What is a safe level of benzene?
OSHA limits exposure to benzene in the air in most workplaces to 1 ppm (part per million) during an average workday and a maximum of 5 ppm over any 15-minute period. When working at potentially higher exposure levels, OSHA requires employers to provide personal protective equipment such as respirators.
Does OSHA regulate benzene?
The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of benzene in excess of one part of benzene per million parts of air (1 ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. Short-term exposure limit (STEL).
What is the PEL for benzene?
OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 1 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 5 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute work period.
At what concentration can you smell benzene?
Benzene has a sweet, aromatic, gasoline-like odor. Most individuals can begin to smell benzene in air at 1.5 to 4.7 ppm. The odor threshold generally provides adequate warning for acutely hazardous exposure concentrations but is inadequate for more chronic exposures.
How long does benzene stay in your system?
Some of the harmful effects of benzene exposure are caused by these metabolites. Most of the metabolites of benzene leave the body in the urine within 48 hours after exposure.
What is the OSHA allowable exposure limit for an 8 hour shift?
90 dBA
OSHA sets legal limits on noise exposure in the workplace. These limits are based on a worker’s time weighted average over an 8 hour day. With noise, OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 90 dBA for all workers for an 8 hour day. The OSHA standard uses a 5 dBA exchange rate.
Can benzene cause leukemia?
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.
How poisonous is benzene?
Benzene is very poisonous. Poisoning can cause rapid death. However, deaths have occurred as long as 3 days after the poisoning.
What is the IDLH limit for benzene?
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for benzene is 500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Gerarde 1960]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the “most protective” respirators be worn for benzene at concentrations above 0.1 ppm.
How much benzene is in California drinking water?
Benzene is a regulated chemical with an established California State Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) in drinking water of 1 µg/L. Benzene is a colorless highly flammable liquid that evaporates quickly into air and dissolves slightly in water.
Why is benzene on the Proposition 65 list?
Benzene is on the Proposition 65 list because it can cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm . Exposure to benzene can cause leukemia. Exposure to benzene during pregnancy may affect the development of the child. It may also harm the male reproductive system.
How much benzene is used in the world?
By 2007, the worldwide annual demand for benzene was approximately 40 million tons. Most of it is used to produce styrene and cumene; chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastics, resins, adhesives and nylon. It is estimated that approximately 6 million tons of benzene was used annually in the USA in the 1990s.
How to test for benzene in drinking water?
same chromatographic range. The presence of benzene should be confirmed by US EPA Method 524.2 or Method 8260 prior to use of Method 8020 for a long-term monitoring program. Public Drinking Water Testing Requirements Benzene is a regulated chemical for drinking water sources, with monitoring and compliance requirements (Title 22, Section 64431, et