Also, to illustrate the
difference
between ‘smelling’ some chemical and being over exposed to
it, 3-M
has a good selection of ‘odor thresholds’ for a wide variety
of
chemical in their respirator cartridge selection
literature
-Russ
Russell Vernon,
Ph.D.
russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**ucr.edu
www.ehs.ucr.edu
(951) 827-5119
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu]
On Behalf Of Dr. Jay A. Young
Sent: Monday, February
09, 2009
8:33 AM
To:
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L]
Working
with chemicals and anosmia
Your inquiry suggests that you have been told
that
the odor of a volatile chemical is a warning that you are potentially
subject
to harm from inhaling that chemical.
That belief is a half-true myth. For
most
chemicals, if you can smell them there is no indication that they are
harmful
or harmless. To determine if the vapors of a volatile chemical are
in the
breathing air at or greater than a harmful concentration, one should use
air-sampling techniques.
For that, hire yourself a chemical
hygienist.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday,
February 06, 2009 8:27 PM
Subject: [DCHAS-L]
Working with chemicals and anosmia
I am looking
for any
developed SOPs or protocols that can be used by a person who has anosmia
(complete
loss of smell) and works in a chemical research environment. Any
information that I can use to help protect this worker will be
useful.
Thanks,
Sammye
-
**********************************************
*****************************************
Don’t always believe what you
think.
Samuella
B. Sigmann, NRCC-CHO
Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair
A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry
Appalachian State
University
525
Rivers Street
Boone,
NC 28608
Phone: 828 262 2755
Fax: 828 262 6558
Email: sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu
