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Industrial hygiene study of the Gouverneur Talc Company, Number One Mine and Mill in Balmat, New York.

Authors
Dement JM; Zumwalde RD
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, IWS 36-12-1, 1977 Jun; :1-116
Link
https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB89100762.xhtml
NIOSHTIC No.
00106054
Abstract
Worker exposures to respirable dust, free silica (7631869) and asbestos (1332214) were surveyed at the R. T. Vanderbilt Gouverneur Talc Company (SIC-1496) number One Mine and Mill in Balmat, New York, from November 3 to 7, 1975. Bulk samples of talc (14807966) were collected and personal air sampling was conducted in the mine and the mill. X-ray diffraction and optical or electron microscope analysis was conducted by NIOSH and two independent laboratories. All laboratories confirmed the presence of asbestiform tremolite (1332214) and anthophyllite (1332214) in the bulk talc samples at concentrations of 67 to 88 and 4 to 12 percent, respectively. Time weighted average (TWA) values for fiber and dust personal exposures for almost 30 job categories ranged from 1.7 to 9.8 fibers greater than 5 microns per cubic centimeter, and 0.25 to 2.96 milligrams per cubic meter, respectively. Free silica exposures were very low. Analysis of the impinger samples revealed excessive exposure to asbestos at almost every mine and mill operation. The authors conclude that excessive exposures to airborne fibers exist in both mine and mill. Recommendations include improved ventilation, upgraded equipment maintenance, and provision of respiratory protection to employees.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; Region-2; Health-survey; Air-sampling; Mining-industry; Mine-workers; Silicates; Asbestos-dust; Dust-exposure; Dust-analysis
CAS No.
7631-86-9; 1332-21-4; 14807-96-6; 1332-21-4; 1332-21-4
Publication Date
19770608
Document Type
Field Studies; Industry Wide
Fiscal Year
1977
NTIS Accession No.
PB89-100762
NTIS Price
A07
Identifying No.
IWS-36-12-1
NIOSH Division
DSHEFS
SIC Code
1496
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
State
NY; OH
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division