Toxic Exposure Levels

[resolute]

Why the interest?

Is someone planning a dive in Sulfur Springs in Tampa?

JB

[Webmaster]

No, it's here in TN. The measured levels are well below the threshold values listed on the OSHA site, and that was several years ago. And those are established for workplace exposure, 5 hours/day for 5 days a week.

It is near a former superfund site, just wanted to make sure. The voc's though are mostly from a single spill but it is fortunately far enough downstream from the main area I was interested in I don't expect any exposure to that.

I don't really anticipate any problems where we'll be, I was mainly wondering about dive specific concerns. For example does exposure at some depth increase the absorption rate of certain substances? Not that I expect it to be that deep either, but we'll see.

[JE]

"Are you getting your tanks filled next to a nail salon?" {caver95}

Carefull Bubba.....the DS is the wrong place to BM-! He's been in the diving business a very long time & knows his stuff-! Unless you are referring to somewhere else-? Or, is there something that everyone here needs to know about his fills-?

8)

[crazyduck]

Hey Marby,
All superfund sites have to have federal oversight and I think that is the EPA. If you call the EPA in that neck of the woods I bet they would gladly get you in touch with the site supervisor and he/she could provide the basics of the information that you are seeking. Plus, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that they would LOVE water and soil samples from any of your forays.

While superfunds may described a single event or spill that does not take into account things that were not reported, or were small spills that happened multiple times.

Please keep in the back of your head that certain locations in Tennessee have been working with certain fissionable materials since the 40’s. The only nuclear reclamation and remix facility for the US is in certain federal labs in Tennessee. By products to include, heavy metal byproducts, mercury problems, and other nasty sludge like materials.

I am not sure seriously about a constant pressure. Be careful with transfer areas on your body- typically face, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, nail beds, and orifices. In industrial circles we have a larger problem with certain chemicals under pressure and pushing into the body.

You might want to do a self Neuro exam before and during and after the dive. That is to include motor system response and tactile touch. I find with neuro inhibitors that I get a tingling sensation and aches in my hands. Longer exposure makes it harder for me to grip things.

Andrew

[sdalcher]

I think I would have to take a rain check on dives involving the stated materials...

[Webmaster]

Hey Marby,
All superfund sites have to have federal oversight and I think that is the EPA. If you call the EPA in that neck of the woods I bet they would gladly get you in touch with the site supervisor and he/she could provide the basics of the information that you are seeking. Plus, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that they would LOVE water and soil samples from any of your forays.

The point is to try and stay away from anything nasty. And no it's not anywhwere near ORNL. It is point source, and the flow path has been pretty well defined.

As far as random unreported dumping, we take a chance with that sort of thing pretty much every time we get in the water. Wherever we are. At least there it's been extensively tested and I have a good idea what might be there. I hope to be able to avoid it altogether though.

[Cindy]

Marbry, Please take Forrest on those dives and save the ones with diapers for the nurse.

[Oxtox]

What are the exposure routes? Dermal, ingestion, inhalation?

EPA's IRIS (integreated risk information system) provides toxicological info used in human health risk assessments, but you're going to need to create some exposure scenarios and have contaminant concentration data available. Then you'll need someone to interpret the results...

A chemist, toxicologist/biologist, and a statistician should be able to bring all this together for you.