Detect Airborne Hazards Using ChemSee Dosimeters

The ChemSee Sulfur Dioxide Dosimeter is a direct-read passive dosimeter for sulfur dioxide. The dosimeter is a small, disposable badge which gives an instantaneous measure of personal exposure to S02 in air. Sulfur dioxide is hazardous to human health. It is a colorless gas with a suffocating odor. SO2 chiefly affects the upper respiratory tract. On contact with moisture, SO2 readily transforms to sulfurous acid which dissolves the mucous membranes, reacts with biological components and makes all membranes more susceptible to biological attack by bacteria. One can taste SO2 at concentrations as low as 0.3 ppm, and smell it at 0.5 ppm. Above 6 ppm, SO2 irritates the nose and throat. At 20 ppm, it irritates the eyes and causes inflammation. Current OSHA regulations limit the allowable exposure to 5.0 ppm on an 8-hour TWA basis (40 ppm*hr). In 1983, the 8-hour limit decreased to 2.0 ppm (16 ppm*hr), with a ceiling of 5.0 ppm STEL, on a 15-minute basis. Sulfur dioxide is emitted with the combustion products of fossil fuels which contain sulfur. Coal cleaning operations and metallurgical raising of non-ferrous sulfide ores are also generated by-products of SO2 vapors. Other sources are industries that use sulfur and S02 in their process. In food and agricultural operations, SO2 is used as a fumigant, insecticide, fungicide and food preservative. Sulfur dioxide is the major cause of acid rain.