Strong inorganic acid mists
Agent Name
Strong inorganic acid mists
Major Category
Other Uses
Category
Exposures, Complex
Sources/Uses
Workers are exposed in manufacturing (phosphate fertilizer, isopropanol, synthetic ethanol, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and lead batteries), smelting copper, and pickling and other acid treatments of metals; Highest potential average exposure levels to sulfuric acid: metal pickling and production of sulfuric acid and isopropanol; Moderate: production of soap and detergent, nitric acid, and ethanol; Low: copper and zinc refining and production of fertilizer and lead batteries; Other minor uses of sulfuric acid include petroleum refining, mining, metallurgy and ore processing, pulp and paper processing, cellulose fibers production, and water treatment; [Reference #1]
Comments
A Group 1 carcinogen: cancer of the larynx; High exposures (> 1 mg/m3) occurred before 1970. "In the early 1970s, the exposure started to decline due to the use of lower concentrations of the acids and improved industrial control measures." [Reference #1]
IARC Carcinogen
Established
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: