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Industrial hygiene report, perchloroethylene at Fernwood Cleaners, Chicago, Illinois.

Roberts DR

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, IWS 71-43, 1980 Dec; :1-8

00117555

Worker exposures to perchloroethylene (127184) were determined at Fernwood Cleaners (SIC-7216) in Chicago, Illinois on July 20, 1979. The survey was part of a NIOSH study of the health effects of occupational perchloroethylene exposure. The facility employed 13 workers. The company had no formal safety and industrial hygiene program. Emergency medical services were provided by workers trained in first aid. All air samples for perchloroethylene were below the OSHA standard of 100 parts per million (ppm) for an 8 hour time weighted average, and 200ppm for a ceiling concentration. The author concludes that due to the possible carcinogenic properties of perchloroethylene, exposure to this chemical should be minimized. He recommends the implementation of ventilation systems, availability of respiratory protective equipment, use of protective clothing, worker education, and periodic leak inspection of storage containers and equipment.

NIOSH-Author; Region-5; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; Health-surveys; Organic-solvents; Dry-cleaning-solvents; Occupational-medicine

127-18-4

19801205

Field Studies; Industry Wide

1981

PB82-214719

A02

IWS-71-43

DSHEFS

7216

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

IL; OH