Table 5Main substances (and classes of substances) to which workers may be exposed in petroleum refineriesa

MaterialPrincipal uses or sources of emission
AluminaCatalyst support, catalyst (sulfur recovery)
Aluminium chlorideCatalyst (isomerization)
Amines, aliphatic (e.g., methylamine) and alkanolamines (e.g. monoethanolamine)Hydrodesulfurization, acid gas adsorbents
Amines, aromatic (e.g., anisidines* and phenylenediamines*)Catalytic cracking, residual processing, gasoline antioxidants
AmmoniaAtmospheric distillation, catalytic cracking, sulfur recovery, residual processing, lubricant oil processing, waste waters
Antimony trichlorideInhibitor (isomerization)
Arsenic compounds*Crude oil, gas scrubbing
Asbestos*Pipe insulation, gaskets (formerly), valve seals
Bitumen (asphalt) fumes*Solvent deasphalting, tanker loading, tank cleaning
tert-Butyl alcoholUnleaded gasoline blending
Carbon monoxideCatalyst regeneration (catalytic cracking), use of inert gases, boilers, flares
ChlorineRejuvenation of platinum catalyst, cooling water treatment
Chromium and chromium compounds*Catalyst (catalytic reforming), welding
Clays (e.g., bentonite)Catalyst supports, grease fillers
Cobalt and cobalt compounds (including cobalt carbonyl, cobalt molybdate, oxides)Catalyst (catalytic reforming, hydrocracking, hydrotreating)
CokeCoking units*
Copper and copper compounds (e.g. copper chloride, copper alloys)Desulfurization, sweetening operations, catalyst (catalytic reforming)
Crude oilCrude oil distillation and processing unit
1,2-Dibromoethane (ethylene dibromide)*Leaded gasoline blending
1,2-Dichloroethane (ethylene dichloride)*Leaded gasoline blending
Earth, diatomaceous (amorphous silica*)Crude oil filtration, catalyst support, lubricant oil filtration
Fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel oil, jet fuel, heating oil)Fuel blending, storage, loading
FurfuralOil and grease manufacture, desulfurization
GraphiteGrease filler
Hydrazine*Boiler-water additive
Hydrocarbons, aliphatic (e.g., propane, n-hexane)Most process units
Hydrocarbons, aromatic (e.g., benzene*, toluene)Most process units, catalytic cracking and reforming, gasoline blending and loading, wax preparation unit
Hydrocarbons, chlorinated*Rejuvenation of catalyst (catalytic reforming), solvents
Hydrogen chlorideIsomerization
Hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid)Catalyst (alkylation)
Hydrogen sulfide and sulfur compounds (e.g., mercaptans, carbon disulfide)Atmospheric distillation, catalytic cracking and reforming, hydrocracking, hydrotreating, sulfur recovery, residual processing, lubricant oil processing, waste waters
Iron and iron compounds*Catalyst (hydrocracking), welding
Ketones (e.g., methyl ethyl ketone)Lubricant oil solvent dewaxing, atmospheric distillation, residual processing
Lead, inorganic compounds (e.g., lead oxide)*Desulfurization, removal, sweetening operations
Manganese compounds, organicUnleaded gasoline blending
Methyl-tert-butyl etherUnleaded gasoline blending
N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidoneLubricant oil manufacture
Mineral oils (e.g., lubricating oils)*Oil and grease units
Molybdenum and molybdenum compoundsCatalyst (catalytic reforming, hydrocracking, isomerization, hydrotreating)
Nickel and nickel compounds (e.g., nickel sulfides, nickel carbonyl, nickel oxide)*Catalyst (isomerization, hydrotreating, hydrocracking, catalytic reforming), welding, cleaning residual fuel oils, combustion products
Nitrogen oxidesFlares, furnaces
PalladiumCatalyst (catalytic reforming, hydrocracking)
PhenolCrude distillation, catalytic cracking, residual processing, waste waters, desulfurization, lubricant oil, solvent dewaxing
PhosgeneCatalyst rejuvenation by chlorination (catalytic reforming)
Pitch (petroleum)Bitumen department, loading operations
Phosphoric acidCatalyst (polymerization)
PlatinumCatalyst (catalytic reforming, isomerization, hydrotreating)
Polynuclear aromatic compounds*Atmospheric distillation, catalytic cracking, residual fuel oil, lubricant oil processing, bitumen processing and loading, coking, waste-water treatment
Refined petroleum solvents (e.g., petroleum ether, rubber solvent, varnish makers' and painters' naphtha, Stoddard solvent)Petroleum solvent manufacturing
RheniumCatalyst (catalytic reforming)
Silica, crystalline*Abrasive blasting, demolition and rebuilding, cracking (catalyst)
Sodium hydroxideCaustic wash of acid catalysts or acid-treated streams, sweetening operations
SulfurSulfur recovery
Sulfur dioxideSulfur recovery, furnaces, flares
Sulfuric acidCatalyst (alkylation, polymerization), acid treating of lubricant oils
Tetraethyllead and tetramethyllead*Gasoline blending operations, gasoline storage tank cleaning
Tungsten sulfideCatalyst (hydrocracking)
Vanadium compounds (e.g., vanadium pentoxide)Residual fuel oils, cleaning of combustion deposits, flue cleaning

*Compounds marked with an asterisk have been evaluated by the IARC (see IARC, 1987; see also Table 1 of ‘General Remarks’, p. 32)

From: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES IN PETROLEUM REFINING

Cover of Occupational Exposures in Petroleum Refining; Crude Oil and Major Petroleum Fuels
Occupational Exposures in Petroleum Refining; Crude Oil and Major Petroleum Fuels.
IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, No. 45.
IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans.
©International Agency for Research on Cancer 1989.

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