title: Survey of waste comminglers' VOC exposures.
abstract: Twelve U.S. universities performing hazardous waste solvent commingling operations were surveyed for waste handler exposures to 45 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Personal exposures (n = 33) and area concentrations (n = 30) were determined using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of passively collected samples. Air monitoring data were used to determine the veracity of laboratory-generated reports of waste container contents. Participants completed a questionnaire concerning the use of personal protective equipment, ventilation, and other appropriate safety equipment for their specific commingling operation. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted to elucidate safeguards in place. Results showed that personal exposures exceeded area concentrations in 70% of operations. For the contaminant concentrations reported, 17% of personal samples exceeded Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) time-weighted average or ceiling limit values. Methylene chloride was a frequently seen airborne contaminant not listed on drum inventory sheets. When airborne constituents were compared with container content tags, 44% of the chemicals detected in air were omitted from the waste tags. This study concluded that the most frequently necessary safeguard is respiratory protection, preferably a supplied-air-type. The use of local exhaust ventilation systems rather than dilution or natural systems and facility operation in a totally explosion-safe manner are also recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D012449:Safety; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis*; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration; D014835:Volatilization; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D006256:Hazardous Waste; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents