Low odor does not mean low hazard - mastic removers in asbestos abatement

So, I recently completed a cursory review of several different low-odor mastic or adhesive removers that were proposed for use in an asbestos abatement project.

Like many safety professionals, I always specify "low odor" or "no odor" chemicals to be used, but I had not previously encountered the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for most of the mastic removers that were proposed by the contractor. I'd heard anecdotal evidence that the soy-based mastic removers were less effective for asbestos abatement, but understood they were intended to be an environmentally-friendly option.

I was not surprised to find that most of the SDS were wholly unhelpful in assessing the hazards associated with the chemicals. Many of them were one page, in tiny font, and had not been converted to the new Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals - Safety Data Sheet required format yet.

Based on the lack of information, I threw together a table for each proposed chemical to evaluate them and did some preliminary research on the hazards of each mastic remover. 

The following mastic removers were evaluated:

• AMR 100 Mastic Remover
• Neugenic 4175 Mastic Remover
• Sentinel 770 Odorless Degreaser and Adhesive Remover
• Sentinel 909 Soybean-Based Mastic Remover and Degreaser
• Sentinel 805 Envirowash
• Chem-Safe® Clear 57770 No Odor Mastic Remover
• Chem-Safe® 310-C Soy-Based Mastic Remover
• Concentrate Division – Natural FR Concentrate (Olyolefin Compounds) – SDS not widely available on the internet

This evaluation is provided below and should not be construed to be "official" occupational or environmental health guidance; readers are encouraged to do their own assessment and research to evaluate the hazards associated with these chemicals. Hopefully other safety and health professionals may find this useful in conducting asbestos project design activities when deciding which mastic remover should be used at an owner's site.

Also keep in mind that the hazard statements and precautionary statements were adapted from the manufacturer's existing language on the SDS. Too little data was present on the percent (%) of each chemical present to conduct a full Hazard Communication Standard Assessment and verify the needed pictograms or hazard classification. 

Product Name	GHS Classification	Pictograms	Hazard Statements	Precautionary Statements	Ingredients	Health Effects
AMR 100 Mastic Remover	Flammable liquid, Category 4 Acute Toxicity: Oral, Category 4 Acute Toxicity: Inhalation, Category 4 Acute Toxicity: Dermal, Category 4 Skin irritation, Category 2 Eye irritation, Category 2A Aspiration hazard, Category 1 STOT, Category 3 (narcotic effects) Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment, Category 2	Environment Health Hazard Exclamation Mark	H315 – Causes skin irritation. H304 – May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. H336 – May cause drowsiness or dizziness. H411 – Toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. H227 – Combustible liquid. H302 – Harmful if swallowed. H312 – Harmful in contact with skin. H332: Harmful if inhaled. H319 – Causes serious eye irritation.	P210 – Keep away from flames and hot surfaces. No smoking. P280 – Wear protective gloves/eye protection/face protection. P403 – Store in a well-ventilated place. P235 – Keep cool. P264 – Wash skin thoroughly after handling. P362 – Take of contaminated clothing and wash before reuse. P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P271 – Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated place. P233 – Keep container tightly closed.	64742-47-8 Petroleum Distillates, Hydrotreated Light (low odor paraffinic solvent / deodorized kerosene) ________ 111-76-2 2-butoxyethanol	Inhalation: Dizziness, Headache, Drowsiness, Nausea, Unconsciousness.  Skin: Dryness. Eyes: Redness. Ingestion: Cough, Diarrhea, Sore Throat, Vomiting. The vapor is seriously irritating to the eyes. The substance may cause effects on the central nervous system. Exposure to high concentration of vapors may result in unconsciousness. Swallowing the liquid may cause aspiration/chemical pneumonitis.
Neugenic 4175 Mastic Remover	Flammable liquid, Category 4 Eye irritation, Category 2A STOT, Category 3 (narcotic effects) Aspiration hazard, Category 1	Exclamation Mark	H227 – Combustible liquid. H319 – Causes serious eye irritation. H336 – May cause drowsiness or dizziness. H304 – May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.	P210 – Keep away from flames and hot surfaces. No smoking. P264 - Wash skin thoroughly after handling. P280 - Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection. P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P271 – Use only in a well-ventilated area/outdoors.	69430-33-7 Aliphatic hydrocarbon blend ________ 112-34-5 Diethylene glycol butyl ether	Inhalation: Dizziness, Headache, Drowsiness, Nausea, Unconsciousness.  Skin: Dryness. Eyes: Redness. Ingestion: Cough, Diarrhea, Sore Throat, Vomiting. Do not induce vomiting. May cause aspiration pneumonia. CNS depressant.
Sentinel 770 Odorless Degreaser & Adhesive Remover	Flammable liquid, Category 4 Eye irritation, Category 2B Skin irritation, Category 3 STOT, Category 3 (narcotic effects) Aspiration hazard, Category 1	Exclamation Mark	H227 – Combustible liquid. H316 – Causes mild skin irritation. H320 – Causes eye irritation. H336 – May cause drowsiness or dizziness. H304 – May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.	P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P271 – Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated place. P210 – Keep away from flames and hot surfaces. No smoking. P280 - Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection. P264 – Wash skin thoroughly after handling.	69430-33-7 Aliphatic hydrocarbon blend	Causes eye irritation, may cause skin irritation with prolonged skin contact. Irritation of ENT and signs of CNS depression. May experience additional breathing difficulties if impaired lung function, due to irritant properties of chemical. Do not induce vomiting, may cause aspiration pneumonia.
Sentinel 909 Soybean-Based Mastic Remover	Eye irritation, Category 2B Skin irritation, Category 3	N/A	H316 – Causes mild skin irritation. H320 – Causes eye irritation. H304 – May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.	P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P271 – Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated place. P280 - Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection. P264 – Wash skin thoroughly after handling.	Emulsified methyl esters (no hazardous ingredients with CAS#)	Causes eye irritation, may cause skin irritation with prolonged skin contact. Irritation of ENT and signs of CNS depression. May experience additional breathing difficulties if impaired lung function, due to irritant properties of chemical. Do not induce vomiting.
Sentinel 805 Envirowash (used after 909 to clean surfaces)	Eye irritation, Category 2B Skin irritation, Category 3	N/A	H316 – Causes mild skin irritation. H320 – Causes eye irritation.	P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P264 – Wash skin thoroughly after handling. P280 - Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection.	10101-89-0 Trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (1.2%)	Causes eye irritation, may cause skin irritation with prolonged skin contact. Irritation of ENT and headaches. May experience additional breathing difficulties if impaired lung function, due to irritant properties of chemical. Do not induce vomiting.
Chem-Safe® Clear 57770 No Odor Mastic Remover	Eye irritation, Category 2B Skin irritation, Category 3 Aspiration hazard, Category 1	Exclamation Mark	H315 – Causes skin irritation. H304 – May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways. H320 – Causes eye irritation.	P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P264 – Wash skin thoroughly after handling. P280 - Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection.	64742-47-8 Petroleum Distillates, Hydrotreated Light (low odor paraffinic solvent / deodorized kerosene) ________ 112-34-5 Diethylene glycol butyl ether	Causes eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Do not induce vomiting, may cause aspiration pneumonia. Primary symptoms = headache, dizziness, and nausea.
Chem-Safe® 310-C Soy-Based Mastic Remover	Eye irritation, Category 2B Skin irritation, Category 3	N/A	H316 – Causes mild skin irritation. H320 – Causes eye irritation.	P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P264 – Wash skin thoroughly after handling. P280 - Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection.	112-34-5 Diethylene glycol butyl ether (5-12%) ________ Soy-based nonhazardous component	Causes eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Do not induce vomiting. Primary symptoms = headache and dizziness.
Concentrate Dvision Natural FR Concentrate	Eye irritation, Category 2B Skin irritation, Category 3	N/A	H316 – Causes mild skin irritation. H320 – Causes eye irritation.	P261 – Avoid breathing gas/mist/vapor/spray. P264 – Wash skin thoroughly after handling. P280 - Wear protective gloves/ eye protection/ face protection.	None listed as hazardous	May cause mechanical skin irritation (pellets) and eye irritation if dust from pellets gets in eyes.

Need help with (insert topic here)? There's an ASTM Standard for that!

I have been slowly purchasing and collecting ASTM International Standards for years (they're not entirely cheap), and this weekend, I developed a wish list of ASTM standards I plan to purchase in 2014.

Under Industrial Hygiene and Safety Standards:

ASTM E2238 - 12: Standard Guide for Evacuation Route Diagrams ($37)

ASTM F1461 - 12: Standard Practice for Chemical Protective Clothing Program ($42)

ASTM D4276 - 02 (2012): Standard Practice for Confined Area Entry ($37)

ASTM E2565 - 09: Standard Guide for Consensus-based Process for an Occupational Safety and Health Standard that Includes an Occupational Exposure Guideline ($37)

For Asbestos:

ASTM E2356 - 10: Standard Practice for Comprehensive Building Asbestos Surveys ($67)

ASTM E1368 - 11: Standard Practice for Visual Inspection of Asbestos Abatement Projects ($48)

ASTM D7201 - 06 (2011): Standard Practice for Sampling and Counting Airborne Fibers, Including Asbestos Fibers, in the Workplace, by Phase Contrast Microscopy (with an Option of Transmission Electron Microscopy) ($60)

For Lead:

ASTM E2255 / E2255M - 13: Standard Practice for Conducting Visual Assessments for Lead Hazards in Buildings ($48)

ASTM E2239 - 12: Standard Practice for Record Keeping and Record Preservation for Lead Hazard Activities ($37)

For Mold and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ):

ASTM D7338 - 10: Standard Guide for Assessment Of Fungal Growth in Buildings ($42)

ASTM D6245 - 12: Standard Guide for Using Indoor Carbon Dioxide Concentrations to Evaluate Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation ($32)

If you're a professor or faculty at a university or college, there's a variety of resources available for you and your students. If you're a student, there's limited grant money available for research assistance if you use an ASTM standard in your research.