Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

14.10 Food industry 925
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (15
U.S. Code 2601 et seq.)
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) (42 U.S. Code 6901 et seq.)
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
(42 U.S. Code 9601 et seq.)
Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA; also “SARA
313")
(42 U.S. Code 1101 et seq.)
Provides a system for identifying and evaluating the environmental
and health effects of new chemicals and chemicals already
in commerce.
A system for handling and disposal of non-hazardous and
hazardous waste.
Known as “Superfund”, gives the EPA power to recover
costs for containment, other response actions, and cleanup of
hazardous waste disposal sites and other hazardous substance
releases.
(Part of Superfund) Provides authority for communities to
devise plans for preventing and responding to chemical spills
and release into the environment; requires public notification
of the types of hazardous substances handled or release by facilities;
requires state and local emergency plans.
14.10.2.1 Workplace regulations
Workplace regulations (see Table 14.10.1) are promulgated and enforced in the U.S. by the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is in the Department of Labor.
The purpose of OSHA is to ensure that the employers maintain a safe and healthful
workplace. Several workplace standards that affect extraction solvents are discussed.
14.10.2.1.1 Air Contaminants Standard (29 CFR 1910.1000)
The purpose of the air contaminants standards are to reduce risk of occupational illness for
workers by reducing permissible exposure limits (PEL) for chemicals. Table 14.10.3 lists
the PELs [8-hr time-weighted average (TWA) exposure] for the solvents discussed. To
achieve compliance with the PEL, administrative or engineering controls must first be determined
and implemented, whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to
achieve full compliance, personal protective equipment, work practices, or any other protective
measures are to be used to keep employee exposure below the PEL.
Table 14.10.3. U.S. Workplace regulations, a air contaminants
Chemical Name (CAS No.) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) [Health Risk: Basis for the PEL]
n-Hexane (110-54-3)
Commercial hexane b (none) (Same as n-hexane)
n-Heptane (142-82-5)
Cyclohexane (110-82-7)
500 ppm/1800 mg/m 3 ; new PEL was 50 ppm/180 mg/m 3 same as
ACGIH (TLV); [neuropathy]
500 ppm/200 mg/m 3 ; new PEL was 400 ppm/1640 mg/m 3 , (500 ppm
STEL) same as ACGIH (TLV); [narcosis]
300 ppm/1050 mg/m 3 ; ACGIH (TLV) 300 ppm/1030 mg/m 3 ; [sensory
irritation]
Cyclopentane (287-92-3) None; new PEL was 600 ppm, same as ACGIH (TLV); [narcosis]
Hexane isomers
Commercial isohexane c (none) (Same as hexane isomer)
None; new PEL was 500 ppm/1760 mg/m 3 (1000 ppm STEL) same as
ACGIH (TLV); [narosis]