['Toxic and Hazardous Substances - OSHA']
['Butadiene']
01/04/2024
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1,3-butadiene (BD) is a chemical made from the processing of petroleum. It is a colorless gas with a mild gasoline-like odor. About 75% of the manufactured 1,3-butadiene is used to make synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber is widely used for tires on cars and trucks. 1,3-Butadiene is also used to make plastics including acrylics. Small amounts are found in gasoline.
Exposure to 1,3-butadiene occurs mainly from breathing contaminated air. This chemical has been found in at least seven of 1,416 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency.
OSHA has set an occupational exposure limit of 1,000 parts of 1,3-butadiene per million parts of air (1,000 ppm). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that 1,3-butadiene be kept to the lowest feasible concentration because of its potential to cause cancer.
You can be exposed to 1,3-butadiene from the following routes:
- Breathing urban and suburban air, but these levels are generally very low except in polluted cities or near chemical, plastic, and rubber facilities that use it.
- Breathing contaminated workplace air where it is manufactured or used.
- Breathing contaminated air from car and truck exhaust, waste incineration, or wood fires.
- Breathing cigarette smoke.
- Drinking contaminated water near production or waste sites.
- Ingesting foods contained in plastic or rubber food containers, but levels are generally very low or not present at all.
- Skin contact with gasoline, but levels are low.
Scope
Section 1910.1051 applies to all occupational exposures to 1,3-Butadiene (BD), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 106-99-0, except as provided in paragraph 1910.1051(a)(2).
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1910.1051— 1,3 Butadiene
Key definitions
- Action level: A concentration of airborne BD of 0.5 ppm calculated as an eight (8)-hour time-weighted average
- Authorized person: Any person specifically designated by the employer, whose duties require entrance into a regulated area, or a person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees to exercise the right to observe monitoring and measuring procedures under paragraph 1910.1051(d)(8), or a person designated under the Act or regulations issued under the Act to enter a regulated area.
- 1,3-Butadiene: An organic compound with chemical formula CH2 =CH-CH=CH2 that has a molecular weight of approximately 54.15 gm/mole.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): Laboratory tests performed on whole blood specimens and includes the following: White blood cell count (WBC), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hgb), differential count of white blood cells, red blood cell morphology, red blood cell indices, and platelet count.
- Emergency situation: Any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment that may or does result in an uncontrolled significant release of BD.
- Employee exposure: Exposure of a worker to airborne concentrations of BD which would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protective equipment.
- Objective data: Monitoring data, or mathematical modeling or calculations based on composition, chemical and physical properties of a material, stream or product.
- Permissible Exposure Limits, PELs: Either the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (8-hr TWA) exposure or the Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL).
- Physician or other licensed healthcare professional: An individual whose legally permitted scope of practice (i.e., license, registration, or certification) allows him or her to independently provide or be delegated the responsibility to provide one or more of the specific healthcare services required by paragraph (k) of this section.
- Regulated area: Any area where airborne concentrations of BD exceed or can reasonably be expected to exceed the 8-hour time weighted average (8-hr TWA) exposure of 1 ppm or the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 5 ppm for 15 minutes.
Summary of requirements
Employers must:
- Ensure that no employee is exposed to 1,3-Butadiene above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 1 part 1,3-Butadiene per million parts of air (ppm) measured as an 8 hour time-weighted average (TWA).
- Ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of 1,3-Butadiene in excess of 5 parts of 1,3-Butadiene per million parts of air (5 ppm) over a sampling period of 15 minutes.
- Determine each employee’s exposure by:
- Taking a 15-minute personal breathing zone air sample of each employee’s short-term exposure limit (STEL) exposure; and
- Taking personal breathing zone air samples that are representative of each employee’s 8-hour time-weighted average exposure.
- Establish regulated areas where airborne concentrations of 1,3-Butadiene exceed, or may reasonably be expected to exceed the PEL, the time-weighted average, or the STEL.
- Establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce employee exposure (to the PEL or below) by the use of engineering and work practice controls, and by the use of respiratory protection where permitted.
- Establish and implement an exposure goal program to limit employee exposure to below the action level during normal operations.
- Provide a respirator that complies with the requirements of the standard at no cost to each affected employee, and must ensure its proper use.
- Provide at no cost to each affected employee personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing to prevent contact with 1,3-Butadiene.
- Develop a written plan for emergency situations, or modify an existing plan to include information regarding employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans (1910.38), and hazardous waste operations and emergency responses, as outlined in 1910.120, for each workplace where the possibility of an emergency exists.
- Make medical surveillance available for employees who are, or may be exposed to 1,3-Butadiene.
- Communicate the hazards of 1,3-Butadiene through the use of labels and in material safety data sheets (MSDSs) in accordance with the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200.
- Provide information and training for each affected employee before, or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to 1,3-Butadiene.
- Establish and maintain an accurate record of all monitoring data, as well as objective data, used to demonstrate that the processing, use, or handling of 1,3-Butadiene products is exempt from requirements of the standard for initial monitoring.
- Require employees to wear a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) when working with 1,3-Butadiene.
| 1,3-Butadiene | CAS 106-99-0 |
| CH2=CHCH=CH2 | RTECS EI9275000 |
| Synonyms & Trade NamesBiethylene, Bivinyl, Butadiene, Divinyl, Erythrene, Vinylethylene | DOT ID & Guide1010 116P (inhibited) |
| Exposure Limits | NIOSH REL: Ca |
| OSHA PEL: [1910.1051] TWA 1 ppm ST 5 ppm | |
| IDLH Ca [2000 ppm] [10%LEL] | Conversion 1 ppm = 2.21 mg/m3 |
| Physical DescriptionColorless gas with a mild aromatic or gasoline-like odor. [Note: A liquid below 24°F. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.] | |||
| MW: 54.1 | BP: 24°F | FRZ: -164°F | Sol: Insoluble |
| VP: 2.4 atm | IP: 9.07 eV | RGasD: 1.88 | Sp.Gr: 0.65 (Liquid at 24°F) |
| Fl.P: NA (Gas) -105°F (Liquid) | UEL: 12.0% | LEL: 2.0% | |
| Flammable Gas Class IA Flammable Liquid | |||
| Incompatibilities & Reactivities Phenol, chlorine dioxide, copper, crotonaldehyde [Note: May contain inhibitors (such as tributylcatechol) to prevent self-polymerization. May form explosive peroxides upon exposure to air.] | |||
| Measurement MethodCharcoal tube(2); CH2Cl2; Gas chromatography/Flame ionization detection; IV [#1024] |
| Personal Protection &
Sanitation Skin: Frostbite Eyes: Frostbite Wash skin: N.R. Remove: When wet (flammable) Change: N.R. Provide: Frostbite | First Aid Eye: Frostbite Skin: Frostbite Breathing: Respiratory support |
| Respirator Recommendations
NIOSH At concentrations above the NIOSH REL, or where there is no REL, at any detectable concentration: (APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode/(APF = 10,000) Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus Escape: (APF = 50) Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted canister providing protection against the compound of concern/Any appropriate escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus | |
| Exposure Routes inhalation, skin and/or eye contact (liquid) | |
| Symptoms irritation eyes, nose, throat; drowsiness, lightheadedness; liquid: frostbite; teratogenic, reproductive effects; [Potential occupational carcinogen] | |
| Target Organs Eyes, respiratory system, central nervous system, reproductive system | |
| Cancer Site [hematopoietic cancer] | |
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Copyright 2024 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.