Generating Data for Formaldehyde Vapor Concentrations at The Long Beach Facility
Formaldehyde (CH20) is a natural occurring, fully organic compound, from the aldehyde family. As such, it is used in a variety of chemical compounds as a synthesis agent in other compounds, most notably glues or adhesives (Reuss, 2002). Unfortunately, as formaldehyde levels increase, serious health concerns rise, most notably that formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, formally identified by the US National Toxicology Program (2011).
For the current sample, all numbers were randomly generated via random.org, a random number generator, as if they were taken from the four areas of concern, or strata within the manufacturing area. My input into the random number generated, specifically with regard to maximum and minimums for each area, based on the presumed level of exposure expected in that level. A total of 44 samples were generated including blanks and duplicates.
With a primary interest in the manufactory area, levels are expected to be highest in the manufacturing floor samples. In this area, the threshold obviously exceeds the odor barrier, so the lower limit for exposure was set at .83 mg/m3. Further, a similar study indicated that woodpress manufactory floors have a mean exposure level of .73 ppm, or .8979 mg/m3 (Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde (PB/99/166654), 1999). It is expected that the upper levels are at, or near, the action threshold of 0.921 mg/m3 and so a testing range, for random samples was set from 83 to 100. The decimal place was again added to the data outcome in order to create digits that were meaningful in relation to the units selected.
Elevated levels are also expected in the warehouse, where products are kept which contain formaldehyde, but where formaldehyde itself is not in use. Though, because the product are held within the space it may be slightly higher than the levels found in the offices. A similar study, contained in the Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde (PB/99/166654) (1999) indicated that warehouse levels for stored wood which are stabilized with urea-formaldehyde glue, like the products in our study, are typically between .21 and .60 ppm, or .26 and .738 mg/m3. However, we have anticipated slightly higher levels in our own situation, because of longer storage times. It is thus expected that levels will range from .45 to .85. So, random sampling range was selected between 45 and 85, with the decimal placed appropriately to represent the intended units. This are representative of strata 2.
It can be assumed that the office area remains, to some degree protected by ventilation and physical separation from the production floor. However, because of contamination and leaching it is anticipated that levels within the office areas will be higher than those found outdoors, or in the background area. As such, it is anticipated that the level of Formaldehyde within the indoor office area remains below the odor threshold of .83 mg/m3 (EPA 2000). So the indoor level for random sampling were set at .83 mg/m3. So, random sampling range was selected between 40 and 80, with the decimal placed appropriately, to represent the intended units. These, taken together, represent strata three
Finally, a baseline was established using background air, from an uncontaminated outdoor location. According to the United States of America Product Safety Commission, most air contains some, generally low, levels of formaldehyde (2013). Mean outdoor levels, as identified by WHO (Kaden, Mandin, Nielsen, & Wolkoff, 2010) are 12 μg/m3. Generally, globally, they range however from 1.5 to 16.3 μg/m3 according to the data in the HEXPOC report (2005). This however would be undetectable on the given test. In contrast, the United States Product Safety Commission (2013) reports an average level of 0.03 PPM, which is equal to .0369 mg/m3. As such, the selected detection level for the background strata were 0.02 to 0.04 mg/mg3. Because the random number generator is not capable of accepting decimals, I used 20 to 40, and then replaced the decimal appropriately for each generated number. The samples taken represent the samples of Strata 4 in the table.
References:
EPA. (2000). Formaldehyde Hazard Summary. Technology Transfer- Air Toxics. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Available from http://www3.epa.gov/airtoxics/hlthef/formalde.html
Kaden DA, Mandin C, Nielsen GD, et al. (2010). Formaldehyde. In: WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK138711/
National Toxicology Program (2011). "12th Report on Carcinogens". National Toxicology Program. Available from http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/pubhealth/roc/index.html
Reuss, G. (2002). "Formaldehyde" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.doi:10.1002/14356007.a11_619
Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde (PB/99/166654), (1999). Center for Disease Control. p.51. Available from http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+164
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2013). An Update on Formaldehyde. Available From https://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/121919/AN%20UPDATE%20ON%20FORMALDEHYDE%20final%200113.pdf
The resulting data is contained in the following table:
