1,3-Butadiene
Possible Solutions
There are several ways to reduce exposure to 1,3-butadiene. The preferred approach is to utilize engineering controls such as ventilation and process modification. If these controls are not sufficient other controls may be implemented, including requiring respirator protection where ventilation is not feasible, requiring workers to shower and change into street clothes before leaving the plant, and issuing workers protective eye glasses and splash shields as needed.
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-149, (September 2007). Provides physical description, exposure limits, measurement method, personal protection & sanitation, first aid, respirator recommendations, exposure routes, symptoms, target organs, and cancer sites.
- Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-123, (January 1981). Contains information on identification, physical and chemical properties, health hazards, exposure limits, exposure sources and control methods, monitoring, personal hygiene, storage, spills and leaks, and personal protective equipment.
- The following table lists exposure limits that have been set by OSHA, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH):
Exposure Limits Organization OSHA 1 ppm Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) OSHA 5 ppm for 15 minute(s) Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) NIOSH 1 ppm Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) ACGIH 2 ppm Threshold Limit Value (TLV), A-2 suspected human carcinogen
For additional information on general safety and health concerns, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on: