Evaluating exposures to complex mixtures of chemicals during a new production process in the plastics industry
article
The goal of this study was to monitor emission of chemicals at a factory where plastics products were fabricated by a new robotic (impregnated tape winding) production process. Stationary and personal air measurements were taken to determine which chemicals were released and at what concentrations. Principal component analyses (PCA) and linear regression were used to determine the emission sources of different chemicals found in the air samples. We showed that complex mixtures of chemicals were released, but most concentrations were below Dutch exposure limits. Based on the results of the principal component analyses, the chemicals found were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of short chain aliphatic hydrocarbons (C2-C6). The second group included larger hydrocarbons (C9-C11) and some cyclic hydrocarbons. The third group contained all aromatic and two aliphatic hydrocarbons. Regression analyses showed that emission of the first group of chemicals was associated with cleaning activities and the use of epoxy resins. The second and third group showed strong association with the type of tape used in the new tape winding process. High levels of CO and HCN (above exposure limits) were measured on one occasion when a different brand of impregnated polypropylene sulphide tape was used in the tape winding process. Plans exist to drastically increase production with the new tape winding process. This will cause exposure levels to rise and therefore further control measures should be installed to reduce release of these chemicals.
Topics
Food and Chemical Risk AnalysisAir samplingExposure assessmentPlastics productionPrincipal component analysisThermal degradationThermoplasticsComplex mixturesCyclic hydrocarbonsAirHydrocarbonsPrincipal component analysisRegression analysisWindingPlastic productsAliphatic hydrocarbonAromatic hydrocarbonCarbon monoxideCyanic acidIndustrial chemicalPropylene sulfideSulfideUnclassified drugAir monitoringAir samplingCleaningDegradationEnvironmental monitoringEvaluationLinear regression analysisPlastic industryPrincipal component analysisThermal analysisAir Pollutants, OccupationalChemical IndustryEnvironmental MonitoringGas Chromatography-Mass SpectrometryHumansOccupational ExposurePlasticsPrincipal Component AnalysisRobotics
TNO Identifier
237921
ISSN
0003-4878
Source
Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 48(6), pp. 499-507.
Pages
499-507
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