- Gloves: Methylene chloride is known
to penetrate neoprene. Appropriate gloving requires two layers: inner
polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gloves for chemical penetration resistance, and
outer neoprene gloves for mechanical durability. The patient was using
neoprene only.
- Respirator: Methylene chloride is
known to saturate vapor cartridges fairly rapidly. Experiments conducted
at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory revealed that cartridge
breakthrough occurs after only 30 minutes exposure to methylene chloride
at 500 ppm, less that 1.5x the concentration the patient was typically
exposed to in this situation. The patient went as long as 3 weeks
between respirator changes.
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