HHE Report, No. HETA-80-81-1173, Keokuk Steel Castings, Incorporated, Keokuk, Iowa.

Hartle-R; Slovin-D

NIOSH 1982 Aug:29 pages

00130026

Health problems among workers at Keokuk Steel Castings (SIC-3321), Keokuk, Iowa were investigated. Survey was requested by the United Steelworkers of America. Environmental and medical studies were performed in March, 1981. A followup medical survey was conducted in March, 1982. Two personal breathing zone samples in the metal pouring area indicated exposure to carbon-monoxide (630080) (CO) at 58 and 94 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). The NIOSH standard is 39mg/m3. Personal breathing zone samples for formaldehyde (50000) indicated exposures of 0.18 to 0.50mg/m3. NIOSH classifies formaldehyde as a potential carcinogen and recommends exposures be kept to a minimum. Exposures to respirable free silica (14808607) were 0.10 to 0.12mg/m3, in excess of the NIOSH standard of area who had worked there prior to the implementation of engineering controls indicated the frequent occurrence of hazy vision and respiratory irritation during earlier work experience. The authors conclude that a health hazard exists from overexposure to free silica and CO. Exposure to formaldehyde should be minimized. The authors suggest that earlier exposure to aliphatic amines caused complaints of hazy vision and respiratory problems.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Confirmed; Employee-exposure; Steelworkers; Carcinogens; Silica-dusts; HETA-80-81-1173; Region-7; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report;

630-08-0; 50-00-0; 14808-60-7;

19820801

Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies

1982

PB84-153790

A03

HETA-80-81-1173

DSHEFS;

3321;

Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 29 pages, 7 references

IA; OH;