| Abstract |
A walk through survey at the Deer Park complex of Shell Oil Company (SIC-2869), Deer Park, Texas, was conducted in May, 1984. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information on the 1,3-butadiene (106990) manufacturing process and to assess the potential for exposure to 1,3-butadiene. The company manufactured 1,3-butadiene by the ethylene coproduct process, using acetonitrile as the solvent for extractive distillation. The production process was enclosed. The process included on line gas chromatographs for quality control determinations. Manual bomb samples were also taken for analysis using a closed loop sampling system that recycled the bomb contents back to the process line. The work force was trained in the concept and practice of controlling workplace emissions. Standardized equipment decontamination procedures using washing with water or steam, or nitrogen purging were utilized. The company had medical, industrial hygiene, and safety programs that were closely coordinated. Company industrial hygiene monitoring data for the period 1979 to 1983 showed the geometric mean of all 1,3-butadiene concentrations to be 4.6 parts per million. The author concludes that the potential for exposure to 1,3-butadiene at the facility is low. |
