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Chris Everts, Ph.D., P.E. Sr. Engineer Chris.Everts@woodplc.com

Kirk Sweetland, Sr. Principal Kirk.Sweetland@woodplc.com

Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. Peoria, Illinois 309-692-4422

Odor as an Industrial Hygiene Indicator

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Background-General Info

Odor- Relevancy to IH Aspects

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UNBELIEVABLE STORIES FROM THE SET OF 'DELIVERANCE' AND OTHER FAMOUS MOVIES

THE MAKING OF DELIVERANCE WAS A SURVIVAL STORY TO RIVAL THE ONE ON SCREEN. RAPIDS ARE THE LEAST DANGEROUS THING THEY HAVE TO FACE.SEE MORE

SPONSORED CONTENT BY

Aldermen criticized Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans, who had been ordered to testify, for not showing up. Aaron Frame, deputy commissioner of environment, said Evans had a "prior commitment" and could not change her schedule.[MOST READ] AS A MAN SHINED A FLASHLIGHT INTO CARS ON HIS BLOCK, A FOID CARD HOLDER CALLED 911, LOADED HIS GUN AND WAITED. NOW HE’S CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. »

"It's too bad the commissioner isn't here to hear the concerns of these good people," Burke said.Frame said the department has heard from about 86 homeowners, mostly from around Midway but also a few near O'Hare International Airport, complaining about odors from their windows.Frame said city representatives have so far extended agreements to replace windows at 20 homes where odors have been confirmed. The Aviation Department also plans laboratory testing, as well as testing in the homes, to determine the cause and nature of the smell."We take this issue very seriously," said Frame. He said the city would replace windows it confirms to be defective.The windows were installed by Sound Solutions, a company that went out of business in 2014 and cannot honor warranties, according to the city. So the Aviation Department is on the hook for replacing the windows.[MOST READ] FEB. 23, 2014: SECURITY GUARD FOR CHICAGO RAPPER TWISTA FOUND SHOT TO DEATH, BURNED IN SOUTH SIDE HOME »

Homeowners at the hearing complained that the department was moving too slowly. Some complained that city representatives have made misleading statements about the problem.Zidarich said a city contractor gave her the wrong information in May when he said that if her windows were replaced over the smell, she would be the first. The city has since acknowledged that another homeowner's windows were replaced because of a bad smell in 2015.The homes received the windows under the department's Residential Sound Insulation Program, which has provided noise-reducing protection to 10,173 homes in the Midway area since 1996 at the cost of about $25,000 each, Frame said. The insulation was paid for with airport Amec Foster Wheeler Environmental & Infrastructure Inc., in the business of air quality sampling and testing, will test a sample of windows in a lab to establish parameters and then test in homes, according to the city. Aviation Department spokeswoman Lauren Huffman explain But some residents expressed wariness about signing any agreement that could relieve the city of all liability.[MOST READ] COLUMN: DOW DROPS MORE AFTER TRUMP’S UNCONVINCING ‘CALM DOWN ABOUT CORONAVIRUS’ MESSAGE. BLAME MIKE PENCE. »

Vicki and Rich Whitney at first thought the odor they smelled in their South Latrobe Avenue home was coming from their fireplace. The city has since confirmed the odor is from their windows, installed in October 2011. Rich Whitney, 76, told the Tribune he has been having debi AdvertisementThe Whitneys said that a couple of weeks after the odor was confirmed by city officials, they were told their windows would be replaced by temporary windows, which would then be replaced by sound-insulating windows — a big, two-part job. Recently, they got another offer from The Whitneys and Zidarich said they want their windows tested before they sign anything."We want to find out, be assured, through a reliable scientific or medical source, that there is indeed no health hazards coming from these windows," said Vicki Whitney.

Breaking News NewsletterAs it happens

DefaultDefaultDefaultDefaultDefaultDefaultDefaultWhiteOpaqueBlackOpaqueBlackTransparent100%NoneProportional Sans-Serif

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Key Industrial Hygiene Aspects :

TOXICITYFLAMMABILITY

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TOXICITY

Primary Basis for 29CFR 1910.1000/ Subpart Z (TABLES)

Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL’s): Regulatory Limits (Not Really Exposure Based)

Established 1971 Based on (adopted from) Walsh-Healy Public

Contracts Act- 1950’s/1960’s Pedigree's Based on 8-HR/Day/ 40 HR/WK/30 YR Exposures Design: Protective of 90% of Exposed Population

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TOXICITY

Basis for Toxic Limit Values (TLV’s: ACGIH)) & NIOSH Recommended Exposure Levels (REL’s)

True Occupational Exposure Levels (OELs) Not Regulatory (Recommended)More Protective Than PELs 8 HR/day/40 HR /WK/30 YR Exposures Designed to Be Protective of 99% of Exposed

Population

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OSHA Annotated Table Z-1(a)

Substance CAS No.(c)

Regulatory Limits Recommended Limits

OSHA PEL(b) Cal/OSHA PEL(f)

(as of 10/2/2019)NIOSH REL(g)

(as of 10/18/2019)ACGIH® 2019 TLV® (h)

ppm(d) mg/m3(e)8-hour TWA(ST) STEL(C) Ceiling

Up to 10-hour TWA(ST) STEL(C) Ceiling

8-hour TWA(ST) STEL(C) Ceiling

https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-pels/tablez-1.html

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FLAMMABILITY

Particularly Flash Point and Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) aka Lower Flammability Limit (LFL)

Critical Aspects of Emergency Response to Spills (29 CFR 1910.120 (p) and (q))

Flash Point

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FLASH POINT

Minimum temperature (set @std pressure of 1 atm) at which a liquid will produce sufficient vapors to form an ignitable mixture in air:

Examples:FIRE HAZARD

gasoline -45oF HIGHacetone 0oFMEK 20oFtoluene 40oFMIBK (2-But.) 57oFnormal room tempturpentine 95oFdiesel fuel 110oF LOW

Note: GHS “Flammable Liquid” 199.4o F (93 deg C)

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FLAMMABILITYLower Explosive Limit (LEL) aka Lower Flammability Limit (LFL)

Explosive Limits:Lower Explosive Limit

minimum concentration (%) of a substance in air which is required for ignitionUpper Explosive Limit

maximum concentration (%) of a substance in air which allows ignitionExplosive Range

concentration of substance in air between LEL/UEL which will readily ignite

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LEL/LFLs Of Common Chemicalshttps://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/explosive-concentration-limits-d_423.html

Fuel Gas “Lower Explosive or Flammable Limit”

(LEL/LFL-% Volume of Air)Gasoline ??Diesel FuelAcetoneMIBK (2-Butanone)Methyl ethyl Ketone (MEK)TolueneXyleneIPAEthanolNatural Gas (Methane)Mineral Spirits

Note! The limits indicated are for gas and air at 20oC and atmospheric pressure.

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LEL/LFLs Of Common Chemicalshttps://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/explosive-concentration-limits-d_423.html

Fuel Gas “Lower Explosive or Flammable Limit”

(LEL/LFL-% Volume of Air) Flash PointGasoline 1.4 -450FDiesel Fuel 0.6 110Acetone 2.6 0MIBK (2-Butanone) 1.2 57Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) 1.8 20Toluene 1.27 40Xylene 1.0 63-86IPA 2 55Ethanol 3.3 62Natural Gas (Methane) 5 -306Mineral Spirits (ie naphtha) 0.7 70-86 (low); 131 (high)

Note! The limits indicated are for gas and air at 20oC and atmospheric pressure.

OTHER: Chemical & Physical Properties

• pH/corrosivity• freezing point• melting point• boiling point• solubility• specific gravity• vapor density• vapor pressure• viscosity

• combustibility• flammability• reactivity• odor threshold

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QUESTION AT HAND:

CAN ODOR BE USED AS AN EFFECTIVE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE PARAMETER?

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Odors – When Can You Smell A Chemical?

Chemical PropertiesVolatility (vapor pressure)Odor Threshold

Physical ConditionsTemperatureVentilation Exposed Surface or

Volume Physical Barriers (lids,

partitions, etc.Receptor FactorsProximityIndividual Sensitivity to OdorsDuration of Exposure (Odor Fatigue)General HealthAwareness

WITCH HAZELW

AXY LEAVES

H LWWAXY

UNIQUE;FOUND IN

ROSES

UN

ES

EAL

ING,

-ane -

RM

&

PENETRATING

FATTY

TAMARIND

Organic ChemistryTable of organic compounds and their smells

cyclo-ane

2-methyl-anal

methyl-an-2-one

chloro-ane

bromo-ane

iodo diamino-ane

3-(4-t-butylphenyl)-anal-ane -ene -anol -an-2-ol -anal -enal -an-2-one -anoic acid -enoic acid anethiol -anamine -anenitrile -anolide

none doesn’t exist PUNGENT & TOXIC & LIKEto smell

SWEET

CEREAL SPERM SWEETRANCID UNIQUEALCOHOL BURNED NAIL VARNISHIRRITATING

BROWNSUGAR

skunk DEADANIMALS

RANCIDBUTTER

SHARP, UNIQUE

LIKE NAIL VARNISH

REMOVER

LILY SHARPBUTTERSCOTCHPLEASANT

SWEETPUNGENT &

SUFFOCATINGPUNGENT natural gasWINE SUFFOCAT

STRONGSTARTING ROASTEDMINT(4-methyl-)

HERBALMILD ANIMALSCUT ?enantiomers SWEET& CHOCOLATE

METHYLATED) ROTTING&

TOXIC,SWEET AND

AROMATICBenzene Phenol BALSAMICAcetophenone Aniline Benzonitrile

METHYLATED)

enantiomers

petrolPENETRATING, SEAWEEDARMPITSCITRUS-LIKE

? ? ? noneherb butter & STENCHenantiomers

FLOWERS OBNOXIOUS

MAKES SPERM UNABLE TO MOUSEWAXYKUMQUATS ? ? none

UNIQUE &

ROOTOBNOXIOUSUNPLEASANT

WOODUNIQUE &

CONSUMPTION UNIQUE &OBNOXIOUS

Version 1.2 Produced by James at jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com. Visit website for more infographics. Free to use!

meth-1 carbon

eth-2 carbons

prop-3 carbons

but-4 carbons

pent-5 carbons

hex-6 carbons

benzene different naming system is used

hept-7 carbons

oct-8 carbons

non-9 carbons

dec-10 carbons

undec-11 carbons

dodec-12 carbons

tridec-13 carbons

tetradec-14 carbons

pentadec-15 carbons

carbene istoo unstable doesn’t exist doesn’t exist doesn’t exist doesn’t exist doesn’t exist doesn’t exist doesn’t exist

PENETRATING MILDLY SWEET CHLOROFO SWEET, ACRID? doesn’t exist

none doesn’t exist doesn’t exist FRUITY, doesn’t existETHEREALdoesn’t exist doesn’t exist doesn’t exist

doesn’t exist VINEGAR doesn’t exist MILDLY ETHEREAL

SKUNK

SWEET, ACRID

doesn’t existETHEREAL

noneRUBBING WET ATTRACTS doesn’t exist SLIGHTLY SHARP MILDLY SWEET SHARP, none

GREEN COFFEE GREASE REMOVER ETHER

none

butanethiol

2-methyl butan-2-thiol

BANANA odorant

PLEASANT

FLUID

FRESHLY DEAD SWEET (SJ- and (RJ- PUNGENT NUTS GRASS & DISGUSTING PLEASANT, GARLIC &URINE

STARTING SWEETFLUID

FRESHLY CUT

GRASS

FRESHLY FRESHLYCUT CUT

GRASS GRASS? ATTRACTS GOATS ARMPITS (WHEN 3-

MICE(3-methyl-) AROMATIC

SLIGHTLY SWEET ? BURNED

FISH

n/a n/a

SICKENINGLY

TARRY doesn’t exist ? doesn’t exist doesn’t exist doesn’t exist AROMATIC doesn’texist

FRESHLY STRONG, CUT FRUITY GRASS (SJ- and (RJ- COGNAC

? ALMOND BAD RANCID ARMPITS (WHEN 3-

(2,6-dimethyl- BUTTER &heptanal) (6-methyl-)

noneSLIGHTLY

SWEET none&

CARAMEL

&

PETROL STRONG, -2-one

SWEET (SJ- and (RJ- -3-one

DIESEL CITRUS ATTRACTS MOSQUITO ? MILK ? RANCID ARMPITS

OLD PEOPLE

none none noneOBNOXIOUS

JET FUEL CITRUS ? BUCKWHEAT ? ? ? ARMPITS none none none

TALLOWNEW JET FUEL

?ALSO ANT ‘PANIC’

PHEROMONE

CITRUS ?FLOWERS

&

FIND THE EGG ALGERIAN PUNGENT & UNIQUE & PHEROMONEOIL OF RUE UNPLEASANT OBNOXIOUS &

MUSTY FLOWERS ? ? ? ? ? BAY OIL none ?UNPLEASANT OBNOXIOUS &

STINK-BUG PHEROMONE

? GRAPEFRUIT ROASTED ? ? WAXY ?PEELPLEASANT

? none ?UNIQUE &

none ANGELICA

KWAIPTCOHKWBUASH none

FLOAWVEERSS? ? ? ? ? ? ? none ? none CEDAR

WAX & NUTMEG UNPLEASANT OBNOXIOUS

? (ANT-CALMING PHEROMONE)

? FRESH ?

BIOMARKER? CORIANDER ? FOR DAIRY ? none

?

CELERY (No smell) UNPLEASANT

noneMUSK

ALKANES ALKENES ALCOHOLS ALDEHYDES KETONES CARBOXYLIC ACIDS HALOALKANES THIOLS AMINES NITRILES LACTONES

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• Isopropyl Alcohol• 32 Studies

• Detection Threshold ranged from 3.2 ppm to 2197 ppm

• Recognition Threshold ranged from 3.2 ppm to 203 ppm

• Odor threshold for all studies ranged from 1 ppm to 2197 ppm

• 3 Orders of Magnitude !

Hydrogen Sulfide• 60 Studies

• Detection Threshold ranged from 0.07 ppb to 130 ppb

• Recognition Threshold ranged from 4.5 ppb to 3600 ppb

• Odor threshold for all studies ranged from 0.04 ppb to 3600 ppb

• 5 Orders of Magnitude !

** Odor Thresholds for Chemicals with Established Health Standards, 2nd Ed. American Industrial Hygiene Association Fairfax, VA 1995

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Vapor and gas concentration units:mg/m3 - milligrams/cubic meter (mass / volume)ppm - parts per million (volume / volume)% by volume (LEL)

ARE NOT THE SAME Assuming atmospheric pressure and 74 deg F.:

Concentration in ppm = (conc. in mg/m3 ) * 24.32chemical molecular wt

Concentration in mg/m3 = (conc. in ppm) * chemical molecular wt24.32

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Conversion Example:

Table Z-1 Limit for ammonia = 50 ppm by volume

Ammonia Molecular wt. = 17 g/mole

Ammonia limit in mg/L = 50 ppm * 17 g/mole24.32

= 35 mg/m3 (mass/volume)

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LEL or LFL Generally Given in % by volume

1% by Volume = 10,000 ppm

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Know Your Chemicals:Information Sources

Toxicity:• Chemical Product Safety Data Sheets (GHS) – from manufacturer• Chemical Product Labels (GHS) – Cautions• NIOSH Guide: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/default.html • OSHA 1910.1000 Subpart Z

https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-pels/tablez-1.html

Odor Information:AIHA – Odor Thresholds for Chemicals with Established Occupational Health Standards. 1995

3M Respiratory Selection Guide (included for older editions –dropped from 2019 update)

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Take With You – Conclusions:1) Know your chemical properties

• LEL/LFL• Flash Point• OSHA PEL, TLVs, RELs• Odor Threshold

2) Odor is not well correlated with Toxicity

3) Odor in general is unreliable as a warning indicator

4) Odor may have some value in warning for LEL/LFL(odor thresholds generally lower than LEL/LFL)

5) Be wary of chemical mixtures

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Chris Everts, Ph.D., P.E. Chris.Everts@woodplc.com

Kirk Sweetland, Sr. Principal Kirk.Sweetland@woodplc.com

Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. 4232 N. Brandywine DrivePeoria, Il 61614309-692-4422