin bums on contact, 17 similar to frostbite. 18 19 2.2.4 20 After Exposure to Chlorine ** 21 If liquid chlorine contacts the skin or penetrates through the clothing, immediately flush 22 the affected area with water for at least 15 minutes. Care should be exercised when 23 removing the protective clothing after use to avoid inhalation of chlorine from the 24 contaminated clothing. All personnel should seek immediate medical attention after being DO 077888 CONFXDFNT TAt TITLE: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CHLORINE AND SODIUM HYDROXIDE PAMPHLET 65: EDITION 3__________________ Page 8 Drafts September 1, 1994 _____________ AED 1 exposed (by inhalation or skin contact) to liquid chlorine or high concentrations of gaseous 2 chlorine. Reference 6 provides more specific information concerning such treatment. 3 4 2.3 Physiological Effects of Sodium Hydroxide 5 (10 to 50 wt%) 6 7 Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solutions are classified as a corrosive and can cause mild to 8 severe irritation of the eyes, mucous membranes (nose, sinus, throat, and lungs), and skin. 9 Exposure can occur by both direct contact with aqueous caustic solutions or entrained mists 10 and aerosols. The degree of irritation or cell damage is related to both the concentration 11 and temperature of the sodium hydroxide solution and the duration of the exposure. 12 13 Mild watering of the eyes is first observed at an approximate NaOH concentration in air 14 of 1 mg/m5. Contact with aqueous solutions as low as 1% can cause eye irritation. 15 Increasing concentration and temperature of the NaOH solutions can cause severe 16 irritation/bums and possible blindness. The severity can be reduced by prompt flushing 17 of the eye with copious amounts of water and seeking immediate medical attention. 18 19 Exposure to caustic solutions, mists, or aerosols at concentrations as low as 5 % NaOH can ,4S 20 cause severe skin irritation/bum. The degree of damage can be reduced by flushing with 21 copious amounts of water and seeking immediate medical attention. Ingestion of liquid 22 sodium hydroxide solutions can cause severe bums to the mucous membranes of the mouth, 23 throat, esophagus, and stomach and, therefore, must be avoided. 24 DO 072889 CONFIDENTIAL TITLE* PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CHLORINE AND SODIUM HYDROXIDE PAMPHLET 65: EDITION 3__________________ Page 9 Drafts September 1, 1994 AED 1 Irritation of the respiratory system can start at exposure levels as low as 0.5 mg/m3 with 2 noticeable, but not excessive, irritation occurring at approximately 2 mg/m3. 3 4 In 1989 OSHA established a PEL-ceiling for sodium hydroxide at 2 mg/m3 as part of a 5 broad revision of its PELS. Subsequently, the Court of Appeals overturned the entire 1989 6 rulemaking. As a result of this court action, the only current OSHA PEL for sodium 7 hydroxide is a 2 mg/m3 TWA. The ACGIH has established a 2 mg/m3 ceiling level for 8 sodium hydroxide. NIOSH has set the immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) 9 concentration at 250 mg/m3. Breathing dust, mist, or spray in excess of the PEL may 10 cause damage to the upper respiratory tract and lungs which could produce chemical 11 pneumonia, depending on the severity of the exposure. 12 13 14 3. REGULATIONS 15 16 The following OSHA regulations address personal protective equipment having potential 17 application in chlorine and sodium hydroxide production and use facilities. 18 19 29 CFR 1910.119 - Process Safety Management of Highly Hazard Chemicals 20 29 CFR 1910.120 - Hazardous Waste Operations and 21 Emergency Response 22 29 CFR 1910.132 - General Requirements 23 29 CFR 1910.133 - Eye and Face Protection 24 29 CFR 1910.134 - Respiratory Protection 25 29 CFR 1910.135 - Occupational Head Protection DO 07?8<?0 CONFIDENTIAL