Mixtures
Most hazardous wastes are mixtures, for which specific data with which to make a good chemical-protective clothing (CPC) selection are not available. Due to a lack of testing, only limited permeation data for multi-component liquids are currently available.
Mixtures of chemicals can be significantly more aggressive towards CPC materials than can any single component alone. Even small amounts of a rapidly permeating chemical may provide a pathway which accelerates the permeation of other chemicals. Formal research is being conducted on these effects.
The CDC has developed the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) which is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air, surfaces, and in the blood and urine of exposed workers. For hazardous waste site operations, CPC should be selected which offers the widest range of protection against the chemicals expected on site. Vendors are now providing CPC material composed of two or even three different materials laminated together which provides the best features of each material.
Heat Transfer Characteristics
The heat transfer characteristics of CPC may be an important factor in selection.
GORE® Protective Barriers Provides Thermal Protection
Since most chemical-protective clothing is virtually impermeable to moisture, evaporative cooling is limited. The "clo" value (thermal insulation value) of chemical-protective clothing is a measure of the capacity of CPC to dissipate heat loss through means other than evaporation.
The larger the clo value, the greater the insulating properties of the garment and, consequently, the lower the heat transfer. Given other equivalent protective properties, clothing with the lowest clo value should be selected in hot environments or for high work rates. Unfortunately, clo values for clothing are rarely available at present.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-3. Why is specific data used to make good chemical-protective clothing selection for hazardous waste unavailable?
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