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Industrial hygiene study of the Interpace Corporation, Willsboro, New York.

Zumwalde R

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 052.12.10, 1977 Jul; :1-82

00122447

The mining and milling processes, medical industrial hygiene and safety practices and the hazard of airborne wollastonite (13983170) at Interpace Corporation were documented. Personal air samples were collected to determine time weighted average (TWA) concentrations for respirable and total dust, wollastonite fibers and free silica (7631869). Settled dust samples were also analyzed. Trace metal analyses were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Sound measurements were taken to identify potential excessive noise sources. Each job involved, sampling and analytical method utilized and the facilities themselves were described. In general, TWA free silica concentrations for each job were within acceptable limits. Trace metal values of air and settled dust were near the lower detection limit of the analytical method. Only iron was found in appreciable quantities of 0.5 to 5.5 percent. Wollastonite fiber concentrations were much higher in the mill than in the mine. Little chrysotile asbestos was found in the samples. Airborne fiber diameters of less than 3.5 micrometers were found in 92 to 97 percent. Sound level measurement ranged from 104 to 112 decibels on the A-weighted scale (dBA) near the drilling to 78dBA on the loading dock. The author concludes that close medical surveillance should be given to workers of wollastonite, additional measures be employed to reduce spills and improve clean up and ventilation systems, and employees exposed to 85 to 90dBA be requested to wear hearing protection.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; Region-2; Mineral-dusts; Air-sampling; Control-methods; Dust-exposure; Dust-analysis

13983-17-0; 7631-86-9

19770729

Field Studies; Industry Wide

1977

PB84-100098

A06

IWS-052-12-10

DSHEFS

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

OH