Document kmn6aov9yK5eQY0VMnX1nRpRO

U.s. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Technical Information Service PB-261 764-T Problems of Occupational Hygiene and +he State of Health of Workers Employed in Manufacturing Latex Polyvinyl Chloride Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, N C 1965 I UCC 065560 362039 PB 261 764 ~ BTR 76-366 < PROBLEMS OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE AND THE STATE OF HEALTH OF WORKERS EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING LATEX POLYVINYL CHLORIDE [Voprosy gigiyeny truda i sostoyaniye zdorov'ya rabochikh, iranvatykh na proizvedstve lateksnoyo nolivinilkhlorida] V.S. Filatova, Ye.Sh. Gromberg, N.A. Smirnova, Ye.A. Stulova, I.V. Oreshkevich \ Gig. Tr. Prof. Zabol., Vol. 9, No. 8, 1965 (August), pp. 9-14 Translated for EPA by SCITRAN (SCIENTIFIC TRANSLATION SERVICE) Santa Barbara, California ' KMODUCIO 11 NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE U 1 sDrInPhAoCmIViDIM, ioar .CO'-tMOCt ucc 065561 / BI6LI0GRAFMIC data SHEET 1. Report No. EPA TR76-366 2. 4, Title and Subtitle Problems of occupational hygiene and the state of health of workers employed in manufacturing latex polyvinyl chloride 7. Awhoto)V.S. Filatova, Ye.Sh. Gronsberg, N.A. Smirnova, Ye.A. Stulova, and l.V. Oreshkevich 9, Performing OiMmtKion Name and Aildici* 3. Recipient's Accession No. 5. Report Date 1965 8> Performing Organisation Rept, No. 10. Pio|ect/Task/*oik Unit No. TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN BY EPA 11. Contract/Grant No. ...... ^'"'Translation12. Sponsoring Organization .. Service 13. Type of Report Si Period Covered Office of Administration Library ' Research Triangle ParL NC 14. 15. Supplementary Notes ZT7TI GIG. TR. PROF. ZABOL. 9(8): August 1965, pp.9-14. 16* Abstracts 4 I I .r \ \ 17. Key turd* and Document Analysis. 17a. IVsitiptofs EPA1SD 17b. Identifiers/Open-Faded Terms OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 17*. COSATI Field/Group q^j j-g II. Avi.l^.l.i, biifmtn.THls TRANSLATi0N WAS MADE FROM A NON-COPYRIGHTED TEXT. I tO- 70 / fkkes su:j::t to charge 10. >cv uni > l tl.his Report 1 I NLLAS'iiriLD .... 30. Stvumy i las^ (1 hi* Page t \CMSMKU P 21. No. tfl Pjiu s // 27. I'm.- /, v.is/Jut i " ;tiM' C t* ucc 065562 PROBLEMS OF OCCUPATIONAL HYCILtlE AND THE STATE OF HEALTH OF WORKERS EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING LATEX POLYVINYL CHLORIDE V.S. Filatova, Ye.Sh. Cronsberg, N.A. Smirnova, Ye.A. Stulova, I.V. Oreshkevich* The production of polyvinyl chloride is developing at a rapid tempo in the Soviet Union because of the particularly valuable qualities of polyvinyl chloride, which makes it possible to replace lead coatings in goods for the electrotechnical industry with .his material. Moreover, polyvinyl chloride is employed in the manufacture of plastic, ar.ti-corrosive coatings, special purpose fabrics, etc. We showed earlier that the primary harmful agent in the manufacture of suspension polyvinyl chloride is vinyl chloride (V.S. Filatova and Ye.Sh. Cronsberg; V.S. Filatova et al.). i I The results of the long-term clinical observations of N.A. Smirnova (1956, 1962), and V.A. Antonyuzher.ko et al. showed that prolonged inspiration of vinyl chloride leads to :he appearance of chronic occupational intoxica tion in workers, whose basic symptoms are lesions of the central nervous system, particularly its higher vegetative centers (general vegetative dys function with an accent on disorders of vascular regulation). The goal of this work was to stud>j problems of occupational hygiene and the state of health of people working at the first heavy tonnage enterprise in the Soviet Union for producing latex polyvinyl chloride, whose advantage consists in continuousness of the technological process and the use *of new equipment. Polyvinyl chloride is obtained by the method of water emulsion *(Gor'kly), the Institute of Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Diseases. 