LANDRIGAN PJ, COSTELLO RJ, STRINGER WT. Occupational exposure to arsine: An epidemiologic reappraisal of current standards. Scand j work environ heaLth 8 (1982) 169-177. In an evaluation of chronic occupational exposure to arsine (AsHg), an epidemiologic survey was conducted at a lead-acid battery manufacturing plant. Personal (breathing zone) air samples were obtained for the measurement of exposure to arsine and particulate arsenic (As), and area air samples were also collected for the determination of arsenic trioxide (AS20g) vapor concentrations. For the quantification of arsenic absorption, total arsenic content was determined in duplicate 24-h urine samples. Arsine in 177 breathing-zone air samples ranged from nondetectable to 49 ,ug/m 3 . The highest levels were found in the battery formation area, where arsine is generated by the reaction of battery acid with lead-arsenic alloy. 'Exposures to particulate arsenic (maximum 5.1 ,ug/m 3 ) and to AS20g (maximum 0.44 ,ug/m 3 , expressed as As) were generally lower. Urine analysis showed that eight (20.5 0/0) of 39 production workers had urinary arsenic concentrations (corrected to a specific gravity of 1.024) of 50 ,ug/l (0.67 ,umol/l) or above, indicating increased arsenic absorption. None of eight office staff had elevated urinary arsenic levels. A close correlation was found between urinary arsenic concentration and arsine exposure (N = 47; r = 0.84; P = 0.0001). Arsine levels above 15.6 flg/m 3 were associated with urinary arsenic concentrations in excess of 50 ,ug/l (0.67 flmol/l). No correlation was found between urinary arsenic content and exposures to particulate arsenic or to AS20g. Consumption of neither seafood, red wine, tobacco, nor contaminated drinking Water accounted for urinary arsenic excretion. It was concluded that the current arsine exposure standard, 200 flg/m 3 , fails to prevent chronic increased absorption of trivalent arsenic from the inhalation of arsine.

Air monitoring was performed at a hazardous waste remedial action site to measure inhalation exposure at the drum bulking unit processes and ambient emissions downwind from that process. Contaminant concentrations were all well below permissible exposure limits. This study suggests that when workers remain in fixed job locations at hazardous waste sites, occupational inhalation exposure monitoring must consider contaminants generated upwind of the job location as well as contaminants generated at the specific job site. Air sampling must also consider both the particulate and vapor phases of the site contaminants.

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On April 21, 1980, an explosion and fire among the 40 000 drums of unlabeled chemical wastes at the former site of Chemical Control Corporation in Elizabeth, New Jersey, attracted national attention and raised serious concern about the health and safety of workers who would be called upon to clean up the disaster site. Evaluation of workers' exposure during clean up operation and an assessment of the level of respiratory protection needed were necessary. NIOSH conducted 8 days of air monitoring. The chemicals of concern were organic vapors, metals, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, cyanide compounds, and dioxins (TCDD). No excessive exposure to chemical substances by inhalation was found. However, continuous use of respiratory protective equipment and other personal protective devices was necessary because of frequent drum ruptures.

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