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Biological Monitoring of Industrial Cleaners following a Large Scale Chemical Incident-
a Complex (Mixture) Case Study
9th International Symposium on Biological Monitoring
9 - 11 September 2013, Manchester
Henri Heussen, PhD
www.ects.nl
5 January 2011
Response by:
• Police & fire brigade• Co-ordination centre for emergency
services. • Community Health Services• National Institute for Public Health &
the Environment
Authorities:immediate
• Special team: occupational physicians& hygienists, toxicologists
• 5 communication sessions for mostlypolicemen & firebrigade
• On site occupational health clinic• 100 consults with occupational
physician > follow up• Advice on biological monitoring
OccupationalHealth Service (OHS): upon
request - onlyafter 3 days!!
In the meantime……..conclusions afterwards by Labour inspection:
Hardly awareness among police, fire brigade, first aid etc. about risks of exposureUnnecessary exposure:
eating in the outdoor (sometimes down wind) in the first hours no adequate procedures fordecontamination of equipment & clothingfire brigade working with contaminated fire water had noadequate gloves
At least 160 of these employees had acute complaints withinthe first hours after the explosion9 employees 3 months later still complaints
irritation of eyes, mucous membranes & airwaysnauseadry lips and throat
Our observations:
More groups with exposure and complaints, ao.: journalists, delivery services, pregnant employees, employees of surrounding plants, cleaners
During the fire: unnecessary exposure
After the fire: the same
In general: no adequate monitoring of employees
Coordination between public and occupational health care is difficult
Biological monitoring:
• Not done• Half life? • Follow up by health
surveillance
Policemen & firebrigade
• Several companies• Cleaning started day after
explosion• Only one (?) consulted OHS
to monitor and controlexposure
Industrial cleaning
companies
On the internet: 52 page list of stored chemicals
Measurements by National Institute for Public Health & the Environment (RIVM):
Relevant for workers exposure :
Air measurements: 2-3 days later at plantVOCs (mostly aromatic, no benzene, rather low concentrations)
2-3 days later contaminated fire waterVOCs (mostly aromatic, no benzene)Higher concentrations (especially directly above ditches)But still < Limit Values
Measurements by National Institute for Public Health & the Environment, ao.:
Plume dispersionAir measurements:
- during fire- dowwind, max. 10 km- VOCs, aldehydes & ketons, PAHS, dioxins, heavy metals
Deposition (ao. grassland): -PAHS, dioxins, heavy metals
Results:- No elevated VOCs, aldehydes & ketones- Dioxins: slightly elevated air, no elevated deposition- PAHS: not clear / limited effect- Heavy metals deposition elevated
Complex mixture- What to do?
Advice OHS on lead biomarkers- 1- Hydroxypyrene- Methylhippuric & Hippuric acid- S-Phenylmercapturic acid
Internal company protocol: - taking samples itself
Contextual information provided by HSE manager
Site visit by Occupational Hygienist of OHS
Main exposure: clean-up of contaminated fire water out of ditches using vacuum trucks.
First 2 days: not all workers using PPE; later RPE, gloves and coveralls
Results
Companies sampling protocol not correct
- Not taking into account half live
- Sampling (far) too late
- Sampling at 14, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27th Jan
- Of 39 samples only 8 could be related to cleaning
Results: biomarker levels
- 14th Jan: 3 out of 8 workers action level 1OHP exceeded, related to cleaning Moerdijk
- 20th Jan: 3 out of 8 workers 1OHP exceeded, NOT relatedto cleaning Moerdijk
- 21th Jan: 1 out of 4 workers 1OHP & 2 out of 4 HA Limit Value exceeded, NOT related to cleaning Moerdijk
- 25th & 26th Jan: 2 out of 7 workers 1OHP exceeded, NOT related to cleaning Moerdijk
Conclusions
CompanyAdditional control measures necessary: especially regardingskin exposure!For cleaning activities related to Moerdijk & other cleaningactivities
PolicyReport RIVM: Environmental health guideline for Municipal Health Services, “Biomonitoring for small scale chemical incidents”Extend to occupational healthBetter coordination public & occupational health care is necessary: public vs. private fundingIt can happen again…………
Thank you!
