Monitoring of workers exposure to low levels of airborne monomers in a polystyrene production plant

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668291410693· OSTI ID:6044896

Samimi, B ^[1]; Falbo, L

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1. Univ. of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI

Exposure of workers to sub-ppm levels of airborne monomers, namely ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, styrene, ..cap alpha..-methylstyrene, and 20 ethylhexyl acrylate, in a polystyrene production plant was measured in the same sample on a single gas chromatographic column. The best separation and sensitivity were obtained with a 3 m x 3.175 mm stainless steel column packed with 10% FFAP on Chromosorb and a temperature programmed from 70/sup 0/C to 110/sup 0/C. A total of 106 air samples were collected on 150 mg charcoal tubes from the breathing zone of workers, from areas near reactors, and from places where monomers were unloaded from trucks and tank cars. Samples were analyzed in a manner similar to the method recommended by NIOSH. The mean TWA concentrations in a worker's breathing zone were 89, 66, 49, 120, 41, 1 ppb for ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, styrene, ..cap alpha..-methylstyrene, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, respectively. The highest TWA breathing zone concentration was 14.8 ppm for styrene, which occurred during unloading and sampling of the monomer for a quality check. The mean TWA concentration of monomers in the air of the workplace were 1.1 ppm, 169,36,54,10, and 30 ppb for the same 6 compounds mentioned above. The highest area TWA concentration was 57 ppm for ethyl acrylate, which occurred outdoors at the truck and tank car unloading site. It was concluded that use of two separate local exhaust ventilating systems in this polymerization process were effecive in maintaining negative pressure within the reactors under all circumstances of use. These engineering controls and care in handling monomers have resulted in a relatively safe working environment.

• OSTI ID: 6044896
• Journal Information: Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Vol. 43:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MONITORING
MONOMERS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
PERSONNEL
POLYSTYRENE
AIR POLLUTION
CHROMATOGRAPHY
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLLUTION
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYVINYLS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)