In-depth survey report: control of perchloroethylene (PCE) in vapor degreasing operations, site #1.
Authors
Almaguer D; Shulman S; Khan A
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, EPHB 256-19b, 2002 Sep; :1-24
Abstract
Worker exposures to perchloroethylene (PCE) occur in a large number of industries where PCE is used for organic solvent vapor cleaning (degreasing). Solvent degreasing does not constitute a distinct industrial category, but is an integral part of many major industries. This report examines worker exposures to PCE during the loading and unloading of parts, and the performance of two open-top vapor degreasers and one airless vacuum vapor degreaser at the loading/unloading stations. Air samples for PCE were collected on two separate occasions covering five days of degreasing operations. Personal breathing-zone concentrations for the airless vacuum vapor degreaser operator ranged from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to 0.4 ppm. These workers typically spent 80% to 90% of their work shift at the vapor degreaser. One maintenance worker adding PCE to the airless vacuum degreaser had a short-term exposure of 2.5 ppm. Personal breathing-zone concentrations measured at the two open-top vapor degreasers ranged from 0.09 ppm up to 2.8 ppm. A review of the sampling data and results showed that the degreaser operators were not exposed to perchloroethylene concentrations in excess of the OSHA PEL.
Keywords
Solvent-vapor-degreasing; Solvent-vapors; Solvents; Organic-solvents; Ventilation-equipment; Ventilation-hoods; Ventilation-systems; Metal-finishing; Region-10; Control-technology
Document Type
Field Studies; Control Technology
NTIS Accession No.
PB2003-106071
Identifying No.
EPHB-256-19b
Priority Area
Control Technology & Personal Protective Equipment; Research Tools and Approaches
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
