Occupational Exposure Risks to Hydrazine and Other Industrial Chemical Compounds

Hydrazines are described by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) as clear, colorless liquids with an ammonia-like odor. There are numerous different kinds of hydrazine compounds made for industrial applications.
 
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that workers may be harmed from exposure to hydrazine with the level of harm depending upon factors such as the dose, duration and work being done. NIOSH also lists it as a potential occupational carcinogen.
 
ATSDR reports that breathing hydrazine for short periods may cause coughing and irritation of the throat and lungs, convulsions, tremors or seizures. Breathing these compounds for long periods may cause liver and kidney damage, as well as serious effects on reproductive organs. Eating or drinking small amounts of hydrazine may cause nausea, vomiting, uncontrolled shaking, inflammation of the nerves, drowsiness or coma.
 
Hydrazines are used for manufacturing rocket propellants and fuels for spacecraft. Other industries where workers could be at risk of exposure include:

• Workers who use it for boiler water treatments to protect against corrosion
• Industrial workers who use it as a chemical reactant
• Researchers who explore cancer treatments
• Agricultural workers who use it in pesticides

“The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for hydrazine and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) to protect workers,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “At Clark Seif Clark, our industrial hygiene and environmental professionals offer testing, monitoring, consulting and training services to identify and mitigate risks associated with hydrazine and many other occupational hazards. These services help to protect workers and to keep companies in regulatory compliance.”
 
CSC has also sponsored an educational video about hydrazine and potential occupational exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/uG3pT3WqNxI
 
To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, 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.

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Paul Cochrane

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