Emerson Process Management OXYMITTER 4000 - Manual (Page 25)

Instruction Manual
IB-106-340C Rev. 4.1
July 2004
Rosemount Analytical Inc. A Division of Emerson Process Management P-17
Hazardous Area Oxymitter 4000
SECTION V. HEALTH HAZARD DATA
THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(See Section III)
EFFECTS OF OVER EXPOSURE
EYE
Avoid contact with eyes. Slightly to moderately irritating. Abrasive action may cause damage to outer surface
of eye.
INHALATION
May cause respiratory tract irritation. Repeated or prolonged breathing of particles of respirable size may cause
inflammation of the lung leading to chest pain, difficult breathing, coughing and possible fibrotic change in the
lung (Pneumoconiosis). Pre-existing medical conditions may be aggravated by exposure: specifically, bron-
chial hyper-reactivity and chronic bronchial or lung disease.
INGESTION
May cause gastrointestinal disturbances. Symptoms may include irritation and nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
SKIN
Slightly to moderate irritating. May cause irritation and inflammation due to mechanical reaction to sharp, bro-
ken ends of fibers.
EXPOSURE TO USED CERAMIC FIBER PRODUCT
Product which has been in service at elevated temperatures (greater than 1800ºF/982ºC) may undergo partial
conversion to cristobalite, a form of crystalline silica which can cause severe respiratory disease (Pneumoco-
niosis). The amount of cristobalite present will depend on the temperature and length of time in service. (See
Section IX for permissible exposure levels).
SPECIAL TOXIC EFFECTS
The existing toxicology and epidemiology data bases for RCF’s are still preliminary. Information will be up-
dated as studies are completed and reviewed. The following is a review of the results to date:
EPIDEMIOLOGY
At this time there are no known published reports demonstrating negative health outcomes of workers exposed
to refractory ceramic fiber (RCF). Epidemiologic investigations of RCF production workers are ongoing.
1) There is no evidence of any fibrotic lung disease (interstitial fibrosis) whatsoever on x-ray.
2) There is no evidence of any lung disease among those employees exposed to RCF that had never smoked.
3) A statistical “trend” was observed in the exposed population between the duration of exposure to RCF and a
decrease in some measures of pulmonary function. These observations are clinically insignificant. In other words, if
these observations were made on an individual employee, the results would be interpreted as being within the
normal range.
4) Pleural plaques (thickening along the chest wall) have been observed in a small number of employees who had a
long duration of employment. There are several occupational and non-occupational causes for pleural plaque. It
should be noted that plaques are not “pre-cancer” nor are they associated with any measurable effect on lung
function.