 |
Chemical Sampling Information |
|
| Starch (Total Dust) |
|
General Description
Synonyms: Corn starch; Rice starch; Sorghum gum; alpha-Starch; Starch gum; Tapioca starch
OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2263
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 9005-25-8
NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: GM5090000
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Starch: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 15 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 15 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 10 mg/m3 TWA; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 10 mg/m3 TWA
Health Factors
Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, mucous membranes; rhinorrhea, cough, chest pain; dermatitis.
Health Effects: Nuisance particulate (HE19)
Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system
Notes: 1) Starch is a noncombustible, but under certain circumstances its dust may represent an explosion hazard (see OSHA, 2005). 2) Allergic contact dermatitis (urticaria) from cornstarch powder in latex gloves has been reported in health-care workers. 3) Airborne starch particles have been measured in hospital rooms where powdered latex gloves were used. 4) An inhalational study in healthy human volunteers exposed to cornstarch surgical glove powder at a median total dust concentration of 5.9 mg/m3 (respirable 0.62 mg/m3; ~40% organic, rest MgO) for one hour resulted in a 3-fold increase in inflammatory cells (eosinophilic granulocytes, alveolar macrophages, CD4+ T-cells) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. 5) In one potato processing plant, workers pouring sacks of potato starch and corn starch during the production of "potato syrup" were exposed to airborne dust in the range of 115-200 mg/m3. The health effects of this exposure were not reported, but other authors consider airborne endotoxin to have an important role in the work-related symptoms of potato-processing workers.
Date Last Revised: 10/11/2005
Literature Basis:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Starch.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Starch.
- OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB 07-31-2005): Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions.
- Crippa, M. and Pasolini, G.: Allergic reaction due to glove-lubricant-powder in health-care workers. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 70(6): 399-402, 1997.
- Dutkiewicz, J., Krysińska-Traczyk, E., Skórska, C., Cholewa, G. and Sitkowska, J.: Exposure to airborne microorganisms and endotoxin in a potato processing plant. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 9(2): 225-235, 2002.
- Ewers, L.M. and Tapp, L.C.: Endotoxin exposures during potato processing. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 16(12): 1079-1087, 2001.
- Grunewald, J., et al.: Lung accumulations of eosinophil granulocytes after exposure to cornstarch glove powder. Eur. Respir. J. 21(4): 646-651, 2003.
- Newsom, S.W. and Shaw, M.: A survey of starch particle counts in the hospital environment in relation to the use of powdered latex gloves. Occup. Med. (Lond.) 47(3): 155-158, 1997.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
* All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Page last updated: 04/11/2006
|
|
Back to Top
www.osha.gov
