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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-81-29-1088, Industrial Plastics, Valley City, Ohio.

Burroughs GE; Moody PL

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 81-29-1088, 1982 Apr; :1-42

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1981-0029-1088.pdf

00127203

Due to reports of eye irritation, labored breathing, and chest pains, a survey was requested by Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union and was performed in November, 1980 and March and April, 1981 at Industrial Plastics (SIC-3079) Valley City, Ohio. The facility employs 100 workers. Exposures to noise, isocyanates, methylene-chloride (75092), benzoic-acid (65850), 1,1,1- trichloroethane (71556), trichloroethylene (79016), styrene (100425), fibrous-glass, carbon-monoxide (630080), and organic vapors were measured. Questionnaires, pulmonary function tests, and carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were obtained. Carbon-monoxide measurements were 1 to 98 parts per million (ppm); 9 samples were above the 35ppm NIOSH recommended criteria. Methylene-chloride concentrations were 2 to 310ppm; 12 samples exceeded the 75ppm NIOSH criteria. Styrene concentrations were 12 to 140ppm; 2 samples exceeded the 100ppm OSHA criteria. Toluene-diisocyanate (26471625) (TDI), was below the recommended criteria, but appeared to affect pulmonary function. Noise measurements were 82 to 93 decibels, exceeding the 85 decibel NIOSH criteria. All other measurements were within recommended limits. Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were increased in the foam room as the work shift progressed. Skin irritations were high in fibrous glass workers. The authors conclude that workers are overexposed to carbon-monoxide, methylene- chloride, styrene, noise, and possibly TDI. Recommendations are made to reduce exposure.

NIOSH-Author; Region-5; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Confirmed; Employee-exposure; Air-sampling; Breathing-zone; Industrial-ventilation; Control-technology; Irritants; Plastics-industry; HETA-81-29-1088; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; Author Keywords: toluene diisocyanate; TDI; methylene bisphenyl isocyanate; MDI; styrene; fibrous glass; noise; trichloroethylene; 1,1,1-trichloroethane; methylene chloride; carbon monoxide; dust; methyl ethyl ketone; MEK; acetone; toluene; isopropyl alcohol; benzoic acid; plastic

75-09-2; 65-85-0; 71-55-6; 79-01-6; 100-42-5; 630-08-0; 26471-62-5

19820401

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1982

PB83-198390

A04

HETA-81-29-1088

DSHEFS

3079

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

OH