17 nov 20061 exposure assessment of airborne cocaine generated during the manufacture of drug dog...
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EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF AIRBORNE COCAINE GENERATED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF
DRUG DOG TRAINING AIDS
S. Smallets Jr., MS, CIH
NAVMEDCEN Portsmouth
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Military Working Dog Program
Part of DoD war against drugs Established at Lackland AF Base, Texas in 1990
Provides training for drug detection dogs
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Military Working Dog Program Training for dogs and
handlers requires training aids
Training aids are ventilated canisters containing one of the common street drugs
Prepared exclusively by NCIS Regional Forensic Laboratory (NCIS RFL)
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Personnel Exposure to Drugs Several researchers have looked at passive
cocaine exposures in occupational settings Dermal absorption during application as local
anesthetic. L.S. Fitzmaurice et al. TAC use and absorption of cocaine in a pediatric emergency department. Ann. Emergency Med. 19:515-518 (1990)
Handling contaminated money. M. A. ElSohly. Urinalysis and casual handling of marijuana and cocaine. J. Anal. Toxicol. 15:46 (1991)
Handling large quantities of cocaine. S. D. Le et. al. Occupational exposure to cocaine involving crime laboratory personnel. J. Forensic Sci 37:959-968 (1992)
Laboratory personnel preparing cocaine training aids for a military working dog program. J. M. Gelhausen et al Urine Analysis of laboratory personnel preparing cocaine training aids for a military working dog program. J. Anal. Toxicol. 25:637-640 (2001)
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Personnel Exposure to Drugs Drug screening (urinalysis) of NCIS
RFL personnel by Navy Drug Screening Laboratory (NDSL) between December 1999 and January 2001 28 of 233 urine samples had detectable
levels of benzoylecgonine (BZE) The possibility of a positive drug test due to
on-the-job exposure can be a concern
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Personnel Exposure to Drugs Issues
Legal consequences could arise for laboratory employees participating in a DoD civilian drug testing program
Uncertainty of health effects of long term low level exposure to various street drugs is also of concern
Navy Drug Screening Lab (NDSL) and NCIS RFL requested an IH evaluation of cocaine exposure resulting from manufacture of training aids
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IH Exposure Assessment Quantify levels of cocaine in the air-Baseline
Personnel preparing training aids Other lab and administrative personnel
Evaluate use of PPE and housekeeping Determine urine BZE as a marker for cocaine
exposure Implement procedural changes to minimize
occupational exposure Determine effectiveness of changes-Followup
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IH Exposure Assessment-Air Sampling No NIOSH/OSHA method for sampling
cocaine in air “Occupational Exposure to Cocaine Involving
Crime Lab Personnel”, Journal of Forensic Sciences, JFSCA, Vol. 37, No 4, July 1992 pp.059-968
Impingers – 15 ml water with 30 mg ascorbic acid; sample at 1 l/m
Analysis done by GC-MS by NDSL Jacksonville, FL
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Sampling Train
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Impingers with trap
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No OSHA or ACGIH OEL Personal Breathing Zone air sampling
4 chemists engaged in training aid manufacture General Area air sampling
3 locations Urinalysis-BZE
Chemists, other lab workers, administrative personnel Surface sampling (cobalt thiocyanate) and
observation Work surfaces Respirators
Ventilation-Lab Hoods
IH Exposure Assessment-Method
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Reception*
Laboratory*
Lab Hood Work Bench (Sealing)
Lab Bench (Weighing and Stuffing Trial 1)
Latents Office*
NCIS Forensic Lab Layout
Latents Lab
Instrument Room
Lab Director
Senior Chemist
* GA Sample location
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NCIS RF Laboratory
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Manufacture Process 2 steps
Preparation (1 chemist) Un-package seized cocaine Weigh and grind in mortar and pestle
Fabrication (3 chemists) 5, 3, 2, 1 g quantities are weighed using plastic tray and
scale (Weighing) Material is put into bindles (Stuffing) Bindles are placed in metal container (Sealing)
400 – 500 grams of cocaine processed
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Characterize Exposure- Tasks - Preparation
Confiscated Material Unpacking
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Characterize Exposure- Tasks - Preparation
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Characterize Exposure- Tasks - Preparation
WeighingGrinding
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Exposure AssessmentRespirators, Skin contact
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IH Exposure Assessment-Housekeeping
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Characterize Exposure-
Tasks Fabrication
Weighing Setup Stuffing Setup
Lab bench covered with brown paper
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Characterize Exposure-
Tasks Fabrication
Weighing Scale Plastic tray 5, 3, 2, or 1
gram quantities
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Characterize Exposure-
Tasks Fabrication Stuffing
Bindles are constructed from pre-folded filter paper (Whatman #4)
Material is poured into bindles using a funnel
Stapled
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Characterize Exposure-
Tasks Fabrication
Sealing Bindles are placed in 3 oz
tin seamless slipcover cans.
Cans have 7 pre-punched holes for ventilation of substance odor
Can is secured with lead disc seals
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Characterize Exposure-
Tasks Fabrication Metal containers
then placed in mailing envelopes
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PBZ Results Trial 1 by Task
Weighing(mg/m3)
Stuffing(mg/m3)
Sealing(mg/m3)
Preparation(mg/m3)
0.0644 0.2417 0.0098 0.4004
0.3102 0.182 0.0147 ----------
0.0526 0.1454 0.0054 ----------
0.0762 0.0651 0.0125 ----------
0.1258 0.1585 0.0106 0.4004Average
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8 Hr TWA’s and Urine BZE Trial 1
Worker ID8 Hr TWA(mg/m3)
Highest BZE(ng/ml)
W 0.0699 36
H 0.0443 23
A 0.0269 ND
G 0.0292 47
9 others tested for BZE, 2 < 12 ng/ml and 7 ND
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Recommendations Reduce amount of dust in breathing zone
Dust not well controlled, observation showed dust on surfaces Perform preparation and manufacturing tasks in the available lab
hoods instead of lab bench Prevent inhalation of dust that reaches breathing zone
Inside of respirators tested positive using cobalt thiocyanate, variety of respirators, no training, no fit testing
Obtain NIOSH approved respirators, training and fit testing Prevent absorption of cocaine by skin contact
Observation showed opportunity for skin contact Avoid skin contact, don’t roll up lab coat sleeves
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Modified Preparation Set up
Average face velocity 80 fpm
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Modified Preparation
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Modified Weighing and Stuffing
70-80 fpm Hood interfered with balance,
ventilation used intermittently
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Sealing
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PBZ Results Trial 2 by Task
Weighing(mg/m3)
Stuffing(mg/m3)
Sealing(mg/m3)
Preparation(mg/m3)
0.0373 0.0201 0.0202 0.2215
0.0337 0.0106 0.0117 ----------
0.0287 0.0679 0.0110 ----------
0.0045 0.0181 0.0159 ----------
0.0251 0.0291 0.0147 0.2215Average
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8 Hr TWA’s and Urine BZETrial 2
Worker ID8 Hr TWA(mg/m3)
Highest BZE (ng/ml)
W 0.0116 ND
H 0.0181 <12
A 0.0112 13
G 0.0175 17
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Task Air Sample Average Concentration Comparison
00.050.1
0.150.2
0.250.3
0.350.4
0.45
Task
Air
Co
ncen
trati
on
(m
g/m
3)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 1 0.4004 0.12585 0.1584 0.0106
Trial 2 0.2215 0.026 0.0293 0.0147
Preparation Weighing Stuffing Sealing
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00.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.08
Individual
Air
Co
nce
ntr
atio
n
(mg
/m3)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 1 0.0696 0.0431 0.0292 0.0269
Trial 2 0.0116 0.0181 0.0175 0.0112
W H G A
Chemist 8 Hr TWA Comparison
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Urine BZE Comparison
0
10
20
30
40
50
Employee ID
BZ
E (
ng
/ml)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 1 36 23 1 47
Trial 2 1 1 13 17
W H A G
All values =1 were ND
12 LOD
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General Area Sample Comparison
Airborne Cocaine (mg/m3)
Baseline Follow-up
Area Background Grinding Mk Trg Aid Background Grinding Mk Trg Aid
Reception <0.0022 <0.0016 <0.0007 0.0210 0.0004 0.0011
Latents <0.0022 0.0019 0.0033 0.0045 0.0055 0.0082
Lab <0.0022 0.0062 0.0144 <0.0022 0.010 0.0043
Baseline- HVAC inoperable
Follow-up- HVAC operating
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Conclusions-Thoughts Consistent with previous reports i.e.
occupational exposure to cocaine can lead to positive BZE
Noted reductions in BZE suggest that improved use of PPE particularly respirators and the increased use of ventilation can be effective in mitigating occupational exposure
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Acknowledgements
H. R. Hayes, CIH (NMCP) D. C. Brunick (NEHC) D. L. Deary (NMCP) LT. J. Gehlhausen (NDSL) J. A. Given (NCISRFL)