Furan is a clear, colorless liquid used as a component in manufacturing other specialty chemicals. It is a flammable, highly volatile liquid with a boiling point near room temperature. This means that it turns from liquid to gas, specifically at a temperature of
88.45° Fahrenheit.
Furan is soluble in common organic solvents, including alcohol, ether, and acetone, and is slightly soluble in water. It reportedly has a strong “chloroform-like” odor. It is toxic and may be carcinogenic in humans.
It is usually converted by hydrogenation to tetrahydrofuran, used as a solvent, and in producing chemicals that are the raw materials from which nylon is made. Furan is also used in the production of agricultural and medical products.
Exposure to furan mainly occurs at worksites where furan is processed into other chemicals or products containing furan are manufactured. The risk in a worksite would be inhaling furan vapor or through contact with the skin.
Is Furan a Risk Outside of the Workplace?
Furan is also found in heat-treated commercial foods and is produced through the thermal degradation of the constituents of natural foods. For example, it can be found in roasted coffee, instant coffee, and processed baby foods. Research has revealed that coffee made in espresso makers and coffee made from capsules contain more furan than coffee made in traditional drip coffee makers. Fortunately, the furan levels in coffee are within limits considered safe for human health.
Reduction of furan formation during food processing is difficult because foods must be heated to ensure microbiological safety. However, the everyday cooking procedures to which people subject foods in their homes apparently reduce their furan content. Simply brewing coffee causes a dramatic reduction in its furan content. Stirring food or leaving it to stand for a time before consumption is also reportedly effective in reducing its furan content.
Furan is a chemical contaminant that forms in some foods during traditional heat treatment techniques, such as cooking, jarring, and canning. The federal Food and Drug Administration FDA has developed a method for measuring the quantity of furan in food and has surveyed furan levels in food. It has also performed toxicology studies of furan in rodents.
The European Commission has had a scientific evaluation on the risk to human health of the presence of furan and related compounds in food. This evaluation has also shown that these compounds are formed during food processing and can be found in various foods including coffee and canned and jarred foods.
Exposure to furan at doses about 2,000 times the projected level of human exposure from foods increases the risk of liver cancer in rats and mice and tumors of the bile ducts in rats. Furan is listed as a possible human carcinogen for this reason.
However, it is important to note that the level of furan that has proven dangerous to mice and rats is far above any levels found in food for human consumption, so the risk presented by exposure to furan in certain processed foods appears to be low to non-existent.
What Are the Risks of Furan Exposure?
There are risks associated with exposure to furan in the workplace. Short-term exposure to furan can irritate the nose, skin, throat, and lungs. It can burn the skin and eyes. Coughing, headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea are the effects of short-term exposure. Short-term exposure can also possibly lead to unconsciousness.
Long-term exposure to furan may lead to permanent lung damage and possibly cancer of the liver and white blood cells. Furan also may lead to decreased fertility in both women and men.
No occupational exposure limits have been developed for furan. However, it may pose a health risk. There may be no safe level, so all exposure should be minimal. It is important to recognize that furan can be absorbed through the skin.
Furan has been studied in countries around the world, but currently, there do not appear to be any limits established by government agencies for furan found in foods and beverages or for exposure to furan in the workplace. The state of New Jersey’s Department of Health has issued a “Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet,” which recommends that exposure to furan be kept to the lowest possible level.
What Are the Legal Remedies for Furan Exposure?
If a person works where furan is used as a component in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical compounds, they would want to be aware of how they might be exposed to furan either as a vapor or through contact with their skin.
If people believe they are exposed to furan in their workplace and are concerned about how it is handled and used safely, they would want to contact the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A person could request guidance about safety precautions for handling furan or file a complaint if they think that the chemical is managed carelessly or in such a way as to create a risk to human health.
A person should file a complaint as soon as they notice a hazard. This ensures that OSHA can cite the employer for the right issue. An OSHA citation may only be issued for an existing violation or a violation that happened within the 6 months before the complaint is filed. An OSHA complaint can be submitted to OSHA in a variety of ways. It can be submitted by fax, through the U.S. Postal Service by mail, phone or online.
A person can access OSHA’s website and download the complaint form. Or, a person can ask their nearest OSHA regional office to send them a complaint form, which they can complete and return. A person would want to include their name, address, and telephone number. A person would want to sign the complaint or have a representative sign it to ensure that an OSHA inspection takes place.
OSHA staff can discuss a person’s concerns or a complaint if one has been filed. If there is an immediate emergency or a life-threatening hazard, a person wants to notify their local OSHA regional or area office immediately.
Can I Be Fired for Making an OSHA Complaint about Furan?
A person cannot be fired in retaliation for reporting a situation involving possibly toxic chemicals in the workplace to OSHA. A person who makes a report to OSHA is considered a “whistleblower” and is protected by specific state and federal whistleblower laws. Employers cannot legally retaliate against a whistleblower by firing them, denying them employment benefits, or doing anything to them that negatively impacts their employment status.
The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration has a whistleblower protection program. It offers more than 20 whistleblower statutes that protect employees from retaliation for reporting workplace health and safety rules violations. Whistleblower protection is an important part of the work of OSHA because employees must feel free to report threats to health and safety in the workplace if OSHA protections are to be effective.
So, an employee should not hesitate to report an issue with furan because they fear retaliation from their employer.
Do I Need the Help of a Lawyer for a Furan Issue?
If you believe you or a loved one has become ill because of Furan exposure, you should consult a class action lawyer immediately. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine who is responsible for your toxic exposure and get proper compensation for your injuries. It does not appear that lawsuits arising from Furan hazards have been filed, so filing the first one would probably be challenging. This is why you would need the expertise of an experienced personal injury lawyer for your furan case.
