139
A SURVEY OF PERCEIVED AND REAL HEALTH CONCERNS IN A COMMUNITY NEIGHBORING
INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES.
K. Halligan, F. Akbar-Khanzadeh, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, OH.
Certain industrial facilities are perceived as likely to cause more serious harm to the community than other facilities that actually impose real harm. To minimize misconceptions and outrage, the real health hazards must be discovered and communicated to communities neighboring industrial facilities. The purpose of this study was to survey the perceived and real health concerns within a city located in Ohio with a history of frequent outrage regarding odor, noise, and other environmental health hazards. A questionnaire was used to interview residents and local government employees within the city. Data were also collected on real environmental health issues. Overall, the responders perceived certain industries as the major pollutants in the community when in reality other sources were identified as being more responsible. For example, approximately 75% of the residents and 50% of local government employees perceived refineries to be the major source of air pollution and odors resembling rotten egg. However, data adopted from the Environmental Protection Agency on the airborne emissions in this city suggested that an electric power facility in the neighborhood emitted more sulfur compounds than the total emitted by the two refineries. The refineries may have received the blame partially because of their higher visibility and their release of an evident odor versus the air pollutants released by the electric power facility which are less annoying but more potentially hazardous to human health. This survey emphasizes that, in some cases, perceived risk does not equal actual risk; therefore, hazard discovery and proper risk communication are critical when addressing and clarifying issues causing misconception.
140
POTENTIAL CHEMICAL EXPOSURES ASSOCIATED WITH CLANDESTINE METHAMPHETAMINE
LABORATORIES.
J. Martyny, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO.
Illegal use and manufacture of methamphetamine in the U.S. has increased dramatically in recent years resulting in increased law enforcement action and risks for first responders.
To investigate exposure risks, “batch cooks” of methamphetamine were conducted in four controlled trials using the two most common methods of illegal manufacture. Area sampling was conducted for organics, inorganic acids, phosphine, anhydrous ammonia, iodine, and methamphetamine using real-time monitors and NIOSH methods. Two “cooks” used the red phosphorous method, and two used the anhydrous ammonia method. The cooks occurred in condemned buildings using techniques and chemicals to simulate illegal manufacture.
Phosphine, iodine, and hydrochloric acid (HCL) were detected using the red phosphorous method. Phosphine ranged from not-detected to 0.94 ppm. Mean HCL concentrations were 1.9 ppm and ranged from 3.8 to 7.2 ppm during the salting-out phase of production, peak concentrations exceeded 150 ppm. Airborne iodine concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.16 ppm.
Peak concentrations of ammonia were detected as high as 3000 ppm with concentrations exceeding 300 ppm using the anhydrous ammonia method. Airborne concentrations of methamphetamine exceeded 5000 µg/m3 while salting-out. The airborne methamphetamine release resulted in detectable methamphetamine on all tested surfaces within the area of the cook. Methamphetamine levels ranged from 130 ug/100 cm2 at 36 inches from the cook to 11.6 ug/100 cm2 at 200 inches from the cook. Methamphetamine contamination was also found on the exterior clothing of all of the individuals participating in the “cooks.” These simulations suggest that HCL and anhydrous ammonia can exceed IDLH concentrations and pose acute health risks for unprotected individuals responding to illegal methamphetamine laboratories.
141
SCREENING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE IMPACTS DURING THE PLANNING OF RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENTS.
J. Less, Soil and Materials Engineers Inc., Maumee, OH.
Environmental noise from traffic, railroads, and airports can have a negative impact on the marketing and customer satisfaction for residential developments. Industrial hygienists and EHS professionals assisted residential developers during their planning phases with evaluating potential environmental noise impacts to their project.
Traffic data for the project site was obtained from the state department of transportation and USGS maps were reviewed to identify nearby railroads, airports, and factories. Mathematical screening models were then used to evaluate the noise impacts for the site from traffic and the other sources of environmental noise.
The screening results were evaluated using criteria from community noise ordinances and guidelines published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. The screening results indicated unacceptable noise levels due to vehicle traffic on the road bordering the site. These screening results were confirmed by noise monitoring at the site. The noise monitoring was conducted over a 24-hour period at several locations on the site property line using noise-logging dosimeters programmed to measure the “day-night average” sound levels.
Upon confirming unacceptable environmental noise impacts for the site, mitigation measures were recommended for the project. Mitigation factors included construction of berms or barriers; relocation/reorientation of dwelling structures; and specification of building materials with effective noise absorption properties. The developer chose to construct an earthen berm along the property line bordering the subject road, which was a relatively easy and economical approach to address the environmental noise impacts for the project.
