In 1986, California (US) voters approved an initiative to address increasing concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals. That initiative, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is better known by its original name of Proposition 65.
Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians about significant amounts of chemicals in the products they purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment.
This list includes hydrazine, a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odour. Over a quarter million tons are manufactured annually. It is used as a foaming agent for preparing polymer foams and as a precursor to polymerisation catalysts and pharmaceuticals.
There are many types of hydrazine compounds and small amounts of the chemical even occur naturally in some plants. The compounds can be released into the environment from places that manufacture, use or process hydrazine. It can be released into the air, soil and water.
Joe Frasca, senior vice president, marketing at LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, an environmental and industrial hygiene testing laboratory, said: “There has not been extensive research into how hydrazine enters the human body, but it is known to be absorbed through breathing contaminated air, through the skin and by eating or drinking contaminated products.
“Acute exposure is believed to potentially harm the lungs, liver, kidneys and central nervous systems. Worker exposure testing can help prevent human contact and environmental testing can determine if it is a risk to additional people and the environment.”
Source: EMSL Analytical
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