TLVs

Three types of TLVs

TLV - Time Weighted Average (TLV - TWA) TLV Short Term Exposure Limit (TWA - STEL)
TLC Ceiling (TLC - C)

TLV TWA
TLV-TWA The TWA concentration for a conventional 8-hour workday and a 40-hour work week, to which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, for a working lifetime without adverse effect. TWA (8-hr) = C1T1 + C2T2 +..CnTn 8

Calculate 8-hour TWA

Working period 0800 - 1030 1045 - 1245 1330 1545 1715 mg/m3 0.32 0.07 0.2 0.1 Duration of sampling (h) 2.5 2 2 1.5

Assume exposure is zero in rest breaks 10301045, 12451330 & 15301545 8-hr TWA = (0.32 x 2.5) + (0.07 x 2) + (0.2 x 2) + (0.1 x 1.5) + (0 x 1.25) 8 = 0.8 + 0.14 + 0.4 + 0.15 + 0 8

= 0.19 mg/m3

TLV STEL
TLV-STEL is a 15 minute TWA exposure that
should not be exceeded at any time during a workday, even if the TWA is within TLV- TWA

TLV STEL (cont)

Can be exposed continuously for a short period without suffering from:
Irritation Chronic or irreversible toxic effects Dose-rate dependent toxic effects or Narcosis sufficient to increase likelihood of accident, impaired self rescue, or reduced work efficiency

TLV STEL (cont)

Exposures above TLV-TWA up to TWA-STEL < 15 minutes 4 times a day 60 minutes between successive exposures

TLV - C
TLV-C the concentration that should not be exceeded during any part of the working exposure If instantaneous measurements are not available, sampling should be conducted for the minimum period of time to detect exposures at or above ceiling value

Excursion Limits
Excursions limits are applied to TLV-TWAs that do NOT have TLV-STELs Excursions up to 3 x TLV-TWA - less than 30 min/day and NO excursions above 5 x TLV-TWA, providing TLV-TWA not exceeded (3 x WEL in UK) A process is not considered to be under reasonable control if these levels occur

Mixtures
When two or more hazardous substances have a similar toxicological effect on the same target system, their combined effect rather than that of either individually, should be considered
Where C1/TLV1 + C2/TLV2 ++ Cn/TLVn < 1

the TLV for the mixture should be considered as being exceeded

Additive Effect
Agent Acetone Full shift results Short term results (TLV-TWA) (TLV-STEL) 160 ppm (500) 490 ppm (750)

Sec butyl acetate

Methyl ethyl ketone

20 ppm (200)
90 ppm (200)

150 ppm (N/A)

220 ppm (320)

From the TLV basics column, the Documentation of the TLVs and BEIs all three substances indicate effects on respiratory system and would be considered additive

Additive Effect (cont)

Full shift calculation C1/TLV1 + C2/TLV2 ++ Cn/TLVn 1

therefore 160/500 + 20/200 + 90/200 = 0.32 + 0.10 + 0.45 = 0.87 Hence full shift additive limit not exceeded

Additive Effect (cont)

Short term calculation = 490/750 + 150/(200 x 5)* + 220/300 = 0.65 + 0.15 + 0.73 = 1.53 This is >1 hence short term additive limit exceeded * where no STEL exists the convention is to multiply TWA exposure standard x 5 (x 3 in

UK)

Units of Measure
Dusts
mg/m3

Gases and vapours

parts per million (ppm) or % (v/v) mg/m3

Conversion of ppm to mg/m3

Conc in mg/m3 = Conc in ppm x molecular weight /24.45
where 24.45 = molar volume of air in litres at NTP conditions (25C and 1 atm) (NB IUPAC use 0C and 100 kPa, but ACGIH and other bodies use 25C and 1 atmosphere)

Conversion of ppm to mg/m3 (cont)

Where STP conditions are required (i.e. 20C not 25C) the equation is: Conc. in mg/m3 = Conc. in ppm x molecular weight 24.06