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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-89-348-2295, United States Forest Service, Red River, New Mexico.

Kullman G

Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 89-348-2295, 1993 Mar; :1-32

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1989-0348-2295.pdf

00219676

In response to a request from the United States Forest Service, an investigation was begun of possible hazards to workers at the Red River Ski Area (SIC-7999) in New Mexico resulting from the use of Snomax, an ice nucleation product used in snowmaking operations. The product was a freeze dried preparation of an endotoxin producing Gram negative bacteria, Pseudomonas-syringae. Snowmaking was done at the Red River Ski Area only during the night, and never when skiers were present. Samples were collected over 3 days to assess occupational exposures to airborne dusts, viable Gram negative bacteria, and endotoxins. Viable P-syringae were not identified in any air, snow or water samples. Endotoxins were detected in snow samples, samples of snowmaking water, and in airborne dust samples. Personal exposures to endotoxins among workers directly involved in snowmaking ranged from 1 endotoxin unit (EU) per cubic meter (m3) to 92EU/m3. There were no occupational standards for endotoxin exposure. The author concludes that workers were exposed to endotoxins during snowmaking. The mean exposures in the high exposure category were below estimated human threshold levels. No significant respiratory problems were reported by the workers filling out a questionnaire.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-89-348-2295; Hazard-Unconfirmed; Region-6; Bacterial-dusts; Occupational-exposure; Biological-material; Airborne-particles; Author Keywords: Snowmaking; Endotoxins; Respiratory Symptoms; Gram- negative bacteria

19930301

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1993

PB94-183746

A04

HETA-89-348-2295

DRDS

3585

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NM; WV