May 3, 2016
As we learn more about chemicals and their interaction with the human body, we find that some chemicals are even more toxic than originally thought. An example of this occurred in 1973 when the permissible exposure level (PEL) for vinyl chloride (VC) was reduced from 500 ppm to 50 ppm, then to 1 ppm, over a period of a year because of its link to cancer. We developed the first photoionization detector (PID) in 1973 and applied it to measuring VC in 1974. It became the only portable analyzer that could measure VC at the 1 ppm level and protect the workers.
NIOSH has a list of nearly 400 chemicals that are termed Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH). In 1990, EPA published a list of 189 air toxics that were hazardous air pollutants known to cause or suspected of causing cancer. We will discuss a number of situations involving toxic chemicals and various government agencies. We will also describe some instrumentation that could be used for monitoring to prevent or minimize exposures to toxics.
What government agencies are involved with measuring and/or controlling toxics? These include: OSHA, EPA, Homeland Security (DHS), USDA, FDA, and DEA. The latter two agencies will not be discussed here.
A toxic substance can be defined as any chemical that, through its chemical action on the human body, can cause death, temporary incapacitation, or permanent harm.
Where can toxic chemicals be encountered?
What can be used to measure these toxic compounds? A portable PID or gas chromatograph (GC)/PID that will be discussed in this paper.
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