HHE Report No. HETA-81-048-969, Gyro-Tech Incorporated, Greendale, Wisconsin.

Daniels-WJ; Ornis-P

NIOSH 1981 Oct:8 pages

00123595

Environmental air samples were analyzed for methyl-chloroform (71556) and N,N-methyl-p-toluidine (623085) and employees were interviewed at Gyro-Tech Incorporated (SIC-3231) in Greendale, Wisconsin, on January 21, 1981. An authorized employee representative requested the evaluation on behalf of five affected workers. Since the firm had discontinued use of the suspect chemical, the original process conditions were duplicated under a laboratory hood to enable collection of environmental samples. Analysis of the samples revealed emissions of methyl-chloroform and N,N-methyl-p-toluidine. OSHA environmental data collected earlier indicated workplace methyl-chloroform concentrations ranging from 17.5 to 181 parts per million (ppm), below the NIOSH recommended standard of 350ppm. N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine was detected in concentrations ranging from 0.13 to 0.21 milligrams per cubic meter. There are no current exposure standards for this chemical. Three current employees reported mucous membrane and upper airway irritation. The medical records of one of these workers indicated several episodes of edema of the upper airway. A former employee was diagnosed as having a carcinoma of the vocal cords. The authors conclude that there was no existing evidence to connect the development of cancer in one worker with exposure to the sampled chemicals. They recommend proper ventilation when working with solvents, use of protective gloves, use of eye protection, prohibition of smoking in areas where solvents are used, proper disposal of solvent soaked rags, and worker education.

NIOSH-Author; HETA-81-048-969; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Unconfirmed; Region-5; Health-surveys; Air-sampling; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report;

71-55-6; 623-08-5;

19811001

Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies

1982

PB83-161265

A02

HETA-81-048-969

DSHEFS;

3231;

Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Brance, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 8 pages, 8 references

WI; OH;