Document rB9LR99Y5KrKBV3EY8kVyr7L0

BASF Wyandotte Corporation TO FROM ---------------------------------------------pH------7"ItTTH- ' S. Herron, P. Lubs, W. Skocypec c->st Carter 3116 INTER-OFFICE CITY & DATE Wyandotte October 6, 1975 MEMORANDUM E. Kerfoot Account----------------- SUBJECT Proposed Standard COPIES R.M. Cushman, J. Dayan, J. McClellan, G.J. Melanson, /xDfC J.J. Ronayne REFERENCE Wall Street Journal - Oct. 2 As appeared in the Wall Street Journal on October 2, the Labor Department proposed new and revised job health standards limiting worker exposure to three widely used industrial substances and setting procedures for handling 11 other toxic chemicals. "The new standards cut in half the permissible exposure to lead and toluene,and reduce by 90% the amount of asbestos fibers permitted in the `air at work places. Existing exposure limits for the other toxic chemicals weren't changed." "The new proposed standards will appear soon in the Federal Register. Before they become final, the Labor Department will review public comments on them, environmental and inflationary impact statements, and may hold public, hearings". 1 1. Lead Standard The lead standard reduces the permissible exposure of workers to 100 ug/m*3 1o2f lead TWA from.the previous level of 200 ug/m3. An action previous level of 50 ug/m3 has been established and exposures above that level would require regular monitoring and notification of the results. The standard also sets a maximum standard for lead in the blood at 60 ug/100 g blood. 2. Toluene Standard The current limit for toluene is 200 ppm and the new limit would be 100 ppm TWA. The standard also sets a ceiling limit of 200 ppm during any 15 minute period. An action level of 50 ppm will require a full monitoring program if exceeded. 3. Asbestos Standard The revised asbestos standard allows workers to be exposed to an average of 0.5 fibers/cc TWA~in place of the present 5 fibers/cc limit. The standard also stipulates 5 fibers/cc ceiling over any 15 minute period. ,*'** October 6 , 1975 Page 2 The new levels are more stringent than a previously planned additional standard that would have cut exposure limits beginning next year to 2 fibers/cc. 4. Other Chemicals The 11 other toxic substances would require monitoring exposures regularly when they exceed half of the existing permissible exposure levels. The 11 chemicals are: 1. p-tert-Butyltoluene 2. Ethyl benzene 3. alpha Methylstyrene 4. Cumene 5. Styrene 6. Vinyl toluene 7. Cyclohexane 8. Camphor 9. Mesityl oxide 10. 5-methyl-3-Heptanone 11. Ozone Please review any of these materials that are used in your area and determine if we can live with these new levels as proposed. EJK/dl E. 0. Kerfoot