Employees of Beverage Manufacturer Show Symptoms of Peracetic Acid Exposure, Evaluation Finds
Employees at a beverage processing plant were exposed to detectable levels of peracetic acid (PAA), including one whose exposure surpassed an occupational exposure limit, according to a recent NIOSH health hazard evaluation report (PDF). The manufacturer used PAA, which irritates the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract, to sterilize containers before they were filled with beverage, the report explains. Almost half of employees who participated in NIOSH’s evaluation said they had experienced at least one work-related symptom consistent with PAA exposure over the past four weeks, and about 40 percent reported experiencing at least one work-related symptom in the previous shift. The most common symptoms were eye and nasal irritation, but workers also reported coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, according to NIOSH.
NIOSH staff visited the manufacturing facility in July 2023 and July 2024 at the request of union representatives. Though air sampling generally showed concentrations of PAA below occupational exposure limits, one worker was found to be exposed to a PAA concentration of 0.41 ppm for 15 minutes, exceeding the ACGIH threshold limit value short-term exposure limit (TLV-STEL) of 0.4 ppm. Area samples for PAA could not be directly compared to the TLV-STEL but ranged from non-detectable to 0.53 ppm. Work-related symptoms were most prevalent among employees who worked on or around older sterilizers compared to newer devices, and eye and nasal irritation was more common among third-shift employees. Evaluators also observed PAA leaks in the filler operations department and that some PAA monitors displayed negative or abnormally high readings. Employees had varying levels of knowledge about control measures for PAA and other chemicals, and no standard operating procedures were available to guide employees or management to take actions based on PAA monitor readings.
NIOSH recommended a range of actions to reduce PAA exposures and address workers’ symptoms. For example, routine maintenance and replacement of the sterilizers would help prevent leaks, and improvements to the ventilation system would reduce PAA concentrations. The NIOSH report also explained that employees should receive standardized training on PAA hazards and control measures, and the employer should develop a standard operating procedure for placement and use of PAA monitors. The agency also advised the employer to implement a system for employees to report symptoms, with the option to remain anonymous, and to make interventions based on the reports. Finally, NIOSH recommended addressing other issues identified during the evaluation, most notably the risk of heat stress due to temperatures as high as 91 F being measured near employee work areas.
The health hazard evaluation report may be downloaded from NIOSH’s website.
Related: Peracetic acid is the subject of two feature articles published in The Synergist. One, published in 2021, focuses on sampling and use considerations for peracetic acid. The second, published in 2016, describes uses and hazards of peracetic acid.