Emma Scobbie

Chemical pollutants in X-ray film processing departments

A survey of X-ray film processing departments revealed the main airborne contaminants to be sulphur dioxide and acetic acid at concentrations of about 0.1 ppm. Glutaraldehyde was not detected either in the ambient air or in the exhaust duct from an automatic film processor. Laboratory studies confirmed sulphur dioxide and acetic acid as the main headspace constituents above working strength processing solutions but glutaraldehyde and butyraldehyde were also detected.

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE VAPOUR EVOLVED FROM AQUEOUS GLUTARALDEHYDE SOLUTIONS

Abstract The composition of the vapour evolved from aqueous glutaraldehyde solutions has been studied using gas chromatography, Fourier transform infra-red spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. This included a study of commercial sterilizing products at concentrations of about 2% glutaraldehyde, both with and without added activator. The main component evolved is monomeric glutaraldehyde with smaller amounts of methanol and butyraldehyde. An investigation of the atmosphere above an activated sterilizing solution suggests that concentrations of up to 2 ppm glutaraldehyde can be formed.

The Development of an Improved Method for the Determination of Coal Tar Pitch Volatiles(CTPV) in Air

Test samples were collected at a range of sites using the MDHS 68 sampler, a 7-hole sampler, and a cyclone respirable-dust sampler. Glass fibre, Zefluor, Fluoropore and silver (0.8 and 5 microns) filters were compared for weighing error, handling characteristics, and amount collected. The effects of a carbon back-up, of extraction solvent, and of analytical method were studied. The current HSE method for the sampling and analysis of coal tar pitch volatiles, MDHS 68 has been reviewed. It is recommended that the MDHS 68 sampler be replaced by a 7-hole head containing a silver or PTFE filter (approximately 1 micron pore size), with a graphitized carbon back-up if efficient collection of 2 to 4-ring PAHs is required. Cyclohexane is recommended as the extraction solvent. Methods of analysis which quantify the fume as a whole (MDHS 68, u.v., ELSD) were shown to give a response which varied according to the type of CTPV generating process. Therefore analysis of specific PAHs of occupational interest, by GC-MS or HPLC is recommended.