Standard Test Method for Vinyl Chloride in Workplace Atmospheres (Charcoal Tube Method)

Importancia y uso:

5.1 Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is the starting material for the manufacture of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), which is used extensively in construction, electronics, packaging, and other industries. The vinyl chloride gas can escape during manufacturing, transportation, and polymerization stages. Residual monomer can also escape during subsequent fabrication processes.

5.2 Vinyl chloride is a toxic and explosive hazardous material.

5.3 Vinyl chloride is suspected to be a carcinogenic agent (4), and occupational exposure limits (OELs) have been established for this agent. For instance, the present U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for VCM is 1.0 ppm (v) with a 0.5-ppm (v) action level; the maximum length of operator exposure at 5 ppm (v) is 15 min (5).

5.4 This test method is made selective for vinyl chloride by choosing chromatographic columns that will separate vinyl chloride from other organic compounds in the sample.

5.5 This test method meets requirements (for example, those of OSHA and NIOSH) for monitoring workplace atmospheres in vinyl chloride and poly(vinyl chloride) production and fabrication processes.

Subcomité:

D22.04

Volúmen:

11.07

Número ICS:

13.040.30 (Workplace atmospheres)

Palabras clave:

air monitoring; charcoal tube method; sampling and analysis; vinyl chloride; workplace atmosphere;