Impact of the revised OSHA exposure standard on evaluation and control of benzene and other volatile organic chemicals in the liquid petroleum pipeline industry
The primary purpose of this study was to determine the benzene exposure potential of workers in the liquid petroleum pipeline industry and to assess the impact of compliance with the revised standard on this industry. In addition, exposure to ethylene dibromide (EDB), and ethylene dichloride (EDC), which have toxicological profiles similar to that of benzene and are routinely found in this industry, were evaluated and appropriate control protocols were recommended. Exposure potential to benzene in excess of the 0.5 ppm (8-hour TWA) OSHA action level was shown to be limited to three free product handling operations, and that this increased exposure potential was dependent on the length of time necessary to perform the operations. The incidence and magnitude of benzene overexposure was not severe and control could be accomplished with engineering methods, along with work practice controls and personal protective equipment. Through application of a risk assessment model it was shown that 14 excess leukemia deaths per one thousand workers could be expected in the employee population that routinely performs those operation having maximum benzene exposure potential. This compares to less than on excess leukemia death per one thousand workers in the total work population. The evaluation of EDB and EDC indicated that exposure potential to EDB was of greatest concern. Even though exposure could be limited through application of standard industrial hygiene methods, any control protocol short of total elimination of EDB from the product stream may be not sufficient to reduce exposure to accepted levels.
- Research Organization:
- Oklahoma Univ., Oklahoma City, OK (USA). Health Sciences Center
- OSTI ID:
- 6796240
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Evaluation of air pollution regulatory strategies for gasoline-marketing industry
Semen study of papaya workers exposed to ethylene dibromide
Related Subjects
BENZENE
CONTROL
ORGANIC BROMINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PIPELINES
SAFETY STANDARDS
COMPLIANCE
ECONOMIC IMPACT
EVALUATION
LEUKEMIA
MATERIALS HANDLING
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
RISK ASSESSMENT
TIME DEPENDENCE
US OSHA
VOLATILE MATTER
AROMATICS
CLOTHING
DISEASES
HEMIC DISEASES
HYDROCARBONS
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
INDUSTRY
MATTER
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEOPLASMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
STANDARDS
US DOL
US ORGANIZATIONS
020600* - Petroleum- Health & Safety
021000 - Petroleum- Legislation & Regulations
022000 - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage