Monitoring Adhesive Solvent Vapours in the Footwear Industry

Abstract

The Footwear Industry relies heavily on the use of solvent based adhesives. It is, therefore, important to monitor solvent vapour levels to ensure that toxic hazards are minimised. Attention has always been given to the extraction of Solvent Vapours from the work areas around operations involving the use of adhesives and other solvent based preparations. However, only limited monitoring of vapour levels has been possible as only simple monitoring devices (eg direct reading detector tubes) were available. Recently more sophisticated devices have been developed and it therefore seemed appropriate to carry out a comprehensive survey of solvent vapour levels in shoe factories. At the same time a check was carried out on the efficiency of extraction devices, where provided, by measuring the air flow into them.