1 UCC 065563 polymerization of vinyl chloride in the presence of an initiator. Polymeri zation occurs with continuous feeding of vinyl chloride to the reactor and a / so-called aqueous phase at a low temperature and pressure. , f The latex continuously emerging from the reactor proceeds to degassing, e.g., removal oi the unpolymerized vinyl chloride by the aid of a vacuum. Vapors of the vinyl chloride are sent to the condensor after drying with caustic potash and the condensed vinyl chloride is sent to a container. The latex separated from the vir.yl chloride is stabilized by a solution of cal cined soda and is sent for drying, which occurs in an atomizer dryer by means of heated air. The mixture of air and polyvinyl chloride powder is Bent to a cyclone from the dryer. Thence the air is purified in sleeve filters and is discharged into the atmosphere. The resin separated in the cyclone runs in streams into reinforced concrete silos, from which it is manually packaged in paper bags. In all apparatus (atomizer dryer, cyclones, filters, etc.), a rarefaction is maintained to prevent entry ol the resin powder into the I air of the roans. \ The enterprise we examined is divided into two buildings; the first con tains the vinyl chloride polymerization section and the latex stabilization section, the second - the latex drying section. The percentage of saturation of equipment areas (relationship of the volume of equipment to the volume of the room) is low in the polymerization section - from 2.8 to 3, and signifi cant in the dryer section (21-22) as the result of using large equipment. Planning of the rooms witn various degrees of isolation of polluted air of the rooms from each other is hygienically correct. The flow-exhaust system of ventilation with pumps significantly remote in a number of regions from the source of separating the vinyl chloride in the vinyl chloride polymerization building is poorly effective at Inadequate speeds and volumes of removed air. The latex drying section is ventilated by means of a mecnanical supply of flowing air in combination with natural draught through an aeration head. In the process of obtaining the latex poly vinyl chloride, the air of working areas is polluted -'ith vinyl chloride. 2 g.sket; 10- Local exhaust from reactor hatch with hinged screens; 11- Bearing ring of tube joint. CONCLUSIONS 1. Pollution of the air with vinyl chloride and resin oust is possible during the manufacture of latex polyvinyl chloride. Such pollution is caused by disruption ot the seal of equipment and by carrying out certain operations manually. 2. During the study of the state of health of the workers, some of them were found to have changes characteristic for the initial forms of chronic vinyl chloride intoxication: slightly pronounced disorders of the vegetativevascular regulation, symptoms of vegetative polyneuritis and thermoregulatory disorders. 3. An improvement in the conditions of labor of workers employed in manufacturing latex polyvinyl chloride can be attained by means of sealing the equipment, improving technological operations and improving the function of ventilation. REFERENCES Anton mmcmso B. A. ii ap. Teuiei-i a>ik.i t->> Miiiiji-piinteit. nociinii. or- *01.111411 l-linj-OC-TM I.lnii'1114 ip\ J.l. TlJl-.IC.'im ,11 I'jp.l. ll|.OMIJl!l.:i'II"OH TllfcPM.ll.lonil! I* RpMpii.nkiiiMi rpo^crtii'ii.i.ii.niix ic-Co-iiiumiii. I\>pt.H:ui. 1001, cip. 4. >> -- C * 11 p u 0- 4 II. A. If m: .Martxiiaau nn nonpocnii rnmeuM tpypa u k.himiimi npi'.treci: ii,2.'.wii:4i OolwimcS I'-pi.M-ti. 10,0. cG. 0. e: p 4) --ip ii a a t u b a H. C, I p > lie lie;. , If HI Far. h can. Pair. .v. <ip. ,iy-- O u a a t o it a it C, l>:.iro;i:rii H. A'.. I > I" Ox a it <> Ii. I'i:r. rpyaj. ,V- |o, crp. 3.--iiy.it,-a ,'L 11. Uolihiih:i.i,\.i. piu. M -.L. 1001. cip. I Summary Specific ieouire oi the laux poltvinvl ehlcride pri.ducuon i :he pollution of 'hr atmosphere in '.tor.; pr.im^e. -*i!u \in\l <li:oru:e. In i'u!ixiil:.al xecoor.. cl the i-.cr.noiogi<-.a! line poxt.nx! c::!i-'nlc ile*t n.r\t!:e ,in!.mt jtiriwph, re oc.n-- ''iH.ruiorj lumiunc nr;.i cliioride *.\ln:-:t change in it.eir health condition which arc u...--iiltri;tie oi i.ntui forma ol ciironic occip-Oinral poiaaniRC uifii ii:i> substance. A set ol htalih measure* ii recommended to improve work conditions. 8 ucc 065565 / V' 1 Polyvinyl chloride dust is noted to enter the air in certain industrial areas. During the study of the degree of air pollution, more than 300 air sam ples were taken. The content of vinyl chloride was determined according to a method de veloped by Senior Scientific Associate Ye.Sh. Gronsberg. The method is based on oxidation of vinyl chloride by a mixture of permanganate and iodic acid to formaldehyde with subsequent colorimetric determination according to the reaction with chronotropic acid. Sensitivity of measurement is 10 ug in the colorimetric volume. Dustiness of the air was determined by the gravimetric method. The FPP-15 filter was used as the filtering material. The materials of the investigations showed that the vinyl chloride poly merization and latex stabilization sections are the places where concent jtions of vinyl chloride in the air arc most often encountered in excess of 3 the maximum permissible value (30 mg/m ), exceeding It by 2 times or more. In 25Z of the samples the vinyl chloride content was found to be within limits of the permissible level. i | Sources of escape of vinyl chloride are leaks In the gaskets of the re actor and pump agitators, the lower hatch of the reactor when cleaning the latter, the open hatch of the vinyl chloride dryer in the period of loading the caustic potash, the degassed latex collectors, etc. In the presence of leaks in gaskets of the agitators, air pollution near the reactors Increases 10 times or more. Our suggestion that supplying water to the agitator gas kets under a pressure in excess of pressure in the apparatus would have po sitive hygienic significance proved to be (unjustified - this measure does not prevent the escape of vinyl chloride from the reactors. Deserving of the attention of the hygienists is the escaii^ of unreacted vinyl chloride from the latex with its return In the production cycle. De gassing of latex makes it possible to reduce air pollution at the stages of stabilization and drying of the latex. However, as the results of the in- 3 ucc 065566 : /[ 1 vestlgations shoved, the effectiveness of latex degassing is inadequate. Approximate analyses established that the content of vinyl chloride In latex after degassing drops 10 times. But at the same'time, the absolute mount of vinyl chloride in the latex remains significant - 3.6 ng/cm^, and there fore its concentration in the air near the degassed latex collectors is higher than the maximum permissible amount, in a number of cases. For the same reason, the air in the latex drying building is also pol luted with vinyl chloride with the existing leaks in equipment. The concen trations of vinyl chloride at the pumps feeding the latex to the atomizer dryer channel comprised 4-48 mg/m^, and near the dryers and in the control 3 panel room - from 7 to 15 mg/m . Ko vinyl chloride was detected in the air in the center of the top floor, between filters, and on the first floor of the dryer building. Concentrations of polyvinyl chloride dust in most work3I ing areas fluctuated from 1 to 6.5 mg/m , e.g., did not exceed the maximum 3 permissible concentration (10 mg/m ). High dustiness of the air was measured 3 in the area of manual packaging polyvinyl chloride - 78 mg/o or more. The automatic scales And packaging machine provided for by the design were not operating. ^ Meteorological conditions in the industrial areas, as a rule, corresponded to the sanitary norms. Hence, the materials of out Investigations enable cna to state that the continuous method of obtaining latex polyvinyl chloride with remote control of the basic stages of the technological process deserves encouragement from the viewpoint of occupational hygiene. At the same time, the existing