Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 89-374-2197, Exxon Baytown Refinery, Baytown, Texas

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7129075

Kinnes, G M; Kawamoto, M M

In response to a request from The Gulf Coast Industrial Workers Union (GCIWU), an investigation was begun of possible hazardous working conditions at the Exxon Baytown Refinery (SIC-2911), Baytown, Texas. Some process technicians had reported that they experienced heart attack type symptoms while or after they were involved in unloading the diesel fuel cetane improver, 2-ethylhexyl-nitrate (27247967), from tanker trucks. Approximately every 5 days the 2-ethylhexyl-nitrate was delivered to the facility in a 6000 gallon tanker truck, and pumped into a 15,000 gallon storage tank. Nine personal breathing zone and general area air samples were collected during the cetane improver unloading operation. Only three of the nine samples had detectable levels of 2-ethylhexyl-nitrate, ranging from 0.05 to 0.48 parts per million (ppm); however, the validity of the data was questionable due to difficulties in analysis. Of the 11 interviewed employees, six reported symptoms related to cetane improver exposure. Often the symptoms were temporally related to direct skin exposure. Some of the symptoms were headache, lightheadedness or dizziness, chest discomfort or palpitations, and nausea. Personal protective equipment procedures had been implemented, decreasing the occurence of symptomatic episodes. The authors conclude that symptoms were consistent with excessive exposure to nitrated esters. The authors recommend that efforts continue to limit the exposure to the chemical.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7129075
• Report Number(s): PB-92-219807/XAB; HETA-89-374-2197
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FUEL ADDITIVES
HEALTH HAZARDS
NITRATES
TEXAS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
SYMPTOMS
WORKING CONDITIONS
ADDITIVES
ANIMALS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION VI
HAZARDS
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MONITORING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
USA
VERTEBRATES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology