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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH GUIDELINE FOR VINYL CHLORIDE POTENTIAL HUMAN CARCINOGEN INTRODUCTION This guideline summarizes pertinent information about vinyi chloride for workers, employers, and occupational safety and health professionals who may ncea such information to con duct effective occupational safety and health programs. Recommendations may be superseded by new developments in these fields; therefore, readers are advised to regard these recommendations as general guidelines. SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION Formula: C,HjCl Structure: CH,=CHC1 Synonyms: Chlorethene. chlorethylene. monochlorethylene, chloroethylene Identifiers: CAS 75-01-4; RTECS KU9625000: DOT 1086. label required: "Flammable Gas" Appearance and odor: Colorless gas with a sweet odor CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Physical data 1. Molecular weight: 62.50 2. Boiling point (at 760 mmHg): -14C (7F) 3. Specific gravity (water = 1): 0.9121 4. Vapor density (air = 1 at boiling point of vinyl chlondc); 2.15 5. Melting point: -155.7 "C (-243.4F) 6. Vapor pressure at 20C (68 T): 2.580 mmHg ^ . water. ''100 g water at 24C (75 TV. 0.11 . potential: 9.995 ev i laui.n, iuoiliues: AtmciDncT.C ua . gen arc strong oxia with vinvi chi;,; >de to oroauce oeroxwe. watch c. . > iilent poiyiner.zauon reac: i. 2. Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic vapors and gases (e.g., hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide) may be released in a fire involving vinyl chloride. 3. Caution: Check valves for leaks. Flammability 1. Flash point: -78C (-108F) (open cup) 2. Autoignition temperature: 472 C (882*F) 3. Flammable limits m air. % by volume: Lower, 3.6; Upper. 33.0 4. Class 1A Flammable Liquid Gas (29 CFR 1910.106). Flam mability Rating 4 (NFPA) Warning properties 1. Odor threshold: 3.000 ppm 2. Evaluation of warning properties for respirator selection: Warning properties are not considered in recommending respirators for use with carcinogens. EXPOSURE LIMITS The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for vinyl chloride is 1 pan of vinyl chloride per million pans of air (ppm) as a time-weighted average (TWA) concenuauon over an 8-hour workshift. and the ceiling concentration which shall at no time be exceeded is 5 ppm as determined in any 15-minuie sampling penod. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that vinyl chloride be controlled and handled as a potential human carcinogen in the workplace, and the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) is that exo-isara be minimized to the lowest feasi ble limn The American C.niuereucf rif~ *-- '' iu.-. triai ^veicmsts (ACGIH) i*ai,ueni:w'" m Al-i , ;ce (suspected bitmtai i jmmere:; ^ j tiller' .nut value. TVr- ofScptuflOnnii., \ .ti\ chloric per cub'' -ir of air mg/nriM as T" a oi n^nal 8-l.our . md a 4i ;-mr wi. r i, i. 1988 as. DEFARTMEN OF HEAi. ANO in MAN SERVICES Publi'. s ' ."vice Cte.iifci'5 far `iseasr csntrol Nar -jte tor Occuosr' ^S.'-tyar -saltfi Givisi- ' i.rii Oevetepr -ftnot r'nsie( SL 074694 Vinyl Chloride i Table 1.--Occupational exposure limits for vinyl chloride Exposure limits ppm mg/nr* OSHA PEL TWA Ceiling 115 min) NIOSH REL (Ca)* ACGIH TLV TWA (Ala)t 1 5 Lowest feasible Unut 5 -- 10 (Cal: NIOSH recommends treating as a potential human carcinogen. t (Ala); Human carcinogen with an assigned TLV. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION Routes of exposure Vinyl chloride may cause adverse health effects following exposure via inhalation, ingestion, or dermal or eye contact. Summary of toxicology 1. Effects on antmais: Acute inhalation of vinyl chloride by muitipie species of animals caused central nervous system depression, coma, and death: acute inhalation by dogs also caused cardiac arrhythmias. In mice. rats, and hamsters, chronic inhalation or orai administration of vinyl chloride produced cancers of the liver, kidney, central nervous sys tem. skin, and mammary and ear duct glands. 2. Effects on humans: Acute exposure of workers to vinyl chloride has caused narcotic and anesthetic effects. Repeated exposure of workers to vinyi chloride has caused increased blood pressure, decreased blood platelet counts, increased liver enzyme levels, restricted blood flow, bone degenera tion in the lingers, liver and spleen enlargement, nervous sys tem disturbances, central nervous system depression, decreased respiratory function, and emphysema. Cancer of the liver has been associated with exposure of workers to vinyl chloride during the polyvinyl chloride production process. Cancers of the lung, brain, skin, nervous system, gall blad der. mouth, and pharynx have also been observed in wor kers with a history of exposure to vinyl chloride. An increase in fetal mortality has been reported among wives of workers who had been exposed to vinyl chloride. Signs and symptoms of exposure 1. Short-term iacutei: Exposure to vinyl chloride can cause . ,iu; r ' '''-.i -artedness. nausea, dullness of visual and ........ uiiwMne**- *mo unconsciousness, linkin arm eves car. dso occui, bkin contact vnK 1 (. an cause frostbite ,.y tarn u hrtmter Exposure to vinvi chloride can cause ihickenme ot the skin, contact and allereic dermatitis, fatieue. vougntnc and sneezing, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea, vomiting indigestion, diarrhea, aundice. weight loss, anorexia, ana a cold ana tingling sensation o*' the nnntis and RECOMMENDED MEDICAL PRACTICES Medical surveillance program Workers with potential exposures to chemical hazards should be monitored in a systematic program of medical surveillance intended to prevent or control occupational injury and dis ease. The program should include education of employers and workers about work-related hazards, placement of workers in jobs that do not jeopardize their safety and health, earliest possible detecuon of adverse health effects, and referral of workers for diagnostic confirmation and treatment. The occurrence of disease (a "sentinel health event." SHE) or other work-related adverse health effects should prompt immediate evaluation of primary preventive measures te.g., industrial hygiene monitoring, engineering controls, and per sonal protective equipment). A medical surveillance program is intended to supplement, not replace, such measures. A medical surveillance program should include systematic collection and epidemiologic analysis of relevant environ mental and biologic monitoring, medical screening, mor bidity. and morality data. This analysis may provide information about the relatedness of adverse health effects and occupational exposure chat cannot be discerned from results in individual workers. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of biologic monitoring and medical screen ing tests should be evaluated on an industry-wide basis prior to application in any given worker group. Intrinsic to a sur veillance program is the dissemination of summary data to those who need to know, including the employers, occupa tional health professionals, potentially exposed workers, and regulatory and public health agencies. Preplacement medical evaluation Prior to placing a worker in a job with a potential for ex posure to vinyi chloride, the physician should evaluate and document the worker's baseline health status with thorough medical, environmental, and occupational histones, a phys ical examination, and physiologic and laboratory tests appropnaic for the anticipated occupational risks. These should concentrate on the function and integnty of the skin, liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular, hematopoietic (blood ceil form ing), nervous, and respiratory systems. Medical surveillance for respiratory disease should be conducted by using the pnnciples and methods recommended by NIOSH and the Amencan Thoracic Society (ATS). A prepiacement medical evaluation is recommended in order to detect and assess preexisting or concurrent conditions which may be aggravated or result in increased nsk when a worker is exposea to vinyl chloride. The camming pnysictaisi*uid consider the paobabit frequency, intensity, and duration oi exposure, as well as die nature and decree ot the condition, m placing such a worker. Such conditions, which should not be recarded as absolute contiaHtaaauonjno vcl, placement, include chronic discuses ot tne liver. The onvx>ciar. snouid ootaw oasenne vuues mr ser in2icu. test:i ac; Function and markers for infection wim Hepatuis B virus. Periodic medical screening and/or biologic monitoring OcrupauDnal health interviews and ph-sical.examination* 2 Vinyl Chloride 1*8 SL 074695 l should be performed at regular intervals. Additional wami- nanoos may be necessary should a writer develop symptoms that may be attributed to exposure to vinyl chloride. The in* terviews. examinations, and appropriate medical screening and/or biologic monitoring tests should be directed at iden tifying an excessive decrease or advene trend in the integrity and physiologic function of the skin, liver, kidneys, and cardi ovascular. hematopoietic, nervous, and respiratory systems as compared to the baseline status of the individual worker or to expected values for a suitable reference population. The following test should be used and interpreted according to standardized procedures and evaluation criteria recommended by NIOSH and ATS: questionnaires and test of lung function. Medical practices recommended at the time of job trans fer or termination The medical, environmental, and occupational history inter views. the physical examination, and selected physiologic and laboratory tests which were conducted at the time of place ment should be repeated at the time of job transfer or termi nation. Any changes In the worker's health status should be compared to those expected for a suitable reference popula tion. Because occupational exposure to vinyl chloride may cause diseases of prolonged induction-latency, the need for medical surveillance may extend well beyond termination of employment. Sentinel health events Delayed-onset SHFs include: Liver cancer (hemangiosaicoma) and "white finger'' (Raynaud's syndrome, secon dary to vasculitis) MONITORING ANO MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES Method Sampling and analysis may be performed by collecting vinyl ~ chloride vapors with tandem charcoal tubes followed by ' desorption with carbon disulfide and analysis by gas chro matography. Direct-reading devices calibrated to measure vinyl chloride may also be used if available. A detailed sam pling and analytical method for vinyl chloride may be found in the NIOSH Manual ofAnalytical Methods (method number 1007). PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Chemical protective clothing (CPC) should be selected after utilizing available performance data, consulting with the manufacturer, and then evaluating the clothing under actual 'i;-e .topditinns S i juid re provided with and required to use CPC, j loves, and other approDnatc protective clothing necessary to prevent skin contact wth vinvi chloride. SANITATION nothing which is contaminated with vinyl chloride should be removed immediately and placed m sealed containers for storage until it can be discarded or until provision is made for the removal of vinyl chloride horn the clrehing If the clothing is to be laundered or cleaned, the person perform ing the operation should be informed of vinyl chloride's hazardous properties. Reusable clothing and equipment should be checked for residual contamination before reuse or storage. A change room with showers, washing facilities, and lockers that permit separation of street and work clothes should be provided. Workers should be required to shower following a workshift and prior to putting on street clothes. Clean work clothes should be provided daily. Skin that becomes contaminated with vinyl chloride should be promptly washed with soap and water. The storage, preparation, dispensing, or consumption of food or beverages, the storage or application of cosmetics, the storage or smoking of tobacco or other smoking materials, or the storage or use of products for chewing should be pro hibited in work areas. Workers who handle vinyl chloride should wash their faces, hands, and forearms thoroughly with soap and water before eating, smoking, or using toilet facilities. COMMON OPERATIONS AND CONTROLS Common operations in which exposure to vinyl chloride may occur and control methods which may be effective in each case are listed in Table 2. Table 2.--Operations and methods of control for vinyl chloride Operations Controls During the manufacture of monomer, polymer, copolymer, and terpoiymer Process enclosure, personal protective equipment During the transfer of monomer to tank cars or polymerization reactors; during maintenance work on tanks or reactors Local exhaust ventilation, personal protective equipment During the cleaning of polymerization reaction tanks Process enclosure, personal protective equipment EMERGENCY. FIRSTJUD P^CEDURES In the event of an emergency, remc ther exposure, send far medical assists eenev procedure*: " . id initiate a Eye exposure Where there is my possibility of a worker s eyes being ex posed to vinyl cnlonde. an eye-wash fountain shoulo br SL 074696 1988 Vlnyi Chloride 3 provided within the immediate work area for emergency use. If vinyl chloride gets into the eyes, flush them immediately with large amounts of water for 15 minutes, lifting the lower and upper lids occasionally. Get medical attention as soon as possible. Contact lenses should not be worn when work ing with this chemical. Skin exposure Where there is any possibility of a worker's body being ex posed to vinyl chloride, facilities for quick drenching of the body should be provided within the immediate work area for emergency use. In addition to respirator selection, a complete wipimnry pro tection program should be instituted which as a minimum complies with the requirements found in the OSHA Safety and Health Standards 29 CFR 1910.134. A respiratory pro tection program should include as a