Occupational exposure to butadiene, isoprene and chloroprene. 2001

J Lynch
jlynch@exit109.com

Workers are exposed to butadiene, isoprene and chloroprene in the manufacture of these monomers and in their use in the production of various elastomers. These include styrene butadiene rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, butyl rubber and neoprene. Monomer production and extraction are done in typical closed chemical process units where low background levels of the monomers are the result of minor leaks in valves and pumps. Occasionally, higher levels occur as a result of planned or unplanned events that cause releases. Polymer production is also a closed process, but the occasional clogging of pipes and equipment with polymer requiring maintenance operations where some release is likely occurs much more often than for monomer production. For this reason, exposure levels are generally higher on polymer production units. Polymer finishing is essentially an open process, but almost all monomer should have been stripped from the polymer before finishing. Where small amounts of solvents or monomers remain in the polymer and are volatilized in finishing, they are captured by vapor control systems. As a result, exposures in finishing are typically low. Measured levels of exposure in recent years are presented. In general, modern levels of exposure are well below OSHA, ACGIH and other applicable limits. Few measurements were made prior to the 1970s, but epidemiological estimates made by modeling suggest that levels could have been quite high in the 1940s and 1950s. In these years, manual reactor cleaning was common, and pumps often leaked.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010420 Pentanes Five-carbon saturated hydrocarbon group of the methane series. Include isomers and derivatives. Isopentanes
D002070 Butadienes Four carbon unsaturated hydrocarbons containing two double bonds. Butadiene Derivative,Butadiene Derivatives,Derivative, Butadiene,Derivatives, Butadiene
D002617 Chemical Industry The aggregate enterprise of manufacturing and technically producing chemicals. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Industry, Chemical,Chemical Industries,Industries, Chemical
D002737 Chloroprene Toxic, possibly carcinogenic, monomer of neoprene, a synthetic rubber; causes damage to skin, lungs, CNS, kidneys, liver, blood cells and fetuses. Synonym: 2-chlorobutadiene.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000395 Air Pollutants, Occupational Toxic air-borne matter related to work performed They are usually produced by the specific nature of the occupation. Occupational Air Pollutants,Pollutants, Occupational Air
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D016272 Occupational Health The promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health in the work environment. Employee Health,Industrial Health,Industrial Hygiene,Occupational Safety,Health, Industrial,Hygiene, Industrial,Safety, Occupational,Health, Employee,Health, Occupational
D016273 Occupational Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation. Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D045782 Hemiterpenes Compounds that include a single 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (also known as isoprene) within their structure. Hemiterpene,Hemiterpenoid,Hemiterpenoids
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