Protecting Workers from Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene and Other Chemical Hazards

Back in 1988, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added 1,3-butadiene to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65. Sixteen years later, it was also added to the list for developmental and reproductive toxicity.
 
1,3-Butadiene is produced through the processing of petroleum and is a colorless gas that can also be condensed into a liquid. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it is mainly used in the production of synthetic rubber, but is also found in smaller amounts in plastics and fuel.
 
OSHA reports that exposure to 1,3-butadiene primarily occurs in the workplace, in such industries as synthetic elastomer (rubber and latex) production, petroleum refining, secondary lead smelting, water treatment, agricultural fungicides, production of raw material for nylon, and through the use of fossil fuels. In addition, exposure can occur from polluted air and water near chemical, plastic or rubber facilities; cigarette smoke; and from ingesting foods that are contaminated from plastic or rubber containers.
 
“Protecting workers in industries that could expose them to this chemical is important as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also classified 1,3-butadiene as a known human carcinogen,” said Franco Seif, President of Seif Clark (CSC). “As well as cancer concerns, exposure is also known to cause a number of other exposure issues ranging from decreased blood pressure and nausea to the possibility of increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Fortunately, there are standards to limit exposure to 1,3-butadiene in the workplace.”
 
Dedicated to protecting workers from chemical and biological threats are the industrial hygiene professionals at CSC. They offer industrial hygiene testing, monitoring and employee training. They are also experts on the proper use of personal protective equipment, ways to utilize engineering controls for ventilation, and process modifications to mitigate exposure risks. CSC has even sponsored an educational video about 1,3-butadiene that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/QDqBN5yYfrw
 
To learn more about this or other occupational, indoor air quality, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.
 

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail