Hazard Watch: Monitoring Rubber Fumes in the workplace

Amines, nitrogen derivatives of ammonia used across industries from polyurethane production to pharmaceuticals, can present serious workplace hazards when present as vapours. Even brief exposure may cause eye and respiratory irritation, blurred vision (glaucopsia) and dizziness, while chronic exposure can lead to bronchitis and liver damage. Regular air monitoring is essential, our laboratories provides sampling media and a UK‑grade amine suite (ethanolamine, methylamine, diethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine and more) with ion‑chromatography analysis down to 1 µg to help employers verify controls and protect employees.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed during the incomplete combustion of coal, oil, wood and other organic materials and can present significant occupational hazards in industries such as petroleum, asphalt, aluminium production, and waste incineration. Regular air and surface monitoring using sensitive GC MS methods alongside engineering controls, LEV and appropriate PPE is essential to identify exposures and protect employees.

Trace heavy metals, found in activities from welding and electroplating to mining and smelting can cause serious workplace health problems when inhaled or absorbed, including respiratory sensitisation, lung inflammation, kidney damage and some cancers. Employers must assess and control these risks under COSHH and the Health and Safety at Work Act, maintain LEV systems, and implement regular air and biological monitoring. Our laboratories offer UKAS‑accredited metal analysis and tailored sampling media to help businesses verify controls and protect their workforce.

Aldehydes, including common compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are widely used in manufacturing and can cause eye and respiratory irritation, airway narrowing and, with prolonged exposure, chronic lung conditions like COPD and bronchitis. Because even low‑level exposure can be harmful, employers must implement workplace monitoring, appropriate PPE and engineering controls; RPS offers DNPH‑based sampling media and UKAS‑accredited analysis (NIOSH‑aligned methods) to help businesses measure exposure, verify controls and safeguard employee health.

Ammonia (NH3) is widely used as a fertiliser, refrigerant and in chemical manufacturing is a colourless, pungent gas that can irritate the nose and throat at relatively low concentrations and cause severe lung damage at high levels. With an HSE workplace exposure limit of 50 ppm workplaces must implement ventilation, PPE and regular monitoring using appropriate sampling media. Our laboratories offer UKAS‑accredited ammonia analysis and sampling support to help employers verify controls and protect their workforce.

Ozone at ground level is used in water treatment, paper mills and some manufacturing processes. The HSE sets a short‑term workplace limit of 0.2 ppm, so employers must deploy engineering controls, provide suitable PPE and run routine air monitoring to ensure exposures remain within limits. Our laboratories can supply treated filter media and laboratory analysis to help organisations measure ozone levels and protect their workforce.

Mercaptans, also called thiols, are pungent-smelling organic compounds used as odorants and in products from pesticides to animal feed. While their strong scent helps detect leaks, mercaptans can be highly flammable and harmful to health: low-level exposure causes eye, skin and respiratory irritation, headaches and dizziness, and high exposures may lead to severe respiratory effects. UK HSE exposure limits exist for common mercaptans (for example, methyl mercaptan 1.0 mg/m³), and employers must assess and control these risks under COSHH to keep workers safe and avoid enforcement action.

Chlorine is widely used as a disinfectant and in chemical, plastics, pulp and paper manufacturing, it is a highly reactive, toxic gas that can cause a variety of health issues. Because liquid chlorine readily vaporises and forms dense, ground hugging clouds, accidental releases present an acute risk; EH40 cites a short term reference limit of 0.5 ppm. Employers must use fit for purpose PPE, emergency procedures, engineering controls and regular monitoring to keep employees safe, services we can provide alongside technical guidance and UKAS accredited laboratory analysis.

Colophony (rosin), widely used in solder flux, varnishes and adhesives, can produce hazardous fumes when heated putting workers at risk of occupational asthma, allergic hypersensitivity and dermatitis. EH40 sets WELs for rosin‑based solder flux fume (0.05 mg/m³ long‑term, 0.15 mg/m³ short‑term), and COSHH requires employers to assess, control and monitor exposures. RPS provides compliant sampling media and GC‑MS analysis of resin acids to help employers confirm control effectiveness and protect their workforce.