1. ChemDAQ , Inc. | 300 Business Center Drive, Suite 330, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 | 412.787.0202 P rotocol for M onitoring and C ontrol of Peracetic Acid in P oultry P rocessing Plants. Peracetic acid (PAA) is the predominant antimicrobial chemical used in poultry and meat processing. It is delivered in large totes, diluted and distributed to various areas of the processing plant as an intervention to meet USDA food safety guidelines. In 2015 the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) promulgated an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 0.4 parts per million (ppm) over a time weighted average (TWA) exposure. Additional exposure limits are being developed by Califo rnia OSHA (proposed 0.2 ppm 8 - hour TWA and NIOSH (proposed 0.55 Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health [IDLH]). The NIOSH IDLH was defeated, and work is on - going on an appropriate IDLH. In addition, Federal OSHA is in development of a standard method to measure PAA. It is expected that this will be a sampling method by an impinger that will be analyzed. This document is intended to help poultry and meat processors to better understand their PAA exposure levels throughout their plant in order to effective ly monitor and control PAA exposure for the safety and health of plant worker s and USDA Food S afety Inspection Service (FSIS) Inspectors. 1. Protocol for measuring PAA exposure levels throughout the plant a. Finding PAA hot spots using SafeCide portable PAA mon itor i. Spray Bars / Cabinets ii. Dip Tanks iii. Chillers iv. FSIS Stations v. Effect on titration of PAA (Increased concentration s = Increased exposure levels) b. I dentifying continuous monitoring locations i. Use SafeCide data analysis – Results from s pot checking or personal monitoring ii. Worker and FSIS Inspector complaints iii. Bulk Storage - emergency / high concentrations iv. Dilution and distribution of PAA 2. Controlling PAA exposure levels a. ChemDAQ area monitors can be connected to air handling systems i. Continuous monit ors can be set to control ventilation or air extraction based on Exposure levels . 1. Ventilation may only redistribute PAA vapors into other work areas 2. Air extraction can be costly due to the replacement (make up air) required ii. Localized, a ctive PAA scrubber systems are available iii. New passive PAA absorbent (panel) systems are under development iv. For more information on these solutions, ask you ChemDAQ Technical Sales Representative