Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 13:27:31 -0800
Reply-To: Russell Vernon <russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**UCR.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Russell Vernon <russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**UCR.EDU>
Subject: Re: Working with chemicals and anosmia
In-Reply-To: A<A3D10F65427C4241A6329E2C711DE546**At_Symbol_Here**chemical6df00a>

Also, to illustrate the difference between ‘smelling’ some chemical and being over exposed to it, 3-M has a good selection of ‘odor thresholds’ for a wide variety of chemical in their respirator cartridge selection literature

-Russ

Russell Vernon, Ph.D. 
russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**ucr.edu

www.ehs.ucr.edu
(951) 827-5119


From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Dr. Jay A. Young
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 8:33 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Working with chemicals and anosmia

Samuella,

 

Your inquiry suggests that you have been told that the odor of a volatile chemical is a warning that you are potentially subject to harm from inhaling that chemical.

 

That belief is a half-true myth.  For most chemicals, if you can smell them there is no indication that they are harmful or harmless.  To determine if the vapors of a volatile chemical are in the breathing air at or greater than a harmful concentration, one should use air-sampling techniques.

 

For that, hire yourself a chemical hygienist.

 

Jay Young

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Samuella B. Sigmann

To:< /font> DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU

Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 8:27 PM

Subject: [DCHAS-L] Working with chemicals and anosmia

I am looking for any developed SOPs or protocols that can be used by a person who has anosmia (complete loss of smell) and works in a chemical research environment.  Any information that I can use to help protect this worker will be useful.

Thanks,
Sammye

-

********************************************** *****************************************

Don’t always believe what you think.

Samuella B. Sigmann, NRCC-CHO
Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair
A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry
Appalachian State University
525 Rivers Street
Boone, NC   28608
Phone: 828 262 2755
Fax: 828 262 6558
Email: sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu

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