CHANGE Environmental, LLC was contracted to conduct an air quality assessment to identify the cause of a “Blue Haze” emitting from a machine within a paper plant in Easton, New York. It was understood that in some cases a blue ink or pigment is used for dying the paper. The goal of the project was to identify what was causing the “Blue Haze” during the worst-case-simulated operations. CHANGE performed various services to identify the cause. Chemicals used in Dye/Pigment were reviewed from a Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Liquid sampling of Dye/pigment analyzed by a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) laboratory at the Center for Air Resources Science and Engineering Center (CARES), comparing the chemical composition to the list of known chemicals provided via the (MSDS). Dust wipe samples and Air quality samples were also collected in the same location. CHANGE developed a comprehensive three-point comparative testing and analysis protocol from all samples collected (i.e., dust wipe, air, and liquid)
As a result of these findings, CHANGE recommended that respiratory programs be put in place immediately for workers located near and around the machine, such as wearing respiratory protection during the use of the machine. This would be a short-term solution to reduce exposure to the re-suspended and settling fibers.
