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HHE Search Results
474 HHE reports were found based on your search terms. Reports are listed in order of year published with the most recently published reports listed first.
Year Published and Title
(2004) Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Missoula, Montana. (Click to open report) In March 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for technical assistance (HETA 2001-0209) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding dermatitis among employees at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation ("Smurfit"), a paper-production plant in Missoula, Montana. During an OSHA inspection at the plant, the OSHA inspector learned that over 60 employees had experienced a "skin ailment" over the previous two years. A NIOSH ... (Click to show more)In March 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for technical assistance (HETA 2001-0209) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding dermatitis among employees at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation ("Smurfit"), a paper-production plant in Missoula, Montana. During an OSHA inspection at the plant, the OSHA inspector learned that over 60 employees had experienced a "skin ailment" over the previous two years. A NIOSH site visit was conducted in April 2001 to assist OSHA in determining the role of occupational exposures in the skin diseases. At that time, 14 of 25 employees interviewed and examined had rashes; at least nine of these appeared consistent with occupational contact dermatitis. HETA 2001-0209 was closed with a letter to OSHA (Appendix A) on July 11, 2001, concluding that there was evidence of work-related dermatitis among Smurfit workers. On June 13, 2001, NIOSH received a health hazard evaluation (HHE) request from the Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Local 8-0885 to further evaluate specific exposures at the Smurfit paper mill to determine the source of the dermatitis. To assess workers' exposures, bulk samples of pulp, paper, and white-water were collected from various locations throughout the paper manufacturing process. Samples were analyzed for various chemicals (biocide and naturally occurring compounds), metals, and biological organisms (mold/fungi and bacteria) that could possibly account for the rash. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographics, skin problems, job tasks, work history, and the work environment for all employees. Workers who indicated they had a rash on the day they completed the questionnaire and agreed to have their skin examined were examined by the NIOSH dermatologist. Three hundred fifty-four out of four hundred seven employees (89%) completed the questionnaire. Forty-three workers fit the case definition of having a chronic rash (i.e., having a high recurrence or continual rash). Forty workers fit the case definition of having work-related current rashes which were clinically consistent with either dermatitis and/or folliculitis. The questionnaire and skin examinations did not reveal a single type of skin problem but rather a variety of problems. Analysis of the questionnaire data showed a weak but statistically significant association between chronic rash and not always laundering work clothes (prevalence ratio 2.0 [confidence interval1.1-3.8]) and washing hands more than four times per day (prevalence ratio 1.9 [confidence interval1.1-3.2]). Most areas of the plant had workers with chronic rash, which was not associated with any specific area of the plant. There was a statistically significant association of a previous history of eczema and chronic rash (prevalence ratio 4.4 [confidence interval 2.5 to 7.9]) although the number of workers with previous eczema was relatively small. Chemical and metal analysis of the bulk materials did not identify any single compound in any substantial amount which we suspect would account for the reported dermal ailments. Mostly, trace amounts of typical biocide by-products and natural occurring compounds (e.g., pinene and resin acids) were found. Metals found in the pulp, paper, and white-water samples were found in the source water in similar concentrations and not of concern regarding skin problems. Results of the microbial analyses were unremarkable except in one sample, which contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa a secondary infectious agent of the skin. Coliforms, however, were present in some samples which indicate that pathogens (some are associated with skin ailments) may be present in the pulp even though they were not found in the NIOSH evaluation. In addition, during the initial site visit, a potential heat stress problem was identified in the rewinder area which could lead to excessive sweating and ultimately cause skin damage. Also, glass fibers were found in two bulk samples collected from the same area which is associated with dermatitis. A health hazard was identified at the Smurfit pulp and paper plant in Missoula, Montana. Approximately 11% of the workers had dermatitis or folliculitis. A single definitive etiologic agent was not identified. However, exposure to pulp, white-water, and/or finished paper alone or in combination with resin acids, dust, biocides, glass fibers, and heat may play a role in the skin problems. Based on the information gathered during multiple site visits, we recommend decreasing workers= exposures to the pulp and white-water. Controls such as elimination of potential sources of pathogens, administrative changes, and personal protective equipment are recommended.
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(2003) ChemDesign Corporation, Fitchburg, Massachusetts. (Click to open report) On December 13, 1999, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for Technical Assistance (TA) from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP). OHSP asked NIOSH to conduct a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at ChemDesign Corporation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to investigate a cluster of eight occupational asthma cases which had been reported to OHSP. The chemicals associated with the cases were identifi... (Click to show more)On December 13, 1999, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for Technical Assistance (TA) from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP). OHSP asked NIOSH to conduct a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at ChemDesign Corporation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to investigate a cluster of eight occupational asthma cases which had been reported to OHSP. The chemicals associated with the cases were identified as AMT (3-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole) and DE-498 (Flumetsulam). AMT was raw material used in the production of DE-498 and AMT-based product two (AMTBP2). In response to the request, NIOSH investigators, accompanied by an OHSP industrial hygienist, conducted an initial site visit to ChemDesign on February 1-3, 2000. The NIOSH industrial hygienist returned on June 5-9 to conduct air sampling at four routine operations where employees could be exposed to AMT or DE-498: (1) charging AMT powder into a reactor vessel, (2) discharging DE-498 "wet cake" from a centrifuge, (3) charging DE-498 into the dryer, and (4) discharging DE-498 from the dryer. On July 6-7, the NIOSH Project Officer and medical team visited ChemDesign to recruit workers for participation in a medical survey. On June 12-16, the team conducted a medical evaluation of volunteer production workers. The onsite medical evaluation consisted of a questionnaire interview, lung function testing, and a blood sample collection. A methacholine challenge test was administered at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. In August 2000, NIOSH obtained copies of company medical records for the workers who signed a medical records release form. Environmental monitoring found quantifiable concentrations of AMT or DE-498 in personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples during tasks where these materials were manually added to, or discharged from the closed system in Building 16. The greatest potential for exposure to these materials existed during these specific tasks. Although use of respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment (PPE) appeared to provide substantial protection, reports of upper respiratory symptoms by several employees with occupational asthma (OA) indicate that PPE may not provide adequate protection for these individuals. Visible airborne dust during AMT and dryer charges, indicates a need for improved engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation) to reduce the potential for worker exposures. AMT and DE-498 in area air samples collected at the boundaries of restricted areas established during reactor and dryer charging, ranged from below the limit of detection to barely quantifiable levels. Changes in work practices, PPE, and engineering controls during the various production campaigns preclude assessment of the nature and extent of previous exposures to AMT and DE-498. A total of 41 employees and four former employees participated in the medical survey; the participation rate was 41% in production workers with a potential for AMT exposure. The medical survey identified 12 cases of physician-diagnosed asthma that were diagnosed after the cases started working at ChemDesign. In 11 of these, the onset corresponded with periods when AMT was used in the company. The physician's diagnosis of OA was mostly made on the basis of the presence of nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity (NSBH), work-related respiratory symptoms, and in some cases work-related serial peak flow changes. The NSBH occurred after a latency period; allergy to common allergens was not a risk factor for the development of OA in these cases. Laboratory studies were undertaken to assess whether the respiratory symptoms observed in ChemDesign workers could be due to an allergic response to AMT and DE-498. Studies done on human blood of employees exposed to AMT were not able to clearly demonstrate that AMT or DE-498 exposures were associated with an allergic response to those agents. However, animal studies clearly show that AMT, but not DE-498, is capable of causing an allergic response. The results from the animal studies support the original complaints that AMT caused occupational asthma. However, the possible role of DE-498 cannot be excluded from negative animal studies. A large percentage of employees reported respiratory symptoms that started during 1998, when two new campaigns using AMT were started in ChemDesign. However, apart from AMT, other agents were reported as causing or making the respiratory symptoms worse. Chronic lung function effects were also found. A high percentage of the participants (18%) had mild airflow obstruction according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria. The cross-sectional analysis of the lung function measurements done by NIOSH showed significant decrease in Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) and in the ratio of FEV1 and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC: this pattern is suggestive of airway obstruction. The data analysis of company yearly lung function data confirmed that the study participants had a higher mean decline in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC with age, than would be expected from the reference equations. In summary, the results of the medical and laboratory investigation provide evidence that the incidence of OA was associated with exposure to AMT. There was an association between AMT exposure and asthma onset, NSBH associated with AMT exposure improved after withdrawal from AMT exposure, and AMT was found to be a sensitizer in animal studies. The findings show that ChemDesign employees are exposed to agents that can lead to occupational asthma and steeper decline in lung function with age than would be expected. Respiratory symptoms and lung function monitoring currently done at ChemDesign provide an opportunity to utilize the data for the protection of employees' respiratory health. Active workers' participation in the respiratory health protection program should be encouraged. Investigators examined changes in yearly thyroid hormone (T4) measurements in relation to working on the AMT campaigns. The possibility that AMT was associated with the decrease in thyroid hormone production could not be ruled out because of insufficient data. The investigation provides strong evidence that AMT (3-Amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole) was the causal agent responsible for the cluster of occupational asthma that occurred in ChemDesign. AMT has a potential for causing allergic response in experimental animals. Environmental monitoring found quantifiable concentrations of AMT in personal breathing zone air samples collected during routine production. Study participants had a high frequency of work-related respiratory symptoms whose onset corresponded with the use of AMT. The group of study participants had decreased mean pulmonary function values suggestive of airflow obstruction, identified from cross-sectional and longitudinal data. The findings of this study show that ChemDesign employees are exposed to chemical agents that can lead to occupational asthma and to COPD. Therefore effective exposure controls and a pulmonary function monitoring program need to be implemented and maintained to prevent further occurrence of respiratory disease in the employees.
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(2003) Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping, Huntington Beach, California. (Click to open report) On September 4, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) from a management official at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company, Huntington Beach, California. The request concerned worker exposures to lead and other metals that may result from stripping and refinishing furniture. A site visit at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company was conducted on September 4-5, 2002. This survey was conducted to evalu... (Click to show more)On September 4, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) from a management official at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company, Huntington Beach, California. The request concerned worker exposures to lead and other metals that may result from stripping and refinishing furniture. A site visit at Sunset Strip Furniture Stripping Company was conducted on September 4-5, 2002. This survey was conducted to evaluate worker exposures in the furniture stripping shop for lead and other elements during typical shop operations. Wood dust was also evaluated during this HHE because operations in the shop included sanding on hard woods. Personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples were collected on both workers in the shop for lead and other elements (i.e., silver, aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, platinum, selenium, tellurium, thallium, titanium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, and zirconium) and total dust during stripping, rinsing, sanding, and refinishing operations throughout the 2-day sampling period. In addition, area air samples for elements (including lead) and inhalable dust were collected at two locations near sanding operations. Qualitative wipe samples for lead and bulk samples for elements were also collected. All air samples (both area and PBZ samples) for lead and other elements indicated concentrations well below applicable occupational exposure criteria. Bulk samples of dust material in the shop and stripping solution from the paint stripping operation indicated the presence of lead and other elements. Therefore, care should be taken to improve hygiene practices within the shop to reduce the possibility of ingestion or secondary exposures during cleaning activities. PBZ wood dust air samples indicated exposures exceeding the NIOSH REL (1 milligram per cubic meter [mg/m3]) for soft or hard wood) and ACGIH TLV (1 mg/m3 for hard wood). The adverse health effects that have been associated with exposure to wood dust upon which evaluation criteria are based include dermatitis, allergic respiratory effects, mucosal and nonallergenic respiratory effects, and cancer. Engineering controls should be used to reduce worker exposures to wood dust. Personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., respirators) are designed to protect workers from airborne exposures while engineering controls are being implemented or when engineering controls are not feasible or effective in reducing air contaminants to acceptable levels. Recommendations for controls, respirators, and hygiene practices (shop cleaning and personal hygiene) are provided.
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(2002) Glass Masters Neon, Savannah, Georgia. (Click to open report) On November 11, 2000, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a health hazard evaluation from the owner of Glass Masters Neon in Savannah, Georgia, a small business which manufactures and repairs neon tubes for commercial signs and artwork. The owner, who was also the sole worker, was concerned about the health risks of his exposures to mercury, lead, and cadmium. In response to this request, a NIOSH industrial hygienist conducted a site visit on ... (Click to show more)On November 11, 2000, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a health hazard evaluation from the owner of Glass Masters Neon in Savannah, Georgia, a small business which manufactures and repairs neon tubes for commercial signs and artwork. The owner, who was also the sole worker, was concerned about the health risks of his exposures to mercury, lead, and cadmium. In response to this request, a NIOSH industrial hygienist conducted a site visit on January 23, 2001. Full-shift, personal-breathing zone (PBZ) air samples for mercury vapor, lead, and cadmium were collected. Real-time air monitoring for mercury vapor was conducted throughout the shop area. Surface wipe samples of the work-tables were collected using moist cloth wipes for analysis of lead and other elements. In addition to the site visit, the owner's medical records were reviewed by a NIOSH physician. The worker's full-shift time-weighted average (TWA) PBZ air sample was 0.03 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) for mercury, which is below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 8-hour TWA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 mg/m3 and the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 0.05 mg/m3 , but it is above the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' (ACGIH ) threshold limit value (TLV) 8-hour TWA of 0.025 mg/m3 . Lead and cadmium were not detected in the 8-hour PBZ air sample. Real-time monitoring indicated that mercury contamination was present in the neon glass room, especially in areas where mercury was added to glass tubes. Particularly high air concentrations of mercury were found above a floor mat. A difference existed between the amount of metals found on two work surfaces from which wipes samples were collected. The location designated as side A in this report was an area where cutting, heating, and other manipulations of the glass were performed; side B was an area where primarily glass cutting occurred. Side A had a much higher range of lead levels (120-170 micrograms per square foot (microg Pb/ft2 ) of surface wiped) than side B (16-21 microg Pb/ft2 of surface wiped). Cadmium levels were also elevated over background (side A = 1.1-2.9 microg Cd/ft2 of surface wiped; side B = 0.43-0.69 microg Cd/ft2 of surface wiped.). No occupational standards or recommendations exist for lead or cadmium or the other elements on surfaces. A medical record of the worker's urine, collected by his private physician, reported a mercury level of 22 micrograms per gram creatinine (microg/g creat.), which is below the ACGIH's biological exposure index (BEI ) of 35 microg/g creat. No lead was detected in the worker's urine. Urinary cadmium was 0.9 microg/g creat., which is consistent with levels found in the general population. Airborne mercury concentrations exceeded the ACGIH-TLV . Mercury in the air samples was largely the result of volatization of mercury from surface contamination rather than process aerosolization. Air concentrations of lead and cadmium were low, although there was lead and cadmium contamination of work surfaces. Recommendations were made to clean the shop and prevent further contamination by installing a hood with local exhaust ventilation, adding mercury trapping devices, and improving work practices.
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(2002) Lead Safe Services, Inc., Neenah, Wisconsin. (Click to open report) At the request of a state-licensed contractor, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a study of residential lead hazard reduction work. Workers' task-specific and full-shift personal airborne lead (PbA) exposures were measured on three consecutive days during exterior work at two single-family homes in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Tasks assessed were cleaning, demolition, dry scraping, component removal, set-up, and wet scraping. Additionally, we measured surface pai... (Click to show more)At the request of a state-licensed contractor, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a study of residential lead hazard reduction work. Workers' task-specific and full-shift personal airborne lead (PbA) exposures were measured on three consecutive days during exterior work at two single-family homes in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Tasks assessed were cleaning, demolition, dry scraping, component removal, set-up, and wet scraping. Additionally, we measured surface paint lead concentrations and, for dry scraping and a mix of other tasks, concomitant lead concentrations in settled dust (PbS) at 10, 15, and 25 feet (ft) (3.1, 4.6, and 7.6 meters [m]) from work surfaces. Mean exterior paint lead concentrations at the two houses were high: 22 percent (%) and 37% Pb by weight. The 79 task-specific worker PbA exposures measured were highly variable; range 1.4-2240 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m3), geometric mean (GM) = 71 microg/m3, geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 4.6. Within-task variability of PbA exposures was high (GSDs = 1.9-5.4). PbA exposures were significantly associated with task, worker, and house variables (p <0.0001). High-exposure tasks were cleaning (GM = 108 microg/m3), dry demolition (77 mcirog/m3), dry scraping (136 micorg/m3), and wet scraping (90 microg/m3); the means did not differ significantly in paired comparisons. The low-exposure task was set-up (GM = 12 microg/m3); the GM for removal also appeared to be low (30 microg/m3 ) but is uncertain due to small sample size (n = 3). Nearly all (14/15) of the full-shift PbA exposures collected for workers performing scraping and a mix of other tasks were above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) (GM = 100 microg/m3, range: 39-526 microg/m3). Results for five full-shift area PbA samples collected to measure potential bystander exposures on work days were relatively low, ranging from 0.83 to 6.1 microg/m3. Seventeen PbS samples collected at 10 ft (3.05 m), sixteen samples at 15 ft (4.57 m), and twelve samples at 25 ft (7.62 m) had respective GMs of 1716, 458 and 65 milligrams per square meter (mg/m 2). PbS levels were significantly associated with distance from the work surface, p <0.0005. PbS levels were not significantly associated with the two task categories (dry scraping and a mix of other tasks). Almost all of the full-shift PbA exposures for workers performing exterior scraping and a mix of other tasks were greater than the PEL. Task-specific PbA exposures were highly variable both within and between tasks. High-exposure tasks were cleaning, demolition, dry scraping, and wet scraping, with mean exposures exceeding the PEL. Mean exposures for set-up and component removal were below the PEL. The respirators used were adequate to protect workers from the exposures measured. Recommendations are provided in this report to assist the contractor in controlling worker exposures to hazardous levels of lead-based paint.
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(2002) Marion County Board of Education, Fairmont, West Virginia. (Click to open report) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was requested to evaluate noise levels in the interior of school buses operated by the Marion County Board of Education in West Virginia. Drivers were particularly concerned about the transit-style buses that have a flat front where the diesel engine is behind the windshield next to the driver's seat, covered by a cowling. A NIOSH investigator performed a one-day survey of the noise levels in six buses with the transit-style confi... (Click to show more)The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was requested to evaluate noise levels in the interior of school buses operated by the Marion County Board of Education in West Virginia. Drivers were particularly concerned about the transit-style buses that have a flat front where the diesel engine is behind the windshield next to the driver's seat, covered by a cowling. A NIOSH investigator performed a one-day survey of the noise levels in six buses with the transit-style configuration as well as two conventional-style buses with the diesel engine in front of the windshield, under a hood. The NIOSH investigator rode one of the buses for the entire day as the driver picked up and dropped off students at school and home making a log of activities to match with the noise data for that bus. The noise levels were measured with noise dosimeters placed in the bus with the microphone taped to the right side of the driver's seat at approximately the level of the driver's ear. The overall daily average noise was compared to three different evaluation criteria for increased risk of occupational hearing loss from workplace noise exposures. The measured noise levels for all eight buses were less than the limits set forth in the criteria, with none of the levels greater than 82 decibels on an A-weighted scale expressed as a time-weighted average. The conventional-style buses were generally found to be quieter than the transit-style buses. The time-weighted average noise levels measured in this evaluation were less than all the of the evaluation criteria referenced in this report. The school bus operators are not at increased risk for occupational noise-induced hearing loss from exposure to bus engine noise. Some general recommendations to maintain low noise levels in the buses and to possibly lead to additional noise reductions are offered at the end of the report.
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(2002) Mueller Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Click to open report) In May 1998, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at the Mueller Company facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The HHE requesters expressed concern over exposures to formaldehyde, phenol, xylene, isocyanates, toluene, naphthalene, carbon monoxide, trimethyl benzene, cumene, lead, and silica in the Pepset, No- Bake, shell core, green sand, and iron pouring areas; silica and iron dust in the cleaning r... (Click to show more)In May 1998, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at the Mueller Company facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The HHE requesters expressed concern over exposures to formaldehyde, phenol, xylene, isocyanates, toluene, naphthalene, carbon monoxide, trimethyl benzene, cumene, lead, and silica in the Pepset, No- Bake, shell core, green sand, and iron pouring areas; silica and iron dust in the cleaning room, shell core, green sand, and machining areas; oil mist from hydraulic tanks; and asbestos from the concrete plant floors. The HHE request listed respiratory symptoms and possibly increased cancer rates as health concerns. On March 31-April 1, 1999, NIOSH investigators conducted a walk-through survey, reviewed material safety data sheets and environmental sampling data, and interviewed 22 employees about the work environment and possible work-related health effects. Employer records were examined to determine the number of cancer cases among employees. On August 8-9, 2000, environmental monitoring was conducted for phenol, volatile organic compounds, Stoddard solvent, formaldehyde, toluene, cumene, ammonia, trimethyl benzene isomers, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA). Formaldehyde was detected at low levels in some air samples. MDI and HMTA were detected at low concentrations. Phenol, Stoddard solvent, toluene, cumene, ammonia, and trimethyl benzene isomers were detected at levels below current occupational exposure limits. Smoke released from the shell core ovens was found to move through the employees' breathing zones before being exhausted through the canopy hood. Twenty-one (4.4% of the 475 production workers) were interviewed. Among those interviewed, most employees who had prolonged exposure to emissions from the Pepset and No-Bake coremaking/molding operations reported transient respiratory irritation. The workers who worked in these areas on a regular basis generally did not report persistent respiratory illnesses that they associated with their workplace exposures. Review of the medical records of six employees who reported work-related respiratory illnesses found that some workers had worsening of pre-existing chronic respiratory conditions, although the cause of this was not determined. Information concerning cancer diagnosed among Mueller Co. employees did not reveal an unusual number or pattern of cancers; however, it is not possible to determine the cause of the cancers that developed among the employees. All of the substances sampled in the employees' personal breathing zones had concentrations below the occupational exposure limits. The 16 identified cancer cases were of 10 different types, and there was not enough information available to determine if the cancers resulted from workplace exposures. Among the small number of employees interviewed, most who had long term exposures to emissions in the Pepset and No-Bake coremaking/molding areas reported temporary respiratory irritation. Recommendations are provided for additional monitoring for MDI, formaldehyde, and phenol, use of gloves, reporting of health symptoms to medical personnel, and local exhaust ventilation in the shell core area.
