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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-80-13-81-147-1644, Schlegel Tennessee, Inc., Maryville, Tennessee.

Hervin RL; Handke JL

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 80-13-81-147-1644, 1985 Dec; :1-44

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1981-0147-1644.pdf

00163129

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.

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; Author Keywords: carbon disulfide; hydrogen sulfide; solvents; toluene; nitrosamines; particulates; aliphatic amines; dimethylamine; trimethylamine; triethylamine; N,N-dimethylformamide; keratitis; conjunctivitis; eye irritation; polynuclear aromatics

7783-06-4; 124-40-3; 121-44-8; 75-15-0

19851201

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1986

PB86-221355

A04

HETA-80-13-81-147-1644; HETA-80-13-1644; HETA-81-147-1644

DSHEFS

2822

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

TN; OH