Human Health & Safety

Bisphenol A Occupational Health and Safety Information

Employees of the plastics industry have been safely working with bisphenol A for more than 40 years. Occupational exposures to bisphenol A are well controlled and meet exposure guidelines set by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other international government authorities.

Workplace Standards and Guidelines:

The following is an overview of the occupational safety precautions involved with the industrial use of Bisphenol A.

Physical Properties of Bisphenol A
Health Precautions
Safety Precautions
Relevant Work Place Standards and Guidelines
Waste Disposal Recommendations

Physical Properties

• Bisphenol A is a solid which melts only at temperatures considerably above the boiling point of water, i.e. at approximately 311°Fahrenheit or 155°Centigrade.
  
  
• Bisphenol A has low vapor pressure at ambient temperature conditions.
  
  
• Bisphenol A has a water solubility of 120-300 milligrams per liter and a greater solubility at alkaline pH values.

Health Precautions

• Bisphenol A is generally not considered to be a particularly hazardous material because:
  • Exposures to vapors are low due to its low volatility at room temperatures.
  • A single brief exposure is unlikely to cause skin irritation.
  • Amounts that might be accidentally ingested in the workplace are considered to have low toxicity.
• Bisphenol A may cause moderate eye irritation or injury. Goggles are recommended.
  
  
• Prolonged or repeated exposure to bisphenol A dust may cause skin irritation. Exposure to bisphenol A and sunlight may cause a reaction on the skin (contact sensitization). Gloves are recommended.
  
  
• Bisphenol A dust or vapors may cause upper respiratory tract irritation. Formation of dusts, and exposure to dusts and vapors, should be avoided.

Safety Precautions

• Bisphenol A dust suspended in air may pose a fire and explosion hazard. Formation of dusts should be avoided. All equipment should be properly grounded. Storage tanks should be blanketed with an inert gas such as nitrogen.
  
  
• Equipment containing molten bisphenol A should be insulated to prevent burns from incidental contact.
  
  
• Bisphenol A may react violently with peroxides and perchlorates. Avoid contact with oxidizing materials.

Relevant Work Place Standards
and Guidelines

• In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has not set a specific workplace standard for bisphenol A. There is, however, an exposure limit for particulates, including bisphenol A dust, of 15 milligrams per cubic meter for total dust and 5 milligrams per cubic meter for the respirable fraction.
  
  
• The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has an exposure guideline for particulates, including bisphenol A dust, of 10 milligrams per cubic meter and 3 milligrams per cubic meter for the respirable fraction.
  
  
• In Germany, the maximal workplace concentration for bisphenol A dusts is 5 milligrams per cubic meter. In the Netherlands, the maximal accepted concentration for bisphenol A dust is 5 milligrams per cubic meter.
  
  
• To the best of our knowledge, there are no other workplace standards specifically for bisphenol A.

Waste Disposal Recommendations

• Waste disposal must comply with all applicable regulations including U.S. Federal, State and local laws and regulations, Canadian national and provincial laws, and European Union and member state regulations.
  
  
• For unused, uncontaminated product, the recommended disposal options include recycling, re-processing or incineration.
  
  
• For containers empty of bisphenol A, the recommended disposal options include reuse, recycling, re-manufacture or incineration.