Regulation and Risk Assessment of 1,4-Dioxane - Environmental Investigation and Remediation - page 299

TABLE 6.20
Occupational Settings with Potential Exposure to 1,4-Dioxane

Occupational Setting 1,4-Dioxane Occurrence Type of Exposure Exposure Level References

Research and analytical
laboratories

Solvent and reagent for
research, development, and
analysis

Inhalation, dermal TWA—1.8 ppm 1-3

Celluloid i lm
processing

Producing, splicing,
repairing, or cementing
movie i lm

Inhalation, dermal TWA—1 ppm

7-14 ppm

4

Optical lens manufacture Solvent fumes from coating

ovens

Inhalation Modeled: 10-50 ppm

(high estimate)

1

Production of
ethoxylated surfactants a

Closed-loop process; potential
for exposure is during
drumming off of i nished
product

Inhalation Alkyl ether sulfates

(100-200 ppm
before vacuum
stripping); current
potential for worker
exposure, <1 ppm

1

Production of
microwave popcorn
bags

In heat-resistant water-based
epoxy adhesives

Dermal, ocular,
inhalation

Less than hazardous levels
but irritation observed

6

Automotive parts
manufacturing

Vapor degreasing and parts
washing

Inhalation, dermal 1.5-13.3 ppm in 15-min

PBZ samples;
2.5-51 ppm at breathing
level near sink and
degreaser

7

Assembling and
cleaning shirts from
i nished textiles

Dry cleaning Inhalation 8

<0.1-0.5 ppm

Painting steel Paint solvents (methyl

chloroform)

Inhalation, dermal up to 1.7 mg/m 3 9

Food packaging Solvent printing and coating

materials for individual
serving packages of
condiments

Inhalation Not investigated 10

Resin production Unsaturated polyester resins Inhalation Modeled: Maximum

annual average,
0.121 μg/m 3 ; maximum
one-hour average,
3.26 μg/m 3

11

Histology using electron
microscopy

Direct use of 1,4-dioxane to
dehydrate samples

Inhalation, dermal Not investigated 12

Pharmaceutical industry Used in chemical synthesis of

pharmaceuticals

Inhalation <3.6 mg/m 3

6.5 mg/m 3

13

Medical radioisotope
production

Used in ion-exchange process
to recover radioisotopes

Inhalation Not investigated 14

Wet textile processing Wool scouring and i nishing,

woven and knit fabric
i nishing, carpet i nishing,
yarn i nishing, felted fabric
processing

Inhalation Total emissions can be up

to 0.65 lb/h; exposure not
investigated

15

continued