Evaluation of 1-Bromopropane Use in Four New Jersey ...

This Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) report and any recommendations made herein are for the specific facility evaluated and may not be universally applicable. Any recommendations made are not to be considered as final statements of NIOSH policy or of any agency or individual involved. Additional HHE reports are available at

Workplace

Safety and Health

Evaluation of 1-Bromopropane Use in Four New Jersey Commercial Dry Cleaning Facilities

Judith Eisenberg, MD, MS Jessica Ramsey, MS

Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 2008-0175-3111 New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services July 2010

Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The employer shall post a copy of this report for a period of 30 calendar days at or near the workplace(s) of affected employees. The employer shall take steps to insure that the posted determinations are not altered, defaced, or covered by other material during such period. [37 FR 23640, November 7, 1972, as amended at 45 FR 2653, January 14, 1980].

Contents

Report

Appendix A

Abbreviations....................................................................... ii Highlights of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation............ iii Summary..............................................................................v Introduction..........................................................................1 Assessment..........................................................................2 Results.................................................................................2 Discussion............................................................................5 Conclusions..........................................................................7 Recommendations...............................................................8 References.........................................................................11

Occupational Exposure Limits and Health Effects.............14

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments and Availability of Report.....................19

Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2008-0175-3111

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Abbreviations

1-BP ACGIH? cc/min CDC cfm CFR CT ED ft2 IARC LEV LOD LOQ mcg/mL meq/L mg/L ?g/sample MMWR NAICS NIOSH NJ DEP NJ DHSS OEL OSHA PBZ PEL perc PPE ppm REL STEL TLV? TWA U.S. EPA WEEL

1-bromopropane American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Cubic centimeters per minute Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cubic feet per minute Code of Federal Regulations Computed tomography Emergency department square feet International Agency for Research on Cancer Local exhaust ventilation Limit of detection Limit of quantification Micrograms per milliliter Milliequivalents per liter Milligrams per liter Micrograms per sample Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report North American Industry Classification System National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Occupational exposure limit Occupational Safety and Health Administration Personal breathing zone Permissible exposure limit Perchloroethylene Personal protective equipment Parts per million Recommended exposure limit Short term exposure limit Threshold limit value Time-weighted average United States Environmental Protection Agency Workplace environmental exposure limit

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Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2008-0175-3111

Highlights of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a technical assistance request from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The request concerned a report of health effects in an operator using 1-bromopropane (1-BP) at a dry cleaning facility.

What NIOSH Did

In August 2008, we visited four dry cleaning facilities that had converted their systems from perchloroethylene (perc) to 1-BP.

We interviewed owners, operators, and an employee about their work and any symptoms they thought were work related. We later reviewed medical records.

We collected air samples for 1-BP at the same facilities in November 2008.

What NIOSH Found

An operator reported lightheadedness when cooking 1-BP. This is a symptom that can occur with general solvent use.

No cases of peripheral neuropathy were found among owners, operators, or employees.

Work practices, how conversions were done, and the amount of 1-BP used varied widely.

Operators who converted machines on their own or who cooked 1-BP were exposed to high concentrations of 1-BP in the air.

Respirators, gloves, and eye protection were not being used. Respirators were not equipped with the correct cartridges for 1-BP.

What Owners Can Do

Use a qualified technician to convert the machines from perc to 1-BP.

Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for safe product use. This includes the use of ventilation, specific temperatures, and appropriate system settings.

Use general building ventilation to reduce 1-BP concentrations in the air.

Use local exhaust ventilation or open the doors to outside when loading or unloading machines, pouring solvent, and maintaining equipment.

What Operators Can Do

Do not cook 1-BP or cut the drying periods short as this may increase 1-BP exposures to operators.

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