142
PETROLEUM COKE FALLOUT STUDY IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
Y. Tian, ENVIRON International Corporation, Irvine, CA.
Members of the public in Long Beach, Calif., including residents, boat owners, and school teachers, have been very concerned about the particulate matter in the air, and the concerns have been focused on petroleum coke fallout particles soiling their boats and properties. In June 1999, the South Coast Air Quality Management District amended its Rule 1158, which requires substantial procedural and equipment changes to the facilities and trucks that handle petroleum coke. Compliance dates of various control measures required by Rule 1158 range from August 1999 to June 2004. The Port of Long Beach retained ENVIRON International Corporation to conduct a 5.5-year-long ambient air monitoring study (from 2000 to 2005) to evaluate the effectiveness of the control measures.
This monitoring program includes roadway dust sampling at four locations at Pier G, an area in Long Beach Port where most of the petroleum coke handling activities occur. Dust fallout sampling is performed at seven locations that are both downwind and upwind of Pier G. One of the sites is equipped to gather meteorological data during the fallout sampling periods. The fallout sampling has a duration of 15 days and a frequency of once per quarter. The roadway dust samples are sieved to determine the silt loading in each sample. Selected silt samples are then analyzed by polarized light microscopy (PLM) method to quantitate petroleum coke concentrations. Fallout dust samples are analyzed for petroleum coke, oil soot and tire fragment particles, and total dark particles using a quantitative PLM method similar to the method used for the silt samples. Results of the silt loading and petroleum coke concentrations from the roadway dust samples, petroleum coke areal and mass concentrations from the fallout samples, and areal concentrations of dark particles, which is a general indicator of soiling problems, will be presented.
143
EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF HOUSEHOLD MERCURY SPILLS.
J. Morrison, Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Madison, WI.
Mercury spills associated with household devices still occur with unfortunate regularity. Devices that contain enough mercury to pose exposure concerns are common to many homes. The characteristics of the population exposed to these spills differ greatly from workplace populations. Exposure assessment in these settings requires the use and understanding of nonoccupational guidance. The current OSHA PEL and ACGIH TLV are 100 ug/m3 and 25 ug/m3, respectively. By contrast, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Minimum Risk Level (MRL) is 0.2 ug/m3, well below occupational levels. The derivation of the MRL considers sensitive populations and 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week lifetime exposure. Occupancy criteria of 1.0 ug/m3 and 3.0 ug/m3 for residential and commercial settings have been proposed. These low levels dictate sophisticated analytical equipment or laboratory methods of analysis. Two cases illustrate how difficult it may be to assess hazard based solely on spill amount. In both cases a direct reading cold vapor atomic absorption unit was used to measure airborne mercury concentrations. Case A involved a broken thermometer spill (about 0.5 grams) in a master bedroom that was cleaned using a household vacuum. Airborne concentrations throughout the home exceeded recommended exposure levels for residential settings (range of 2.5 to 14 ug/m3). Case B involved a broken thermostat spill (about 3.0 grams) cleaned with a shop vacuum. Exposure levels were less than 1 ug/m3 throughout the home (range 0.4 to 0.7 ug/m3). When vacuums are used to remove mercury, quantities of mercury as small as that associated with a fever thermometer can represent an exposure hazard. The difference in exposure levels between the two cases is thought to be related to the operational differences between vacuum cleaners and the impact they had on vapor production.
144
COMMUNITY HAZMAT TEAMS—THE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST AS TEAM MEMBER?
E. Satrun, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Joliet, IL.
Community HazMat teams respond to a great variety of incidents, from minor diesel spills to major pesticide plant explosions. This presentation will examine functions of community teams and evaluate how the expertise of an IH could enhance their operational status. Since 9-11, complexity of HazMat monitoring equipment and potential response situations have greatly increased. While training for teams in general has improved since the 90s, there is still a level of expertise missing on most community teams, the industrial hygienist. During the 9-11 response, industrial hygienists from around the country were called upon for support. For most it is speculated 9-11 was the first major emergency response experience for them and the first experience with IH professionals for most of the on-scene responders. By becoming active with teams, IHs will be both more prepared to provide the support needed as well as be looked upon by the response community as a valued team member. The value provided can be a great asset to the community and provide good visibility for the IH profession. Support roles may include volunteering as a full response team member or a technical resource person to call as needed, or a paid consultant working with the team or on a callout list for major incidents. Activities where the expertise of an IH would be of value include: assessing potential exposures and decon requirements, evaluating health effects, community monitoring, PPE evaluations, team training, and much more. The presenter’s 20+ years of HazMat experience, including 14 years as a community HazMat volunteer, will be used to present a perspective of IH involvement in community HazMat response. The industrial hygiene profession needs to get more involved or it may be left behind as the emergency response community develops their own expertise to fill in for what the IH could have provided.
Posted May 30, 2005