safe-chemicals

NPB – n Propyl Bromide EPA Review – Envirotech EnSolv Warning

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NPB Replacements

It comes as no surprise that over eight years ago (read the post below) we were working toward safer chemicals. Our values are still the same and today we offer NPB Replacements for even safer cleaning alternatives. Call 1-800-563-1305 or email us (info@ecolink.com) today for more information!

EPA updates SNAP Approval and PEL standards at National Environmental Summit in Orlando FL

More than 400 dedicated environmental professionals from government, industry and academia gathered in Orlando, FL for the 2010 National Environmental Summit

One of the more well attended sessions involved halogenated solvent, nPropyl Bromide, which is increasingly being used as a drop-in replacement for banned or heavily regulated solvents like TCA, TCE, and perchloroethylene. nPropyl Bromide is commonly formulated in metal degreasers, nonflammable degreasers, degreasing solvents and industrial cleaner degreasers. Not surprisingly, as hazard information emerges, we find there are concerns about neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity, and Massachusetts has now listed nPB under the Toxics Use Reduction Act.

Among the distinguished panel of speakers, Margaret Sheppard, an Environmental Scientist and team lead for the USEPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP) Program, presented a dynamic overview on the various ways nPB is currently in use – dry cleaning, vapor degreasing and cold cleaning. She has been reviewing the health and environmental impacts of alternatives for ozone depleting substances since 2000, with specialization in solvent cleaning. She has worked at EPA since 1990 on a number of issues including protecting the ozone layer, reducing acid rain, improving air quality, and assessing risks from radioactive waste and from chemicals in drinking water. Ms. Sheppard earned a B.A. in physics from Wesleyan University and an M.S. in Environmental Planning and Management from the Johns Hopkins University.

Envirotech Ensolv – nPB MSDS review

One of the more alarming concerns highlighted was the wide range of disparity on the personal exposure limits (PEL) recommended by chemical manufacturers. Envirotech’s EnSolv lists: OSHA PEL not established. Enviro Tech International, Inc. recommends a workplace exposure guideline of 100 ppm 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) based on the scientific assessment of toxicological data for the EnSolv mixture, n propyl bromide and other compounds. Based on this data EnSolv is not expected to be a carcinogen. This is being challenged and a more recent update is due later in 2010 or early 2011.

 

 

 

We offer numerous alternatives to:

 

  • Chemtronics
  • Petroferm Inc.
  • Envirotech
  • Safety Kleen
  • Inland Technologies
  • ZEP
  • LPS Laboratories
 

Call 800 886-8240 or email info@ecolink.com to discuss your current use of any of these or other manufacturer’s brand to switch and start saving. With over 200 products to choose from, including several new formulations not yet listed on the website, we feel certain we can expand upon the savings and safety improvements enjoyed for nearly 20 years. Chemist owned and operated, we offer guaranteed FREE samples, including FREE freight, to evaluate for a RISK-FREE evaluation.

Cleaner Degreaser related articles


replacing banned chemicals

The Dangers of Bromopropane: An Overview

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1-Bromopropane (a.k.a n-propyl bromide) is a relatively colorless liquid that is commonly used as a solvent in commercial and industrial settings to remove aerosol-applied adhesives, clean textiles, perform aircraft maintenance, produce asphalt, make synthetic fibers, and clean optics, electronics, and metal. Industries in which the solvent is frequently used include the dry cleaning industry, the pavement industry, and the foam manufacturing industry, just to name a few.

1-Bromopropane as a Replacement Solvent
In recent years, many companies have used 1-Bromopropane as a replacement solvent that is less dangerous to human health and the environment that solvents it replaces. For example, the solution is known to be less ozone depleting than many traditional solvents, and it reputedly has a lower carcinogenic impact on humans and animals than many conventional solvents, as well.

However, scientific research has not given 1-Bromopropane a clean slate. Instead, the solution has been found to be carcinogenic to lab rats, and purportedly to humans who receive as much exposure to the solution as the rodents. Those that work in industries where the liquid is commonly used are thought to have the highest risk of reacting to the solution carcinogenically.

If your company is considering using 1-Bromopropane as a replacement solvent for a solution that is reportedly worse for humans and the environment, it should be aware of the facts above, and ideally choose an eco friendly solution that meets the requirements of 1-Bromopropane without entailing carcinogenic reactions like the ones that could result from high exposure to the liquid.

Evidence of the Dangers of Bromopropane
 No human cancer studies have been conducted for 1-Bromopropane, but the solution has been found to cause prolific tumors in rodents. The tumors occur as a result of 1-Bromopropane induced biological changes that are known to precipitate cancer, such as DNA damage, immune system damage, antioxidant depletion, and the buildup of oxygen species that produce toxic reactions. These are some of the most scientifically well-established dangers of bromopropane.

Despite the absence of human studies on the cancerous effects of the solution, the impact of 1-Bromopropane on lab rats should be enough for companies to discontinue using the product and find a suitable replacement. At a time when liability lawsuits for workplace injuries happen every day, the potential dangers of Bromopropane are simply too great for companies to risk using the solution, to say nothing of the effect it could have on workers who are exposed to it.

Need a Replacement for 1-Bromopropane?

If so, let Ecolink recommend an eco friendly replacement for the solution that doesn’t contain carcinogens or other constituents that could cause the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to severely regulate the solution or ban it altogether. We sell many solutions, and can guarantee that you will receive the results from our products that we design them to offer.
The dangers of Bromopropane are real. For help identifying a safe, eco friendly replacement solution for 1-Bromopropane, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out our contact form.

safe-chemicals

N-Propyl Bromide Exposure Limits: What You Need to Know

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N-propyl bromide — nPB for short — is a chemical compound that has a two-sided reputation. On the good side, the compound is widely considered safer for the environment than many of the ozone depleting chemicals it’s replaced. On the bad side, “safer” doesn’t exactly mean “safe”.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) recognize that acute and chronic human exposure to nPB can cause health problems that range minor ailments such as watery eyes and upset stomach to incurable maladies such as neuropathy and cancer. Consequently, n-propyl bromide exposure limits have been imposed, with the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists’ (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 0.1 ppm being the gold standard.

Understanding PPM 

PPM is an initialism that means “parts per million”. So, a degreaser that contains 0.1 ppm of n-propyl bromide is 0.00001% pure nPB. For those who took some upper level chemistry and math courses in high school or college, here’s what PPM looks like as a formulaic expression  (courtesy of EngineeringToolbox.com):

  • ppm = 1000000 mc / ms 
  •        = 106 mc / ms        (1)
  • where
  • mc = mass of component (kg, lbm)
  • ms = mass of solution (kg, lbm)

Many industrial users of nPB need cleaning solvents that have a higher concentration of the compound than 0.00001%, hence the widespread movement to find nPB replacements based on the efficacy of the cleaning agents alone. That nPB has a deleterious effect on the health of workers who use it adds gasoline to the fire.

Finding nPB Replacements

Based on cleaning power, there are plenty of conventional, suitable replacements of n-propyl bromide. However, many of them pose the same problem as nPB: They’re not good for the environment and they pose those health risks that can lead to increased sick days taken at best and chemical injury lawsuits at worst.

The best option for nPB replacements is to break ties with conventional chemical providers, and work with a supplier of environmentally prefered and environmentally safe cleaning solutions, such as Ecolink. You end up with a solution that doesn’t hamstring your cleaning operations due to emission caps and potentially deadly effects on workers.

Ready for a Replacement?

If n-propyl bromide exposure limits make it practically impossible for your organization to use nPB in the necessary amount, stop exposing yourself to the financial stress of using a solvent that the EPA appears poised to officially add to its List of Lists that names chemicals that are too dangerous to humans and/or the environment to remain a viable solution for industrial and commercial cleaning needs.

Instead, contact Ecolink, and get started on selecting a cleaner that delivers the efficacy of n-propyl bromide, without the major health risks that could easily lead to increased sick days taken, workers compensation claims, and chemical injury lawsuits whose settlements decimate the bottom line.

To explore nPB replacement options that circumnavigate n-propyl bromide exposure limits, call us today at 800-563-1305, or use the contact form on your website. We look forward to helping you improve safety in the workplace and become a better steward to the environment!

 

 

 

 

harmful-chemicals

nPB Safe Alternatives According to GHS Hazard Statements

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Also referred to as 1-bromopropane and n-propyl bromide, nPB has been used as an industrial solvent for many years with great success. However, based on research that led the U.S. Department of Health’s National Toxicology Program (NTP) to identify nPB as a solvent that is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”, companies and organizations that use the solution in have started to implement nPB safe alternatives that are safer for workers to use.

What Defines nPB Safe Alternatives?

There are plenty of efficacious nPB alternatives on the market, but how do you determine which of them are actually safer than nPB? One way you can make the assessment is by referring to “hazard statements” that are a part of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). So, a safe alternative for nPB would not have the following hazard statements from the GHS.

  1. H225

This hazard statement indicates that nPB is a “highly liquid flammable and vapor”. To reduce the risk of fires and burn injuries, choose an alternative that has a high flashpoint or is unflammable.

  1. H315

Indicated by this statement is the fact that nPB “causes skin irritation”. Because some solvents that have a better safety profile can cause skin irritation, too, consult your solvent supplier about the level of irritation in relation to the level of exposure time before choosing an alternative.

  1. H319

This hazard statement sheds light on the fact that nPB “causes serious eye irritation”. Because some solvents that are safer can also cause skin irritation, consult your solvent supplier about the level of irritation in relation to the level of exposure before you select an alternative.

  1. H335

As indicated by this hazard statement, one of the most common negative health effects that nPB exposure causes is “respiratory irritation”. When identifying alternatives, focus on solvents that have less volatility and contain no hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

  1. H336

This hazard statement identifies nPB as a potential cause of “drowsiness or dizziness”, which could place workers at greater risk for workplace injuries. Again, When identifying alternatives, focus on solvents that have less volatility and contain no hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

  1. H360

Yet another hazard statement that addresses the negative health effects of nPB, H360 identifies nPB as a cause of potential harm to “fertility or the unborn child”. By implementing an alternative that doesn’t pose the risk, you better protect both workers and their unborn children.

  1. H373

This hazard statement addresses one of the most toxic effects of nPB on human physiology: “damage to organs”. Damage typically occurs after “prolonged or repeated exposure”. Implementing an alternative that contains no toxic ingredients is the best way to prevent the negative outcome.

Searching for nPB Safe Alternatives?

If so, and you need guidance on selecting the best alternative regarding your specific cleaning operations, our team of experienced chemists is here to help. Once we know why and how you use nPB, we identify stock solutions that serve as ideal replacements. Or, if stock solvents don’t address your needs, we produce a custom solvent that does. In either case, you can receive a free product sample to test the efficacy of the solution.

To get started on identifying safe solvent alternatives for nPB, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to helping you protect the health of your workers.

safe-chemicals

Finding nPB Solvent Replacements: How Using Free Samples Can Help

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nPB (a.k.a. 1-bromopropane and n-propyl bromide) works great as an industrial solvent for several types of applications, including asphalt production, foam cushion gluing, and general cleaning. However, the solvent’s chemical efficacy is overshadowed by the U.S. Department of Health’s statement that nPB is anticipated to be carcinogenic to humans — a finding based on experiments that studied the effects of the solvent on mice in a controlled laboratory setting.

Benefits of Using Free Solvent Samples

The health risks nPB poses have also led the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set usage limits on the solvent, regulations that make it difficult for industrial outfits that use nPB in large volumes to continue the current level of usage without incurring penalties.

So, companies and organizations have at least two good reasons to look for nPB solvent replacements, but that doesn’t make the selection process any easier. One thing that can simplify the process is receiving free solvent samples to test potential alternatives before you officially order a replacement solution. Using free solvent samples in this capacity offers the important benefits below.

  1. Prevents Bad Purchases

From a standpoint of cost effectiveness and productivity, the last thing you want to do is purchase a supply of solvent that doesn’t meet your requirements. You may not be refunded for opened containers — and even if your unopened containers are refunded, you’ll have to wait at least a few days for the solvent to be returned, and then replaced with a more effective one.

  1. Simplifies Trial and Error

Performing trial and error with prospective replacement solvents can become time consuming and expensive if you acquire a salable supply of each solvent you test. Using free solvent samples both helps you avoid paying for ineffective solvent and avoid creating room in the solvent storage area to store potential replacement solvents while they undergo testing.

  1. Refines Solvent Selection

When testing nPB solvent replacements, the goal is to test solutions that figure to be a good fit for your requirements. A provider of free solvent samples, such as Ecolink, helps you refine the solvent selection process by targeting solvents that match your needs. Unless you refine solvent selection in this manner, you could literally end up testing hundreds of different solvents.

  1. Custom Solvent Indication

In most cases, free samples of nPB solvent replacements are stock solvents that are available for immediate shipment. However, if it turns out that you need a custom solvent that is tailored to address unique requirements, testing stock solvents can quickly lead you to the right conclusion. When the custom solvent is ready, you can test a free sample of it, as well.

Looking for nPB Solvent Replacements?

If the answer is yes, why not let us supply you with a free sample of a replacement solvent that’s a good fit for your needs? All you need to do is request a free sample through our website, and then test the sample to see if it fully complies with your requirements — no strings attached.

If you wish to speak with our chemists before placing a sample order, please call us today at (800) 563-1305. We look forward to providing you with a safe replacement for nPB solvent.