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Previous by Date: Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals? Date: Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 6:29:12 PM Author: Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> |
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I have worked with the highly toxic gases and liquids such as arsine, hydrogen selenide, diborane, cyanogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide for over 45 years. When I first started toxic gas detection systems did not exist for these gases. For arsine we had our blood drawn once a month to test for arsenic, this was an ineffective method of monitoring but management thought it was something. Numerous workers were acutely exposed since the odor is not unpleasant, this will be the issue with the nickel carbonyl which some describe as a musty brick odor, I have no clue what that smells like! Today we have systems that can detect arsine (PEL 50 ppb) down to 1 ppb reliably. A key requirement of the IFC is a gas detection system that will alarm at the PEL. Nickel carbonyl has a PEL of 1 ppb! A quick search revealed no gas detection systems for it. The only gas detection method is to use a gas detector tube (single use) which has a lower limit of 20 ppm! How would anyone know that ther!
e are no leaks in the system? At least for arsine we used to wrap pipe joints with lead acetate paper and wait some time to see if there was a small leak based on discoloration.
Compounding the problem is nickel carbonyl also has a dermal route of entry, like hydrogen cyanide. It is similar to pentaborane a liquid generated by the room temperature decomposition of diborane which has a inhalation and dermal routes of exposures. Over time this and decaborane accumulates in the bottom of diborane cylinders that must periodically cleaned. Over the last 40 years many gas suppliers have had severe incidents doing this. At one supplier they have a dedicated standalone far from the main building room with an automated cylinder wash system. The operator wears a full chemical protective suit, gloves, boots and airline respirator with an escape pack while he removes the cylinder valve and inserts the cleaning wand into 8 cylinders. A second operator in the same protective gear stands outside and watchs through the door. The operator must decon (water wash) and remove his PPE properly. Many years ago, an operator removed his glove and accidently touched the co!
ntaminated exterior. An hour later half his face was paralyzed. In HazMat response training we teach how to don and doff PPE properly. A chemical waste disposal worker decommissioning pentaborane cylinders was fully paralyzed for a week.
My thoughts, good luck with the project.
Eugene Ngai
Chemically Speaking LLC
www.chemicallyspeakingllc.com
-----Original Message----- California OSHA may have additional regulations bearing on exposure to nickel carbonyl, but at the Federal OSHA level all we have are the exposure limits in 29CFR1910.1000 Table Z-1. That is set at 0.007 mg/m3 (0.001 ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. It is not particularly relevant to your question, but did you know that at one time, before legionella was identified as the cause, nickel carbonyl was seriously proposed as the cause of Legionnaires' Disease? PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com -----Original Message----- I have a client in California who is considering using a process that uses nickel carbonyl. I have made them aware of the extremely toxic nature of this compound. The only reason they are considering it is that it solves a problem that would be very difficult to achieve any other way. My question to the community is this: what, if any, specific regulations are there regarding the use of this compound? Thank you Dave Lane --- --- ---
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From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2020 4:56 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Nickel Carbonyl
Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2020 3:21 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Nickel Carbonyl
Principal
Clavis Technology Development
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