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Health hazard evaluation report: HHE-80-238-931, New York Port Authority, Brooklyn, New York.

Baker D; Fannick N

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 80-238-931, 1981 Aug; :1-14

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/80-238-931.pdf

00118884

Worker exposures to coal tar pitch volatiles (CPTV) were surveyed on October 14, 1980 at the New York Port Authority (SIC-1629) in Brooklyn, New York. The evaluation was requested by a representative of the Carpenters Union, Local 1456, on behalf of six workers engaged in pile driving creosote preserved wood logs for a dock underpinning. Personal and area air samples were collected, and workers were given skin examinations. Breathing zone CPTV concentrations ranged up to 0.06 milligram per cubic meter (mg/cu m), and area CPTV concentrations ranged up to 0.02mg/cu m. These concentrations were below the NIOSH recommended limit of 0.1mg/cu m, however weather conditions on the sampling day probably caused substantial reductions in exposure. The workers reported episodes of skin irritation, rashes, erythema, cracking, and swelling. These symptoms generally increased on warm sunny days. The authors conclude that on typical days workers may be exposed to significant amounts of CPTV. CPTV, including creosote, has been shown to be carcinogenic, and all exposures should be minimized. Recommendations are included for improvements in engineering controls, work practices, use of protective equipment, workplace hygiene, personal hygiene, and medical and environmental monitoring. The authors also recommend a long term study on the health effects of creosote exposure.

NIOSH-Author; HHE-80-238-931; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Confirmed; Region-2; Workplace-studies; Health-surveys; Air-contamination; Air-sampling; Skin-exposure; Tolerance-threshold; Clinical-symptoms; Occupational-health-programs; Author Keywords: Driving Piling; creosote; coal tar pitch volatiles; pile-driving; dock building; skin irritation; phototoxic dermatitis; folliculitis; skin cancer

19810801

Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation

1981

PB83-127365

A03

HHE-80-238-931

DSHEFS

1629

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NY; OH