Lead poisoning.......................... .............................

Wor-kers-and their-union lead ers, as well as numerous com panies, have reacted by cooper ating in numerous study proj ects on occupational exposures.

Meantime, concern about vcm exposure at the processor level can be expected to lead to an increase in tech nological improvements in the supplying sector.

TO Dr R S Brookman INTEROFFICE DATE July 19, 1976 from SAFETY & TRAINING-PLASTICS CO SUBJECT I REFERRING TO LETTER OF PROCEDURE FOR RESPIRATOR FITTING As per your request, the following comments are offered regarding a respirator fitting procedure As part of the 1910 1017 Standard, OSHA requires that the user of a respirator receive fitting instructions including demonstrations and practice m wearing, adjusting and determining the fit of the respirator He must he allowed to test the facepiece-^o-face seal I and to wear it m a test atmosphere To tnxs ena, test procedaies, summarized from several sources* are provided below which will satisfy the fitting requirements by OSHA In these comments, mainly only "qualitative" fitting tests will be pro\ided "Quantitive" tests include placing a probe within a specific facepiece and reading the leakage directly on an analytical instrument This is an expensive procedure and may be of limited value to us since they are mainly used to help one determine what brand and line of respirators fits best The advantages of the qualitative tests are that they are fast, easily performed, require minimum investment, and some are easily performed m the field On the other hand, these tests rely on the wearer's subjective response so they are not entirely reliable I Qualitative Fitting Tests A Negative Pressure Test 1) These can be conducted by the wearer himself m the field It consists merely of closing off the inlet of the gas masi canister, cartndge(s) or filters by covering with the palm(s), or replacing the seal(s), or of squeezing the breaming tube so that xt does not pass or pro ide au, inhaling gently so that the facepiece collapses slightly, and holding the breath for 10 seconds If the facepiece remains slightly collapsed and no inward leakage is detected, the respirator is probably tight enough This test would be used with the type MSA half ana full facepiece respirators (witn breathing tubes), with aast masks and ^lth all canister units It should be oerfoimed jast before the wearer enters any toxic atmosphere It is recommended that this test be used only as a ver/ gro^s determination for face fits The primary test drawback ^.s that it reouires the wearer to handle the masc after it has supposedly been positioned - wnich v.an modify tre seax B Positive Pressure lesr QCCq14441 S 2 3A 1) This test has the same advantages and disadvantages as the negative pressure test It ^.s conducted by closing off ttie 2- - exhalation valve and exhaling gently into the facepiece The fit is considered satisfactory if slight positive pressure can be built up inside the facepiece without any evidence of outward leakage Some respirators require that the exhalation valve cover(s) be removed for the test and then replaced - a sometimes difficult task if one keeps the respirator on This test would work with the type C, air supplied respirators, and with most gas masks The wearer should perform this test just before entering any hazardous atmosphere Once the above tests have been completed, the subject can mov into the test atmosphere m Part C following, Isoamvl Acetate (Banana Oil) Test f 1) This test is used to satisfy the requirement that the weaier have an opportunity to wear the i aspirator m a test atmosphere Generally it consists of creating an atmosphere containing isoamyl acetate around the wearer of an air line respirator or an air-purifying (gas mask) respirator with an organic vapor canister or cartridge(s) The proper canister or cartridge(s) must be replaced after the test One variation of this test is to saturate a piece of cotton or cloth with the liquid and pass it close to the respirator near the sealing surface, and carefully avoiding the skin A more complex, and better, version uses a room or smaxl booth or hood covering the wearer*s head and shoulders In this enclosure is generated a known concentration of isoamyl acetate, usually 100 ppm created by vaporizing 17 3 ml of isoamyl acetate for each 1000 FT3 (28m3) of enclosure volume 2) Test Procedure a) Wearer puts on respirator If an air-purifying unit (gas mask) it must be equipped with an organic vapor canister or cartridge(s) b) Wearer enters test enclosure - or nass saturated cotton near sealing surface c) If wearer smells isoamyl acetate, he returns to clean air and readjusts the facepiece and/or headband tension (not unduly tight) d) The wearer repeats step (b) If he does not smell the acetate, the seal is good If he still smells it an attempt should be made to find the source of leakage If the leak can not be found, another respirator should be tried e) After the fit is obtained the correct canister or cartridge(s) must be placed on the unit OCC 014442 -3- During testing the subject should make movements that approximate a normal working situation These may include, but not limited to, the following a) Normal breathing b) Deep breathing Tdon*t hyperventilate) c) Side-to-side and up-and-down head movements - exaggerated d) Talking, by reading a prepared script e) Other exercises as determined fitting to describe the action on the job / The major drawback of the isoamyl acetate test is that the odor threshold vanes widely among individuals Further, the sense of smell is eanly dulled and may temporarily deteriorate during the test Another disadvantage is that the liquid is not unpleasant to smell, e/en m high concentrations Tnerefore, the wearer may say that the respirator fits even with a large leak - Usually because he likes the comfort of the particular respirator or is following the lead of someone else Conversely, a wearer may claim that a respirator leaks if it is uncomfortable, etc D I tant Smoke Test 1 ) This test is similar to the isoamyl test m concept It involves exposing the wearer to an irritating aerosol produced by commercially available smoke tubes normally used to check ventilation air flows I have some on hand for inspection if desired These tubes are filled with pumice impregnated with stannic chlorxde or titanium tetrachloride As air is passed thru the tube, via an aspirator bulb, a dense, highly irritating smoke is produced consisting of hydroclonc acid adsorbed on small solid particles As a qualitative test the obvious advantage is that the wearer can not lie or fake the tightness of the respirator since he can not resist the smoke On the other hand the smoke is very irritating and must be carefully used to avoid injury Exhaust ventilation behind me weaier is needed to protect the person doing the test It can be used for both air-purifying and atmosphere - supplying units - but the air-purifying units must be equipped with a high-efficiency filter(s) ) Test Procedure a) The wearer puts on the respirator and stands with his back ro a source of ventilation, such as a chemical fume hood b) The tester tells the wearer to close his eyes, e\en if wearing a full facepiece unit, and to keep them closed until told to open them CC OI4443 c) The tester lightly puffs smoke over the respirator, holding the tube at least two feet from it Use -V- * Note minimal puffs pausing between them so as to note the wearer's reaction d) If the wearer detects no leakage, the tester may increase the smoke density and move the tube progressively closer to the subject, still closely watching his reactions When the tube has been brought to within about six inches of the respirator with no leakage detected, the tester may s+art to direct smoke specifically at the sealing surface of the facepiece and at the exhalation valve, while the subject holds his head still f) At this point, if no leakage occurs, the wearer may cautiously begin tne head movements mentioned m the isoamvl acetate test The tester must remair especiall alert and ready to stop the smoke production g) If leakage is detected at any time, the tester should stop the smoke and let the wearer readjust the facepiece and headbands The test should then be restarted at step (b) This test is not as time consuming as it sounds and if the wearer keeps his eyes shut and the smoke is increased gradually, there is little danger or discomfort* Data for these comments have been taker from a training manual written by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory of the University of California fiom ANSI Standard Z88 2-1969, Practices for Fespiratory Protection and OSHA Standards GDL mas cc Mr T C Walker Mr F F Hoy Mr C J Klemert Mr R W Arnold G D Lloyd OCC 014444

., lead, mercury, etc.).

Use of the "new materials," Heckman said, "will assure there can be no reasonable expectation that PVC packaging materials will lead to vinyl monomer becoming a component of foods, or will be ingested."

against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. andlcuzred extremely Irritating damage to the L home Borden Inc. asking $281 million in damages'skin. eye. nose, and throat along with short-u A $37.5 Million Offer Comes resulting from chloride meat supermarket use of polyvinyljness of breath, coughing and general respiwrap was filed in Cuyahogairatory distress, which eventually leads to !

Other workers with exposure potential in excess of 1.0 ppm TWA include the Me Lead Operator, P/T Still Operator, and loading personnel .

R&S 028549 R&S 028550 -7- I DO FEEL, HOWEVER, THAT THE VINYL CHLORIDE PROBLEM.HAS TAUGHT US ALL A LESSON THAT WILL, IN THE LONG RUN, DO MUCH TO DEVELOP AN AWARENESS THAT WILL LEAD TO BETTER OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

A sig nificant problem was revealed in that at the lower fiber :or.centratior.s (20 fibers/cc) the mask efficiency was markedly reduced leading in some cases to a greater filer concentration within "he mask in an atmosphere of 20 fibers/cc than i.. a concentration of Decsneer 3, 1971 Face 2 MEMO FOR FILE: VISIT TO McGILL UNIVERSITY 100 fibers/cc when the entire test .- n e d c; o was .

Wenczel Tile Company of Florida OSHRC Docket No. 76-1847 all alle- gations of asbestos in Vanderbilt talcs were withdrawn for lack of evidence to is that our support the charges talcs do not contain Thus the asbestos weight of authority copies attached today Page 2 It would be more accurate and lead to a better understanding of the situation at Gouverneur if you would make it clear that the Gouverneur Talc Company also produces industrial talcs which Vanderbilt admits to containing asbestos and are so labelled Your inclusion of Material IT Fiber Safety No. 1 Data Sheets for the labelled fibrous talc products IT Fiber No. 2 without reference to the fact that these products contain the required OSHA asbestos label is misleading Page 3 In line 2 the date 1973 for the acquisition of the International Talc Company should be 1974 Page 3 Union at The correct number for Gouverneur is 4979 the Local of the United Steel Workers JNJ 000263700 R.

Marketing concern is that since there are substitutes available in the marketplace, if we find any "dioxins'* in SANTOPHEN, it would also "eventually" lead to discontinuance in the market.

He said three seporato'.regions ore responsible /jr enforcing an* tlpollulion laws in that one river valley and added It would be "quite easy" to designate one region asihe lead agency for ylaw enforcement. \ /' Jackson L.

Dm leachate notcra cantriptd ligniicant wneunts of lead, wtrnium. bon. mercury, and other contomioonta pro11 nllag |inn mud i uiawniontlim if rrmrr npylftT rrr* ``t *--* chela fcpcadiagaoitwiwmraefrtwpanitulardliipatalslte.

Thla lead nlU ba folioead up.