Finding the Right nPB Alternative: Four Considerations

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nPB (a.k.a. n-propyl bromide) is an organobromine compound that is found in many types of industrial cleaning solvents, from dielectric cleaners, to cleaners for parts washers, to multi-application degreasers. Thanks to their excellent cleaning power and affordable prices, nPB solvents have emerged as first-line, industrial grade cleaning solutions for companies and organizations across the U.S., but the compound’s popularity now appears to be short-lived.

The EPA’s Assessment of nPB
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “1-Bromopropane has been classified as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen’ by the National Toxicology Program in its 13th Report on Carcinogens.” Furthermore, “Based on a review of the data in the Report on Carcinogens, [the] EPA [has] determined that nPB meets the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313(d)(2)(B) statutory listing criteria because it can reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer in humans.”

These statements reveal the distinct likelihood that nPB will be placed on the EPA’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), which means that finding the right nPB alternative should be a top priority for any entity that uses nPB cleaners in large quantity. If your company or organization needs an nPB alternative, below are four essential considerations that will get you off to a good start in choosing an alternative to nPB for your cleaning operations.

  1. Cleaning Methods

What cleaning methods do you use to apply nPB cleaner? Manual wiping? Vapor degreasing? Spray on and drip dry? Because not all types of nPB replacements are ideal for all types of cleaning procedures, it’s a good idea to begin your search by limiting it to cleaners whose formulation and performance matches up with the cleaning methods you prefer to use.

  1. Materials Cleaned

After limiting your search to nPB replacements that are ideal for your cleaning methods, step two is to shop only for replacements that are formulated to be safe and effective for the materials you need to clean. Because nPB has such a broad application when it comes to cleaning different materials, you will likely be looking for an alternative cleaner that possesses the same quality.

  1. Substances Removed

In addition to cleaning many different materials, nPB can remove numerous substances, from light coatings of dust, to adhesive residues, to accumulations of grease. Most nPB alternatives are formulated to offer the same characteristic. However, be sure to cover your bases and find out for certain whether a particular alternative can remove the substances in question.

  1. Safety Profile

The nPB alternative you choose should contain no chemicals that are on the EPA’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants, as well as no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could cause acute and/or chronic health problems. In addition, the replacement should ideally have a high flashpoint or no flashpoint to prevent fire-related safety issues when storing or using the solution.

Need an nPB Replacement Cleaner?
If so, now is the time to start the selection process, before the EPA adds nPB to its List of Hazardous Air Pollutants. If you need help choosing a cleaner, we can advise you on the four issues listed above, and well as any others that pertain to your solvent cleaner requirements. Contacting us is easy. Just call (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to helping you choose the right nPB alternative for nPB-dependent cleaning needs.

Making the Smart Decision to Replace nBP: Four Benefits

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nBP is an organobromine compound that has the chemical formula CH3CH2CH2Br. The compound is widely referred to by two other names: n-propylbromide and and 1-Bromopane. However, regardless of what you call it, you’re referring to a cleaning agent that a safer cleaner should replace, particularly at companies and organizations that use nPB in large quantities. When nPB is replaced, the user inherently experiences the following benefits, among others.

  1. Anticipates the EPA’s Regulation of the Compound

nPB is not included in the Environmental Protection Agency’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) at the time this blog is posted, but the compound appears to be well on its way to having a permanent place on the list. The U.S. National Toxicology Program’s recommendation that “1-bromopropane be classified as [a] reasonably anticipated human carcinogen” is one of the driving forces behind nPB’s inclusion on the EPA’s list of Hazardous Air Pollutants.

  1. Can Reduce Acute Health Problems Due to Exposure

Due to the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s health findings on nPB, the compound is commonly associated with cancer — a correlation is largely based on chronic exposure to the compound over a long period of time. However, acute exposure to the substance can also cause health problems, such as dizziness, upset stomach, and respiratory distress. These problems are often temporary, but they can reduce the productivity of your workers.

  1. Can Reduce Chronic Health Problems Due to Exposure

Due to the U.S. National Toxicology Program’s finding that exposure to nPB is associated with cancer, “the big C” is the primary fear factor surrounding the compound’s use. However, long-term exposure to nPB has been linked to other debilitating health conditions, as well, particularly permanent neurological damage that can cause “slurred speech, confusion, difficulty walking, muscle twitching, and/or loss of feeling in arms and legs” (OSHA).

