Exposure Characterization Study of Workers Exposed to Hydrazines.

Fajen-JM; McCammon-CS

NIOSH 1988:261-296

00180858

An industrial hygiene assessment of the extent of exposure to hydrazine compounds was carried out due to the growing number of such compounds shown to be animal carcinogens in laboratory studies. The report summarizes production and uses of hydrazine compounds, the toxic effects of such compounds, relevant exposure standards, sampling and analytical methods relevant to exposure assessment, and observations made during surveys conducted at eight facilities in the United States where these compounds were either prepared or used. The sites visited for the survey were of four basic types: those which used hydrazine compounds as propellants, those which manufactured the compounds, those which used hydrazine (302012) as an aircraft emergency power unit fuel, or sites where hydrazine was used in boiler water treatment. Personal exposures measured were generally within the range from below the limit of detection to 1.0 part per million (ppm) as an 8 hour time weighted average. The OSHA permissible exposure limits for the hydrazine compounds of interest ranged from 0.5 to 5ppm. The number of workers exposed was found to be low. Large scale propellant and emergency jet power unit usage was relatively new, and the manufacturing methods had not been used until recently. The authors conclude that the accumulated person years of exposure are relatively low; it is unlikely that suitable cohorts exist for retrospective exposure studies.

NIOSH-Contract; Contract-200-82-2521; NIOSH-Author; Rocket-fuels; Carcinogens; Laboratory-animals; Boiler-furnaces; Chemical-manufacturing-industry; Chemical-industry-workers; Aerospace-engineering; Aircraft-engines;

302-01-2;

19880101

Conference/Symposia Proceedings;

Contract;

1988

Contract-200-82-2521

Proceedings of the Fourth NCI/EPA/NIOSH Collaborative Workshop: Progress on Joint Environmental and Occupational Cancer Studies, April 22-23, Rockville, Maryland, NIH Publication No. 88-2960, NIOSH Contract No. 200-82-2521

MD;