Extent of Exposure Survey of Methylene Chloride

August 1980
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 80-131

Occupational exposures to methylene-chloride (75092) were assessed at a facility that manufactured acetate and triacetate fibers, at a coffee processing facility, and at a U.S. Air Force aircraft maintenance facility. Process and control operations, personnel activity and health and safety programs at each installation were evaluated. Exposures to methylene-chloride at the manufacturing facility were 31 to 561 parts per million (ppm). Only one of these samples exceeded the OSHA standard of 500ppm. At the other two facilities, methylene-chloride concentrations generally were below OSHA standards. The authors recommend that the OSHA standard for methylene-chloride be lowered to 75ppm.

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