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- Repackaging
Measured exposure dataLimited personal and static monitoring data collected during formulation of biocide, film processing and consumer products were provided and are summarised in Table 15.3. There were few long-term personal samples, and most of those reported were < 0.2 ppm. Short-term sampling results ranging from 0.3 ppm to 2 ppm were measured during raw material weigh-up, equipment cleaning and maintenance. Static results measured at a blending platform, mixing tank opening and filling line range from 0.5 ppm to 1.5 ppm, with measurement duration of 10 minutes. One static reading of 2.24 ppm was found during bulky box tank filling.
Exposure of workers to formaldehyde is limited to accidental spills or leakages during repackaging as the processes are usually fully or partially enclosed, of relatively short duration and usually infrequent. Moreover, PPE (such as gloves, overalls, safety glasses or goggles) is reportedly used at five repackaging companies. Three of them have exhaust ventilation in place whereas the other two rely on general ventilation and use of industrial fans. Both skin and inhalation exposures to formaldehyde are likely during the manual repackaging of paraformaldehyde powder because formaldehyde-containing dusts can be generated during the process. However, one company reported that all activities are conducted in a booth fitted with an extraction fan system and all workers wear respirators with gas and particle cartridges, rubber gloves, goggles, hair cover and dust coat. Therefore, the potential exposure to formaldehyde during repackaging is considered low. Table 15.3: Summary of monitoring data during formulation of formaldehyde products
NR, not reported; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; AMCOSH, Advice Measurement and Control in Occupational Safety and Health; TWA, time-weighted average. # The results are presented as the number of samples in a series of result bands, or individual results if only one or two samples are available.
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