de ficiencies in the technology of production, apparatus arrangement and equip ment operation have an tsi favorable effect on the sanitary-hygienic conditions of labor. Besides the hygienic investigation, a medical examination of 163 people working in the production of latex polyvinyl chloride was made (84 men and 79 women). Of these, 107 people were examined twice at an interval of 1 year 4 / r "\ ucc 065567 and 8 months. Most of the workers ranged In age from 21 years to 60 years, and had a working experience in the shop of 2-2 1/2 years. Many of those exa mined had not worked in the chemical industry before. During the study of Che state of health of the workers, besides the conventional clinical methods of Investigation, osdllography, skin thermometry, capillaroscopy were employed, which make it possible to characterize the condition of the vascular system in more detail. In the process of the dynamic observations, complaints of headaches and pains in the extremities were obtained in some of the workers and certain workers combined these complaints with various paresthesias and chills. The results of the objective Investigation indicated certain changes in the state of health of some workers. These were characterized by disorders of the vege tative-vascular regulation (arterial hypotony - temporal and brachial, sig nificant fluctuations in the tempero-brachlal coefficient, capillary spasms of the Instep, asymmetry of the arterial pressure and oscillatory index, changes In the cutaneous-vascular reactions in the form of clearly differen tiated dermographism, extension of the time of the white spot symptom beyond 5 seconds, acrocyanosis, increased sweating, disruption of temperature regulation - subfebrility, acrohypothermy, temperature asymmetry), and by certain symptoms of organic les'ons of the nervous system combined with symptoms of vegetative polyneuritis (disorders of pain sensitivity, corneal reflexes, nystagmus). The identified changes in the stage of health of workers were posed in connection with the effect of the occupational factor and in some people were qualified as initial symptoms of chronic occupational intoxication. The fol lowing data confirmed this. 1. Certain pathological signs were frequently combined in several people. 2. The greatest frequency of pathological changes was noted in equipment operators of the vinyl chloride polymerization section and welders with a working experience of 2-2 1/2 years. It is namely in the polymerization sec tion that the greatest degree of air pollution with vinyl chloride was found. 5 ucc 065568 3. The principal nature of the changes In the state of health that were found were confirmed by the data of the dynamic observation of workers. The number of complaints had increased by the second examination (headache in creased and recurred in a number of people, pains in the extremities began to be noted more frequently), there was an Increase in the frequency and degree of expression of separate symptoms (reduced arterial pressure, asycnetry of the skin and subenscular temperature (more than 0.5s), asymmetry of arterial pressure, etc.). The cited data confirm the relationship of the noted path ological deviations in the state of health of workers with the conditions of work, and pilmarlly with pollution of the air with vinyl chloride. On the btsis of the hygienic investigations, the administration of the enterprise took certain measures to seal the apparatus and reduce pollution of the ventilation air (by removing discharges of abgas&es from the point of air intake). This facilitated a reduction in concentrations of vinvl chlor ide of 2-10 times in the air. In order to improve further the sanitary-hy gienic conditions of vapor, we suggested recuperative measures. Ja leading cole in reducing air pollution In manufacturing latex polyvinyl chloride belongs to sealing the equipment (reactors, purps, degassed latex collectors, vln'-'l chloride dryer, etc.). Replacing the existing pumps for pumping the vinyl