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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-82-281-1503, Stauffer Chemical Company, Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

Chrostek W; Murphy DC

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 82-281-1503, 1984 Sep; :1-16

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/82-281-1503.pdf

00144837

Environmental and breathing zone samples were analyzed for phosphorus-pentasulfide (1314803), hydrogen-sulfide (7783064), phosphoric-acid (7664382), hydrochloric-acid (7647010), arsenic (7440382), sodium-acid-pyrophosphate (7758169) (SAP), and chlorinated trisodium-phosphate (56802994) (TSP) at Stauffer Chemical Company (SIC-2819), Morrisville, Pennsylvania in July and October, 1982. The survey was requested by the local union due to employees reporting symptoms such as skin rash, eye and respiratory irritation, and headaches. Medical questionnaires were administered to 64 workers. Interviews with 12 employees were conducted. All arsenic, phosphoric-acid and hydrochloric-acid concentrations were below the limits of detection. Hydrogen-sulfide was detected, but at concentrations below evaluation criteria. SAP and TSP concentrations averaged 2.9 and 2.7 milligrams per cubic meter, respectively. There are no current Federal standards for either compound. No serious health problems were detected. Eleven workers reported shortness of breath and nine reported burns from splashed chemicals or welding. The authors conclude that exposures to SAP and TSP may be sufficient to cause irritation and shortness of breath. They recommend improving housekeeping in the TSP and SAP areas and establishing a program of maintenance for the duct work and packaging machine in the TSP and SAP areas. Employees should regularly use personal protective equipment, especially for the eyes and skin.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; Hazards-Unconfirmed; Chemical-processing; Region-3; Air-contamination; Protective-equipment; Phosphates; Toxicology; HETA-82-281-1503; Author Keywords: Industrial Inorganic Chemicals; Phosphoric Acid; Phosphorus Pentasulfide; Chlorinated Trisodium Phosphate; Hydrogen Sulfide; Arsenic; Rashes; Skin and Eye Irritation; Headaches; Respiratory Problems; Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate

1314-80-3; 7783-06-4; 7664-38-2; 7647-01-0; 7440-38-2; 7758-16-9; 56802-99-4

19840901

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1984

PB85-208296

A03

HETA-82-281-1503

DSHEFS

2819

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

PA; OH