minimum an evaluation of the worker's ability to perform the work while wearing a respirator, the regular training of personnel, fit testing, periodic environmental monitoring, maintenance. Inspection, and cleaning. The implementation of an respiratory protection program, including selection of the correct respi rators. requires that a knowledgeable person be in charge of the program and that the program be evaluated regularly. If vinyi chloride gets on the skin, wash it immediately with soap and water. If vinyi chloride penetrates the clothing, re move the clothing immediately and wash the skin with soap and water. Get medical attention promptly. Rescue If a worker has been incapacitated, move the affected worker from the hazardous exposure. Put into effect the established emergency rescue procedures. Do not become a casualty. Understand the facility's emergency rescue procedures and know the locations ot rescue equipment before the need arises. SPILLS AND LEAKS Workers not wearing protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from areas of spills or leaks unui cleanup has been completed. If vinyl chloride Is spilled or leaked, the following steps should be taken: I. Stop the How of gas. If the source of the leak is a cylinder and the leak cannot be stopped in place, remove the leaking cylinder to an area with locai exhaust ventilation and repair the leak or allow the cylinder to empty. 2-. -Remove all ignition sources. 3. Ventilate area of spill or teak. WASTE REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Department of Trans portation. and/or state and local regulations shall be followed to assure that removal, transport, and disposal are m accor dance with existing regulations. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION he 'tressed that the use o', respirators is the >ieaa , r,:r..,an *juij i tinalu ... a .1: di. means ol preventing jr Miiaiii/inc exposuii _ routine operations. However, mete arc some exceptions in which respuaiors mayne-esec to control exposure: when engineering and work practice con trols are not technical^ u asiOn, hmvii oijtuicvt ing wouu. arc in the process oi being installed, or during emergenc `s and certain maintenance operations including those requii me contincd-space c> ir (Table 3). Only respirators that have been approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA. formerly Mining En forcement and Safety Administration) and by NIOSH should be used. Remember! Air-purifying respirators will not protect from oxygen-deficient atmospheres. BIBLIOGRAPHY American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists: TLVs* Threshold Limit ifalues and Biological Ex posure Indices for 1987-88. Cincinnati. 1987. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists: "Vinyl Chloride."' Documentation of the Threshold Limit iitlues and Biological Exposure indices (5th ed.), Cincinnati. 1986. American Industrial Hygiene Association: "Vinyl Chlor ide" (rev. 1978), Hygienic Guide Series. Detroit. 1978. American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties: "Taking the Occupational History," Annals of in ternal Medicine. 99:641-651. November 1983. Amoore. J.E.. and Hautala. E.: "Odor as an Aid to Chem ical Safety: Odor Thresholds Compared with Threshold Limit Values and Volatilities for 214 Industrial Chemicals in Air and Water Dilution." Journal of Applied Toxicology. 3:272-290. 1983. Baskin. A.D. (ed.); Handling Guide for Potentially Hazardous Materials, Material Management and Safety. Inc.. Niles. Illinois. 1975. Bretherick. L.: Handbook ofReactive Chemical Hazards, Butterwonh. London. 1979. Clayton. G.D... and Clayton. F.E. (eds.): Toxicology Vol. [IB of Patty 's industrial Hygiene and Toxicology (3rd rev. ed.), John Wiley & Sons. Inc.. New York. 1981. Code of Federal Regulations. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CTR 1910.134. I910.10P. OSHA 2206. revised July I. 1986 Code of Federal Regulations. U.S. Department Of Ti,,.:s- poru:i:ni-*iW'FF 172.101. " .evisi-o Oro- ber i. 1982. Goldman. R.H. and Peters. "The-Ocounationai no Environmental Heaitn History. Journal of the Amer or- Medical Association. 24622831 2836. 1981. :-,ucu-L. ? e... Ratclirfe. a., rrazier. ' I.. wnsan B i.k.r. S.P.. and Shulte. P.A.. "Medical Screening in me \\>r place: proposed Principles. ' Journal ot Occupational Me,acme, 23(8):547-552. 1986. SL 074697 4 Vinyl Chloride 1988  Hampie. CA., and Hawley, G.G. (eds.): The Encyclopedia of Chemistry (3rd ed.). Van Nostnnd Reinhold Company, New York, 1973. Hankinson. J.L.: "Pulmonary Funcuon Testing in the Screening of Workers: Guidelines for Instrumentation. Per formance. and Interpretation." Journal ofOccupaaonai Medi cine. 28(10): 1081-1092. 