chloride with gasket-free pumps is extremely desirable. An lmnortanc measure in lmnrovlng the sanitary-hygienic conditions of labor is also improving Che method of sampling for technical analysis from the degassed latex collectors, packaging polyvinyl chloride, loading caustic po tash into the vinyl chloride drver, etc. jRcducing the emission of vinvl chloride into the air can be achieved bv improving degassing of latex. Imoortant significance in the studied Industry belongs to an efficient system o.' ventilation, particularly local exhaust mechanical ventilation. The local exhausts from the reactor agitator gaskets should be in the form of removable tubes connected at or>e end (lower) with the main air duct, and at the other end witn screens completely closing off one opening in the 6 gasket housing (see the drawing). The diameter of the Intake pipe should be no less than 300 millimeters. The Intake apertures In the screens should 2 have an area of 0.18 m In the lower half. The upper half of each screen should be openable, mounted on horizontal bearings. The volume of removed air is determined according to the velocity of Intake lh the opening of the housing, which should be no less than 3 m/sec, and the volutae of Intake 3 air - no less than 300 m /hr. Local exhausts from the lower hatches of the reactors should be built In the form of tubes with screens attached at a distance of no more than 400 nxs. If the rate of intake near the hatch Is accepted to be no l.'cs than 0.5 m/sec and the rate of Intake in the tube Is no less than 7 m/sec, then with an ares of the Intake aperture 0.18 m2 , 4,500 m3 /hr air should be removed. The recuperative measures we recoonended have been accepted by the admin istration of the enterprise for execution. ' Figure. Local exahusts from the agitator gasket and reactor hatch. 1- Housing of reactor* agitator; 2- Screen covering opening in housing; 3- Handle with fast cner for attaching the upper half of the acreen to the housing; 4- Handle with nount for attaching lever half of screen to housing; 5- Hinge between upper and lower halves of screen; 6- Diffuser with exhaust tube: 7- Brackets for attaching exhaust tube; 8- Bracket for attaching lower half of screen to housing; 9- Agitator 7 ucc 065510 ucc 065571 i 59 <179 Pad. isolator; ItHUti J. Itutiri (or ezposaro to tityl cklorlde. Pod. argliier 39(191)! JS990-J5090 (1971). fffectioo Jatairy i. 1975, tko Do part00 nt of Ubor Staadard of Itpoetro for tltyl chloride ill preoide tk*t to eaplopee mt bo atposod.to ccoaeeatratioas puttor tkot 1 ppo ooer top l-hr par ltd, or to tore tkto 5 ppa ooottfod ooor top IS oio period, or to >p direct coatact oitk ligtid oiopl eklotldt. letloo loool- io doflood to O.S ppo PC one to 9hr dtp. Ikltitl totitorikS oktil dotottito otpeottoo it tzeooo of tko tetlot lsoal: oktll tkot bo copottod oootklp if it tzeooo of tko poziittlblo ozpoooro liolt, ot gaartorlp if it oieooo of tko tctlot loool, or tt top cttiyo kick top ettto ozettt of tko tetiot laool. kogtlttod treat, iioitod to oitkoritod portottol roeordod ot t dtilp rotttr, toll bo otttblitkod okoro PC oe PPC it otitftctttod, rotetod, ropaektpol, ttorod. kttdlod or ttod, or okoro PC eoosottettiott tro io erceet. of tko portittiblo ozpootro litit. laglaeerlag oork pttctlco cootrolz, otppltoootod okoro toeotooEp bp rotpirttorp protoctiot, tod orittot it plttt to bo tpdttod ootrp i tootkt, oktll bo mood to rodteo otpoorcoo to tko ptEolttiblt litit. totplrttorp protoctioa otittblo to tko itootpktrie eoteottntiot of PC oktll bo toppilot bp tko otplopor fno tkooo joittlp tpproood bp tko tititp btforseteat tod safety idtitittrttlot, ttd tko ittiottl Itttltoto for oeetpttiottl stfotp ttd lotltk (f lost). tttrp itto ttktoot eoteottrttiott. or eotcettrttlott protttr tkot It,000 ppo, otp bo tt do otlp for lift rote to. loplopoot tagagod It ktttrdoot oporttioot oktll bo prooldol oitk proper rotpirttorp pEotoetioi tod clttt, drp prottetioo ptrooBtt. ttlttoi oporttlotal plttt for oaergaacp oittttioot oktll