HHE determination report no. HHE-80-50-722, CF and I Steel Corporation, Pueblo, Colorado.
Authors
Gunter-BJ; Coye-MJ; Melius-J
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 80-50-722, 1980 Jul; :1-15
Abstract
Occupational exposures to carbon-monoxide (630080), quartz (14808607), cristobalite (14464461), total respirable particulates, lead (7439921), iron (7439896), benzo(a)pyrene (50328) (BaP), and coal-tar-pitch (65996932) volatiles were determined at the CF and I Steel Corporation (SIC-3310) in Pueblo, Colorado, on February 13 and April 9 and 10, 1980. The evaluation was requested by the United Steelworkers of America, Local Union 2102. None of the breathing zone air samples for crystalline silica exceeded the NIOSH recommended standard of 0.05 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/CuM). Seventeen percent of the breathing zone air samples for total particulates exceeded the 1979 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit value of 5.0mg/CuM. None of the lead and iron breathing zone air samples exceeded the OSHA standards of 0.05mg/CuM and 5.0mg/CuM, respectively. Low concentrations of BaP and coal-tar-pitch volatiles were noted. Preshift and post shift carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) indicated an increase in COHb as employees worked around the furnaces. Complaints of fatigue, headaches, dizziness and sensations of flushing and heat were reported by several workers. The authors conclude that a health hazard from carbon-monoxide and total particulate exposure exists at this facility. They recommend that workers be informed of the additive effects of cigarette smoke and carbon-monoxide, that an alarm system in all blast furnaces be installed, that improvements be implemented in the ventilation system at one furnace, and that eating, drinking and tobacco use in work areas be prohibited.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; HHE-80-50-722; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-8; Health-surveys; Steel-industry; Dust-exposure; Worker-health; Industrial-hygiene; Air-sampling; Control-methods;
Author Keywords: carbon monoxide; CO; respirable particulate; carboxyhemoglobin
CAS No.
630-08-0; 14808-60-7; 14464-46-1; 7439-92-1; 7439-89-6; 50-32-8; 65996-93-2
Document Type
Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
PB82-151176
Identifying No.
HHE-80-50-722
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
