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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-2004-0239-3014, MK Ballistic Systems, Hollister, California.

Lee SA; Boudreau Y; West C

Cincinnati, OH: 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 2004-0239-3014, 2006 Sep; :1-6

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2004-0239-3014.pdf

20030892

In May 2004, the owner of MK Ballistic Systems, Hollister, California, requested that NIOSH evaluate potential exposure to silver iodide during the manufacturing of cloud-seeding flares to determine if this exposure could be a cause of thyroid disease in two employees. Since 1991, the company has employed nine workers to manufacture flares; however, production was stopped in July 2003, due to concerns about exposure to silver iodide. During the NIOSH visit in August 2004, 28 flares were produced by two employees to enable NIOSH investigators to evaluate exposure to flare components. The flare composition is a pyrotechnic mixture of metal powders and oxidizers containing silver iodide, strontium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, aluminum powder, and magnesium powder. One worker ("blender") combines these powders with a polyester resin, and the other worker ("presser") packs the mixture into paper tubes to finish producing the flare. The blender had a personal breathing-zone airborne concentration of 0.38 mg/m3 of silver iodide, and the presser was exposed to 0.01 mg/m3. No occupational exposure limits have been developed for silver iodide. Silver iodide is a non-soluble compound; therefore, the more protective evaluation criteria for silver metal, soluble silver compounds, and iodine are not applicable. Exposures to aluminum, magnesium, and strontium in both workers were well below their evaluation criteria. Three of the nine employees were interviewed. Review of their medical records revealed no association between their diagnosed medical conditions and their exposures at MK Ballistics Systems. While there was concern that exposure to silver iodide might precipitate thyroid disorders, our evaluation did not find high exposures. In addition, there is no evidence in the medical literature that exposure to iodide compounds is related to the development of the specific thyroid disorders found in the workers. NIOSH investigators concluded that there were no health hazards from exposure to flare components among employees at MK Ballistics Systems. The thyroid disorders confirmed in two employees are not uncommon and could not be associated with occupational exposures at this facility.

Region-9; Hazard-Unconfirmed; Inorganic-chemicals; Inorganic-compounds; Thyroid-gland; Thyroid-gland-disorders; Endocrine-system; Endocrine-system-disorders; Author Keywords: Industrial Inorganic Chemicals; silver iodide; aluminum; magnesium; strontium cloud,-seeding flares; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; thyroid nodules

7429-90-5; 7439-95-4; 7783-96-2; 10042-76-9; 7440-24-6; 7778-74-7

20060901

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

2006

PB2006-115467

A03

HETA-2004-0239-3014

DSHEFS

2819; NAICS-325188

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

CA; OH