bo doooloptl for tick facility ttorltp, kaadllag, or otkoroito Ditto PC to liqtid or eotpcooood got, ttd ttek oplopoo oktll ttdoroo trtltitg rolttltg to ktztrdt ttd proetttiott of itt too. 1 progrio of todietl torooilltteo oktll bo pcooldol oltkeot coot to ttek otplopoo. latrtteoo tod eoittiioco oktll bo itfortttioolp ltbolod to tko ktztrd itkit. Poiitotitg, portottol, ttd oodlctl roeordt oktll bo saiatalaed for t period of 30 pro. Itckgrottd, fltdiogt, dltettoiot, ttd tko totalled to loo ttd rogolatloao art to be foaad it tko Staidard. sramiosi occoptnom iiposoh <19> Pod. legistor1 Strtloo, I. Ittiottl oolttiot staadards tor ktttrdoot air pollataats. lotlet of poblic hotriag. Pod. loglater 00(251) t 10079-10990 (1975). otlco it gloat of a poblic ketritg to Keoido opportoaitp for iateceated peraoot to proolda laforaatioa 1) ot health effects of oitpl chloride (PC) it lebleat tic ttd 1) ttaadardt to bo adopted to regtlato ealaaieaa sf PC. miMiM <11> Pod. legiateti Trait, d.B. Pltpl cklorido. taergeaep ooopeoaloa order eeacartiag reglttrttieta for eerttii prodteta tad lateat to caacel regittratloat. Pad. legltter 19(92)t It?51-10750 (1971). IPldeaca pretested rtlatioo to tki kealtk effects of oitpl cklorido (PC) ltdieatoa a dear risk to tttttt it tko too of itdoor torotol itoactisldo predict!, therefore regiitEitiott for til ttek prodoeto eoattititg PC eitkor tt tt tetiot or lttrl ltgrodieot it tttpetded for til toot it koaet, kotpitalo, fesd-katdlitg otttbliakiotta, or oteloted trott. til ixitteit ttock of tkote prodteta are to be recalled bp tko aaitfactarere, tad iatorotite okipaott it bitted. 11195015; PZ5TICIDt) II8011TIOP <m> Perot, p.d.i speek, I.J.; lilloao, H.I.; Ptt Pattti, D.; Da scoot, k.r. Obterottloto ot tko oral idolaittratiet ttd torieltp of oitpl ehlorido it rttt. Pd. Cotaot. toricol. 11(d)t dll-dll (1975). ddaiiiotratioa of oitpl cklorido totooor (PC) ortllp to rats oat ltrettlgated bp toast of gtotric itttbttioa of t politico it odiblt til) bp iacorporatioi of t oolttiot it tdiblo ell itto tbo diet) ttd bp additlot of t PPC pooler oitk a klgk coaeeatratioo of PC to tko diet. Solttioto of pc it topa-bell oil appeared tttble it PC eeateat ttd fattp acid eoapotitloa tad to cotetlot prodoeto of PC oitk tko cotpoteato of tko oil ooro detected, gastric latibatioi ott ekooet beettoe tke diet setetitaoatt loot PC oorp rtpidlp) leoelt of 0, 30, 100, tad 100 19/kg body eight core adtltisttrod otco dtilp d dap/ek/11 ok. Pltpl cklorido ott detected it tbo tall blood oitkla 2 tit, retched a taziaoo oitkit 19 tit, aid decreased to to ttdettetablo looel oitkla tg tit. 1011101091001, blockstictl, ttd orgat oolgkt differtacot oeeorrltg dtrlag the 99-dtp toats core tot eottldorod tozicologictllp tigtificait. to klttapttkological ehttget could bo dotoctad it Iptbtl glttd titsas; to aoldttei of Hoar datago ott otaoroed it tko kigkett dots looel. This tap haoa boat dee to tke short dtrttlst of tko axperltett ttd tko short dtilp eipottrs of tko rats to PC. t ae-effeet looel tt cotteroatloolp placed tt 10 og PC/kg bodp eight. POOD) IkT) IMdttOi <1I3> Pllttoot, .*. (iaaltarp-kpglealc cotdltioa* of oork it tko prodoctlot of polpoltpl raaitt tad astaareo sf itproeeaett.) Sip. Sttit. 22(111 11-02 (1957). ktalptia of oitpl cklorlit (PC) it tko air of a polpoltpl cklorido (PPC) aatafactaritg plttt ott ctrrltd ott bp tke atthod of Orotsborg, that it, pkstsbroaliatioa of a tolttloa of PC it chlorsfort oitk t tolttloa of bcoalae it t tlztiro of cklocefort tad glacial acetic teld. PC eotetatratiott flactttted coaslderablp bat tPortged 0.05 to 0. tg/l. zieideocaa of toil? ttglstoorotet ttotg tko oorktot tocettittted loooritg tke ttritat allootbla coacettritioo of PC bales the carreat legal Halt of 1 ag/1. last. 1 Mg. Seat. jtiiDiiDS: occcpittotal Ixpoioii; kisioitomli <iot> rilateoa, t.1.1 ktteaptrkeiko, P.l. (Catageo it kpglttic ceaditioat of oork aid oceapetloaal diteato-lacldeace aooag oorkoro oagagod it the prodtctlot of pslpPltpl chloride ooer 1 period sf ucc 065572