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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-84-060-1645, General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio.

Lichty-PD; Zey-JN

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 84-060-1645, 1985 Dec; :1-35

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/84-60-1645.pdf

00157543

Environmental and breathing zone samples were analyzed for arsenic (7440382), other metals, arsine (7784421), and carbon-monoxide (630080) at General Motors Corporation, Delco Moraine Division (SIC- 3714), South Facility, Dayton, Ohio in January and February, 1984. The evaluation was requested because of two arsenic poisoning cases that occurred in department 48. All department 48 employees were surveyed by questionnaire. Urine arsenic concentrations were measured. Only 1 of 68 air samples contained arsenic, 3.3 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m3). The OSHA standard for arsenic is 10microg/m3. Arsenic was not detected in any bulk samples. Nickel (7440020) and barium (7440393) were detected at concentrations of 17.7 to 1,280 and 502 to 678microg/m3, respectively. The OSHA standard for either metal is 500microg/m3. One copper (7440508) sample, 5,700microg/m3, exceeded the OSHA standard of 1,000microg/m3. Carbon-monoxide and arsine concentrations were below their relevant standards. No workers had symptoms of arsenic poisoning. Urine arsenic concentrations were within normal limits. The authors conclude that employees are not being exposed to detectable amounts of arsenic. The source of the arsenic poisoning cannot be determined. Employees are overexposed to nickel, barium, and copper. Recommendations include improving employee training and education regarding respiratory protection and reducing employee exposures to nickel and barium.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; Hazards-Unconfirmed; Automotive-industry; Region-5; Environmental-factors; Breathing-zone; Analytical-methods; Health-survey; HETA-84-060-1645; Author Keywords: Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories; Arsenic; Nickel; Barium; Lead; Carbon Monoxide; Arsine; Methane

7440-38-2; 7784-42-1; 630-08-0; 7440-02-0; 7440-39-3; 7440-50-8

19851201

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1986

PB86-203478

A04

HETA-84-060-1645

DSHEFS

3714

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

OH