Document mmL6nBKVdNN483Kx2VN7JYk8J

382 practice controls might result in a loss of coke production, thus Increasing the ratio of energy used to coke produced. Tliere also would be a resultant loss of fuels produced as by products in the coking process. The statement cited figures from Bethlehem Steel Corporation estimating losses of coke oven gas, coal Ur, and light oil. However, offsetting energy savings could be achieved as well under the proposed standard, OSHA said. These savings would come in the form of (1) coal saved in producing less coke, (2) the production of higher quality coke, which would be more efficient in sloelmaking, and (3) retention of more of the by-products in the coke ovens, which otherwise would be lust as emissions. Use of new land would not be necessitated by the proposed standard, Ute statement said. Even if expansion is under taken to offset possible loss in coal production, this probably would not involve land development. The impact statement is available for inspection and copy ing at (he Technical Data Center, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-3C20, Third Street and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. 20210, phone <202) 523-807$, Ten copies of the statement wilt be forwarded to the Council on En vironmental Quality. Health Haiarda WARNINQ ON POSSIBLE EXPLOSIVE HAZARD OF SODIUM AZIDE DISSEMINATED BY NIOSH The hospital and clinical laboratory use of sodium aside may pose a serious explosive hazard, according to an in telligence bulletin issued by the National Institute for Oc cupational Safely and Health. violent sodium aside-related explosions associated with automatic blood cell counters have occurred recently at a number of Itospitals in the United Stales and Canada, NIOSH said (Current Report, June 10, p. 42). Another reported explosion took place while a constant temperature water bath in which sodium azide had been used as a preser vative was being repaired. A common preservative in many diagnostic products, sodium azide is found in concentrations up to 0.1 percent in diluents used with automatic blood pell counters. After a blood count Is completed, the waste (containing azide) com monly Is discharged into a drain used solely for this purpose. A hazard arises when, over a period of time, the azide reacts with copper, lead, brass, or solder in the plumbing to form an nccumulation of lead and/or copper azide, NIOSH said. Lead azide Is a more sensitive primary explosive than nitroglycerine and a more effective detonating agent than mercury fulminate- Copper azide is even more explosive and "lee sensitive to be used commercially." ISxploninns triggered by these substances "have the propensity to propel metallic fragments over a wide area and the potential for causing serious Injury to exposed workers and oilier* in the vicinity," NIOSH said. To retard future accumulations of lend and copper azides, ,mv <l..in k.wo to receive iir.idus should In' flushed thoroughly with "copious nmotmlsot water" several limes a d;) . Kuhno i*eeinmdn(bms nisi* may lie prevented by using rn!.de*frce reagents, or coiqier mid lead free lines between the point of oxide discharge nnd the nearest pipe in which there is a good stream of water. Drain Decontamination numbing systems already containing lead and/or copper azide should be decontaminated as follows: OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER Syphon nil liquid from flic trap and drain usmj; ,, N<lft rubber or plastic hose, following proper precautions against any hazardous chemicals which may be present. Slowly pom a solution of one to two litem of It) percent sodium hydroxide into (he (rap. Tape to the sink a sign reading "Do Not Use Sink . . . Contains Caustic Material." Allow the solution to remain in the trap for al least Its hours, then Hush Hie dram with water for a iiiimittmn of 15 minutes. If the drain will not. flow, the solution .should lie removed by syphoning and diluted with water. When it is not possible for a drain line to In* Idled with sodium hydroxide solution lor at least Ifi hours, five gallons of the solution should be puored into the piping rapidly enough to simulate the flushing action of a water closet. The pipe should remain undisturbed for al least 16 hours, then should be flushed with copious amounts of water. The procedure should be repeated two more times at intervals of a week or so. Other procedures for decontamination arc listed in the January 1975 issue of Juurnut of Chemical ICdviculinn, NIOSII said, The agency cautioned that gloves and face shields should be used when breaking the drain line or trap for maintenance, because of the possibility of residual sodium hydroxide. "Extreme caution" should be observed when plugging a drain lino potentially contaminated with heavy metal azides. NIOSH noted that laboratory maintenance workers, par ticularly plumbers, should be alerted to the azide hazard so that proper precautions can be tuken. Explosions have resulted from plumbers attempting to penetrate blocked azide-contaminated drainage systems with a flexible metal probe, or to cut or saw azidc-conlaminatcd drain lines. Health Hazards NIOSH REPORTS ON POSSIBLE LINK OF CANCER. POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS Results of a study on occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBr) at a Mobil Oil Corporation plant in Paulsboro. N.J., show "significantly more skin cancer (melanoma) and pancreatic cancer than would be ex pected in a population of (his size," according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH issued the information in a report dated August 20. The data were derived from a study by Anita K. Balm, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in which medical records for 92 workers at the Pauisboro plant were investigated. According to the report, eight cancers (in seven workers) were observed between 1957 and 1975. Of these, three were malignant skin cancers and two were cancers of the pan creas. The remaining cancers were found in two employees at three other sites: sarcoma of the right thigh amt multiple myeloma in one employee, and recto-sigmoid cancer in the other. NIOSII sold It was unaware of any oth*r puhlhh'-d human or animal data nogi'oidlng a curt elation between (* PCMs amI skin or pancreatic cancer. However, lapalotriMi ami lirpulu cHInl.o carcinomas have been r<*|K ! in Pt'll feeding studies of laboratory animals. The agency noted that It bad issued an Intelligence bulletin on P('Bs in November 1975 (Current. Report, November 6, p. 798). Since then, "a number of large firms have introduced products (eg,, butylatcd monochlorodlffhcny! oxide and dimethyl stloxane polymer) claimed to be fire resistant dielectrics which can serve as alternatives to PC'Bs. In addi- Oceupetienol Safely & Haalth Rtptrlir HONS 032269 CURRENT REPORT 389 (Ion, one of Uic large domestic transformer manufacturers announced that it will cease using PCBs as fire resistant transformer fluids at the end of this year " Alternatives to PCBs should be studied thoroughly to assess the consequences they may pose to human health, NIOSIf said. The agency also requested reports to studies on *tlc possible association between exposure to PCBs and human cancer." Chemicals TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL 8ILL IS PASSED BV HOUSE BY 319-46 VOTE A toxic substances control bill (HR 14032) was passed by (he House on August 23. Despite opposition from the Office of Management and Budget (Current Report, August 19, p. S!0). Mia working coalition that produced the bill held together, and the measure passed by the wide margin of 310-45. Congressman John M. Murphy (D-NY), chairman of the House Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection And Finance and floor manager of the bill, called the measure the most important piece of health and en vironmental legislation to be considered in this session of Congress. A Senate-House conference committee meeting on the bill is scheduled for September 0. The bill provides that (lie Environmental Protection Agency may by rule require testing (including bioassay for carcinogenesis) of any chemical substance that may pose n substantial hazard to health or the environment and that a manufacturer of a new chemical substance must notify EPA at least 90 days before the start of manufacture. For substances found to be hazardous, EPA would have regulatory authority ranging from labeling requirements to a complete ban. HR 14032 resulted as a compromise between Congressmen Rob Eckhnrdt (D-Tex) and James T. Broyhill (R-NC). Congressman John Y. McCoilistcr (R-Ncb) warned offerors of amendments that the bell had been carefully arrived at and represented "a delicate balanco." The bill represents a somewhat less stringent regulatory authority than its predecessor. I1R 1031ft. which was adopted by the Senate as S 3149. An important difference is that the Senate bill would allow EPA to block production of a chemical pending testing by an immediately effective rulemaking procedure, while the House bill would require EPA to obtain an injunction from a U