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This guideline summarizes pertinent information about tert-butyl alcohol for workers and employers as well as for physicians, industrial hygienists, and other occupational safety and health professionals who may need such information to conduct effective occupational safety and health programs. Recommendations may be superseded by new developments; readers are therefore advised to regard these recommendations as general guidelines and to determine periodically whether new information is available.
SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION * Formula C(4)H(10)O * Structure (For Structure, see paper copy) * Synonyms tert-Butanol; 2-methyl-2-propanol; TBA; t-butyl hydroxide; 1,1-dimethylethanol; trimethylmethanol; trimethylcarbinol. * Identifiers
At room temperature, tert-butyl alcohol is a colorless, crystalline solid that has a camphor-like odor; this substance melts to form a volatile liquid at 25.6 degrees C (78.1 degrees F). CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES * Physical data
The National Fire Protection Association has assigned a flammability rating of 3 (dangerous fire hazard) to tert-butyl alcohol.
The average air odor detection threshold for tert-butyl alcohol is 960 parts per million (ppm) parts of air. Because this value is above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) current permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 100 ppm [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1-A], tert-butyl alcohol is considered to have inadequate warning properties for the purpose of respirator selection. * Eye irritation properties No information is available on the specific concentration of tert-butyl alcohol that causes eye irritation in humans; however, this substance is known to cause eye irritation at high but unspecified concentrations. EXPOSURE LIMITS The current OSHA PEL for tert-butyl alcohol is 100 ppm (300 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3)) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration and 150 ppm (450 mg/m3) as a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL). A STEL is the maximum 15-minute concentration to which workers may be exposed during any 15-minute period of the working day [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1-A]. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has not issued a recommended exposure limit (REL) for tert-butyl alcohol; however, NIOSH concurs with the PEL established for this substance by OSHA [NIOSH 1988]. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has assigned tert-butyl alcohol a threshold limit value (TLV) of 100 ppm (303 mg/m3) as a TWA for a normal 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek and a short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 150 ppm (455 mg/m3) for periods not to exceed 15 minutes [ACGIH 1989, p. 14]. The OSHA and ACGIH limits are based on the risk of narcotic effects associated with exposure to tert-butyl alcohol. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION * Routes of exposure Exposure to tert-butyl alcohol can occur via inhalation, ingestion, and eye or skin contact. * Summary of toxicology
In the event of an emergency, remove the victim from further exposure, send for medical assistance, and initiate the following emergency procedures:
The following operations may involve tert-butyl alcohol and lead to worker exposures to this substance:
Workers who may be exposed to chemical hazards should be monitored in a systematic program of medical surveillance that is intended to prevent occupational injury and disease. The program should include education of employers and workers about work-related hazards, placement of workers in jobs that do not jeopardize their safety or health, early detection of adverse health effects, and referral of workers for diagnosis and treatment. The occurrence of disease or other work-related adverse health effects should prompt immediate evaluation of primary preventive measures (e.g., industrial hygiene monitoring, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment). A medical monitoring program is intended to supplement, not replace, such measures. To place workers effectively and to detect and control work-related health effects, medical evaluations should be performed (1) before job placement, (2) periodically during the period of employment, and (3) at the time of job transfer or termination. * Preplacement medical evaluation Before a worker is placed in a job with a potential for exposure to tert-butyl alcohol, the examining physician should evaluate and document the worker's baseline health status with thorough medical, environmental, and occupational histories, a physical examination, and physiologic and laboratory tests appropriate for the anticipated occupational risks. These should concentrate on the function and integrity of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Medical monitoring for respiratory disease should be conducted using the principles and methods recommended by NIOSH and the American Thoracic Society. A preplacement medical evaluation is recommended to assess an individual's suitability for employment at a specific job and to detect and assess medical conditions that may be aggravated or may result in increased risk when a worker is exposed to tert-butyl alcohol at or below the prescribed exposure limit. The examining physician should consider the probable frequency, intensity, and duration of exposure as well as the nature and degree of any applicable medical condition. Such conditions (which should not be regarded as absolute contraindications to job placement) include a history and other findings consistent with diseases of the eyes, skin, or respiratory tract. * Periodic medical examinations and biological monitoring Occupational health interviews and physical examinations should be performed at regular intervals during the employment period, as mandated by any applicable Federal, State, or local standard. Where no standard exists and the hazard is minimal, evaluations should be conducted every 3 to 5 years or as frequently as recommended by an experienced occupational health physician. Additional examinations may be necessary if a worker develops symptoms attributable to tert-butyl alcohol exposure. The interviews, examinations, and medical screening tests should focus on identifying the adverse effects of tert-butyl alcohol on the eyes, skin, or respiratory system. Current health status should be compared with the baseline health status of the individual worker or with expected values for a suitable reference population. Biological monitoring involves sampling and analyzing body tissues or fluids to provide an index of exposure to a toxic substance or metabolite. No biological monitoring test acceptable for routine use has yet been developed for tert-butyl alcohol. * Medical examinations recommended at the time of job transfer or termination The medical, environmental, and occupational history interviews, the physical examination, and selected physiologic or laboratory tests that were conducted at the time of placement should be repeated at the time of job transfer or termination to determine the worker's medical status at the end of his or her employment. Any changes in the worker's health status should be compared with those expected for a suitable reference population. WORKPLACE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES Determination of a worker's exposure to airborne tert-butyl alcohol is made using charcoal tubes (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh). Samples are collected at a maximum flow rate of 0.2 liter per minute until a maximum air volume of 10 liters is collected (for TWA monitoring) or a maximum air volume of 3 liters is collected (for STEL monitoring). The sample is then desorbed with carbon disulfide/2-butanol (99:1) or with carbon disulfide/dimethylformamide (99:1) to extract the tert-butyl alcohol. Analysis is conducted by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector. The limit of detection for this procedure is 0.01 mg per sample. This method is described in the OSHA Computerized Information System [OSHA 1990] and in NIOSH Method 1400 [Alcohols I] [NIOSH 1984].
PERSONAL HYGIENE PROCEDURES If tert-butyl alcohol contacts the skin, workers should flush the affected areas immediately with plenty of water for 15 minutes, followed by washing with soap and water. Clothing contaminated with tert-butyl alcohol should be removed immediately, and provisions should be made for the safe removal of the chemical from the clothing. Persons laundering the clothes should be informed of the hazardous properties of tert-butyl alcohol, particularly its potential to be irritating to the skin. A worker who handles tert-butyl alcohol should thoroughly wash hands, forearms, and face with soap and water before eating, using tobacco products, or using toilet facilities. Workers should not eat, drink, or use tobacco products in areas where tert-butyl alcohol is handled, processed, or stored. STORAGE tert-Butyl alcohol should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in tightly sealed containers that are labeled in accordance with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]. Containers of tert-butyl alcohol should be protected from physical damage and should be stored separately from strong oxidizers, strong mineral acids, strong hydrochloric acid, heat, sparks, and open flame. Drums must be equipped with self-closing valves, pressure-vacuum bungs, and flame arrestors. Only nonsparking tools and equipment may be used to handle tert-butyl alcohol. To prevent static sparks, containers of tert-butyl alcohol should be grounded and bonded for transfers. Because containers that formerly contained tert-butyl alcohol may still hold product residues, they should be handled appropriately. SPILLS AND LEAKS In the event of a spill or leak involving tert-butyl alcohol, persons not wearing protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from contaminated areas until cleanup has been completed. The following steps should be undertaken following a spill or leak:
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulatory requirements for emergency planning, community right-to-know, and hazardous waste management may vary over time. Users are therefore advised to determine periodically whether new information is available. * Emergency planning requirements Tert-Butyl alcohol is not subject to EPA emergency planning requirements under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (Title III). * Reportable quantity requirements (releases of hazardous substances) Employers are not required by the emergency release notification provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) [40 CFR Part 355.40] to notify the National Response Center of an accidental release of tert-butyl alcohol; there is no reportable quantity for this substance. * Community right-to-know requirements Employers who own or operate facilities in SIC codes 20-39 that employ 10 or more employees and that manufacture 25,000 pounds or more of tert-butyl alcohol per calendar year or otherwise use 10,000 pounds or more of tert-butyl alcohol per calendar year are required by EPA [40 CFR Part 372.30] to submit a Toxic Chemical Release Inventory form (Form R) to EPA reporting the amount of tert-butyl alcohol emitted or released from their facility annually. * Hazardous waste management requirements EPA considers a waste to be hazardous if it exhibits any of the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity, as defined in 40 CFR 261.21-261.24. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA has specifically listed many chemical wastes as hazardous. Although tert-butyl alcohol is not specifically listed as a hazardous waste under RCRA, EPA requires employers to treat any waste as hazardous if it exhibits any of the characteristics discussed above. Providing more information about the removal and disposal of specific chemicals is beyond the scope of this guideline. EPA, U.S. Department of Transportation, and State and local regulations should be followed to ensure that removal, transport, and disposal of this substance are conducted in accordance with existing regulations. To be certain that chemical waste disposal meets EPA regulatory requirements, employers should address any questions to the RCRA hotline at (202) 382-3000 (in Washington, D.C.) or toll-free at (800) 424-9346 (outside Washington, D.C.). In addition, relevant State and local authorities should be contacted for information on any requirements they may have for the waste removal and disposal of this substance. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION * Conditions for respirator use Good industrial hygiene practice requires that engineering controls be used where feasible to reduce workplace concentrations of hazardous materials to the prescribed exposure limit. However, some situations may require the use of respirators to control exposure. Respirators must be worn if the ambient concentration of tert-butyl alcohol exceeds prescribed exposure limits. Respirators may be used (1) before engineering controls have been installed, (2) during work operations such as maintenance or repair activities that involve unknown exposures, (3) during operations that require entry into tanks or closed vessels, and (4) during emergency situations. If the use of respirators is necessary, the only respirators permitted are those that have been approved by NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). * Respiratory protection program Employers should institute a complete respiratory protection program that, at a minimum, complies with the requirements of OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard [29 CFR 1910.134]. Such a program must include respirator selection (see Table 1), an evaluation of the worker's ability to perform the work while wearing a respirator, the regular training of personnel, fit testing, periodic workplace monitoring, and regular respirator maintenance, inspection, and cleaning. The implementation of an adequate respiratory protection program (including selection of the correct respirator) requires that a knowledgeable person be in charge of the program and that the program be evaluated regularly. For additional information on the selection and use of respirators and on the medical screening of respirator users, consult the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic and the NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection. Table 1 lists the respiratory protection that NIOSH recommends for workers exposed to tert-butyl alcohol. The recommended protection may vary over time because of changes in the exposure limit for tert-butyl alcohol or in respirator certification requirements. Users are therefore advised to determine periodically whether new information is available. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Protective clothing should be worn to prevent skin contact with tert-butyl alcohol. Chemical protective clothing should be selected on the basis of available performance data, manufacturers' recommendations, and evaluation of the clothing under actual conditions of use. Butyl rubber has been recommended for use against permeation by tert-butyl alcohol and may provide protection for periods greater than 8 hours. Polyethylene ethylene/vinyl alcohol may withstand permeation for more than 4 but fewer than 8 hours. If tert-butyl alcohol is dissolved in water or an organic solvent, the permeation properties of both the solvent and the mixture must be considered when selecting personal protective equipment and clothing. Safety glasses, goggles, or faceshields should be worn during operations in which tert-butyl alcohol might contact the eyes (e.g., through splashes of solution). Eyewash fountains and emergency showers should be available within the immediate work area whenever the potential exists for eye or skin contact with tert-butyl alcohol. Contact lenses should not be worn if the potential exists for tert-butyl alcohol exposure.
ACGIH [1986]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 5th edition. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. ACGIH [1989]. TLVs. Threshold limit values and biological exposure indices for 1989-1990. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Clayton G, Clayton F [1982]. Patty's industrial hygiene and toxicology. 3rd revised edition. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. [CFR] Code of Federal regulations. Title 29 (Department of Labor), Parts 1910.1000 and 1910.1200. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Office of the Federal Register. HSDB [1985]. tert-Butyl alcohol. Bethesda, MD: The Hazardous Substances Data Bank, National Library of Medicine. NIOSH [1984]. NIOSH manual of analytical methods. 3rd edition, Volume 1. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH [1987a]. NIOSH guide to industrial respiratory protection. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-116. NIOSH [1987c]. Respirator decision logic. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 87-108. NIOSH [1988]. Testimony of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed rule: 29 CFR 1910, Docket No. H-020, August 2, 1988. NIOSH policy statements. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA [1990]. Computerized information system. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Proctor NH, Hughes JP, Fischman ML [1988]. Chemical hazards of the workplace. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company. RTECS [1990]. tert-Butyl alcohol. Bethesda, MD: Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, National Library of Medicine.
ACGIH [1986]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 5th edition. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. AIHA [1989]. Odor thresholds for chemicals with established occupational health standards. Akron, OH: American Industrial Hygiene Association. Clayton G, Clayton F [1982]. Patty's industrial hygiene and toxicology. 3rd revised edition. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. [CFR] Code of Federal Regulations. Title 49 (Department of Transportation). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Office of the Federal Register. DOT [1987]. 1987 Emergency response guidebook, guide 26. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Hazardous Materials Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration. Forsberg K, Mansdorf SZ [1989]. Quick selection guide to chemical protective clothing. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold. Hawley's condensed chemical dictionary [1987]. Sax NI, Lewis RJ. 11th edition. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet [1985]. tert-Butyl alcohol. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Department of Health. HSDB [1985]. tert-Butyl alcohol. Bethesda, MD: The Hazardous Substances Data Bank, National Library of Medicine. Material Safety Data Sheet No. 497 [1986]. Schenectady, NY: Genium Publishing Corporation. Merck Index [1983]. Windholz M. 10th edition. Rahway, NJ: Merck & Company. NFPA [1986]. Fire protection guide on hazardous materials. 9th edition. Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association. NIOSH [1987b]. NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 85-114. Proctor NH, Hughes JP [1978]. Chemical hazards of the workplace. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company. RTECS [1990]. tert-Butyl alcohol. Bethesda, MD: Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, National Library of Medicine. Sittig M [1985]. Handbook of toxic and hazardous chemicals. 2nd edition. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications. USCG [1984]. CHRIS (chemical hazards response information system) hazardous chemical data manual: tert-Butyl alcohol. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard, Commandant Instruction M16465.12A.
Table 1. NIOSH recommended respiratory protection for workers exposed to tert-butyl alcohol*
* The OSHA PEL is 100 ppm (300 mg/m3) as an 8-hour TWA. No NIOSH REL has been issued. ** Only NIOSH/MSHA-approved equipment should be used. Also note the following:
(++) Represents 25 percent of the lower explosive limit.
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