NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Advanced Search   Search Help   About NIOSHTIC-2    Feedback

Walk-through survey report, Courtaulds North America, Incorporated, Mobile, Alabama.

Authors
Jones JH; Selevan SG
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, IWS 75-16, 1977 Jan; :1-3
Link
https://ntrl.ntis.gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB88251541.xhtml
NIOSHTIC No.
00134372
Abstract
A walkthrough survey was conducted at Courtaulds North America, Incorporated (SIC-2823), Mobile, Alabama on July 21 and 22 1977. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the factory for possible inclusion in a NIOSH study on the medical and reproductive effects of carbon-disulfide (75150) (CS2) exposure. The viscose rayon work force consisted of 750 production workers, and all but one were males. The average age was 42, and 80 to 85 percent were married. The factory was surveyed periodically for CS2 vapors, and samples were analyzed by spectrophotometry. Concentrations of CS2 ranged from 0 to 75 parts per million (ppm) in operating areas; average concentrations ranged from 4 to 20ppm. Personal breathing zone samples ranged from 1 to 57ppm, with averages from 4 to 15ppm. Employees received annual blood profiles, pulmonary function tests, audiometric tests, and vision tests. In 1 year, there were 28 lost work day injuries. The operations reported to have the greatest CS2 exposure during the industrial process were spinning and cutting. The churning and mixing operations were also expected to produce CS2 vapors. However, those operations were never monitored. NIOSH concludes that potential health hazards at this factory include exposure to carbon-disulfide, hydrogen-sulfide (7783064), noise, sodium-hydroxide (1310732), and sulfuric-acid (7664939). Housekeeping is poor, and the spinning machines are not well enclosed, thus allowing CS2 and hydrogen-sulfide vapor to escape.
Keywords
Environmental-exposure; Industrial-medicine; Health-hazards; Industrial-hazards; Occupational-exposure; Safety-research; Spectrographic-analysis; Pulmonary-function-tests; Region-4
CAS No.
75-15-0; 7783-06-4; 1310-73-2; 7664-93-9
Publication Date
19770101
Document Type
Field Studies; Industry Wide
Fiscal Year
1977
NTIS Accession No.
PB88-251541
NTIS Price
A01
Identifying No.
IWS-75-16
NIOSH Division
DSHEFS
SIC Code
2823
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
State
AL; OH
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division