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Occupational Exposures Of Native Peat Harvesting Mining Environmental Surveillance Investigation - Final Report.

Pickup DC

NIOSH 1983 Sep:26 pages

00134135

An industrial hygiene survey was conducted at two peat harvesting and processing operations (SIC-1499) to characterize the environment and exposures that are found in the industry. Biological, elemental, and morphological characteristics of bulk peat and airborne dust were determined in 18 samples. All bulk samples contained between 75 and 95 percent organic materials. Predominant trace metals included aluminum (7429905), calcium (7440702), iron (7439896), magnesium (7439954), manganese (7439965), sodium (7440235), phosphorus (7723140), and titanium (7440326). Magnesium content was as high as 11.4 percent and calcium was as high as 8.69 percent in some samples. All other metals were below 1 percent by weight. Exposures were generally low for respirable and total dust materials. Total dust samples ranged from 0.12 to 2.8 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) and respirable concentrations ranged from bagging and packing areas for mulched spagnum peat. Significantly high concentrations of bacteria and fungi were found, with mean concentrations of 4300 colony forming units per cubic meter (cfu/m3) and 850cfu/m3, respectively. The author concludes that studies are needed to evaluate overall acute and chronic respiratory effects and sensitization among peat workers.

NIOSH-Author; Dust-exposure; Respiratory-irritants; Trace-analysis; Industrial-processes; Exposure-levels; Dust-inhalation; Respiratory-protection;

7429-90-5; 7440-70-2; 7439-89-6; 7439-95-4; 7439-96-5; 7440-23-5; 7723-14-0; 7440-32-6;

19830901

1983

PB84-240514

A03

DRDS;

1499;

Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 26 pages, 24 references