TDA RESEARCH, INC. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIOSH

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant TDA Research Inc TDA proposes to develop new types of activated carbons to protect the more than agricultural workers who according to the CDC are at risk from exposure to toxic levels of ammonia In addition to agricultural workers fire fighters first responders and chemical industry personal are also at risk OSHA rates ppmv NH in air as Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health IDLH Levels of ppmv have led to permanent scarring of lung tissue causing chronic respiratory illness Ammonia readily dissolves in water and damages moist tissues of the body and especially the eyes Initial eye tissue damage and necrosis caused by ammonia is often followed by conjunctivitis and secondary eye infection Chronic exposure to even ppmv has caused eye damage and temporary blindness and high levels have caused permanent blindness In poorly ventilated buildings of the over Animal Feeding Operations AFO and the over Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations CAFO for example NH levels routinely exceed ppmv and with low winter ventilation rates agricultural workers are often exposed to ppmv Advocates of public health are recommending that children down wind of ammonia releasing operations should not be exposed to more than ppbv NH in air Hitherto workers have relied on respirators incorporating activated carbons produced from pyrolysis of coconut shell a technology developed for World War I gas masks However the best of these has recently been discontinued leaving manufacturers of ammonia respirators scrambling and with a critical need for new supplies of activated carbons that are specific for use in ammonia respirators Most off the shelf activated carbons designed for other purposes are ineffective for NH uptake Staff at TDA has over years of experience in the design of specialty sorbents supplying over metric tons per year to customers worldwide In preliminary studies TDA has demonstrated that a treated activated carbon performs significantly better for NH uptake compared to activated carbons now currently available In Phase I the carbons will be optimized for NH uptake In Phase II carbons will be scaled up for commercialization PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE According to the CDC over workers in agriculture alone are at risk from exposure to toxic levels of ammonia especially at Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in which ammonia arising from decomposition of urea can reach ppmv in poorly ventilated facilities At ppmv NH lung tissue can be scarred for life causing chronic respiratory illness and much lower levels lead to eye damage and blindness Workers exposed to ammonia including also fire fighters first responders and those in chemical industry should have ready access to improved respirators to provide adequate eye face and respiratory track protection