Exposure to formaldehyde at work

Workers in the beauty industry may be exposed to
formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

A whiff of formaldehyde, anyone?

Better skip it.

Federal agencies such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) have issued public hazard alerts about exposure to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing chemical that is used in many industries, including the health and beauty industry (in hair straightening treatments, for example), in the funeral and embalming industry, in mortuaries and laboratories for tissue preservation etc.

Workers who may be exposed to formaldehyde are covered by the OSHA Formaldehyde standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) and equivalent regulations.

The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for formaldehyde in the workplace is 0.75 parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) measured as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). There are also higher short-term exposure limits for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Exposure to formaldehyde has been deemed a risk because it is an irritant that can affect eyes, nose and throat and can make people cough or wheeze.

Continued exposure to formaldehyde fumes has also been linked to severe allergic reactions and asthma-like respiratory problems. In high concentrations, formaldehyde can be fatal.

At many small to medium workplaces, it is difficult to enforce the standards because of a lack of awareness of the dangers and mislabeled products, according to OSHA.

Formaldehyde “hides” in many products under the names methylene glycol, formalin and oxomethane.

Beauty and hair salons have been racking up citations for violating the formaldehyde standard, but funeral homes and crematories are also guilty of violations.

Source: Business Insurance 

Use activated carbon air scrubbers for better indoor air quality

In most buildings where formaldehyde is used, the existing ventilation system won’t be enough to provide adequate fresh air exchanges.

CleanBreeze 3: A powerful
air cleaner with source capture.

Who hasn’t been assaulted by the strong chemical smells upon entering a hair or nail salon?

Electrocorp provides strong and stand-alone air cleaners with many pounds of activated carbon plus HEPA filters to circulate clean and fresh air indoors.

Activated carbon is the safest and most effective filtration media to remove airborne chemicals, gases and fumes, and the other filters in the units also take care of dust, particles, bacteria, viruses and mold spores.

In their series of air cleaners for beauty salons and spas, Electrocorp offers source capture units with a flexible arm that can be placed right over the head of clients as treatments are applied.

The CleanBreeze 3 features up to 28 pounds of carbon in a very deep bed as well as a micro-HEPA filter and pre-filters.

Electrocorp’s RAP1224 FX8 is an even stronger source capture air cleaner with a 43 lb. carbon filter, a HEPA filter and pre-filters.

The units are equipped with long chords and wheels so that they can easily be moved from one workstation to the next.

Electrocorp also offers air cleaners for funeral homes and embalmers.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.
 

Formaldehyde, other substances added to list of cancer-causing agents

The list of cancer-causing chemicals is growing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer, a press release announced last week.

The industrial chemical formaldehyde and a botanical known as aristolochic acids are listed as known human carcinogens.

The Report on Carcinogens also lists six other substances – captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form), certain inhalable glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoluene, riddelliine, and styrene – as substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.

With these additions, the 12th Report on Carcinogens now includes 240 listings.

"Reducing exposure to cancer-causing agents is something we all want, and the Report on Carcinogens provides important information on substances that pose a cancer risk," said Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of both the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP). "The NTP is pleased to be able to compile this report."

John Bucher, Ph.D., associate director of the NTP added, "This report underscores the critical connection between our nation's health and what's in our environment."

A listing in the Report on Carcinogens does not by itself mean that a substance will cause cancer. Many factors, including the amount and duration of exposure, and an individual's susceptibility to a substance, affect whether a person will develop cancer.

More about airborne substances that may cause cancer

Formaldehyde is one of the more common indoor air pollutants because it is used in many construction and renovation materials, including plywood, carpeting, paints, glues, textiles, woodworking and cabinet-making.
Other sources include bath products, hair straightening treatments, cosmetics and personal care products. It is often found in paper product coatings and used as a preserving agent in labs and embalming, among others.
Formaldehyde can have toxic, allergenic and carcinogenic effects.

Cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder and hard metal form) showed limited evidence of lung cancer in workers involved in cobalt-tungsten carbide hard metal manufacturing. Cobalt-tungsten carbide is used to make cutting and grinding tools, dies, and wear-resistant products for a broad spectrum of industries, including oil and gas drilling, as well as mining. In the United States, cobalt-tungsten hard metals are commonly referred to as cemented or sintered carbides.

Certain inhalable glass wool fibers made the list based on experimental animal studies. Not all glass wool or man-made fibers were found to be carcinogenic. The specific glass wool fibers referred to in this report have been redefined from previous reports on carcinogens to include only those fibers that can enter the respiratory tract, are highly durable, and are biopersistent, meaning they remain in the lungs for long periods of time.

o-Nitrotoluene is used as an intermediate in the preparation of azo dyes and other dyes, including magenta and various sulfur dyes for cotton, wool, silk, leather, and paper. It is also used in preparing agricultural chemicals, rubber chemicals, pesticides, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and explosives. Workers are likely exposed to o-nitrotoluene through the skin or from breathing it during production and use. o-Nitrotoluene has also been detected in air and water near facilities that produce munitions, and near military training facilities.

Styrene is on the list based on human cancer studies, laboratory animal studies, and mechanistic scientific information. Styrene is a synthetic chemical used worldwide in the manufacture of products such as rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile parts, food containers, and carpet backing. People may be exposed to styrene by breathing indoor air that has styrene vapors from building materials, tobacco smoke, and other products. The greatest exposure to styrene in the general population is through cigarette smoking. Workers in certain occupations may potentially be exposed to much higher levels of styrene than the general population.

Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences


Air scrubbers provide cleaner indoor air

Electrocorp's air filtration systems help protect the health and safety of workers in a wide range of industries, including

• Woodshops
• Pulp and Paper Mills
• Auto Body Shops and Garages
• Funeral Homes and Embalming
• Chemical Processing Plants
• Libraries and Archives
• Restaurants and Bars
• Beauty Salons and Spas

Our air filtration systems remove persistent odors and harmful chemicals, gases, vapors and particles from the air, with the largest activated carbon filters and HEPA filters.

Contact us to find out more.

Chemical safety in laboratories: Tissue preservation

Chemical safety is important for
laboratories and research facilities.

When it comes to laboratories and chemical safety, companies, managers and workers have to be extra vigilant to avoid health and safety problems.

Histology and pathology technicians are exposed to numerous laboratory hazards during the course of a day.

That is why laboratory safety is imperative; technicians must know and adhere to health and safety procedures that often include:

• Emergency procedures
• Disease reporting
• Work safety instructions for equipment and work stations
• Existing hazards and the controls in place to address them
• Workers' rights under occupational health and safety guidelines
• Laboratory safety and protective equipment needed to perform work safely

What do histology laboratories do?

Histology is the backbone of medicine; it involves the study of tissue. Histological stains are used to magnify microscopic structures to better study the tissue of animals and plants.

Fixation, dehydration, sectioning and staining are all part of a histology technician's tissue processing procedure, and it involves contact with highly toxic chemicals.


Chemicals used for fixation

Fixation is about tissue preservation. To maintain cell structure, chemicals like formalin (formaldehyde) are used for light microscopy. For electron microscopy, technicians need chemicals like glutaraldehyde, osmium tetroxide and uranyl acetate to make small structures visible.

Formaldehyde
Exposure to formaldehyde can cause irritation to the nose, throat and eyes, and it can also lead to coughing, nausea, wheezing. Studies have linked formaldehyde to cancer, including leukemia in humans.

Glutaraldehyde
Glutaraldehyde inhalation can cause coughing, choking, shortness of breath, nausea and headache. Exposure to this chemical has been linked to lung and respiratory tract damage as well as asthma.

Osmium tetroxide
This chemical is toxic and emits fumes even in its solid form. Exposure can lead to headache, wheezing, pulmonary edema and in extreme cases, death. Long-term low level exposure can cause insomnia larynx and pharynx damage. The chemical has also been linked to kidney damage.

Uranyl acetate
Inhaling this chemical can cause headaches, irritation of the upper respiratory tract and mucous membranes as well as kidney and liver damage. This chemical has also been classified as a carcinogen.


Air cleaners with activated carbon remove dangerous chemicals

Electrocorp specializes in customized air quality solutions and versatile units that effectively remove a wide range of serious contaminants to maintain safe, healthy and comfortable working environments that support scientific investigation.

Electrocorp's air filtration systems for laboratories include the RSU Series, the RAP Series, the I-6500 and the 6000 Series. Some units can be attached to the fume hood for extra protection against airborne chemicals.

Contact us to find the right indoor air quality solution for your laboratory or healthcare environment.


Related posts:

• I-6500 Series: Superior air cleaning for polluted environments
• RSU Series: Versatile air purifiers for odor removal
• Hospital workers and patients breathing poisoned air
• Indoor air concerns in the healthcare industry
• Health and safety lawsuits: US drug firm pleads guilty in lab worker's death
• Air purifiers for xylene and formalin exposure

   

Occupational safety and health: Xylene exposure

Xylene can be found
in paint thinners.

Many industries rely on the use of xylene – including the paint and painting industry, biomedical laboratories, automobile garages, the metal industry and furniture refinishers.

What is xylene?

Xylene is a colorless, sweet-smelling liquid that is very flammable. Chemical industries produce xylene from petroleum and it has become one of the top 30 chemicals produced in the United States in terms of volume.

Xylene is often used as a solvent in the printing, rubber and leather industries. It is also a common ingredient in cleaning products, paint thinners, varnishes, adhesives and ink.  According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, xylene is a good cleaning agent for silicon wafers and steel.

The three forms of xylene are meta-xylene, ortho-xylene and para-xylene (also known as m-xylene, o-xylene and p-xylene). Xylene can be absorbed through the respiratory tract and through the skin.

Health effects of xylene exposure

Xylene affects the brain. High levels from exposure for short periods (14 days or less) or long periods (more than 1 year) can cause headaches, lack of muscle coordination, dizziness, confusion, and changes in one's sense of balance.

Exposure of people to high levels of xylene for short periods can also cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat; difficulty in breathing; problems with the lungs; delayed reaction time; memory difficulties; stomach discomfort; and possibly changes in the liver and kidneys. It can cause unconsciousness and even death at very high levels.

There is insufficient information to determine whether or not xylene causes cancer.

How can workers be exposed to xylene?

Car exhaust fumes
contain xylene.

• Breathing xylene in workplace air or in automobile exhaust. 
• Breathing contaminated air. 
• Touching gasoline, paint, paint removers, varnish, shellac, and rust preventatives that contain it. 
• Breathing cigarette smoke that has small amounts of xylene in it. 
• Drinking contaminated water or breathing air near waste sites and landfills that contain xylene. 
• The amount of xylene in food is probably low.

How can you tell whether you’ve been exposed to xylene?

Laboratory tests can detect xylene or its breakdown products in exhaled air, blood, or urine. There is a high degree of agreement between the levels of exposure to xylene and the levels of xylene breakdown products in the urine.

However, a urine sample must be provided very soon after exposure ends because xylene quickly leaves the body. These tests are not routinely available at your doctor's office.

Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a maximum level of 100 ppm xylene in workplace air for an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek.

Companies that sell xylene caution that it is highly flammable and should only be used in a well ventilated area.

Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, United States Public Health Service (US Department of Health and Human Services)

Worried about chemical exposure or hazardous fumes?

AirRhino: Industrial-strength air cleaner.

Electrocorp’s industrial-grade air filtration systems for auto body shops and garages, laboratories, and woodshops use a deep-bed activated carbon filter to remove the widest range of chemicals, gases and fumes, including xylene, benzene and toluene.

The units are also equipped with high efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) filters for the removal of fine particles.

Recommended air filtration systems include the AirRhino Series, DirtyDog Series, the I-6500 Series, the RSU Series and the RAP Series.


See also Air Purifiers for Xylene and Formalin Exposure.

Contact us for more information. Always consult an environmental or chemical expert when dealing with toxic substances.
 

Air Purifiers for Xylene and Formalin Exposure

Chronic exposure to xylene and formalin is well-documented as a significant health hazard, yet these compounds are still routinely used for processing and staining in histology laboratories.

Despite the implementation of traditional laboratory filtration technologies such as fume hoods and incorporated air filters, histotechnologists are still suffering the effects of chemical exposure.

A New Approach to Air Filtration for Xylene and Formalin

Electrocorp air purifiers for Xylene and Formalin are stand-alone air scrubbers that offer enhanced protection from airborne chemicals. Fitted with the deepest, most extensive carbon beds in the industry, our air purifiers for laboratories are designed to target compounds with high molecular weights such as xylene.

Our carbon can also be impregnated with potassium permanganate for lower molecular weight compounds such as formaldehyde. These deep-bed carbon filters physically bind the chemical contaminants and while a medical-grade HEPA filter captures contaminated airborne dust and other particulate.


Allerair’s Recommended Air Purifiers for Xylene and Formalin Exposure:



Rap 204



5000 DX Vocarb

For more information on our Air Purifiers for Xylene and Formalin, contact our laboratory air quality expert Gershon Katz at 1-866-667-0297.

CHRONIC OCCUPATIONAL XYLENE EXPOSURE

“Xylene vapour is absorbed rapidly from the lungs and xylene liquid and vapour are absorbed slowly through the skin (Riihimaki and Pfaffli, 1978). Chronic occupational exposure has been associated with neuropsychological and neurophysiological dysfunction, anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, leukopaenia, chest pain with ECG abnormalities, dyspnoea and cyanosis (Langman, 1994).”

_-Biological Monitoring of Low Level Occupational Xylene Exposure and the Role of Recent Exposure; G. A. JACOBSON and S. McLEAN ; Ann Occup Hyg (2003) 47 (4): 331-336.

XYLENE CONFIRMED AS A REPRODUCTIVE HAZARD

A reproductive study of workers exposed to workplace solvents has confirmed what safety experts have long suspected: the fetus is at risk (Khattak et al.,1999). This research is the first to combine prospective and retrospective approaches. The surprising facet of this study is the magnitude of the risk to the unborn child. While many health studies demonstrate significant differences only through statistical comparisons, these findings are so unequivocal that anyone can see clearly just how serious the threat is to human health.

-The Innovator, Volume 4, Number 1, Winter 2001

Update: Read more about xylene and the health effects associated with xylene exposure in this blog post: Occupational safety and health: Xylene exposure