1986. Hawley, G.G.: The Condensed Chemical Dictionary (K)th ed.), Litton Educational Publishing. Inc., New York. 1981. International Agency for Research on Cancer: IARC Mono graphs ofthe Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans--Some Monomers. Plastics and Synthetic Elastomers, and Acrolein, Vol. 19. Lyon, France. 1979. Langauer-Lewowicka. H.. Kurzbauer. H.. Byczkowska. Z.. and Wocka-Matek. T.: "Vinyl Chloride Disease: Neurolog ical Disturbances." International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 52:131-158. 1983. Levy, B.S.. and Wegman. D.H. (eds.): Occupational Health: Recogmzing and Preventing Hbrk-Related Disease, Little. Brown and Company, Boston. 1983. National Fire Protection Association: National Fire Codes* (Vol. 13). Quincy. Massachusetts. 1983. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. U.S. Depanmem of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. Centers for Disease Control: NIOSH Manual ofAna lytical Methods (3rd ed.. Vol. 2). Eller, P.M. (ed.). DHHS (NIOSH) Pubiicauon No. 84-100. Cincinnati. 1984 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. Centers for Disease Control. Registry of Toxic Ef fects of Chemical Substances (Microfiche Edition). Sweet, D.V., and Lewis. R.J.. (eds.), Cincinnati. April 1985. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. U.S. Department of Health. Education, and Wslfare, Public Health Service. Center for Disease Control: Criteria for a Recom mended Standard... .Occupational Exposure to Mnyl ~ Halides. Cincinnati. Apni 1979. National Institute for Occupauonai Safety and Health. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Wfelfare, Public Health Service. Center for Disease Control: Current Intelligence Bulletin 28--Vinyl Halides Carcinogemcity, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 79-102. Cincinnati. 1978. National Institute for Occupauonai Safety and Health. U.S. Department of Health. Educauon. and Wfelfait, Public Health Service. Center for Disease Control: Engineering Control Technology Assessment for the Plastics and Resin Industry. DHEW (NIOSH) Pubiicauon No. 78-159, 1978. Nicholson, W.. Henneberger, P, and Seidman. H.: "Oc cupational Hazards in the Vinyl Chloride/Polyvinyl Chloride Industry," Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, 141:155-175. 1984. Proctor. N.H.. and Hughes. J.P.: Chemical Hamids of the Workplace, J.B. Lipptncott Company. Philadelphia. 1978. Rom. W.N. (ed.): Environmental and Occupational Medi cine, Little. Brown and Company. Boston. 1983. Rothstem. M.A.: Medical Screemng of Wbrkers. Bureau of National Affairs. Washington. DC. 1984. Rutstein. D.D.. Mullan. R.J.. Frazier. T.M.. Haipenn, W.E.. Melius. J.M.. and Sestito. J.P.: "Sentinel Health Events (Occupauonai): A Basis for Physician Recognition and Pub lic Health Surveillance." .American Journal of Public Health, 73:1054-1062. 1983. Sax. N.I. (ed.): Dangerous Properties of Industrial Ma terials (6th ed.). Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. New York, 1984. Scientific Assembly on Environmental and Occupauonai Health: "Evaluauon of Impairment/Disability Secondary to Respiratory Disease." American Review of Respiratory Dis eases, 126:945-951. 1982. Scientific Assembly on Environmental and Occupational Health: "Surveillance for Respiratory Hazards in the Occupa tional Setting," American Review of Respiratory Diseases, 126:952-956, 1982. Storetvedt. H.. Langard. S., and Andersen. A.: "Incidence of Cancer Among Vinyl Chloride and folyvmyl Chloride Workers." British Journal of Industrial Medicine. 41:25-30. 1984. 1988 SL 074698 Vinyl Chloride 5 Table 3.--Respiratory protection for vinyl chloride Condition Minimum respiratory protection* Any detectable concentration Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode Any suppiied-air respirator with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode Planned or emergency entry into environments containing unknown or any detectable concentration Any seif-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece and operated in a pressuredemand or other positive pressure mode Any suppiied-air respirator with a full facepiece and operated in a pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode Firefighting Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece and operated in pressuredemand or other positive pressure mode Escape only Any air-punfying full facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-styie or from- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern Any appropriate escape-type self-contained breathing apparatus * Only NIOSH/MSHA-approved equipment should be used. * 6 Vinyl Chloride GOvERnMCnT PBiNi NG 0r< i* E. SL 074699 140(1 1988