ML17261A002

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Research Information Letter 0021, Critical Review of Sodium Hydroxide Aerosol Toxicity
ML17261A002
Person / Time
Issue date: 03/24/1978
From: Levine S
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
To: Case E
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RIL-0021
Download: ML17261A002 (3)
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Text

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MAR L 4 1978 McN.JilANDUM FOR:

Ettson G. Case, Acting Director Office of !*.~JClear Reactor Regulation rn.a:.. i:

Saul Lev:L'"lc, Director SUP..Jrcr:

Office of I*iuclear Rer,.'11latory Resem*ch RESEARCH TI\\iFOl<MATION Lt11TBR #21, CRITICAL REVIbTl OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE AEROSOL TOXICI'IY

'illis m.emoraI1c1urn tr3D.smits tJ10 results of cam">letod re!:;earch enti't:led:

I 'A Critical Review of Soditna Hydroxide Aerosol Toxicity. n nus work

  • .-1as porfcrmcd by Dr. D *. W. Cooper, et al, at the llarvu.rd School of Public Heal th under the din~ction of a.i1d funded by the Probabilistic

/',nalysis Staff Gf m~s. TI1is \\*1ork comisted primarily of a review of relevant lit<::ratur<=1 (vrlth some p1*elbninary supportive analysis) pertai.ling to the toxicity of NaOH. It is noteworthy th.at one insight from this work has been-that sodium in the hydroxide fonn, following an incident involvi.J1g sodium release, ina.y not exist in su£ficient amounts to warrant furti11:ir attent.ion.

In addition, the chemical sper..ies thc'lt i*roultl be present hl appreciable quantities (Na2CO~) may not be of conce-rn in terms of health effects. A final report which more f-ully discusses this work is attached.

TI1e principal findii1gs which substantiate the above insights are:

(a)

For relative humidities ex.c:ee<ling 35~ 1(11, it appears that NaQH a.roplcts jn the atmosphere will be transfono.ed to so<liurn c'lrbanate deco.hydrate (r!a2C03

  • lOII20) in less than a r:dnute if the Na.OH aerosol conce:n.tration is less thari or equal to about 100 mg/m3
  • This transformation will t..1.ke longer if the humidity is less th.a'l 35% Hil.

(b)

The all~aliuity of a sodium carbonate ~olutiou will be substantially less t.haI1 that of a sodium hy\\.iro.xicle solution of the sarili:1 normality; thus, CD.rbo11ate aerosols will be: less haza.r<lous, per sodium atonl.,

t~nn hydroxide aerosols.

Dl'FICE~ I I

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oOHHO---*-*--*Ooo oooooOO _ _ _ _ _

OoO,,.... ______

OOOO* oooooOHO-----*---*'°IOOooOHo_O ____.. ___

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NRC F0RM 318 (9-76) NRCM 0240 U. S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1978 -

626*624

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(c) Using tho current definition of 'the respirahle

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fraction~ of the aerosol, the transfonnation from.the sodium hydroxide to sodium carbonate decahydrate increases tho aerodynamic diameter by approxi.lnately 40%.

'lhls increase in diameter shifts some of the aerosol out of the respirable range and thus lowers the respirable fraction

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of the aerosol. Hyclroxidc or carbonate particles entering the upper respiratory tract will 003orb water and grow so the respirable fraction will decrease.

Based on their assumption of the need £or further analysis of incidents involving sodium aerosols, Dr. Cooper and colleagues recamm0uded the following areas for further research:

(a)

An..-ilysis of the chemical transformations which sodium aerosols undergo as they are transported; in particular, consideration of the dependency of chemical composition on temperature, htnnidity, particle size distribution and concentration, and time.

(b) Analysis of tl1e particle size distribution which results from such chainical transformations, with emphasis on the effect of ln.unidity.

(c) Analysis of the effects of chemical transformations and chru1ges in part:l.cle size distribution on scaveiiging of the aerosol.

(d).Analysis of dose*response relationships for humans; possibly involving the fonnulation of mathe11atical models of effects on runans and on animals, with subsequent testing of the model by e:x:periroontation on animals.

Thes.e recor.mcn<lations will be considered in the.Advanced Reactor Safety Research Program.

w This definition (see LiP?naz:, M., "Rcspiral>le Dust $ampling," ~ricsn I

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as particle siz* increnses.

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NRC FORM 318 (9-76) NRCM 0.2-40

  • UI II. OOVERNMr;;NT PRINTJNQ OFFICE* 1979 24
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_If you have ony questions with regard to this report and its onalysis, please contact Dr. ?-lichael c. Cullingford of my staff (telephone #492*8377). _ *.:**.--..*.

E.'lclosure:

Original Signe(I g Saul Leviµ1 *...d Saul Levine, Director Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Report entitled,* "A Critical Review of Sodium Hydroxide Aerosol Toxicity,"

by Dr. D. W. Cooper, et al.

Distri.butio~~enclosure SUbj ect~F;;...,_.

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PAS Reading CIRC rnRON Levine Reading -

Norry Reading Jupiter Reading Buhl Reading -

Wall Reading Murpp.y Reading Cullingford Reading Cllllllingham Reading Nina suspense copy RES/PAS RES/PAS SHanauer, EDO

'RBoyd, NRR JLong, NRR MSilberberg, RSR/RES JLarkins *. RSR/RES CKelberlt. RSI"VRES LRfu, lli:R/f\\fjS -

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MCullingford/mf MA.Cunningham

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SURNAME~ ~AMlJ:r.P.D.Y............................ J.B.Wg,11....................... ARBuhl................... GP.Jupiter............ P.GNo.r.r:y......................SLe.v~'::, :* '. -.

DATE.. 2/......./.7.8...............................2/......./.7.8.................. 2/........ /.7.B............... 2/....... /'J..8................ 2/......./.'J.S................:..... 2./.... /'J..8..... _ *.. {.

NRC PORM 318 (9*76) NRCM 0240 UJ e. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFl'ICl!tl 111711-112-u

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