EPA Notices of Elevated Substance Levels at Stuyvesant
December 19: Isocyanates
The Stuyvesant PA was notified by the EPA in mid-January that on December 19 the agency recorded
an elevated level of isocyanates in outdoor air adjacent to Stuyvesant and the barge operation.
Isocyanates are a group of chemicals used in the manufacture of polyurethane plastics, synthetic
rubbers, foams, paints, varnishes, and adhesives. The concentrations measured by EPA were 0.0093
and 0.0067 mg/m3 (milligrams per cubic meter of air), which exceeded EPA's action level of 0.0062 mg/m3.
People exposed to isocyanates can develop a range of short-term health problems,
including headache, sore eyes, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and skin irritation.
Isocyanate exposure can also result in long-term illnesses such as asthma and dermatitis
if individuals become sensitized. (Sensitization is a condition in which adverse health effects
can reoccur with increasing severity upon additional exposure to the original sensitizing agent
or to similar substances, even at very low exposures.)
December 10: Tetrachloroethane
The Stuyvesant PA was notified by the EPA in mid-January that on December 10 the agency recorded
an elevated level of tetrachloroethane in outdoor air adjacent to Stuyvesant and the barge operation.
Tetrachloroethane is an industrial solvent and degreaser. The concentration measured by EPA was 1.9
ppb (parts per billion), which exceeded EPA's 30 year guideline of 0.45 ppb. (EPA's adjusted one year
guideline is 13.5 ppb. OSHA's permissible exposure limit is 5,000 ppb averaged over 8 hours.)
Short term exposure to high concentrations of tetrachloroethane may cause irritation of the eyes
and nose, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. Liver and kidney damage may result.
Exposure to the eyes may cause watering and burning. Severe exposure may result in serious eye damage.
Prolonged or repeated exposure at sufficient concentrations via inhalation or skin contact may result
in skin irritation, tremors, abdominal distress or pain, and heart, liver, and kidney damage.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers tetrachloroethane to
be a potential carcinogen (cancer-causing agent).
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