HHE determination report no. HHE-77-98-587, Du Co Ceramics Company, Saxonburg, Pennsylvania.
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 77-98-587, 1979 Apr; :1-64
Abstract
Interviews, preliminary and follow up medical examinations of 150 persons, and area air sampling were conducted on September 8 and 9, 1977 and March 14 to 17, 1978 to determine ceramic worker exposures to free crystalline-silica (14808607), asbestos (1332214), and total respirable dust at the Du Co Ceramics Company (SIC-3292) in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. The request came from an authorized representative of Local 8042, United Steelworkers of America to evaluate potential health problems. Several samples in each area of the facility exceeded OSHA standards for acceptable exposures to respirable crystalline-silica (10 milligrams per cubic meter divided by the percentage of quartz plus 2) and respirable dust (5 milligrams per cubic meter). Four out of five asbestos samples exceeded the recommended OSHA limit of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter. Chest x-rays revealed few cases of radiologic abnormalities, a low incidence of chronic bronchitis and restrictive pulmonary dysfunction, and some obstructive ventilatory dysfunction. Bronchitis occurred primarily in women, and smokers were vulnerable to ventilatory dysfunction. A potential health hazard was confirmed for workers in granule mixer, batch scale, lancaster mill, rouse mill, and blow off operations. The authors' recommendations include annual medical examinations that include x-rays and pulmonary function tests; reassignment of workers with suspected abnormalities; ventilation and other engineering improvements in the mixing ball mill, spray dry cutting, sagger filling, and machining departments; use of respiratory and personal protective clothing and goggles; and provision of shower facilities.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; HHE-77-98-587; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Region-3; Hazard-Confirmed; Unions; Asbestos-workers; Asbestos-products; Air-contaminants; Silica-dusts; Fibrogenic-dusts; Personal-air-sampling; Respiratory-system-disorders;
Author Keywords: crystalline silica; total dust; respirable dust; pulmonary function test; chest x-ray; asbestos
CAS No.
14808-60-7; 1332-21-4
Document Type
Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
PB80-198393
Identifying No.
HHE-77-98-587
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
