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Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles |
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| Hazards and Solutions |
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Coal tar pitch volatiles (CTPVs) are found in
the industry
when heating of coal tar or coal tar pitch takes place. Once the
pitch is heated, chemicals vaporize and may be inhaled
by workers. Industries where workers are potentially exposed to CTPVs
include coking, roofing, road paving, aluminum smelting, wood preserving
and any others where coal tar is used. The following references aid
in recognizing coal tar pitch volatiles hazards in the workplace.
Hazard Recognition
- Evaluation
of Employee Health Risk from Open Tire Burning.
California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), Local
Enforcement Agency (LEA) Advisory #46, (1997,
November 6). Provides a compilation of available
information through literature review, known tire fire data, and
other available information.
-
Coke Oven Emissions. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). Contains information
on health hazard estimates from exposure to coke oven
emissions which involve
coal tar pitch volatiles.
- ToxFAQs
for Creosote. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (2002,
September).
Possible Solutions
Engineering controls are the best methods
for controlling exposure to CTPVs. Engineering controls include
local and dilution ventilation, isolating and/or containing
processes that emit CTPVs,
and where possible, automated handling of coal tar products that
generate CTPVs in open systems.
Respirators may also be worn by individuals exposed to CTPVs to
keep their exposures below the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL),
and protective clothing may be used to prevent skin contact with
coal tars and coal-tar products, including CTPVs. However, personal protective equipment (PPE) should
be the last line of defense.
The following table presents exposure limits
established for CTPVs and related substances.
PEL = Permissible Exposure Limit
REL = Recommended Exposure Limit
TLV = Threshold Limit Value
PAHS = Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
| Substance |
OSHA PEL |
NIOSH REL |
ACGIH TLV |
| CTPVs |
0.2 mg/m3 (benzene-
soluble fraction) |
0.1 mg/m3(cyclohexane-
extractable fraction) |
0.2 mg/m3 (benzene-soluble
fraction) |
| PAHs |
0.2 mg/m3 |
0.1 mg/m3 (10 hour
exposure) |
-- |
| Coke Oven Emissions |
0.150 mg/m3 (benzene-soluble
fraction) |
0.5-0.7 mg/m3 |
-- |
Values are for an 8 hour time-weighted-average (TWA) exposure, except for the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) REL for PAHs,
which is based on a 10 hour TWA exposure.
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