Disclaimer: These guidelines were developed under contract using generally accepted secondary sources. The protocol used by the contractor for surveying these data sources was developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). The information contained in these guidelines is intended for reference purposes only. None of the agencies have conducted a comprehensive check of the information and data contained in these sources. It provides a summary of information about chemicals that workers may be exposed to in their workplaces. The secondary sources used for supplements 111 and 1V were published before 1992 and 1993, respectively, and for the remainder of the guidelines the secondary sources used were published before September 1996. This information may be superseded by new developments in the field of industrial hygiene. Therefore readers are advised to determine whether new information is available.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH GUIDELINE FOR BENZO[b]FLUORANTHENE

INTRODUCTION

This guideline summarizes pertinent information about benzo[b]fluoranthene for workers and employers as well as for physicians, industrial hygienists, and other occupational safety and health professionals who may need such information to conduct effective occupational safety and health programs. Recommendations may be superseded by new developments in these fields; readers are therefore advised to regard these recommendations as general guidelines and to determine whether new information is available.

SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

* Formula

C(20)H(12)

* Structure

(For Structure, see paper copy)

* Synonyms

2,3-Benzfluoranthen; 2,3-benzofluoranthene;

3,4-benz(e)acephenathrylene; 3,4-benzfluoranthene;

3,4-benzofluoranthene, benz(e)fluoranthene

* Identifiers

1. CAS No.: 205-99-2

2. RTECS No.: CU1400000

3. DOT UN: 2811 53 (poisonous solids, not otherwise specified)

4. DOT label: Poison, St Andrew's Cross (poisonous solids, not otherwise specified)

* Appearance and odor

Benzo[b]fluoranthene is a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon formed during the incomplete burning of fossil fuel, garbage, or organic matter. It forms colorless needles by condensation from benzene, toluene, or glacial acetic acid.

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

* Physical data

1. Molecular weight: 252.32

2. Boiling point: Data not available.

3. Specific gravity: Data not available.

4. Vapor density: Data not available.

5. Melting point: 168 degrees C (334 degrees F)

6. Vapor pressure: Data not available.

7. Solubility: Slightly soluble in benzene, acetone, and alcohol; practically insoluble in water.

8. Evaporation rate: Data not available.

* Reactivity

1. Conditions contributing to instability: None reported.

2. Incompatibilities: None reported.

3. Hazardous decomposition products: None reported.

4. Special precautions: None reported.

* Flammability

The National Fire Protection Association has not assigned a flammability rating to benzo[b]fluoranthene.

1. Flash point: Data not available.

2. Autoignition temperature: Data not available.

3. Flammable limits in air: Data not available.

4. Extinguishant: For small fires use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, or regular foam. Use water spray, fog, or regular foam to fight large fires involving benzo[b]fluoranthene.

Fires involving benzo[b]fluoranthene should be fought upwind from the maximum distance possible. Keep unnecessary people away; isolate the hazard area and deny entry. Emergency personnel should stay out of low areas. Containers of benzo[b]fluoranthene should be moved from the fire area if it is possible to do so safely. Firefighters should wear a full set of protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving benzo[b]fluoranthene.

EXPOSURE LIMITS

* OSHA PEL

The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for benzo[b]fluoranthene (as a coal tar pitch volatile) is 0.2 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m(3)) of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1].

* NIOSH REL

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a recommended exposure limit (REL) for benzo[b]fluoranthene (as a coal tar pitch volatile) of 0.1 mg/m(3) as a TWA for up to a 10-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. NIOSH also considers coal tar pitch volatiles to be potential human carcinogens [NIOSH 1992].

* ACGIH TLV

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) lists benzo[b]fluoranthene as an A2 substance (suspected human carcinogen) [ACGIH 1994, p. 13].

* Rationale for Limits

The NIOSH REL is based on risk of cancer [NIOSH 1992].

The current ACGIH documentation (1991) does not contain information for benzo[b]fluoranthene.

HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION

* Routes of Exposure

Exposure to benzo[b]fluoranthene can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and eye or skin contact.

* Summary of toxicology

1. Effects on Animals: Benzo[b]fluoranthene is carcinogenic in experimental animals [IARC 1987]. Three groups of 20 mice were administered 0.01, 0.1, or 0.5 percent solutions of benzo[b]fluoranthene on the skin three times/week during a dermal toxicity study. The 0.5 percent solution produced carcinomas in 90 percent and papillomas in 100 percent of the mice within eight months. The 0.1 percent solution produced carcinomas in 85 percent and papillomas in 65 percent of the mice within 12 months. In the lowest dose group (0.01 percent), only one of the ten surviving mice developed a papilloma after 14 months [IARC 1973]. In another study, a single application of 1 mg benzo[b]fluoranthene to the skin of mice followed by repeated paintings with croton resin produced papillomas in 18 and carcinomas in five of the 20 mice exposed [IARC 1973]. Benzo[b]fluoranthene is mutagenic in vivo and in vitro tests of mutagenicity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concludes that there is sufficient evidence that benzo[b]fluoranthene is carcinogenic to experimental animals.

2. Effects on Humans: No data were identified on the toxicity of benzo[b]fluoranthene to humans. Based on results of studies in animals, IARC concluded that benzo[b]fluoranthene is possibly carcinogenic to humans [IARC 1987].

* Signs and symptoms of exposure

1. Acute exposure: No signs or symptoms of acute exposure to benzo[b]fluoranthene have been reported in humans.

2. Chronic exposure: No signs or symptoms of chronic exposure to benzo[b]fluoranthene have been reported in humans.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROCEDURES

* Emergency medical procedures: [NIOSH to supply]

5. Rescue: Remove an incapacitated worker from further exposure and implement appropriate emergency procedures (e.g., those listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet required by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]). All workers should be familiar with emergency procedures, the location and proper use of emergency equipment, and methods of protecting themselves during rescue operations.

EXPOSURE SOURCES AND CONTROL METHODS

The following operations may involve benzo[b]fluoranthene and lead to worker exposures to this substance:

* Benzo[b]fluoranthene is not manufactured, but is sometimes used as a research chemical

* The incomplete burning of fossil fuels, garbage, or other organic matter

* Wood preserving involving creosote, and paving, roofing, and insulation work involving asphalt or bitumens

Methods that are effective in controlling worker exposures to benzo[b]fluoranthene, depending on the feasibility of implementation, are as follows:

* Process enclosure
* Local exhaust ventilation
* General dilution ventilation
* Personal protective equipment

Workers responding to a release or potential release of a hazardous substance must be protected as required by paragraph (q) of OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard [29 CFR 1910.120].

Good sources of information about control methods are as follows:

1. ACGIH [1992]. Industrial ventilation--a manual of recommended practice. 21st ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

2. Burton DJ [1986]. Industrial ventilation--a self study companion. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

3. Alden JL, Kane JM [1982]. Design of industrial ventilation systems. New York, NY: Industrial Press, Inc.

4. Wadden RA, Scheff PA [1987]. Engineering design for control of workplace hazards. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

5. Plog BA [1988]. Fundamentals of industrial hygiene. Chicago, IL: National Safety Council.

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE

OSHA is currently developing requirements for medical surveillance. When these requirements are promulgated, readers should refer to them for additional information and to determine whether employers whose employees are exposed to benzo[b]fluoranthene are required to implement medical surveillance procedures.

Medical Screening:

Workers who may be exposed to chemical hazards should be monitored in a systematic program of medical surveillance that is intended to prevent occupational injury and disease. The program should include education of employers and workers about work-related hazards, early detection of adverse health effects, and referral of workers for diagnosis and treatment. The occurrence of disease or other work-related adverse health effects should prompt immediate evaluation of primary preventive measures (e.g., industrial hygiene monitoring, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment). A medical surveillance program is intended to supplement, not replace, such measures. To detect and control work-related health effects, medical evaluations should be performed (1) before job placement, (2) periodically during the term of employment, and (3) at the time of job transfer or termination.

* Preplacement medical evaluation

Before a worker is placed in a job with a potential for exposure to benzo[b]fluoranthene, a licensed health care professional should evaluate and document the worker's baseline health status with thorough medical, environmental, and occupational histories, a physical examination, and physiologic and laboratory tests appropriate for the anticipated occupational risks. These should concentrate on the function and integrity of the respiratory system, bladder, kidneys, and skin. Medical surveillance for respiratory disease should be conducted using the principles and methods recommended by the American Thoracic Society.

A preplacement medical evaluation is recommended to assess medical conditions that may be aggravated or may result in increased risk when a worker is exposed to benzo[b]fluoranthene at or below the prescribed exposure limit. The health care professional should consider the probable frequency, intensity, and duration of exposure as well as the nature and degree of any applicable medical condition. Such conditions (which should not be regarded as absolute contraindications to job placement) include a history and other findings consistent with diseases of the respiratory system, bladder, kidneys, or skin.

* Periodic medical evaluations

Occupational health interviews and physical examinations should be performed at regular intervals during the employment period, as mandated by any applicable Federal, State, or local standard. Where no standard exists and the hazard is minimal, evaluations should be conducted every 3 to 5 years or as frequently as recommended by an experienced occupational health physician. Additional examinations may be necessary if a worker develops symptoms attributable to benzo[b]fluoranthene exposure. The interviews, examinations, and medical screening tests should focus on identifying the adverse effects of benzo[b]fluoranthene on the respiratory system, bladder, kidneys, or skin. Current health status should be compared with the baseline health status of the individual worker or with expected values for a suitable reference population.

* Termination medical evaluations

The medical, environmental, and occupational history interviews, the physical examination, and selected physiologic or laboratory tests that were conducted at the time of placement should be repeated at the time of job transfer or termination to determine the worker's medical status at the end of his or her employment. Any changes in the worker's health status should be compared with those expected for a suitable reference population. Because occupational exposure to benzo[b]fluoranthene may cause diseases with prolonged latent periods, the need for medical surveillance may extend well beyond the termination of employment.

* Biological monitoring

Biological monitoring involves sampling and analyzing body tissues or fluids to provide an index of exposure to a toxic substance or metabolite. No biological monitoring test acceptable for routine use has yet been developed for benzo[b]fluoranthene.

WORKPLACE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT

Determination of a worker's exposure to airborne benzo[b]fluoranthene is made using a glass fiber filter. Samples are collected at a recommended flow rate of 1.5 to 2 liters/minute (TWA) until a recommended collection volume of 960 liters is reached. Analysis is conducted by extraction-gravimetric analysis. This method is described in the OSHA Computerized Information System [OSHA 1994] and is fully validated. NIOSH has two published methods for the collection and analysis of benzo[b]fluoranthene. Both methods require collection on a filter + sorbent tube (2-um, 37 mm PTFE + washed XAD-2, 100/50 mg). Samples are collected at a flow rate of 2 liters/minute until a maximum collection volume of 1000 liters is reached. One method requires analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (Method No. 5506) and the second method requires analysis by gas chromatography (Method No. 5515) [NIOSH 1994b].

PERSONAL HYGIENE PROCEDURES

If benzo[b]fluoranthene contacts the skin, workers should immediately wash the affected areas with large amounts of soap and water.

Clothing contaminated with benzo[b]fluoranthene should be removed immediately, and provisions should be made for the safe removal of the chemical from the clothing. Persons laundering the clothes should be informed of the hazardous properties of benzo[b]fluoranthene.

Workers should not eat, drink, use tobacco products, apply cosmetics, or take medication in areas where benzo[b]fluoranthene is being generated or used.

STORAGE

Benzo[b]fluoranthene should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in tightly sealed containers that are labeled in accordance with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]. A regulated, marked area should be established for areas where benzo[b]fluoranthene is handled, used, or stored. Containers of benzo[b]fluoranthene should be protected from physical damage and should be stored separately from incompatible chemicals.

SPILLS AND LEAKS

In the event of a spill or leak involving benzo[b]fluoranthene, persons not wearing protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from contaminated areas until cleanup has been completed. The following steps should be undertaken following a spill or leak:

1. Do not touch the spilled material; stop the leak if it is possible to do so without risk.

2. For small liquid spills, take up with sand or other noncombustible absorbent material and place into closed containers for later disposal.

3. For small dry spills, use a clean shovel and place the material into a clean, dry container; cover and remove the container from the spill area.

4. For large liquid spills, build dikes far ahead of the spill to contain the benzo[b]fluoranthene for later reclamation or disposal.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for emergency planning, reportable quantities of hazardous releases, community right-to-know, and hazardous waste management may change over time. Users are therefore advised to determine periodically whether new information is available.

* Emergency planning requirements

Benzo[b]fluoranthene is not subject to EPA emergency planning requirements under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (Title III) in 42 USC 11022.

* Reportable quantity requirements for hazardous releases

A hazardous substance release is defined by EPA as any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or discarding of contaminated containers) of hazardous substances. In the event of a release that is above the reportable quantity for that chemical, employers are required to notify the proper Federal, State, and local authorities [40 CFR 355.40].

The reportable quantity of benzo[b]fluoranthene is 1 pound. If an amount equal to or greater than this quantity is released within a 24-hour period in a manner that will expose persons outside the facility, employers are required to do the following:

- Notify the National Response Center immediately at (800) 424-8802 or at (202) 426-2675 in Washington, D.C. [40 CFR 302.6].

* Community right-to-know requirements

Employers are not required by EPA in 40 CFR Part 372.30 to submit a Toxic Chemical Release Inventory form (Form R) to EPA reporting the amount of benzo[b]fluoranthene emitted or released from their facility annually.

* Hazardous waste management requirements

EPA considers a waste to be hazardous if it exhibits any of the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity as defined in 40 CFR 261.21-261.24. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) [40 USC 6901 et seq.], EPA has specifically listed many chemical wastes as hazardous. Although benzo[b]fluoranthene is not specifically listed as a hazardous waste under RCRA, EPA requires employers to treat waste as hazardous if it exhibits any of the characteristics discussed above.

Providing detailed information about the removal and disposal of specific chemicals is beyond the scope of this guideline. The U.S. Department of Transportation, EPA, and State and local regulations should be followed to ensure that removal, transport, and disposal of this substance are conducted in accordance with existing regulations. To be certain that chemical waste disposal meets EPA regulatory requirements, employers should address any questions to the RCRA hotline at (703) 412-9810 (in the Washington, D.C. area) or toll-free at (800) 424-9346 (outside Washington, D.C.). In addition, relevant State and local authorities should be contacted for information on any requirements they may have for the waste removal and disposal of this substance.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

* Conditions for respirator use

Good industrial hygiene practice requires that engineering controls be used where feasible to reduce workplace concentrations of hazardous materials to the prescribed exposure limit. However, some situations may require the use of respirators to control exposure. Respirators must be worn if the ambient concentration of benzo[b]fluoranthene exceeds prescribed exposure limits. Respirators may be used (1) before engineering controls have been installed, (2) during work operations such as maintenance or repair activities that involve unknown exposures, (3) during operations that require entry into tanks or closed vessels, and (4) during emergencies. Workers should only use respirators that have been approved by NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

* Respiratory protection program

Employers should institute a complete respiratory protection program that, at a minimum, complies with the requirements of OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard [29 CFR 1910.134]. Such a program must include respirator selection, an evaluation of the worker's ability to perform the work while wearing a respirator, the regular training of personnel, respirator fit testing, periodic workplace monitoring, and regular respirator maintenance, inspection, and cleaning. The implementation of an adequate respiratory protection program (including selection of the correct respirator) requires that a knowledgeable person be in charge of the program and that the program be evaluated regularly. For additional information on the selection and use of respirators and on the medical screening of respirator users, consult the latest edition of the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic [NIOSH 1987b] and the NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection [NIOSH 1987a].

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Workers should use appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment that must be carefully selected, used, and maintained to be effective in preventing skin contact with benzo[b]fluoranthene. The selection of the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., gloves, sleeves, encapsulating suits) should be based on the extent of the worker's potential exposure to benzo[b]fluoranthene. There are no published reports on the resistance of various materials to permeation by benzo[b]fluoranthene.

To evaluate the use of PPE materials with benzo[b]fluoranthene, users should consult the best available performance data and manufacturers' recommendations. Significant differences have been demonstrated in the chemical resistance of generically similar PPE materials (e.g., butyl) produced by different manufacturers. In addition, the chemical resistance of a mixture may be significantly different from that of any of its neat components.

Any chemical-resistant clothing that is used should be periodically evaluated to determine its effectiveness in preventing dermal contact. Safety showers and eye wash stations should be located close to operations that involve benzo[b]fluoranthene.

Splash-proof chemical safety goggles or face shields (20 to 30 cm long, minimum) should be worn during any operation in which a solvent, caustic, or other toxic substance may be splashed into the eyes.

In addition to the possible need for wearing protective outer apparel (e.g., aprons, encapsulating suits), workers should wear work uniforms, coveralls, or similar full-body coverings that are laundered each day. Employers should provide lockers or other closed areas to store work and street clothing separately. Employers should collect work clothing at the end of each work shift and provide for its laundering. Laundry personnel should be informed about the potential hazards of handling contaminated clothing and instructed about measures to minimize their health risk.

Protective clothing should be kept free of oil and grease and should be inspected and maintained regularly to preserve its effectiveness.

Protective clothing may interfere with the body's heat dissipation, especially during hot weather or during work in hot or poorly ventilated work environments.

REFERENCES

ACGIH [1991]. Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

ACGIH [1994]. 1994-1995 Threshold limit values for chemical substances and physical agents and biological exposure indices. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

ATS [1987]. Standardization of spirometry -- 1987 update. American Thoracic Society. Am Rev Respir Dis 136:1285-1296.

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