S. District Court. Congressman Neal .Smith (D-lowa) argued that the bill was pro-monopolistic, since large chemical manufacturers would not be burdened unduly by the expense of testing, whereuv small companies would be driven out of business. Fckhardt replied that the bill did not automatically require testing, and that testing requirement* would have to be set by rule by EPA. He also noted that even a small chemical company should not have licenses lo distribute a hazardously toxic muierhd. An amendment offered by (NoigrcsMimin John I). PiugcN iDMicht mit approved svtudtl tun the mmuif.irlurr of piilyt'MiMMi.dt'tl (M|*hriiyJ,i |l*<'MmI,except (ucchmed-systcm lives, within two years of passage. Kckhnrdt said that El'A already was moving against PI.'Ms under the Federal Water Pollution Control Ad and (hut he did not favor moving ui'ulmd w upevifie substance, but Dinged argued the need for iio|KwioR a schedule oti EPA. By voluntary agreement of In dustry. IX,71s currently am limited to closed-system uses in clectriciil equipment. PCHs have been shown to cause skin lesions and reproductive failures. They accumulate and are concentrated in the food chain, and some fisheries in the Great Lakes and Uie Hudson River have been closed as a result. The House adopted by vote of 210-157 an amendment by Congressman W. Henson Moore (R-la), which would give Congress specific veto power over KPA regulations promulgated under the legislation. Eckhardt's legislative aide said the provision is likely to foster lazy administration and regulation because blame can always be shifted back to Congress. Furthermore, the provision was criticized because Congress already has general authority over regulations; and the provision is seen as useless, except as a possible pretext for a Presidential veto. An amendment by Murphy Increasing authorizations from $11 million to $16 million was approved. Uccnuse no ap propriations can be included at this date, the bill would not take effect before October 1977 in any case Currently Congress is scheduled to adjourn October 2, which leaves tittle lime for a conference. Committee staff* already have met to prepare the groundwork, and con ference meetings are not expected to be protracted once they get underway. Health Hazards DOW DISCLOSES STUDY RESULTS ON EFFECTS OF HEXACHL0R08UTA0(ENE Results of toxicological studies on hexachlorobuludlent (HCBD) at Dow Chemical U.S.A. showed a high dosage caused multiple toxic effects, including kidney cancer in test rats, while lower doses did not. Details of another study announced ai the same time revealed that the same high dose of HCBD had no effect on rat reproduction, Dow said. The chemical is a major component of the tarry wastes from manufacture of trichloroethylene, perchloroethyiene, and carbon tetrachloride. These studies were transmitted to appropriate federal agencies, Dow said. A Dow representative said the studies underline the recognized need to minimize human exposure to HCBD and the release of it in the environment. Dow also supports the theory of a threshold level, below which exposures to chcmtcAlft do no harm. The data show the highest dosage, which was 20 mg'kg'day, caused substantia) injury lo the kidneys of rats used in the studies as well a* cancer in some kidneys of rats used in the studies. An intermediate dosage of 2 mg/kg/day caused only injury considered to be reversible. A still lower dosage of 0.2 mg/kg/day caused no observed adverse effects, accor ding to Dow. A review of health data on Dow employees working in areas where HCBD has been found revealed no abnor malities or deaths which could be attributed lo the rhemirol. Dow dues nut market HCBD; wastes conl.iminp HCHD ore being recycled or incinerated in specially designed fnrddiex, Concentrations of HCIU) in Dow's commercial products ore well below I pari per million, so low ns lo preclude the possibility of harm lo human* from exposon* lo HCIHj. ac cording to Dow. IICftH in not produced in end uses involving the products under foreseeable operating conditions. Subsequent Dow environmental research suggests that because of its relatively short lifetime in the environment, accumulation of Ibe compound and widespread environmen tal conLmijiiMlioM by IfCRD is not likelyt The two new Dow studies further define effects of IfCHP, and (hey are being submitted for publication. One study deals with rat reproduction, health, and growth. The research data show that there was no effect by the chemical Copyright C 1976 by Th# Burooir of Kfarionol Affairs, fae. MQNS 032270