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Technical assistance report, TA-79-54, Rockland Leathers, Inc., Rockland Industrial Park, Rockland, Maine.

Keelyside RA; McGlothlin JD

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, TA 79-54, 1980 May; :1-10

00099398

Environmental and medical surveys were conducted on September 11 and 12, 1979 to evaluate complaints of contact dermatitis among workers at Rockland Leathers (SIC-3111) in Rockland, Maine. The evaluation was requested by company management to investigate an unexpectedly high incidence of contact dermatitis among 23 workers employed in the wet process area of the facility. Eleven workers had a history of skin problems. All except one had stopped working in the wet process area and their skin problems had cleared or improved. All 23 workers had similar nonspecific skin changes. All personal and general area samples were below the limits of detection. All charcoal tube atmospheric measurements were below the current environmental criteria. Analysis for metals in the bulk samples detected aluminium (7429905), arsenic (7440382), calcium (7440702), chromium (7440473), copper (7440508), iron (7439896), magnesium (7439954), sodium (7440235), and phosphorus (7723140). Salts of some of these elements have been reported to cause skin irritation. The authors conclude that the dermititis had occurred from a combination of factors that includes chronic irritation of the skin and exposure to sensitizing chemicals. They recommend the use of barrier creams be increased, protective clothing be worn, and new employees be examined and counseled about possible risks of skin problems. They also recommend that all chemical vessels be kept covered and that more extensive ventilation systems be installed.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; TA-79-54; Region-1; Metals; Hazards-Confirmed; Chemical-hypersensitivity; Industrial-dermatoses; Skin-exposure; Work-environment; Air-sampling; Skin-irritants; Analytical-methods; Protective-clothing; Medical-examinations

7429-90-5; 7440-38-2; 7440-70-2; 7440-47-3; 7440-50-8; 7439-89-6; 7439-95-4; 7440-23-5; 7723-14-0

19800501

Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies

1980

PB80-211527

A02

TA-79-54

DSHEFS

3111

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

ME; OH