EPA Guidance for Determining Organic Vapor Cartridge Service Life

for NIOSH-Approved Respirators

Anjali Lamba, MPH, CIH

Chemical Engineering Branch

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

Environmental Protection Agency

Gerry O. Wood, PhD

Gerry Odell Consulting

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Need for Guidance• Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976• New Chemicals – Pre-Manufacture Notice• Testing of Cartridges

– Use of APRs with Cartridges– Change-Out Schedule Requirement

• Specific submitter case - identified need for recommendations update

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History of GuidanceMinor Revisions by EPA ,1995 and 2002.

Included on OSHA website, 1998.

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Limitations of Previous Guidance

• Only Single Vapor Considered• At Least 36 Tests Specified• Not Included/Considered:

– Recent Data and Test Procedures – Recent Understanding of Reactive Vapor Removal

Mechanisms – Usefulness of Recent Service Life Estimation

Models

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New Guidance Document

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Companion Evaluation Document

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New EPA Guidance DocumentSummary Outline - 1

I. Background and Preliminary Considerations

II. Laboratory Testing for General Qualificationa. Definition of General Qualification (for no

specific application)

b. Advantages and Disadvantages

c. Significant Testing Parameters and Suggested Ranges

d. Recording and Using Breakthrough Data

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New EPA Guidance DocumentSummary Outline - 2

III. Laboratory Testing Reductiona. Worst Case Selection

b. Progressive Testing

c. Actual Case Testing (Specific Workplace Qualification)

IV. Testing Optionsa. Laboratory Testing (Single or Stacked per Moyer)

b. Field Testing (e.g., Respirator Cartridge Tubes per Cohen)

c. Surrogate Vapor Testing (per OSHA)

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New EPA Guidance DocumentSummary Outline - 3

V. Miscellaneous Requirements, including:a. Duration of Tests

b. Replicates and Reproducibility

c. Safety Factor Application

d. Testing with Covapor(s)

e. Recognition of Products of Reactive Removal

VI. Reporting Requirements (lists and tables)f. Procedures Used

g. Conditions Used

h. Data Obtained

i. Conclusions Reached (Change-out Schedules, etc.)

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Decision Logic Flow Chart

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Lessons Learned

• Updated Guidance Developed• Flexibility Allowed for Submitters• Case-by-Case Adaptations

– Testing Protocol Design– Consideration of Chemical Properties– EPA Review of Results and Conclusions

• Evaluations of Such Guidance with Real Cases – Case Study Developed

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Contact:

Anjali Lamba

lamba.anjali@epa.gov

Disclaimer: The documents identified in this presentation have not been formally disseminated by the EPA and should not be construed to represent agency policy.