Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-81-383-1151, Main Post Office, Chicago, Illinois.
Source
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 81-383-1151, 1982 Aug; :1-10
Abstract
Breathing zone and area samples were analyzed for benzene (71432), toluene (108883), mineral-spirits (8032324), and coal-tar-naphtha (8007452) at the Main Post Office (SIC-7333) in Chicago, Illinois on July 13, 1981 and August 12, 1981. The survey was requested by a representative of the United States Postal Service on behalf of nine employees in the sign painting shop. OSHA standards for a time weighted 8 to 10 hour average were 10 parts per million (ppm) for benzene, 200ppm for toluene, and 100ppm for coal-tar-naphtha. NIOSH criteria for mineral-spirits are 300 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). Concentrations of toluene in area samples collected were 239 and 213ppm. Values found for personal air samples were well below evaluation criteria. Combined exposures for all solvents were 1.4 times evaluation criteria. No major work related health problems were found. The author concludes that there is a hazard from toluene and from combined exposure to solvents. He recommends using protective clothing and respirators, careful handling of solvents, good housekeeping procedures, and the substitution of a less hazardous solvent.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Confirmed; Employee-exposure; Solvents; Air-sampling; Time-weighted-average-exposure; Medical-surveys; Region-5; HETA-81-383-1151; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report;
Author Keywords: art hazards; silk screen printing; toluene; mineral spirits; coal tar naphtha
CAS No.
71-43-2; 108-88-3; 8032-32-4; 8007-45-2
Document Type
Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance
NTIS Accession No.
PB84-150077
Identifying No.
HETA-81-383-1151
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
