Anprolene (Ethylene Oxide) Exposure?
I work at a small vet clinic, and we have a gas sterilizer that uses Anprolene. It has a vent that sucks all the gas outside, and it is located surrounded by a room separate from the rest of the clinic. When I went in there the other light of day to look for a birdcage, I noticed the room smelled strongly of gas. Similar to natural gas, but different. I suspected the sterilizer, and mentioned it to my boss. She said "that room always smells similar to gas." I asked if she was sure, told her it was really strong, and invited her to come see. She said no, it was fine, that's how that room other is. This was Friday, and now, Monday, two of my coworkers mentioned that over the weekend that the gas sterilizer was blinking red and making a boom, so they disconnected it. I am certain that I was exposed to Anprolene, I read that it has a big threshold as far as being able to smell it, and that it can be dangerous at level that are undetectable by smell. Because I smelled it, and was in the room for about two minutes, I'm pretty worried. Most of the effects can occur later, such as cancer or reproductive issues.
anybody have any ideas for a first step to address this issue? My bosses come across unconcerned about many hazardous things at the clinic (they often filch x-rays without vests, etc.) and I'm not sure they'd care if I brought it up. I also don't think this is something a doctor or medical theory test could diagnose, so going to the hospital, I fear, would do me no good.
Any Anprolene/legal experts out there??
Answers: The Anprolene sterilizer uses ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is a toxic and carcinogenic gas and its undamaging use in the workplace is regulated by federal law. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the maximum workplace acceptable exposure limit (PEL) to 1 ppm calculated as an 8 hour time weighted average, and 5 ppm calculated as a 15 minute time weighted average [29 CFR 1910.1047]. In terms of more acute exposure, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set the straight dangerous to life and health (IDLH) even to 800 ppm. Obviously you do not want to be in an atmosphere above the IDLH.
Ethylene oxide have a smell similar to ether, (the molecule is a cyclic ether) and the smell is a very different odor from natural gas, which has mercaptans added. Based on your description, I can't vote if you were exposed or not. There are many things in a vet's bureau that can cause an odor, so a strong smell is not necessarily ethylene oxide. One fact is clear though; if you suspect the sterilizer is malfunctioning, you need to procure it serviced before it is used again.
Since ethylene oxide has no odor at the OSHA PEL, the only opening to determine if there is ethylene oxide in the air is to use some charitable of ethylene oxide monitor. A monitor should be able to detect down to below the OSHA PEL and should provide continuous monitoring because there is no way to predict within advance when something may go wrong. Continuous monitors are available from several companies, including the one that I work for, ChemDAQ Inc., based in the vicinity Pittsburgh, PA. Badges are also available, but they lack the ability to do continuous monitoring.
or your exposure, you probably do not need to verbs. Ethylene oxide is a primary irritant, i.e. it attacks the tissues directly causing skin burns and respiratory tract and eye irritation and damage. If you have not experienced these symptoms by very soon, you probably will not. Ethylene oxide is also carcinogenic, and so the exposure is probably cumulative. However, even if you were exposed to a 1000 ppm for a couple of minutes, the cumulative exposure is equivalent to about 2 ppm averaged over an 8 hour day, or twice the OSHA PEL. While no exposure is honourable, the risk of you developing cancer from this one incident is minuscule.
As for your bosses' attitude towards safety, it sounds as if you have tried to improve the situation by discussion with them, you can continue to try to improve safekeeping conditions from the inside, you have legal options such as asking OSHA to inspect the facility but to be precise likely to strain relations considerably, so the best option may be to look elsewhere.
go to a doctor, if theres evidence of any wounded you could maybes be treated, and could definietly sue i think.
Related Questions:
anybody have any ideas for a first step to address this issue? My bosses come across unconcerned about many hazardous things at the clinic (they often filch x-rays without vests, etc.) and I'm not sure they'd care if I brought it up. I also don't think this is something a doctor or medical theory test could diagnose, so going to the hospital, I fear, would do me no good.
Any Anprolene/legal experts out there??
Answers: The Anprolene sterilizer uses ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is a toxic and carcinogenic gas and its undamaging use in the workplace is regulated by federal law. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the maximum workplace acceptable exposure limit (PEL) to 1 ppm calculated as an 8 hour time weighted average, and 5 ppm calculated as a 15 minute time weighted average [29 CFR 1910.1047]. In terms of more acute exposure, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set the straight dangerous to life and health (IDLH) even to 800 ppm. Obviously you do not want to be in an atmosphere above the IDLH.
Ethylene oxide have a smell similar to ether, (the molecule is a cyclic ether) and the smell is a very different odor from natural gas, which has mercaptans added. Based on your description, I can't vote if you were exposed or not. There are many things in a vet's bureau that can cause an odor, so a strong smell is not necessarily ethylene oxide. One fact is clear though; if you suspect the sterilizer is malfunctioning, you need to procure it serviced before it is used again.
Since ethylene oxide has no odor at the OSHA PEL, the only opening to determine if there is ethylene oxide in the air is to use some charitable of ethylene oxide monitor. A monitor should be able to detect down to below the OSHA PEL and should provide continuous monitoring because there is no way to predict within advance when something may go wrong. Continuous monitors are available from several companies, including the one that I work for, ChemDAQ Inc., based in the vicinity Pittsburgh, PA. Badges are also available, but they lack the ability to do continuous monitoring.
or your exposure, you probably do not need to verbs. Ethylene oxide is a primary irritant, i.e. it attacks the tissues directly causing skin burns and respiratory tract and eye irritation and damage. If you have not experienced these symptoms by very soon, you probably will not. Ethylene oxide is also carcinogenic, and so the exposure is probably cumulative. However, even if you were exposed to a 1000 ppm for a couple of minutes, the cumulative exposure is equivalent to about 2 ppm averaged over an 8 hour day, or twice the OSHA PEL. While no exposure is honourable, the risk of you developing cancer from this one incident is minuscule.
As for your bosses' attitude towards safety, it sounds as if you have tried to improve the situation by discussion with them, you can continue to try to improve safekeeping conditions from the inside, you have legal options such as asking OSHA to inspect the facility but to be precise likely to strain relations considerably, so the best option may be to look elsewhere.
go to a doctor, if theres evidence of any wounded you could maybes be treated, and could definietly sue i think.
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