Engineering Case Report

Abstract

A maintenance worker became ill after working indoors over the course of 3 days with a commercially available contact adhesive containing toluene and methyl ethyl ketone. Respiratory protection or local exhaust ventilation was not used. The worker subsequently suffered from numerous medical symptoms including tremors and elevated blood pressure. Magnetic resonance imaging documented the occurrence of encephalopathy. The worker has alleged that the cause of these effects was exposure to the vapors from the contact adhesive. The objective of this study was to characterize/estimate the level of the worker's exposure by obtaining air samples in an exposure chamber while performing similar activities under similar conditions. We found that the worker may have been exposed to approximately 159 ppm toluene and 58 ppm methyl ethyl ketone 8-hr time-weighted averages for 8 hr of adhesive application. The maximum 15-min average exposures were 233 ppm toluene and 85 ppm methyl ethyl ketone.

Air pollution exposure and preeclampsia among US women with and without asthma

“…On the other hand, tap water exposure to benzene did not increase hypertension in a US population (Burg and Gist, 1998). A worker exposed to high levels of methyl ethyl ketone and toluene from adhesive vapor became ill with symptoms that included elevated blood pressure (Mills et al, 2012). High levels of toluene appear to raise blood pressure (Chang et al, 2010; Capron and Logan, 2009), but lower levels may not (Chang et al, 2010).…”

Toluene adsorption on porous Cu–BDC@OAC composite at various operating conditions: optimization by response surface methodology

“…[4][5][6] The OSHA's (occupational safety and health administration) permissible exposure limit (PEL) standard for toluene as an 8 hour time-weighted average (TWA) limit is 200 ppm, with a maximum limit of 300 ppm (not to be exceeded for more than 10 minutes in any 8 hour TWA); in quantities above 500 ppm it becomes immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). 7 Hence, there is a pressing need to remove VOCs from the atmosphere. Various physical, chemical and biological removal techniques have been widely used such as adsorption, 8,9 oxidation, 1,9 bio-ltration, 10,11 biodegradation, 12 bio-reactor removal 13,14 and catalytic combustion.…”

2,2,5,5-Tetramethyloxolane (TMO) Replacing Toluene as an Azeotropic Solvent for the Synthesis of Polyester Resins

“…Among its various issues are reproductive toxicity, single exposure toxicity, prolonged exposure toxicity, and being harmful to aquatic life. When toluene is being used in commercial applications, exposure must be controlled to prevent ill effects onto workers. , Furthermore, toluene is sourced from unsustainable petrochemical feedstocks, and as such, a biobased replacement would be a desirable option.…”

“…When toluene is being used in commercial applications, exposure must be controlled to prevent ill effects onto workers. 5,6 Furthermore, toluene is sourced from unsustainable petrochemical feedstocks, and as such, a biobased replacement would be a desirable option.…”