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J Chem Health Saf

Title:		Assessing flammable storage cabinets as sources of VOC exposure in laboratories using real-time direct reading wireless detectors
Author(s):		Amie EN; Doepke A; Nourian F; Connick WB; Brown KK;
Address:		"Department of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210172, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0172, United States. NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), 1090 Tusculum Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45226, United States"
Journal Title:		J Chem Health Saf
Year:		2018
Volume:		25
Issue:		5
Page Number:		2 - 9
DOI:		10.1016/j.jchas.2018.01.001
ISSN/ISBN:		1878-0504 (Electronic) 1871-5532 (Print) 1871-5532 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Herein we present the results of measurements using wireless direct-reading photoionization detector-based gas sensors to quantify concentrations of vapors of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in and around flammable storage cabinets containing common organic solvents, including acetone, dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, and benzene. Such cabinets are commonly employed in laboratories to contain flammable liquids. A sensor array was deployed in a series of flammable storage cabinets in working laboratories. Measurements in cabinets containing bottles of typical solvents demonstrate that vapor concentrations gradually increase upon closing the cabinet door. The results suggest that these storage units can be a source of vapors of VOCs in laboratories and the unnecessary exposure of laboratory workers to chemical vapors. Ventilation of cabinets tended to lower maximum concentrations of VOCs. However, the efficacy of this engineering control was found to depend on the quality of the cabinet door seal, as well as having debris-free flame arrestors. Opening cabinet doors resulted in release of vapors to the laboratory atmosphere, which represents an unnecessary exposure risk for workers. A countermeasure aimed at improving the seal of previously opened solvent bottles reduced measured concentrations of VOCs in cabinets below the detector's limit of detection"
Keywords:
Notes:		"PubMed-not-MEDLINEAmie E, Norton Doepke, Amos Nourian, Fariba Connick, William B Brown, Kenneth K eng CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/ 2018/09/01 J Chem Health Saf. 2018 Sep 1; 25(5):2-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jchas.2018.01.001"