It would seem that the detrimental effects of a substance is based on being over-exposed...more than a limit amount...then... 
 
Received from:  The State of Alaska
Dept of Labor and Workforce Development's
Occupational Safety and Health Labor Standards and Safety Division
Tom Stuart, Chief, AKOSH (mailed on Dec 5, 2001) the following:

1-the company's MSDS dated 9-25-01

Composition *** of Inipol EAP 22 is oleic acid, water, phosphoric acid, dodecyl ester, urea and 2-Butoxy ethanol.

Typical % by weight of 2-Butoxy ethanol is 10-12%

 
All of these ingredients they state are identified as hazardous chemicals according to the criteria of the OSHA Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).  Also stated by the company (ATOFINA) that this material is classified as hazardous under Federal OSHA regulation; and the components of this product are all on the TSCA inventory list.
 
Prolonged exposure to high vapor concentrations can cause central nervous system depression....etc;  the 2-butoxyethanol may cause red blood cell damage (hemolysis) based on animal data.  Prolonged or repeated contact may remove oils from the skin, cause rash...Rats tested with this after 6 weeks showed red blood cell changes which resulted in spleen, liver and kidney effects including increased spleen and liver weight.... after 13 weeks tested animals also exhibited effects on blood (anemia), liver and spleen, ETC.
 

2-the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet #B6100) for 2-Butoxyethanol 

(Hazard class 6.1)    

talks about the same things and use of personal respirators if exposure limits exceeded: full facepiece respirator  http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/b6100.htm  Also cautions that it can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin... causes eye irritation. Prolonged or repeated exposures affects central nervous system, blood and blood-forming organs, kidneys, liver and lymphoid system.
 
3-New Jersey Dept of Health and Sr Services Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet for 2-Butoxy Ethanol
CAS Number: 11-76-2;  DOT Number:  UN 2369   Exposure may cause reproductive damage - birth defects or even the ability to have children for men as well as women; may damage the liver and kidneys.  2-Butoxy Ethanol is a colorless liquid.  It is used as a solvent in making plastics and in dry cleaning.
 
The federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, requires private employers to provide training and information to their employees.  Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated.  This may include collecting personal and area air samples.  You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer.  You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020.  If you think you are experiencing any work-related health problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational diseases.  Take the Fact Sheet with you.
 

WORKPLACE   EXPOSURE   LIMITS: 

OSHA:  The legal airborne permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 50 ppm averaged over an 8-hr workshift.

NIOSH:  The recommended airborne exposure limit is 5 ppm averaged over a 10 hour workshift.

ACGIH:  The recommended airborne exposure limit is 20 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift.

*  "The above exposure limits are for air levels only. 

When skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed,

even though air levels are less than the limits listed above."

To lower currently approved exposure limits...also use of 2-butoxyethanol  OSHA seeks Comments ***

For those with frequent or potentially high exposure long term health effects can occur years later. 

(Cancer not tested for in animals... unknown.) 

Should be regularly tested after high exposures for liver and kidney function tests.

Aside:  At the time this experiment with "fertilizer" was being used to effect a "bioremediation" on the Exxon Valdez oil spill clean up, a worker reports that urine tests were taken daily on all workers...looking for blood in the urine; some workers had blood drawn, but not all. Why, for what purpose?

  Health records of these workers were held back from govt agencies who asked, it appears.  So, in all the commotion Exxon could do its own experiments?  No medical results of the blood tests have been shared with the workers, not even now, so it wasn't for the benefit of the workers, was it?

Typically an Exxon representative was on all locations/sites; however, the Exxon man was moved out from this test project while the 60-250 young men were left in what must have been determined by Exxon/Veco to be an "unsafe" human environment.  The test results on rats was bad and getting worse.  Why did they keep these young men in danger? Why did they let some of them continue working into the next season even? ...taking their blood still?  What do they know?  

What is the current health of the Exxon man? What is the current health of the young men on this experimental project?  Do the workers even know their residual health effects?  Does anyone know?  ...for those who do, do they care?  heart  Yes, "inipol fellow,"  

take heart...have hope in the knowing 

that there are many who  c a r e !

This project began early August, 1989 & went into September for most... to end of October for some.  Some other workers worked in winter; some of this project continued into 1990 season.

The work done involved long hours of work, multiple days, they had no protective gear at all in the beginning of this project, and were issued rain suits later (This does not qualify as protective gear, except from water.) With the spray/mist that they were constantly around they were both breathing in the chemicals and absorbing them through their skin.  They all had to be seriously overexposed... "poisoned" with these chemicals.

 Remember EPA only conditionally said OK to doing this and was to check effect on the environment, at least, as they proceeded... would stop if there were damage to the environment.  What about damage to the workers?  Does not seem that that has been addressed; the company was doing something, but it has not been shared with the workers involved.  Does EPA know the results of this project?  

EPA has said that no blood testing was required by them.

PLEASE NOTE:  Exxon has not turned over any of the results of the blood they drew on these men to any of the men involved,  as far as one supervisor of this project knows. This supervisor, who himself has requested the results of his own blood testing, even with an attorney recently, has never received it.

I had heard that what happened to the "inipol guys" was criminal.  I didn't know what was meant by that at the time... I'm starting to get some idea now.

 

4-EAP Technical Product Bulletin #B-10 for "inipol EAP 22"  ***

http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/ncp/inipolea.htm  

This is the bulletin that omits showing a couple of important ingredients... therefore worthless in my opinion.  When asking what the other 2 ingredients were & how easy or difficult it was to be approved by EPA, I was informed that I would need to use the Freedom on Information Act if I wanted any more information and that I would have to go to a higher authority.  

So I have a request letter to Christine Whitman, EPA Administrator and am still awaiting a reply.   Photo of Administrator Christine WhitmanUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
                                                            EPA Administrator
                                                         Christie Whitman

Dear Christine Whitman, EPA Administrator:  June 1, 2002 
 
I was told by EPA yesterday that if I wanted any more information I would have to use the Freedom of Information Act & that higher authority was needed for further correspondence with me.  I do not believe we have the type of administration that is interested in a cover up - but one that will be accountable.
 
Please note the information I had in my possession since last December, below summarized. (AKOSH info as shared on this web-page) I don't need any more information.  However, in reflecting upon this, I conclude that your EPA bulletin #B-10 is so incomplete as to be misleading and worse than worthless.  Since OSHA hands this out regularly, they should be advised, as well as the public of the true composition of Inipol EAP 22. (Which is not a secret, although the "formula" may be.)
 
Thank you in advance for your help.  The lives of many young men, past present and future are in your hands. all about Inipol EAP 22 ingredients & more: (See items #1 through #5 this web-page)   

                                                                  Sincerely,

PS  June 22, 2002  What I really want to know now is what EPA kept track of in the way of experimental use of chemicals (fertilizer) used in this bioremediation project...per their comment in July 26, 1989 letter to EXXON.   What information do they have, if any, that showed the follow up use on the environment? 

 

5-OSHA's Jan 23, 2001 letter *or *** to R Nagel re:  inipol EAP 22 
Important to note

Contact * regarding Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Cleanup Workers

 

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