Brian, you are wonderful ,as always.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I don't know about "dislike", but due 
to the answers you give always, I know many many people here who like and 
trust you.
Gaby
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Ellis" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Gabriela Bogdan" <[log in to unmask]>; "TechNet E-Mail Forum" 
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: [TN] ABZOLV


> OK, on the whole, your attachment is pretty fair and covers a lot of the 
> problem with nPB. However, there is one grave error in it. It states the 
> ACGIH is an official level. This is not so, it is a recommendation by an 
> NGO, although one that should be taken seriously. Only OSHA PEL's have the 
> force of regulatory status in the USA and, as far as I know, OSHA have not 
> made any regulation regarding nPB.
>
> A very early warning is contained in Sclar 1999: 
> Encephalomyeloradiculoneuropathy following exposure to an industrial
> solvent, G. Sclar, Clin Neurol Neurosurg 101:199-202 (1999) and describes 
> the case of a youth who virtually lost the use of his right arm after 
> exposure to nPB. It is speculated that the protective gloves he was using 
> did not offer sufficient protection and the transdermal uptake was 
> sufficient to cause severe neuropathic conditions in the hand and arm. 
> This was the first reported human neuropathy. Other cases have since been 
> reported, including one where nPB was used as the solvent in adhesives 
> used to make aircraft seats. The workers were exposed to massive vapour 
> levels, peaking at >300 ppm, and several of them had sequelae.
>
> I was mandated by a company using nPB for cleaning PCB assemblies. Their 
> equipment was well designed and the background levels were down to the 
> extremely low 3 ppm in the workshop. However, the inspection/retouch 
> operators complained of headaches after the switch from CFC-113 to nPB. It 
> was speculated that, although the background level was low and the 
> assemblies were vacuum dried, there was sufficient nPB vapour trapped in 
> and under the components, especially wound coils, close to the operator's 
> faces, to cause problems.
>
> I was co-chair of the UNEP Technical and Economic Assessment Panel nPB 
> Working Group and I made a presentation to the Parties to the Montreal 
> Protocol and my concluding remarks were:
> "With our current knowledge, the prudent course is to use the 
> precautionary principle:
> - Do not use nPB where a better-known, non-OD, solvent will work
> - If it must be used, reduce emissions to the absolute minimum and ensure 
> minimum operator exposure.
> - Err on the safe side"
> Of course, this was based more on the fact that nPB is ozone-depleting, 
> rather than toxic.
>
> My 2003 report to the Parties concluded:
> "1.10 Conclusions
> i. The forecast global expansion of the nPB market has not yet occurred, 
> because of the unclear regulatory situation, the current economic position 
> and geopolitical tensions.
> ii. The bulk price of nPB, both raw and blended, has dropped to a level 
> more acceptable for general degreasing operations.
> iii. The global production capacity of molecular nPB and blended solvents 
> has expanded considerably and can meet foreseeable immediate demands once 
> the regulatory and economic barriers are removed. Bromine production 
> capacity is sufficient that more nPB can be produced at fairly short 
> notice, if needed.
> iv. nPB manufacturers and blenders are heavily promoting their products as 
> replacements for non-ozone-depleting chlorinated solvents, exploiting 
> possible regulatory loopholes.
> v. The pharmaceutical, agrochemical and speciality chemical industries 
> consume about 5,000 tonnes of nPB annually. The emissions from these are 
> unknown.
> vi. There is very evident increased interest in the use of nPB in Article 
> 5(1) countries, notably in the Peoples’ Republic of China.
> vii. Although there is no new information about the reproductive toxicity 
> and neurotoxicity of nPB, there are grounds for grave concern with the 
> incomplete toxicity or epidemiological information already available.
> viii. Recommended safety practices regarding the use of nPB are not always 
> being observed, resulting in excessive emissions and potential 
> over-exposure of operators. In particular, more attention must be paid to 
> the risks of dermal uptake, which may be more rapid in humans than was 
> thought.
> ix. In view of the still-unknown toxicology, epidemiology and risk to the 
> ozone layer, Parties are urged to adopt the precautionary principle and to 
> discourage use of nPB in solvents applications, except where it can be 
> shown that no non-ozone-depleting solvent or process is suitable and 
> provided that every measure is taken to protect the operators from any 
> risk of undue exposure and to minimise emissions."
>
> Personally, I believe the ACGIH recommendation of a 10 ppm time-weighted 
> exposure level probably presents little risk to operators, although the 
> French ATOFIN recommendation of 5 ppm would be better. I discount the 
> (proposed or promulgated?) Californian regulation of 1 ppm as being too 
> restrictive and unnecessary. However, can 10 ppm be easily maintained? In 
> very expensive and properly maintained/operated zero-emissions machines, 
> probably. I measured 15 ppm round such a machine in China, but it had a 
> minute leak. I measured 200 ppm round another similar machine in Egypt, 
> but the operator removed the cleaned goods before the vacuum extraction 
> had finished its work. I doubt whether it is possible in any open-top 
> vapour degreaser, even with deep refrigerated freeboards. It may just be 
> possible if the assemblies are kept in the freeboard of a very modern 
> machine for at least 30-60 minutes but this cannot be guaranteed and is 
> hardly conducive to a good throughput.
>
> BTW, I'm not liked in your country because the Dead Sea Bromine Corp is 
> one of the major producers of nPB and my recommendations have been largely 
> negative!!!
>
> Finally, I have a web page on the matter at 
> http://www.cypenv.org/worldenv/files/npb.htm
>
> Brian
>
>
>
> Gabriela Bogdan wrote:
>> Thank you Brian.
>> I found several materials on the internet, some contradicting each other, 
>> but this one frightened me.
>> See attachment.
>> Gaby
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Ellis" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 7:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [TN] ABZOLV
>>
>>
>>> The main component is n-propyl bromide. It depletes the ozone layer and 
>>> there is evidence of reproductive toxicity and neurotoxicity. Because of 
>>> the toxicity, various suppliers recommend operator exposure levels 
>>> varying from 5 to 100 ppm. I could provide references tomorrow, if 
>>> required.
>>>
>>> Brian
>>>
>>> Gabriela Bogdan wrote:
>>>> Is anybody cleaning assemblies with ABZOLV?
>>>> Do you know what the health hazards are?
>>>> Gaby
>>>>
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