a database of the National Library of M

air. Vinyl chloride is a gas which is heavier than air. When exposed tolight it will be degraded within a few days. A technical guide concn of 3ml/m3 air has been adopted for its cancerogenic potential. Dioxin valuesmeasured in soils & plants were in the natural range of 20 ng I-TE/kgDS. These values increased to 8300 ng at the very seat of the fire only.With the water used for fire fighting vinyl chloride penetrated into thegroundwater revealing values of up to 73 mg/litre. A total of 292 urinesamples taken from patients & members of the rescue forces, residents& a control group were tested for their contents of the VC metabolitethiodiacetic acid. However, this number does not allow to draw anyconclusions with regard to a potential incr in the risk of cancer. With0.27, 0.43 and 0.37 mg/litre of urine, the mean values are in the normalrange for unexposed people. Only 3 cases showing values of up to 3.1mg/litre indicated that a real exposure had taken place. The environmental& health authorities have evaluated the results of the measurements atsite. [Thriene B et al; Gesundheitswesen 62 (1): 34-38 (2000)]**PEERREVIEWED**IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO LIFE OR HEALTH:NIOSH considers vinyl chloride to be a potential occupational carcinogen.[NIOSH. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. DHHS (NIOSH) PublicationNo. 97-140. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office,1997.330]**PEER REVIEWED**PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT & CLOTHING:/WEAR/ RUBBER GLOVES AND SHOES, GAS-TIGHT GOGGLES, ORGANIC VAPOR CANISTEROR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS. [U.S. Coast Guard, Department ofTransportation. CHRIS - Hazardous Chemical Data. Volume II. Washington,D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1984-5.]**PEER REVIEWED**Respiratory protection is as follows for the following concentrations ofvinyl chloride: Not over 10 ppm: Combination type C supplied-airrespirator, demand type, with half facepiece, and auxillary self-containedbreathing air supply, or type C supplied air respirator, demand type, withhalf facepiece, or any chemical cartridge respirator with an organic vaporcartridge which provides a service life of at least 1 hr forconcentrations up to 10 ppm; Not over 25 ppm: A powered air purifyingrespirator with hood, helmet, full or half facepiece, and a canister whichprovides a service life of at least 4 hours for concentrations of vinylchloride up to 25 ppm, or gas mask, front- or back-mounted canister whichprovides a service life of at least 4 hours for concentrations of vinylchloride up to 25 ppm; Not over 100 ppm: Combination type C supplied airrespirator, demand type, with full facepiece, and auxillary self-containedair supply, or open circuit self-contained breathing apparatus with fullfacepiece in demand mode, or type C supplied air respirator, demand type,with full facepiece; Not over 1000 ppm: Combination type supplied airrespirator, continuous flow type with full or half facepiece, andauxillary self-contained air supply; Not over 3600 ppm: Combination type Csupplied air respirator, pressure demand type, with full or halffacepiece, and auxillary self-contained air supply; Unknown, or above 3600ppm: Open circuit, self-contained breathing apparatus, pressure demandtype with a full facepiece. [Mackison, F. W., R. S. Stricoff, and L. J.Partridge, Jr. (eds.). NIOSH/OSHA - Occupational Health Guidelines forChemical Hazards. DHHS(NIOSH) Publication No. 81-123 (3 VOLS). Washington,DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Jan. 1981.5]**PEER REVIEWED**PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": ... Dispensers of liq detergent /should be