Source
NIOSH 1993 Mar; :1-11
Abstract
In response to a request from a management representative of the Federal Records Center (SIC-9199), Dayton, Ohio, an investigation was begun into worker complaints of an overpowering odor originating from archived X-ray films stored near their work area. The facility stored paper and film records. There were six workers in the archives area where Federal tax records and X-ray films were stored. Acetic-acid (64197) was the apparent source of odors in the area. Concentrations of acetic-acid were below the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) of 25mg/m3. The cyclohexane (110827) concentrations measured were well below the REL of 1,050mg/m3. Formaldehyde (50000) levels were monitored and determined to be 0.023, 0.024, and 0.034mg/m3 at various locations, exceeding the NIOSH REL of 0.02mg/m3. The most likely source of the formaldehyde was the carbonless copy paper records located throughout the Center. The author concludes that there was a potential hazard from exposure to formaldehyde. The author recommends that the overall ventilation exchange rate between the building air and the outside air be increased, and that industrial hygiene monitoring for formaldehyde be performed.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-92-287-2294; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-5; Indoor-air-pollution; Office-workers; Occupational-exposure; Formaldehydes; Indoor-environmental-quality
CAS No.
64-19-7; 110-82-7; 50-00-0
Document Type
Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies
NTIS Accession No.
PB94-162864
Identifying No.
HETA-92-287-2294
Source Name
Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. HETA-92-287-2294, 11 pages, 11 references