Reducing Iodine Exposure at Disinfectant Manufacturing

Company in India

Presented by:

Awadh Kulkarni

International Safety Systems, Inc.

Study Objective

• Determine employee exposure to Iodine

• Recommend exposure controls to reduce exposures

• Determine exposure contributory factors

• Verify the exposure after recommendations are implemented

Health Effects

• Target organ is thyroid gland

• Potential health effects:

– Disturbed heartbeats and loss of weight.

• Studies have also shown that excessive iodineintakes cause thyroiditis and thyroid papillarycancer

Exposure Limits

• The ACGIH, 2012 Threshold Limit Value (TLV)-TimeWeighted Average (TWA) for Iodine is 0.01 ppm andTLV – Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) is 0.1 ppm.

• The Indian Factories Act prescribed Permissible Limitof Exposure (PLE) – Ceiling Limit for Iodine is 0.1 ppm

Exposure Assessment

• Iodine exposure was evaluated during weighing andcharging of Iodine pills at a disinfectantmanufacturing site

• Short term samples and full shift samples werecollected for the charging and weighing of Iodine.

• Sampling was conducted over a period of 3 days

Sampling and Analytical Methods• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

(NIOSH) recommended air sampling and analytical methodswere used for monitoring

• Sampling Methodology and Instrumentation– Air sampling pump – flow rate of 0.5 liters/min– Primary Calibrator– Sampling media – 226-80; impregnated activated beaded

carbon (IABC)

• Analytical Methods– American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) accredited

laboratory analyzed the sample– Limit of Quantification: 3 μg– Modified OSHA ID-212 method was used for the analysis of the

samples

Activities Sampled

• Iodine pills were dispensed in a poly bag usinga scoop and weighed manually

• The poly bag was then handed over to theperson who charged iodine pills manually

• Short term exposure monitoring wasconducted for Iodine during weighing andcharging of Iodine pills

• Also full-shift exposure monitoring wasconducted during disinfectant manufacturing

Weighing only Short Term Exposure Results of 2010 and 2011

0.36

0.13

0.27

< 0.013 < 0.021 < 0.0250

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

1 2 3

Iod

ine

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

in p

pm

)

Samples

Result Comparison: Weighing of Iodine (Short Term Samples)

2010

2011

Weighing and Manufacturing TWA Full-shift sampling results of 2010 and 2011

0.014

0.011

0.014

0.003

< 0.0013

0.0024

0

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.01

0.012

0.014

0.016

1 2 3

Iod

ine

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n (

in p

pm

)

Samples

Result Comparison: Weighing of Iodine (Full-shift Samples)

2010

2011

Contributory Factors and Recommendations

• LEV was not effective in reducing exposure

– Partially closed with flaps

• Empty bag handling

• Shaking of empty bags

• Recommendations were made to reduceexposure and improve respiratory protection

Improved LEV

Port for disposing empty bags

Opening through which gloves are used

Findings

• TWA exposure during weighing and chargingwas reduced by 21% for full shift samples afterimplantation of recommendations

• Short-Term exposure during weighing wasreduced below the detection limit for theshort term samples after repeat monitoringstudy

• Improved LEV contributed in reducingexposures

Implemented Recommendations

• Local exhaust ventilation with canopy hood

• Improved work practices including disposal ofempty poly bags through port in LEV

• Training to employees to improve the workpractices

Conclusion

• Exposure assessment process was effective inidentifying exposure and contributory factors

• Installation of LEV equipped with canopy hoodreduced exposures below exposure limits

• The site leadership team recognizedcontribution of implementing industrialhygiene principles in reducing overall potentialoccupational health risk.

THANK YOU