Analyses of Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl
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Diacetyl is a chemical that is used in microwave popcorn to add flavour and aroma to the popcorn. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2011) has classified it as “Generally Recognized As Safe”. The chemical is safe to consume but is not safe to work around. OSHA 2010 – Essay Writing Service: Write My Essay by Top-Notch Writer A classifies Diacetyl as a standard air contaminant. Numerous operations in a popcorn company may expose workers to it this include mixing, weighing, pouring, transferring and other activities involved in the handling of popcorn. In May 2000, it was reported that numerous workers at a microwave popcorn processing facility displayed respiratory symptoms and they later developed bronchiolitis obliterans (OSHA, 2011a, b, c) which is an uncommon lung disease as documented by the Local Health Department. Workers continue to get exposed to it since it is part of the process of manufacturing popcorns.
Despite this exposure, the illness can be treated and thus be prevented. Inhalation of the chemical can result in several health effects. These include eye, nose, and throat and skin irritation. Also its inhalation can result in fatigue, fever, night sweats and weight loss. This exposure also leads to damage of nose lining, throat irritation and inflammation. Once an employee is exposed to diacetyl there is usually no going back so their health cannot improved but only deteriorates. Therefore it is a deadly health complication. Continued exposure can lead to permanent lung damage and lung disease such as bronchiolitis obliterans.
These complication can be easily thought to be another disease. Specific tests need to be carried out to ascertain the true symptoms. Also certain questions need to be answered for example what symptoms were displayed, when they were first noticed and also the condition of the work place. The lungs also need to be analysed through a pulmonary function test to assess the patient’s lung function (NIOSH, 2003a, b)
Certain guidelines have been developed to ensure the safety of workers from occupational exposures. These standards are adopted from agencies such as OSHA, NIOSH and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). At the level of federal agencies, no guidelines are documented on Permissible Exposure Limit for diacetyl. However one state of California has put in place certain guidelines under California’s Occupational Safety and Health program (OHS Online, 2010 – Essay Writing Service: Write My Essay by Top-Notch Writer). The law in this case requires employers to create a regulated area for each process that requires the use of diacetyl unless the process is enclosed. Other measures that are in place include one which is says that the Recommended Exposure Limit of 5 parts per billions as an 8 hour, time weighted average during a 40 hour work week to protect employees against short-term exposure to diacetyl. Also OSHA 2008 – Affordable Custom Essay Writing Service | Write My Essay from Pro Writers also established that a diacetyl concentration of 0.5 parts per million for a workplace is required where diacetyl is present.
A company may adopt the following measures to limit employee exposure to diacetyl. One method is through substitution. Several substitutes to diacetyl have been researched and developed. Such substitutes may be adopted in future to reduce exposure to this harmful chemical. Also the employer and all stakeholders may partner to create administrative controls so as to prevent exposure to diacetyl. Such controls may include employing good housekeeping practices such as stopping the use of compressed air to clean up powders that may contain diacetyl. Also the number of employees accessing areas of high diacetyl concentrations may be minimized so as to reduce the number of people exposed to the chemical. Also employees need to be educated about products that may produce diacetyl exposure and also be trained on how to protect themselves against those hazards. Also the employees need to be trained on effective use of personal protective equipment especially those employees that are likely to be exposed to the chemical. According to OSHA (2007a,b) protective gear made of Butyl Rubber or Tychem provides adequate protection from the chemical.
REFERENCES
– Frits, G.B., Rooyackers, J.M., Prokop, M., et al.(2007). Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in chemicalworkers producing diacetyl for food flavorings. American
Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 176,
498-504. doi:10.1164/rccm.2006 – Write a paper; Professional research paper writing service – Best essay writers11-1620OC
-OSHA. (2010 – Essay Writing Service: Write My Essay by Top-Notch Writerb). Worker alert: Diacetyl and substitutes.Washington, DC: DOL, Author. Retrieved from www.osha.gov/SLTC/flavoringlung/diacetyl_worker_alert.html
– U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2011). Select committee on GRAS substances (SCOGS) opinion: Diacetyl.Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from
www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/GenerallyRecognizedasSafeGRAS/GRASSubstancesSCOGSDatabase/ucm261273.htm.
