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Solvent Exposures In The Shoe Manufacturing Industry.

Salazar-A; Gidley-D; Alexander-M

NIOSH 1982 Aug:88 pages

00134889

Industrial hygiene surveys of solvent exposures in shoe manufacturing (SIC-3140) industries were summarized. Walk through surveys at 13 facilities and in depth studies at 3 shoe manufacturers were conducted. Personal and area air samples were analyzed for toluene (108883), benzene (71432), other organic solvent vapors, and total dust concentrations in the in depth surveys. All toluene concentrations were below the OSHA standard of 200 parts per million (ppm). All benzene samples were below the OSHA standard of 10ppm; however, 10 samples exceeded 1ppm. Most of the elevated benzene concentrations were observed in manual operations such as washing and cleaning in the finishing areas. Other organic solvents and particulate concentrations were below the relevant federal standards. The authors conclude that toluene does not constitute a health risk in the surveyed facilities. The unexpected elevated benzene concentrations that were observed probably arose from impurities in the toluene or other materials. It is recommended that a systemic search be made for the source of the benzene contamination and an effort be made to remove it.

NIOSH-Contract; Toxic-vapors; Employee-exposure; Industrial-chemicals; Airborne-dusts; Air-quality-measurement; Exposure-levels; Health-protection; Occupational-exposure; Contract-210-76-0162;

108-88-3; 71-43-2;

19820801

Contract;

1982

PB84-241116

A06

Contract-210-76-0162

DSHEFS;

3140;

Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Cincinnati, Ohio

OH;