Home »

Protecting Workers in California from Exposure Risks to Hydrazine and Other Industrial Chemicals

Industrial Hygiene Testing

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	2/10/2023
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Protecting Workers in California from Exposure Risks to Hydrazine and Other Industrial Chemicals
Introduction	LA Testing provides environmental and industrial hygiene laboratory testing services, sampling supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to identify and mitigate exposure hazards in the workplace.
Huntington Beach, California, February 10, 2023 The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) describes hydrazines as clear, colorless liquids with an ammonia-like odor. There are numerous kinds of hydrazine compounds made for industry and small amounts can even be found naturally in plants. Hydrazines are highly reactive and can easily catch fire according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). They are used in many industries, such as the manufacturing of rocket propellants and fuels for spacecraft. Some examples of workers at potential risk of being exposed to hydrazine include: Workers who use it for boiler water treatments to protect against corrosion Industrial workers who use it as a chemical reactant Researchers who explore cancer treatments Agricultural workers who use it in pesticides “Workers may be harmed from exposure to hydrazines and all the way back in 1988, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) listed it on the Prop 65 list as known to cause cancer,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “ATSDR also reports that breathing hydrazines for short periods may cause coughing and irritation of the throat and lungs, convulsions, tremors, or seizures. Breathing hydrazines for long periods may cause liver and kidney damage, as well as serious effects on reproductive organs. To protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for hydrazine and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL). Cal/OSHA also has its own PEL.” LA Testing’s industrial hygiene laboratory offers testing services and sampling supplies to identify hydrazine and many other industrial chemicals. They have also sponsored an educational video about hydrazines and potential occupational exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/uG3pT3WqNxI To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.