HHE determination report no. HHE-76-52-386, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Bloomington, Indiana.
Authors
Levy-BS; Meyer-CR; Lowry-L
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 76-52-386, 1977 Apr; :1-16
Abstract
A Health Hazard Evaluation investigation was conducted by NIOSH at the material laboratory and engineering laboratory of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation plant, in Bloomington, Indiana, a facility engaged in the manufacturing of electrical distribution apparatus equipment (SIC-3629). An authorized employee representative requested the investigation for technician exposure to Monsanto 1238 and 1016, Sunoco XD-489-17 and Westinghouse P.D.S. 54210KJ, some of which contained polychlorinated biphenyls because one of the unexplainable liver damage affecting one of the 10 to 12 affected employees, who had worked with two of these chemicals for 12 years. Based on the environmental and medical data collected, it has been determined that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls has resulted in increased absorption of these compounds by several workers in the areas tested. However no significant biomedical findings were present that would indicate the presence of a toxic situation at the time of the survey. It is recommended that the employer reduce concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls as low as practicable through the use of engineering controls, that any employee routinely exposed to these compounds be provided with appropriate protective equipment, and that a comprehensive program of environmental and medical surveillance be instituted in order to continually monitor employee exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; HHE-76-52-386; Hazard-Unconfirmed; Region-5; Air-quality-measurement; Toxic-chemicals; Industrial-plants; Electrical-industry; Electrical-equipment; Industrial-hygiene; Toxicology; Control-measures; Safety-equipment; Preventive-medicine; Liver-disorders; Chlorinated-phenols; Dielectrics;
Author Keywords: Electrical Distribution Apparatus Equipment; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Monsanto 1238; Monsanto 1016; Sunococ Xd-489-17; Westinghouse P.D.S. 54201KJ
Document Type
Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
PB-273735
Identifying No.
HHE-76-52-386
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
