Industrial-hygiene walk-through survey report of E. I. duPont deNemours and Company, Pontchartrain Works, Laplace, Louisiana, August 26, 1985

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6621041

A walk-through survey was conducted at E. I. duPont deNemours and Company, LaPlace, Louisiana, August, 1985. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information on the neoprene polymer production process and to evaluate the potential for exposure to 1,3-butadiene. Bulk samples of neoprene were analyzed for residual 1,3-butadiene. The facility produced hydrogen-chloride and chloroprene as marketable products as well as neoprene. The process occurred in a closed system, tightly maintained for economic and fire-hazard reasons. Single mechanical seals were used on all 1,3-butadiene pumps. Quality control sampling was done using gas bags in the tank farm. No residual 1,3-butadiene was found in the bulk neoprene samples. The company reported they had conducted air monitoring for 1,3-butadiene and found most exposures to be below 10 parts per million. Personnel records on current and terminated employees were maintained. A total of 1,264 workers had worked at the facility. The authors conclude that the facility should be considered a candidate for an in-depth survey. The company should consider retrofitting dual mechanical seals on all process pumps with single mechanical seals.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Industrial Hygiene Section
• OSTI ID: 6621041
• Report Number(s): PB-88-249750/XAB; IWS-147.31
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
BUTADIENE
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RUBBER INDUSTRY
ELASTOMERS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INSPECTION
TOXICITY
DIENES
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYENES
POLYMERS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health