17 Nov 20061 EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF AIRBORNE COCAINE GENERATED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF DRUG DOG TRAINING AIDS S. Smallets Jr., MS, CIH NAVMEDCEN Portsmouth

17 Nov 2006 1

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF AIRBORNE COCAINE GENERATED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF

DRUG DOG TRAINING AIDS

S. Smallets Jr., MS, CIH

NAVMEDCEN Portsmouth

17 Nov 2006 2

Military Working Dog Program

Part of DoD war against drugs Established at Lackland AF Base, Texas in 1990

Provides training for drug detection dogs

17 Nov 2006 3

Military Working Dog Program Training for dogs and

handlers requires training aids

Training aids are ventilated canisters containing one of the common street drugs

Prepared exclusively by NCIS Regional Forensic Laboratory (NCIS RFL)

17 Nov 2006 4

Personnel Exposure to Drugs Several researchers have looked at passive

cocaine exposures in occupational settings Dermal absorption during application as local

anesthetic. L.S. Fitzmaurice et al. TAC use and absorption of cocaine in a pediatric emergency department. Ann. Emergency Med. 19:515-518 (1990)

Handling contaminated money. M. A. ElSohly. Urinalysis and casual handling of marijuana and cocaine. J. Anal. Toxicol. 15:46 (1991)

Handling large quantities of cocaine. S. D. Le et. al. Occupational exposure to cocaine involving crime laboratory personnel. J. Forensic Sci 37:959-968 (1992)

Laboratory personnel preparing cocaine training aids for a military working dog program. J. M. Gelhausen et al Urine Analysis of laboratory personnel preparing cocaine training aids for a military working dog program. J. Anal. Toxicol. 25:637-640 (2001)

17 Nov 2006 5

Personnel Exposure to Drugs Drug screening (urinalysis) of NCIS

RFL personnel by Navy Drug Screening Laboratory (NDSL) between December 1999 and January 2001 28 of 233 urine samples had detectable

levels of benzoylecgonine (BZE) The possibility of a positive drug test due to

on-the-job exposure can be a concern

17 Nov 2006 6

Personnel Exposure to Drugs Issues

Legal consequences could arise for laboratory employees participating in a DoD civilian drug testing program

Uncertainty of health effects of long term low level exposure to various street drugs is also of concern

Navy Drug Screening Lab (NDSL) and NCIS RFL requested an IH evaluation of cocaine exposure resulting from manufacture of training aids

17 Nov 2006 7

IH Exposure Assessment Quantify levels of cocaine in the air-Baseline

Personnel preparing training aids Other lab and administrative personnel

Evaluate use of PPE and housekeeping Determine urine BZE as a marker for cocaine

exposure Implement procedural changes to minimize

occupational exposure Determine effectiveness of changes-Followup

17 Nov 2006 8

IH Exposure Assessment-Air Sampling No NIOSH/OSHA method for sampling

cocaine in air “Occupational Exposure to Cocaine Involving

Crime Lab Personnel”, Journal of Forensic Sciences, JFSCA, Vol. 37, No 4, July 1992 pp.059-968

Impingers – 15 ml water with 30 mg ascorbic acid; sample at 1 l/m

Analysis done by GC-MS by NDSL Jacksonville, FL

17 Nov 2006 9

Sampling Train

17 Nov 2006 10

Impingers with trap

17 Nov 2006 11

No OSHA or ACGIH OEL Personal Breathing Zone air sampling

4 chemists engaged in training aid manufacture General Area air sampling

3 locations Urinalysis-BZE

Chemists, other lab workers, administrative personnel Surface sampling (cobalt thiocyanate) and

observation Work surfaces Respirators

Ventilation-Lab Hoods

IH Exposure Assessment-Method

17 Nov 2006 12

Reception*

Laboratory*

Lab Hood Work Bench (Sealing)

Lab Bench (Weighing and Stuffing Trial 1)

Latents Office*

NCIS Forensic Lab Layout

Latents Lab

Instrument Room

Lab Director

Senior Chemist

* GA Sample location

17 Nov 2006 13

NCIS RF Laboratory

17 Nov 2006 14

Manufacture Process 2 steps

Preparation (1 chemist) Un-package seized cocaine Weigh and grind in mortar and pestle

Fabrication (3 chemists) 5, 3, 2, 1 g quantities are weighed using plastic tray and

scale (Weighing) Material is put into bindles (Stuffing) Bindles are placed in metal container (Sealing)

400 – 500 grams of cocaine processed

17 Nov 2006 15

Characterize Exposure- Tasks - Preparation

Confiscated Material Unpacking

17 Nov 2006 16


17 Nov 2006 17


WeighingGrinding

17 Nov 2006 18

Exposure AssessmentRespirators, Skin contact

17 Nov 2006 19

IH Exposure Assessment-Housekeeping

17 Nov 2006 20

Characterize Exposure-

Tasks Fabrication

Weighing Setup Stuffing Setup

Lab bench covered with brown paper

17 Nov 2006 21


Tasks Fabrication

Weighing Scale Plastic tray 5, 3, 2, or 1

gram quantities

17 Nov 2006 22


Tasks Fabrication Stuffing

Bindles are constructed from pre-folded filter paper (Whatman #4)

Material is poured into bindles using a funnel

Stapled

17 Nov 2006 23


Tasks Fabrication

Sealing Bindles are placed in 3 oz

tin seamless slipcover cans.

Cans have 7 pre-punched holes for ventilation of substance odor

Can is secured with lead disc seals

17 Nov 2006 24


Tasks Fabrication Metal containers

then placed in mailing envelopes

17 Nov 2006 26

PBZ Results Trial 1 by Task

Weighing(mg/m3)

Stuffing(mg/m3)

Sealing(mg/m3)

Preparation(mg/m3)

0.0644 0.2417 0.0098 0.4004

0.3102 0.182 0.0147 ----------

0.0526 0.1454 0.0054 ----------

0.0762 0.0651 0.0125 ----------

0.1258 0.1585 0.0106 0.4004Average

17 Nov 2006 27

8 Hr TWA’s and Urine BZE Trial 1

Worker ID8 Hr TWA(mg/m3)

Highest BZE(ng/ml)

W 0.0699 36

H 0.0443 23

A 0.0269 ND

G 0.0292 47

9 others tested for BZE, 2 < 12 ng/ml and 7 ND

17 Nov 2006 29

Recommendations Reduce amount of dust in breathing zone

Dust not well controlled, observation showed dust on surfaces Perform preparation and manufacturing tasks in the available lab

hoods instead of lab bench Prevent inhalation of dust that reaches breathing zone

Inside of respirators tested positive using cobalt thiocyanate, variety of respirators, no training, no fit testing

Obtain NIOSH approved respirators, training and fit testing Prevent absorption of cocaine by skin contact

Observation showed opportunity for skin contact Avoid skin contact, don’t roll up lab coat sleeves

17 Nov 2006 30

Modified Preparation Set up

Average face velocity 80 fpm

17 Nov 2006 31

Modified Preparation

17 Nov 2006 32

Modified Weighing and Stuffing

70-80 fpm Hood interfered with balance,

ventilation used intermittently

17 Nov 2006 33

Sealing

17 Nov 2006 34

PBZ Results Trial 2 by Task

Weighing(mg/m3)

Stuffing(mg/m3)

Sealing(mg/m3)

Preparation(mg/m3)

0.0373 0.0201 0.0202 0.2215

0.0337 0.0106 0.0117 ----------

0.0287 0.0679 0.0110 ----------

0.0045 0.0181 0.0159 ----------

0.0251 0.0291 0.0147 0.2215Average

17 Nov 2006 35

8 Hr TWA’s and Urine BZETrial 2

Worker ID8 Hr TWA(mg/m3)

Highest BZE (ng/ml)

W 0.0116 ND

H 0.0181 <12

A 0.0112 13

G 0.0175 17

17 Nov 2006 38

Task Air Sample Average Concentration Comparison

00.050.1

0.150.2

0.250.3

0.350.4

0.45

Task

Air

Co

ncen

trati

on

(m

g/m

3)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 1 0.4004 0.12585 0.1584 0.0106

Trial 2 0.2215 0.026 0.0293 0.0147

Preparation Weighing Stuffing Sealing

17 Nov 2006 39

00.010.020.030.040.050.060.070.08

Individual

Air

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n

(mg

/m3)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 1 0.0696 0.0431 0.0292 0.0269

Trial 2 0.0116 0.0181 0.0175 0.0112

W H G A

Chemist 8 Hr TWA Comparison

17 Nov 2006 40

Urine BZE Comparison

0

10

20

30

40

50

Employee ID

BZ

E (

ng

/ml)

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 1 36 23 1 47

Trial 2 1 1 13 17

W H A G

All values =1 were ND

12 LOD

17 Nov 2006 41

General Area Sample Comparison

Airborne Cocaine (mg/m3)

Baseline Follow-up

Area Background Grinding Mk Trg Aid Background Grinding Mk Trg Aid

Reception <0.0022 <0.0016 <0.0007 0.0210 0.0004 0.0011

Latents <0.0022 0.0019 0.0033 0.0045 0.0055 0.0082

Lab <0.0022 0.0062 0.0144 <0.0022 0.010 0.0043

Baseline- HVAC inoperable

Follow-up- HVAC operating

17 Nov 2006 43

Conclusions-Thoughts Consistent with previous reports i.e.

occupational exposure to cocaine can lead to positive BZE

Noted reductions in BZE suggest that improved use of PPE particularly respirators and the increased use of ventilation can be effective in mitigating occupational exposure

17 Nov 2006 44

Acknowledgements

H. R. Hayes, CIH (NMCP) D. C. Brunick (NEHC) D. L. Deary (NMCP) LT. J. Gehlhausen (NDSL) J. A. Given (NCISRFL)

Documents

17 Nov 20061 EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF AIRBORNE COCAINE GENERATED DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF DRUG DOG TRAINING AIDS S. Smallets Jr., MS, CIH NAVMEDCEN Portsmouth