Substance Specific Chemicals
OSHA Requirements
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Substance Specific
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There are OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits
(PELs) for 470 chemicals, but only 28 have
substance specific standards
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Most are carcinogens or present other serious
health hazards
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Detailed requirements within each standard for
compliance
 Permissible
Exposure
Limits
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List of Chemicals
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Asbestos
Alpha-Napththylamine
3,3-Dichlorobenzidine
Beta-Napthylamine
4-Aminodiphenyl
Beta-Propiolactone
4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene
Vinyl chloride
Lead
Benzene
Cotton dust
Acrylonitrile
Formaldehyde
4-Nitrobiphenyl
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List of Chemicals
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Methyl chloromethyl ether
Bis-Chloromethyl ether
Benzidine
Ethyleneimine
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane
2-Acetylaminofluorene
N-Nitrosodimethylamine
Inorganic Arsenic
Cadmium
Coke oven emissions
Ethylene oxide
Methylenedianiline
1,2-Butadiene
Methylene Chloride
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Substance Specific
These standards typically specify:
Action Level (usually one-half of the 8-hr PEL)
 Exposure monitoring
 Medical surveillance- may require specific tests
 Information and training
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Written compliance plans
Respiratory protection/PPE
Hygiene facilities and practices
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Establishment of regulated areas
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Specific Chemicals
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Benzene
 29 CFR 1910.1028
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Inorganic Arsenic
 29 CFR 1910.1018
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Lead
 29 CFR 1910.1025;
 29 CFR 1926.62
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Vinyl Chloride
 29 CFR 1910.1017
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Hydrogen Sulfide
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Benzene
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Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 1 ppm (8-hr Time
Weighted Average (TWA); Short Term Exposure Limit
(STEL) = 5 ppm “skin”
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Action Level is below typical PID sensitivity
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Colorless liquid with sweet aromatic odor
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Poor warning properties: mean odor threshold is 34 ppm
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Benzene
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Flammable liquid
Typically found combined with other
petroleum hydrocarbons
Air monitoring options include:
Benzene specific instruments such as the
UltraRae Benzene PGM-7200
Detector tubes (e.g. Draeger)
Sample media for laboratory analysis
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Benzene Health Hazards
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Target organs:
Blood forming systems, bone marrow
Central nervous system
Eyes, skin, respiratory system
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Benzene Exposure Symptoms
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Acute exposure:
Breathless, irritable, giddy, headache, dizzy, nausea
Eye, nose, respiratory tract irritation
Convulsion/coma from severe exposure
Skin blistering
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Chronic exposure:
Leukemia
Aplastic anemia
Dermatitis
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Benzene Medical Exams
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Medical surveillance for:
> Action Level 30 days per year
> PEL 10 days per year
Emergency exposure
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If blood chemistry indicate benzene impacts
Referral for specialized exams
Extensive protocols for removal/job protection
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Inorganic Arsenic
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PEL = 10 µg/M3 (0.01 mg/m3)
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Action Level = 5 µg/M3 (.005 mg/m3)
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Properties vary by compound
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Most commonly found at former pesticide sites
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Arsenic air monitoring requires a sampling pump, media,
and laboratory analysis. Total dust/respirator dust
monitoring is useful after the ratio of arsenic to total dust
is known.
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Inorganic Arsenic
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Target Organs
Skin
Respiratory system
Kidney, liver, GI tract
Central nervous
system
Possible fetal effects
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Inorganic Arsenic Symptoms
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Acute exposure:
Poisoning by inhalation is rare
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Chronic exposure:
Dermatitis, ulcerations to skin/nasal septum
Weakness
Loss of appetite
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Cancer (skin, lung, possibly liver)
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Lead
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Two lead substance-specific standards
General Industry – 29 CFR 1910.1025
Construction – 29 CFR 1926.62
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URS often involved with construction version
Applies to remediation, verses investigation
Removal of lead-impacted soils
Lead-based paint work; demolition activities
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Lead
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OSHA PEL is 0.050 mg/M3 (50 µg/M3) as TWA
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Action Level is 0.030 mg/M3 (30 µg/M3) as TWA
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Air monitoring requires sampling pump, filter media, and
laboratory analysis. XRF lead paint instruments provide
real time measurement of lead content in paint, but not
airborne concentrations.
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Lead Health Hazards
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Target Organs
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Acute exposure:
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Chronic exposure:
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Lead accumulates in the body
 GI tract
 Central nervous system
 Kidneys
 Blood
 Gingival tissue
 Reproductive system
 Gastroenteritis
 Anemia, constipation, abdominal pain
 Peripheral nerve damage (wrist/ankle
drop)
 Colic
 Gum lead line
 Fetal neural impacts
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Lead Requirements
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One of the more stringent standards:
Blood lead determination prior to job; periodic
Mandatory minimum Level C PPE
Regulated work areas
Shower and change facilities
Exposure monitoring
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Some exceptions; check with your Regional
HSE Manager
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Vinyl Chloride
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PEL = 1 ppm
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Action Level = 0.5 ppm
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Colorless liquid/gas with faint odor
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High vapor pressure/vapor density
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Extreme fire/explosive hazard
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Incompatible with oxidizers, copper, aluminum,
iron, steel
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Typically found in landfill gases as a by-product of
chlorinated solvent degradation
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Air monitoring requires sample pump, filter media, and
laboratory analysis or detector tubes
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Vinyl Chloride Health Hazards
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Routes of entry
Respiratory
Ingestion – personal hygiene is very important
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Target Organs
Liver (carcinogen)
Central nervous system
Blood
Respiratory system
Lymphatic system
Possible reproductive system
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Vinyl Chloride Symptoms
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Acute Exposure
Frostbite on liquid contact
Low toxicity by inhalation
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Chronic Exposure:
Sluggishness
Abdominal pain
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Enlarged liver
Pallor or blueness of extremities
Liver cancer
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Vinyl Chloride Medical Surveillance
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Any employee exposed >0.5 ppm Action Level will be
provided the opportunity for exams/testing
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Provided at time of initial assignment, or upon beginning
medical surveillance, or as a result of emergency exposure
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General physical exam/medical history with specific
attention to:
 Detecting enlargement/dysfunction of the liver, spleen or
kidneys
 Abnormalities in skin, connective tissues, or pulmonary
system
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Written physician’s statement of findings, including opinion
regarding use of PPE and respirators
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Hydrogen Sulfide
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OSHA PEL = 10 ppm; 20 ppm ceiling
California STEL = 15 ppm (15 minutes)
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Dense, low-lying gas
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High vapor pressure (>17 atm)
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Fire/explosion hazard
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Potential exposure sources include sewers,
landfills, and petroleum refining, paper/pulp
mills
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Hydrogen Sulfide
Hydrogen Sulfide gas:
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Smells like rotten eggs
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Most people can detect it at 0.008 ppm
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Odor is not a reliable indicator of hazard
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Sense of smell can become fatigued; increasing levels
may no longer be detectable without instruments
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Air monitoring options include H2S specific monitors as
part of most four-gas confined space monitoring units,
and detection tubes
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H2S Health Hazards
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Acute Exposures:
Respiratory paralysis (chemical asphyxiate) leading to
unconsciousness and death
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At lower concentrations:
Headache, dizziness, upset stomach
Eye effects at exposures slightly above PEL
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Hydrogen Sulfide
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Each person should have own H2S detector
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Wear it on belt, pants, or chest (never on
hardhat)
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Detector must have audible alarm at 10
ppm
Dual audible/vibration alarm is preferred
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If alarm sounds, notify others and evacuate
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