Answer to Question #5079 in Engineering for Marvin

Question

You are a Haz Mat Responder investigating and characterizing a small industrial explosion site. The damaged buildings are located on an overgrown grassy land area that overlies a groundwater aquifer. Inherent to this site characterization is concern for protection of the site workers and the surrounding members of the community. The main building served as a small-scale paint manufacturing facility and produced oil-based paints using organic solvents and metal-based pigments as major raw materials. During site characterization and clean-up there is obvious concern that the relatively porous concrete building itself plus the surrounding land and surface lagoon are contaminated with the released hazardous raw materials. And, of course, there is equal concern that containers of materials will be found within the damaged tri-level (including a basement) building and, perhaps, outside above and/or underground. The building is very old and likely contains insulated pipes and the basement is very damp and musty. In addition, there is the likelihood that pigeons nested in the rafters over the years. The building and site needs to be characterized and, pending the outcome, remediated ("cleaned") to background levels.

Answer these questions please:

Haz Mat Data: Lead, cadmium, and chromium metals and o,m,p-xylene (mix), stoddard solvent, isopropanol, and 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone or MEK) solvents are common raw materials used in the oil-based paint manufacturing process. Use MSDSs or the NIOSH Pocket Guide to complete the table. If you do not find info, then simply leave cell in table blank.

Property Lead
Carbonate MEK Isopropanol Stoddard
Solvent
Flash Pt. NA 16°F 53°F 102-110°F
Fire Pt. Non-flammable Flammable. Flammable. Flammable.
Autoignition 404°C (759.2°F) 399°C (750.2°F) 210°C (410°F)
LEL (LFL) NA LEL(200°F): 1.4% 2.0% ?
UEL (UFL) NA UEL(200°F): 11.4% 200°F): 12.7% ?
Flam. Range LOWER: 1.8% UPPER: 10% LOWER: 2% UPPER: 12.7% LOWER: 0.8% UPPER: 5%
Solubility Insoluble 28% Miscible Insoluble
Spec. Grav. 11.34 0.81 0.79 0.78
Vapor Press. 0 mmHg (approx) 10.3 kPa (@ 20°C) 4.4 kPa (@ 20°C) 2 mm of Hg (@ 20°C)
Vapor Dens. 2.41 (Air = 1) 2.07 (Air = 1) 5 (Air = 1)
LD50
LC50
OSHA-PEL [1910.1025] TWA 0.050 mg/m3 TWA 200 ppm (590 mg/m3) TWA 400 ppm (980 mg/m3) TWA 500 ppm (2900 mg/m3)
ACGIH-TLV
NIOSH-REL TWA (8-hour) 0.050 mg/m3 TWA 200 ppm (590 mg/m3) ST 300 ppm (885 TWA 400 ppm (980 mg/m3) ST 500 ppm (1225 TWA 350 mg/m3 C 1800 mg/m3 [15-minute]
STEL
IDLH 100 mg/m3 (as Pb) 3000 ppm 2000 ppm [10%LEL] 20,000 mg/m3
Ionization Potential NA 9.54 eV 10.10 eV


1. Are you concerned about contamination of the building and overall site? If yes, what type(s) of chemical contaminants?

2. Are you concerned about any biological hazards? If yes, what type(s) and sources?

3. Are you concerned about any radiological hazards? If yes, what type(s) and sources?

4. Are you concerned about the piping insulation? If yes, why?


5. During initial site entry and characterization, what is the minimum PPE (specify level and components) you would recommend?

6. Are you concerned about the pipes themselves? (Hint: Some pipes served as conduit to transfer raw materials and products. Eventually, as part of remediation, the pipes will need to be cut and removed).

7. During initial site entry and characterization, what major instantaneous ("real time") air monitoring equipment and SOPs (i.e., strategy; "caution" and "back-out" levels; etc.) would you recommend for use?

8. During opening of containers and/or cutting pipes containing liquids solvents, what major instantaneous air monitoring equipment would you recommend for use?

9. Would you recommend conducting any instantaneous air monitoring during any ongoing site activities (e.g., remediation)? If so, what would you recommend?

10. Would you recommend any integrated ("continuous") air monitoring during any ongoing site activities (e.g., remediation)? If so, what would you recommend?

11. Would you recommend collection of any bulk/grab samples? If so, what would you recommend?

Answer 1

Dear Marvin
Unfortunately, your question requires a lot of work and cannot be done for free.
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