HHE report: HETA-80-13-81-147-1644, Schlegel Tennessee, Inc., Maryville, Tennessee.
Authors
Hervin-RL; Handke-JL
Source
NIOSH 1985 Dec; :1-44
Abstract
Following a request from the management of Schlegel Tennessee, Inc. (SIC-2822), Maryville, Tennessee, eye irritation among employees at this extruded rubber production facility was investigated. Personal and area air samples were analyzed for a number of solvents and chemicals associated with the production process. Company medical records and data from a standardized questionnaire for eye symptoms were examined. Of 522 air sample analyses for 38 compounds, 68 percent showed undetectable air concentrations. Several compounds capable of causing eye irritation were detected: hydrogen-sulfide (7783064), dimethylamine (124403), and triethylamine (121448). In the sponge and dense rubber production area concentrations of carbon- disulfide (75150) ranged from 0.2 to 14 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3); concentrations in six samples equaled or exceeded the NIOSH recommended criterion of 3.0mg/m3. In one 3 month period, 70 cases of keratitis or conjunctivitis were reported among 156 production workers, an incidence rate of 45 percent. Rates were highest in finishing operators. Keratitis and conjunctivitis cases also reported nose and skin irritation, nervousness, cough, nausea, and dizziness. The authors conclude that the presence of non eye symptoms suggests the presence of an irritative compound in addition to carbon-disulfide, possibly hydrogen-sulfide. Improvement of engineering control systems, facility housekeeping, work practices, and use of protective clothing are recommended.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; HETA-80-13-81-147-1644; Region-4; Hazard-Confirmed; Eye-irritants; Amines; Sulfur-compounds; Eye-disorders; Air-contamination; Toxic-gases; Rubber-manufacturing-industry; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report
CAS No.
7783-06-4; 124-40-3; 121-44-8; 75-15-0
Document Type
Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies
NTIS Accession No.
PB86-221355
Identifying No.
HETA-80-13-81-147-1644; HETA-80-13-1644; HETA-81-147-1644
Source Name
Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. HETA-80-13-81-147-1644, 44 pages, 26 references