  1. Good for the Long-Term Finances of Former nPB Users

Eliminating the health threat nPB poses to workers can have a positive effect on the finances of former nPB users. Eliminating acute effects of exposure helps reduce sick days taken and thus supports productivity. Eliminating chronic effects helps reduce workers compensation claims, personal injury lawsuits, and, in the worst case scenario, wrongful death lawsuits. Choosing to replace nPB isn’t just good for workers and the environment; it can benefit the bottom line, too.

Let Ecolink Provide Your nPB Replacement Cleaner
Ecolink’s specialty is creating eco friendly cleaners that deliver the same efficacy as the hazardous solvents they’re designed to replace. Given the EPA’s emphasis on regulating solvents that are dangerous to humans and the environment, now is a great time to replace nPB solvents with safer cleaners whose ingredients the EPA won’t regulate. Replacement can also benefit the health of your workforce and reduce injuries that lead to negative financial situations.

To get started on selecting safe, effective cleaners that can replace nPB, please call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer the the contact page on our website. We look forward to helping you replace nPB with a cleaner that works just as well and has a considerably better safety profile.

Solvent Update: 1-bromopropane Added to NTP

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The National Toxicology Program (NTP) — an interagency program in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) — recently added 1-bromopropane (a.k.a n-propyl bromide) to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals.

The inclusion of 1-bromopropane in the list follows several years of research on the solvent’s negative impact on the environment and human health. After reviewing the NTP’s data, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled that 1-bromopropane should be added to the NTP’s TRI list of reportable chemicals. The rule was published on 11-23-15.

Why the Solvent was Added to the TRI List
Although 1-bromopropane is known to harm the environment through the release of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), the EPA officially added the solvent to the TRI list due to the NTP’s conclusion that 1-bromopropane is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen”. In turn, the EPA determined that “1-bromopropane meets the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313(d)(2)(B) statutory listing criteria”.

In most situations, cancer caused by 1-bromopropane exposure occurs after years of frequent contact with the solvent’s HAPs. However, in addition to chronic, debilitating health conditions, exposure to the solvent can also cause acute ailments that make it easier to quantify the negative health impact of 1-bromopropane in the short-term. These conditions include respiratory distress, profound dizziness, upset stomach, slurred speech, muscle twitching, and even loss of consciousness.

The Ruling’s Impact on 1-bromopropane Users
The EPA’s decision to have 1-bromopropane added to the NTP’s TRI list will reportedly affect 140 1-bromopane users, most of whom use large quantities of the solvent for commercial or industrial application, and thus have the greatest negative impact on the environment and human health among all users of 1-bromopropane.

The EPA doesn’t list these companies in its ruling to have 1-bromopropane added to the NTP’s TRI list, but industries in which the companies operate can be reasonably anticipated due to the solvent’s widespread use for certain work processes. Some of the most common of these work processes entail:

  • Synthetic fiber manufacturing
  • Vapor and immersion degreasing for metal
  • Electronics manufacturing
  • Dry cleaning
  • Production of pharmaceuticals
  • Creating adhesives for laminates and foam

Based on the EPA’s decision to have 1-bromopropane added to the NTP’s TRI list, “1-bromopropane is reportable for the 2016 calendar year, with the first reporting forms due from TRI facilities by July 1, 2017.” Ultimately, this means that companies that use the solvent in large quantities should begin the process of replacing it with a safer solvent — an endeavor with which the experienced chemists Ecolink can provide assistance.

Contact Ecolink Today
At Ecolink, one of our specialities is providing environmentally friendly and environmentally safe solvents that are better for the environment and human health than toxic cleaning solvents such as 1-bromopropane. If you are ready to replace the solvent in your work processes, please call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact page on our website. The sooner you replace 1-bromopropane with a safer solvent, the sooner your workers and the environment will be safer from the toxic effects of 1-bromopropane.

The Dangers of 1-bromopropane for Human Health

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1-bromopropane (a.k.a. n-propyl bromide) is high-strength cleaning solvent that plays a crucial role in the performance of numerous work processes, particularly: synthetic fiber manufacturing, vapor and immersion degreasing for metal, electronics manufacturing, dry cleaning, production of pharmaceuticals, and creating adhesives for laminates and foam.

However, despite the solvent’s effectiveness for these applications and others, it is highly ineffective when it comes to doing what you can to ensure the good health of your workforce. If your organization currently uses 1-bromopropane in any capacity, you should know about the dangers of 1-bromopropane for human health concerning short-term and long-term effects.

Short-term Health Effects
The dangers of 1-bromopropane for human health are often discussed in terms of chronic conditions that result from long-term exposure to the solvent. However, you are likely to see some distressing, short-term health effects in your workforce before workers display long-term health effects that result chronic exposure to the toxic agent. Common short-term health effects include:

  • Respiratory distress
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Eye irritation
  • Skin irritation
  • Loss of consciousness

At best, these conditions lead to an increase in sick days and lower productivity in the environment where 1-bromopropane is used. At worst, they can lead to permanent disability and reduced earning capacity, as defined by state and federal law. However, these outcomes are generally associated with exposure to 1-bromopropane over the course of months or years.

Long-term Health Effects
As mentioned above, the dangers of 1-bromopropane for human health also extend to long-term health effects, most notably cancer. The association with cancer is primarily why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently ruled that 1-bromopropane be added to the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals. In addition to cancer, long-term health effects from 1-bromopropane exposure include:

  • Difficulty walking
  • Muscle twitching
  • Loss of feeling in arms and legs
  • Slurred speech

When they are experienced on chronic basis, these conditions generally result from permanent damage to the central nervous system (CNS). When exposure to 1-bromopropane leads to permanent, negative health outcomes, an employer can pay dearly in the form of satisfying workers compensation claims, settling legal liability lawsuits, and training new workers to replace employees who experience permanent disability due to 1-bromopropane exposure.

Selecting a Replacement
Despite the dangers of 1-bromopropane for human health, the solvent nonetheless plays an important role in work processes of many types of organizations, from synthetic fiber manufacturers to laminate manufacturers who use the toxic solution to form adhesive. Consequently, it’s important to replace the solvent with a solution that has a better safety profile and delivers the same efficacy of the 1-bromopropane product that it replaces.

This is where Ecolink enters the picture. We can supply you with alternatives to 1-bromopropane that are safer for humans but deliver the same effectiveness of 1-bromopropane for your crucial work processes. To get started on implementing a replacement, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website.

We look forward to helping making the work environment a safer place for your workers.

NPB Hazards: Frequently Asked Questions

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Propyl bromide (NPB) is a chemical compound that is widely used for industrial cleaning operations. However, like using many cleaning solvents of the same generation, using NPB solvents comes at a price concerning their negative effects on humans and the environment. If you’re somewhat familiar with NPB hazards and are interested in NPB replacements, but you need more information before you buy a replacement, see the questions and answers below.

Can a “safer” replacement solvent deliver the same cleaning power?
Yes. NPB replacements are formulated to offer the same cleaning power — and sometimes more cleaning power — as NPB solvents. The replacements are often described as “drop-in solutions” because they can replace NBP solvents without requiring significant downtime.

Does investing in a replacement solvent mean investing more money?
Some solvent replacements that eliminate NPB hazards do cost more than NPB solvents, as NPB is quite cost effective to produce and thus results in relatively low-lost NPB products. However, implementing eco friendly NPB replacements can help eliminate certain costs.

Are there costs that can be negated by a safer replacement solvent?
Yes. Because NPB has been proven to cause negative health conditions, replacements that have a better safety profile help reduce these costs: settlements for personal injury cases, sick days taken, diminished productivity due to negative health conditions in workers, and payouts for workers compensation claims. Significantly reducing these costs could save you millions.

Will the EPA add NPB to its official list of hazardous air pollutants?
The EPA is conducting an inquiry into the safety of NPB solvents on humans and the environment — an endeavor that could could result in NPB being placed on the EPA’s list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). This is why it makes sense to find replacement options now.

Should I use my supply of NPB solvent while shopping for a new solvent?
Despite NPB hazards, using your supply of NPB solvent while you search for replacements may be the most sensible option. If NPB supports your company’s or organization’s crucial cleaning requirements, you simply can’t afford to halt the use of NPB until a replacement is identified.

Is it an option to formulate a custom NPB replacement solution?
Some sellers of NPB replacements only offer pre-formulated cleaning solutions, while other sellers offer both readymade solutions and custom solutions. If you still use NPB solvent, assuming that you need a custom replacement solution is putting the cart before the horse. First, you should consult with an NPB replacement supplier to evaluate your options.

Contact Ecolink Today
Replacing your hazardous NPB solvent with a cleaning solution that has a better safety profile has several benefits, but in order to realize them, you must first find a solvent supplier that offers high-quality NPB replacements that eliminate NPB hazards. This is where Ecolink enters the picture. We can supply you with readymade solutions or custom formulated cleaners that offer the same efficacious cleaning power and range of application as your current NPB solvents.

For assistance with selecting a new cleaning solvent that eliminates NPB hazards, call us at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. Don’t delay; contact us today!