Exposure Surveys
Existing monitoring data may well overstate exposures to these compounds if both soluble and insoluble portions were not measured. This issue has gained prominence with discussion by OSHA and NIOSH considering a much lower standard for these materials than for mineral oil mist, and the realization that the oil mist standard is not sufficiently protective for many of these compounds. (Note also that ACGIH has proposed drastically lowering the TLV for mineral oil mists.)
We also collect fluid samples for microbial assessment for use in implementation of system assessment and maintenance procedures. These precautions keep microbial populations in check, and much less likely to present biological hazards associated with these systems. (Additional information about metalworking requirements from the NIOSH and OSHA Web sites.)