| Abstract |
The halogenated ethanes 1,2-dichloroethane; 1,1,1-trichlorethane; and 1,1,2-trichlorethane are used as chemical intermediates and in metal working operations, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have in the past been used by the tens of millions of pounds in various roles in American industry. Because of the widespread use and hazardous or potentially carcinogenic nature of these compounds, a study was performed to determine the degree of protection which was afforded against these compounds by certain protective garment materials. The materials evaluated in these studies have included: butyl rubber, milled nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber latex, nitrile rubber latex, polyethylene, poly(vinyl alcohol), surgical rubber latex, Teflon, and Viton as well as the following composite or multilayered materials: butyl-coated nylon, polyethylene-coated Tyvek, polyurethane-coated nylon, and poly(vinyl chloride)-coated nylon. The breakthrough time at which each liquid phase compound permeated these materials was studied by the time lag method. For the noncomposite materials, the results of these breakthrough studies were correlated with their equilibrium weight changes following immersion in the test liquids. Results of these studies have shown that most materials currently used in the construction of protective garment material in the United States are of a generally unsatisfactory nature with respect to protecting the worker against the halogenated ethanes and the PCB used in this study. (ERA citation 06:005158) |
