DISCLAIMER:
These guidelines were developed under contract using
generally accepted secondary sources. The protocol used by the contractor for
surveying these data sources was developed by the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). The information
contained in these guidelines is intended for reference purposes only. None of
the agencies have conducted a comprehensive check of the information and data
contained in these sources. It provides a summary of information about
chemicals that workers may be exposed to in their workplaces. The secondary
sources used for supplements 111 and 1V were published before 1992 and 1993,
respectively, and for the remainder of the guidelines the secondary sources
used were published before September 1996. This information may be superseded
by new developments in the field of industrial hygiene. Therefore readers are
advised to determine whether new information is available. |
This guideline summarizes pertinent information about warfarin 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Recommendations may be superseded by new developments in these fields;
readers are therefore advised to regard these recommendations as general
guidelines and to determine periodically whether new information is
available.
SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION
* Formula
C(19)H(16)O(4)
* Structure
(For Structure, see paper copy)
* Synonyms
3-(alpha-Acetonylbenzyl)-4-hydroxycoumarin; Arab Rat Deth;
Athrombine-K; Brumolin; Co-Rax; Coumadin; Cov-R-Tox;d-CON; Dethmor;
Fasco Fascrat Powder; Liqua-Tox; Mar-Frin; Mouse-Pak; Prothromadin;
Rat-A-Way; Rat-B-Gon; Rat & Mice Bait; Rax; Rodex; Solfarin; Tox-Hid;
WARF compound 42
* Identifiers
1. CAS 81-81-2
2. RTECS GN4550000
3. Specific DOT UN: None
4. Specific DOT label: None
* Appearance and odor
Warfarin is an odorless, colorless or white, crystalline powder. It
is available commercially as a dust or liquid concentrate and in
various formulations with other pesticides.
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
* Physical data
1. Molecular weight: 308.3.
2. Boiling point (760 torr): Decomposes.
3. Specific gravity (water = 1): Greater than 1 at 20 degrees C (68
degrees F).
4. Vapor density: Not applicable.
5. Melting point: 161 degrees C (322 degrees F).
6. Vapor pressure at 21 degrees C (70.7 degrees F): 0.09 millibar.
7. Solubility: Insoluble in water and benzene; slightly soluble in
methanol and ethanol; soluble in acetone and dioxane.
8. Evaporation rate: Not applicable.
* Reactivity
1. Conditions contributing to instability: In liquid form, warfarin
rodenticides may be flammable and explosive and should be kept away
from heat, sparks, and flames. In solid form, warfarin rodenticides
are not combustible.
2. Incompatibilities: Contact of warfarin rodenticides with strong
oxidizers may cause fires and explosions.
3. Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases (such as carbon
monoxide) and fumes may be released in a fire involving warfarin.
4. Special precautions: None.
* Flammability
There is no National Fire Protection Association fire hazard rating
for warfarin; when mixed with flammable liquids, warfarin-containing
rodenticides may be flammable. In solid form, however,
warfarin-containing rodenticides are not combustible.
1. Flash point (for the pure substance): Not applicable.
2. Autoignition temperature (for the pure substance): Not applicable.
3. Flammable limits in air: Not applicable.
4. Extinguishant: Use an extinguishant that is suitable for the
materials involved in the surrounding fire.
Firefighters should wear a full set of protective clothing, including
a self-contained breathing apparatus, when fighting fires involving
warfarin.
* Warning properties
Warfarin is odorless. This substance is therefore considered to have
inadequate odor warning properties.
* Eye irritation properties
No quantitative data are available on the eye irritation threshold for
warfarin; this substance is not known to be an eye irritant.
EXPOSURE LIMITS
The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
permissible exposure limit (PEL) for warfarin is 0.1 milligram per cubic
meter (mg/m(3)) of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)
concentration [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 warfarin. The American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has assigned warfarin a
threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.1 mg/m(3) as a TWA for a normal 8-hour
workday and a 40-hour workweek and a short-term exposure limit (STEL) of
0.3 mg/m(3) for periods not to exceed 15 minutes. Exposures at the STEL
concentration should not be repeated more than four times a day and should
be separated by intervals of at least 60 minutes [ACGIH 1989, p. 42]. The
OSHA and ACGIH limits are based on the risk of anticoagulant effects
associated with exposure to warfarin.
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
* Routes of Exposure
Exposure to warfarin can occur via inhalation, ingestion, and skin
contact.
* Summary of toxicology
1. Effects on Animals: Warfarin acts on the liver to inhibit prothrombin
formation, which interferes with blood clotting; it also damages the
blood vessels directly. The lowest reported oral LD(50) in rats is
1600 ug/kg, and the LC(50) in the same species is 320 mg/m(3) [RTECS
1989]. The dermal LD(50) in rats is 1400 mg/kg [RTECS 1989].
Although a large single dose of warfarin can cause poisoning, this
substance is most toxic when ingested daily in small amounts over a
5- to 7-day period. Rats and mice die after ingesting 1 mg/kg/day for
6 days [HSDB 1987]. The clinical signs of lethal warfarin poisoning
include massive hemorrhages, visible hematomas under the skin and
around the joints, and bloody discharges from body orifices. Shock,
weakness, and labored breathing may also occur [HSDB 1987].
Intramuscular exposure to 10 mg/kg on days 8 through 28 of pregnancy
caused stillbirths and developmental abnormalities in the offspring of
dosed rabbits [RTECS 1989].
2. Effects on Humans: Warfarin acts on the liver to inhibit prothrombin
formation, which interferes with blood clotting; it also damages the
blood vessels directly. Several days of warfarin administration are
required to deplete the body's stores of clotting factors and produce
an anticoagulant effect [Gosselin, Smith, and Hodge 1984, p. III-395].
Toxic doses of warfarin also produce dilation and engorgement of blood
vessels and increased capillary fragility, which may further increase
the risk of hemorrhage [Proctor, Hughes, and Fischman 1988, p. 510].
Except for abnormal bleeding, warfarin has few toxic effects, although
anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin lesions may occur [HSDB
1987]. The lowest reported lethal dose in humans is 6667 ug/kg [RTECS
1989]. As in animals, warfarin is most toxic when ingested in small
doses over a period of 5 to 6 days; 1-2 mg/kg/day for 6 days is
estimated to be lethal [Klaassen, Amdur, and Doull 1986, p. 564]. Two
deaths occurred among 14 members of a Korean family ingesting an
estimated 1-2 mg/kg dose of warfarin per day for 15 days in
contaminated cornmeal [Gosselin, Smith, and Hodge 1984, p. III-395].
Another death occurred in an adult who consumed an estimated 1000 mg
warfarin over a 13-day period [Baselt 1980, p. 282]. A 23-year-old
farmer was exposed to a 0.5 percent warfarin sodium salt by skin
contact for several hours on 10 occasions during a 24-day period. On
day 26, he developed gross hematuria. On day 27, hematomas appeared
on his arms and legs and he complained of dull pain in both sides of
the groin area. On day 30, the hematuria resolved and he developed
nosebleeds. Laboratory analysis revealed prolongation of prothrombin,
bleeding, and clotting times as well as severe anemia. The patient
subsequently responded to the administration of vitamin-K and
recovered fully [Proctor, Hughes, and Fischman 1988, p. 510].
Warfarin causes fetotoxic and teratogenic effects in the offspring of
women taking this substance as an anticoagulant during pregnancy; many
cases of stillbirths and deformities have been attributed to the
therapeutic use of warfarin [Hayes 1982, p. 511].
* Signs and symptoms of exposure
1. Acute exposure: The signs and symptoms of acute exposure (i.e., for a
period of one week or less) to warfarin include bloody nose; bleeding
gums; muscle and joint pain; hematomas of the arms, legs, buttocks,
and/or joints; frank blood in the urine and feces; anorexia, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain; pallor and fatigue caused by
anemia; paralysis caused by intracranial hemorrhage; blurry vision,
eye pain, and blindness; and/or skin lesions and petechiae. These
symptoms generally do not develop until small doses have been ingested
over a period of several days.
2. Chronic exposure: The signs and symptoms of chronic low-level
exposure to warfarin are the same as those listed above.
* Emergency procedures:
In the event of an emergency, remove the victim from further exposure,
send for medical assistance, and initiate the following emergency
procedures:
1. Eye exposure: If warfarin or a solution containing warfarin gets into
the eyes, immediately flush the eyes with large amounts of water for a
minimum of 15 minutes, lifting the lower and upper lids occasionally.
If irritation persists, get medical attention as soon as possible.
2. Skin exposure: This substance can cause poisoning by the dermal route
of exposure. Therefore, if warfarin or a solution containing warfarin
contacts the skin, the contaminated skin should be washed twice with
soap and water. If irritation persists or symptoms develop, get
medical attention immediately.
3. Inhalation: If the vapors or dust of warfarin-containing compounds
are inhaled, move the victim at once to fresh air and get medical care
as soon as possible. If the victim is not breathing, perform
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; if breathing is difficult, give oxygen.
Keep the victim warm and quiet until medical help arrives.
4. Ingestion: If warfarin or a solution containing warfarin is ingested,
give the victim several glasses of water to drink and then induce
vomiting by having the victim touch the back of the throat with the
finger or by giving syrup of ipecac as directed on the package. Do
not force an unconscious or convulsing person to drink liquids or to
vomit. Get medical help immediately. Keep the victim warm and quiet
until medical help arrives.
5. Rescue: Remove an incapacitated worker from further exposure and
implement appropriate emergency procedures (e.g., those listed on the
Material Safety Data Sheet required by OSHA's Hazard Communication
Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200). All workers should be familiar with
emergency procedures and the location and proper use of emergency
equipment.
EXPOSURE SOURCES AND CONTROL METHODS
The following operations may involve warfarin and lead to worker exposures
to this substance:
- Manufacture of warfarin for use as an anticoagulant in human and animal medicine and as a rodenticide
- Formulation of warfarin-containing rodenticides
- Application as a rodenticide for Norway rats and house mice
Methods that are effective in controlling worker exposures to warfarin,
depending on the feasibility of implementation, are
- Process enclosure,
- Local exhaust ventilation,
- General dilution ventilation, and
- Personal protective equipment.
The following publications are good sources of information on control
methods:
1. ACGIH [1986]. Industrial ventilation--a manual of recommended
practice. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists.
2. Burton DJ [1986]. Industrial ventilation--a self study companion.
Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists.
3. Alden JL, Kane JM [1982]. Design of industrial ventilation systems.
New York, NY: Industrial Press, Inc.
4. Wadden RA, Scheff PA [1987]. Engineering design for control of
workplace hazards. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
5. Plog BA [1988]. Fundamentals of industrial hygiene. Chicago, IL:
National Safety Council.
MEDICAL MONITORING
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) periodi-cally 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
warfarin, 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
blood, cardiovascular system, and kidneys.
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 warfarin 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 blood, cardiovascular system,
or kidneys.
* 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
warfarin exposure. The interviews, examinations, and medical
screening tests should focus on identifying the adverse effects of
warfarin on the blood, cardiovascular system, or kidneys. 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. Warfarin can be detected in the plasma of exposed
individuals, and plasma levels are believed to correlate well with
airborne concentrations of warfarin. However, the levels of warfarin
in the plasma that correspond to 8-hour TWA exposures to a 0.1-mg/m(3)
airborne concentration of warfarin have not been established.
Therefore, no biological monitoring test acceptable for routine use
has yet been developed for warfarin.
* 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 warfarin is made using a
polytetrafluoroethylene filter (1.0 micron). Samples are collected at a
maximum flow rate of 2 liters per minute until a maximum air volume of 400
liters is collected. The sample is then treated with methanol to extract
the warfarin. Analysis is conducted by high-performance liquid
chromatography using an ultraviolet detector. This method has a sampling
and analytical error of 0.09 and is included in Method 5002 of the
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, 3rd edition, Volume 2 [NIOSH 1984].
PERSONAL HYGIENE PROCEDURES
If warfarin contacts the skin, workers should immediately wash the
affected areas twice with soap and water. This substance can cause signs
and symptoms of systemic poison-ing if absorbed through the skin.
Clothing contaminated with warfarin 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 warfarin, particularly its potential to interfere
with blood clotting.
A worker who handles warfarin 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
warfarin or a solution containing warfarin is handled, processed, or
stored.
STORAGE
Warfarin 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 warfarin should
be protected from physical damage and should be stored separately from
feeds and foodstuffs, strong oxidizers, heat, sparks, and open flame.
Because empty containers that formerly contained warfarin may still hold
product residues, they should be handled appropriately.
SPILLS AND LEAKS
In the event of a spill or leak involving warfarin, 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:
1. Do not touch the spilled material; stop the leak if it is possible to
do so without risk.
2. Notify safety personnel.
3. Remove all sources of heat and ignition.
4. Ventilate potentially explosive atmospheres.
5. Water spray may be used to reduce vapors, but the spray may not
prevent ignition in closed spaces.
6. For small dry spills, use a clean shovel and place the material into a
clean, dry container; cover and remove the container from the spill
area.
7. For small liquid spills, take up with sand or other noncombustible
absorbent material and place into containers for later disposal.
8. For large liquid spills, build dikes far ahead of the spill to contain
the warfarin for later reclamation or disposal.
EMERGENCY PLANNING, COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW, AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS
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
Employers owning or operating a facility at which there are 10,000
pounds or more of warfarin must comply with EPA's emergency planning
requirements [40 CFR Part 355.30]. (If warfarin is in the form of a
finely divided powder or is handled in solution or in molten form, the
employer must comply with these requirements if 500 pounds or more of
warfarin are present at the facility.)
* Reportable quantity requirements (releases of hazardous
substances)
A hazardous substance release is defined by EPA as any spilling,
pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment
(including the abandonment or discarding of containers) of hazardous
substances. In the event of a release that is above the reportable
quantity for that chemical, employers are required by the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) to notify the proper Federal, State, and local authorities.
The reportable quantity for warfarin is 100 pounds. If an amount
equal to or greater than this quantity is released within a 24-hour
period, CERCLA [40 CFR Part 302.6] requires employers to notify the
National Response Center IMMEDIATELY at (800) 424-8802 (in Washington,
D.C. at (202) 426-2675), and 40 CFR Part 355.40 requires employers to
notify (1) the State emergency response commission of any State likely
to be affected by the release, and (2) the community emergency
coordinator of the local emergency planning committee (or relevant
local emergency response personnel) and to identify any area likely to
be affected by the release.
* Community right-to-know requirements
Employers are not required by Section 313 of the Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act (SARA) to submit a Toxic Chemical Release
Inventory form (Form R) to EPA reporting the amount of warfarin
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. Warfarin is listed as a hazardous waste
under RCRA and has been assigned EPA Hazardous Waste No. P001. This
substance has been banned from land disposal and may be treated by
fuel substitution or incineration. Warfarin also may be disposed of
in an organometallic or organic lab pack that meets the requirements
of 40 CFR 264.316 or 265.316.
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 warfarin 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
[NIOSH 1987c] and the NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection [NIOSH 1987a].
Table 1 lists the respiratory protection that NIOSH recommends for
workers exposed to warfarin. The recommended protection may vary over
time because of changes in the exposure limit for warfarin 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 prolonged or repeated skin
contact with warfarin. 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. No reports
have been published on the resistance of various protective clothing
materials to warfarin permeation. If permeability data are not readily
available, protective clothing manufacturers should be requested to
provide information on the best chemical protective clothing for workers
to wear when they are exposed to warfarin.
If warfarin is dissolved in 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 warfarin might contact the eyes (e.g., through dust particles or
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 warfarin. Contact lenses should not be worn if
the potential exists for warfarin exposure.
ACGIH [1989]. TLVs. Threshold limit values and biological exposure
indices for 1989-1990. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
Baselt RC [1980]. Biological monitoring methods for industrial chemicals.
Davis, CA: Biomedical Publications.
Code of Federal regulations. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing
Office, Office of the Federal Register.
Gosselin RE, Smith RP, Hodge HC [1984]. Clinical toxicology of commercial
products. 5th edition. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins.
Hayes WJ [1982]. Pesticides studied in man. Baltimore, MD: Williams &
Wilkins.
HSDB [1987]. Warfarin. Bethesda, MD: The Hazardous Substances Data
Bank, National Library of Medicine.
Klaassen CD, Amdur MO, Doull J [1986]. Casarett and Doull's toxicology.
3rd edition. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company.
NIOSH [1984]. NIOSH manual of analytical methods. 3rd edition.
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 [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.
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.
Proctor NH, Hughes JP, Fischman ML [1988]. Chemical hazards of the
workplace. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company.
RTECS [1989]. 3-(alpha-Acetonylbenzyl)-4-hydroxy-coumarin. 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.
DOT [1987]. 1987 Emergency response guidebook, guides 28 and 55.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Trans-portation, Office of Hazardous
Materials Transportation, Research and Special Programs Administration.
Merck Index [1983]. Windholz M. 10th edition. Rahway, NJ: Merck &
Company.
NIOSH [January 1981]. NIOSH/OSHA occupational health guidelines.
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. 81-123.
Proctor NH, Hughes JP [1978]. Chemical hazards of the workplace.
Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company.
Sax NI, Lewis RJ [1989]. Dangerous properties of industrial materials.
7th edition. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company.
Sittig M [1985]. Handbook of toxic and hazardous chemicals. 2nd edition.
Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications.
Weast RC [1984]. CRC handbook of chemistry and physics. 64th edition.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc.
Table 1 NIOSH recommended respiratory protection for workers exposed to warfarin* |
|
| Condition |
Minimum respiratory protection** |
|
| Airborne concentration of warfarin: |
| 0.1 to 0.5 mg/m(3) (5 X PEL) |
Single-use or quarter mask respirator |
| 0.1 to 1 mg/m(3) (10 X PEL) |
Any air-purifying, half-mask respirator
equipped with any type of particulate
filter (except single-use respirators),
or
Any air-purifying, full-facepiece
respirator equipped with any type of
particulate filter, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a half mask and operated in a
demand (negative-pressure) mode |
| 0.1 to 2.5 mg/m(3) (25 X PEL) |
Any powered, air-purifying respirator
equipped with a hood or helmet and any
type of particulate filter, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a hood or helmet and operated in a
continuous-flow mode |
| 0.1 to 5 mg/m(3) (50 X PEL) |
Any air-purifying, full-facepiece
respirator equipped with a
high-efficiency filter, or
Any powered, air-purifying respirator
equipped with a tight-fitting facepiece
and a high-efficiency filter, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
demand (negative-pressure) mode, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a tight-fitting facepiece and
operated in a continuous-flow mode, or
Any self-contained respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
demand (negative-pressure) mode |
| 0.1 to 100 mg/m(3) (1,000 X PEL) |
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a half mask and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode |
| 0.1 to 200 mg/m(3) (2,000 X PEL) |
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode |
| Entry into IDLH(+) or unknown |
Any self-contained respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode, or
Any supplied-air respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode in combination
with an auxiliary self-contained
breathing appara-tus operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode |
| Firefighting |
Any self-contained respirator equipped
with a full facepiece and operated in a
pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode |
| Escape |
Any air-purifying, full-facepiece
respirator equipped with a
high-efficiency filter, or
Any escape-type, self-contained
breathing apparatus with a suitable
service life (number of minutes required
to escape the environment) |
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* The OSHA PEL is 0.1 mg/m(3) as an 8-hour TWA. No NIOSH REL has been
issued.
** Only NIOSH/MSHA-approved equipment should be used. Also note the
following:
1. Respirators accepted for use at higher concentrations may be used
at lower concentrations; respirators must not, however, be used
at concentrations higher than those for which they are approved.
2. Air-purifying respirators may not be used in oxygen-deficient
atmospheres or in airborne concentrations that are immediately
dangerous to life or health (IDLH).
(+) The warfarin concentration that is immediately dangerous to life and
health (IDLH) is 200 mg/m(3) [NIOSH 1987b]. Use of chemical
protective clothing may be necessary to prevent skin contact.
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