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(2002) STN Cushion Company, Thomasville, North Carolina. (Click to open report) On August 28, 2000, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at STN Cushion Company (STN) in Thomasville, North Carolina. The request was submitted by employees concerned about health effects potentially associated with 1-bromopropane (1-BP, also called n-propyl bromide) and 2-bromopropane (2-BP, also called isopropyl bromide) exposures during the spray application of an adhesive. The employees' conce... (Click to show more)On August 28, 2000, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at STN Cushion Company (STN) in Thomasville, North Carolina. The request was submitted by employees concerned about health effects potentially associated with 1-bromopropane (1-BP, also called n-propyl bromide) and 2-bromopropane (2-BP, also called isopropyl bromide) exposures during the spray application of an adhesive. The employees' concerns centered around neuropathy (abnormal nerve function), weakness and numbness in the lower extremities, dizziness, and headaches. Site visits were conducted in November 2000 (exposure monitoring and informal [confidential] employee interviews), April 2001 (ventilation assessment), and July-August 2001 (medical evaluation and repeat exposure and ventilation evaluations). After April 2001, STN improved the local ventilation in the area of concern based on recommendations made by the NIOSH ventilation engineer. During both exposure assessments, employees were monitored for full-shift 1-BP and 2-BP inhalation exposure. Short-term (15-minute) and ceiling (5-minute) 1-BP and 2-BP inhalation exposure measurements were also collected from the adhesive sprayers (Sprayers). Area air sampling for 1-BP and 2-BP was conducted also. The ventilation assessments included an evaluation of local exhaust ventilation at the workstations (consisting of spray tables and spray booths). The medical survey, consisting of a questionnaire, a complete blood count, start-of-week and end-of -week urine analysis for bromine, and a battery of neurobehavioral tests, was performed on all employees within the facility who were willing to participate. Additionally, a reproductive study was performed which included all eligible female employees who were willing to participate. The purpose of the medical survey was: 1) to assess whether hematological (blood), neurobehavioral (postural stability and psychomotor ability), and reproductive effects might be associated with 1-BP exposure; 2) to assess whether health effects reported on the questionnaire were associated with 1-BP exposure; and 3) to evaluate urinary bromine levels at the start and end of the week and compare these results to airborne 1-BP levels (to see if urinary bromine concentration can be used as a biomarker of exposure). The "exposed" population consisted primarily of those employees who worked in the Fabrication area performing spraying activities. The comparison ("less exposed") population consisted of all other employees who worked in the facility. At the first site visit the mean (average) airborne 1-BP exposure for the Sprayers was 65.9 parts per million (ppm) (range 41.3 to 143.0 ppm). The mean full-shift airborne 2-BP exposure for Sprayers was 0.66 ppm (range 0.33 to 1.35 ppm). At the second site visit, the mean concentration of 1-BP for the Sprayers increased from the first (16.6 ppm) to the third (23.3 ppm) day of sampling, but was lower than the concentration found during the first site visit. Two individual spray booths (Stations #6 and #11) did, however, yield a 3-day average exposure above a recommended level of 25 ppm. The initial ventilation assessment revealed that all of the workstations had exhaust flow rates which were lower than recommended values. Enclosure of spray tables led to improved ventilation at each of the workstations; however, factors were identified which would lead to further improvement in ventilation effectiveness. Of the 84 individuals employed at STN at the time of the survey, 32 (38%) volunteered to participate in the medical survey. The symptoms most often reported from all participants included: headache (reported by 48%), trouble falling asleep or staying asleep (reported by 28%), dizziness or feeling "off balance" (reported by 25%), and blurred vision (reported by 24%). Two of the symptoms in the questionnaire, blurred vision and dizziness or feeling "off-balance," were significantly more common among the exposed versus the comparison groups. Of the exposed employees, five of six reporting blurry vision and four of six reporting dizziness noted symptom improvement during time away from the work environment. All of the results for blood indices were within the normal value ranges provided by the testing laboratory; however, because of the small number of blood specimens available for analysis, a statistical determination regarding the blood tests and their relationship to 1-BP exposure could not be made. The start-of-week and end-of-week urine bromine concentrations for the exposed group were both significantly higher than the corresponding values for the comparison group. We found no significant elevation in urine bromine level in the end-of-week urine samples compared to the start-of-week urine samples - in other words, we did not detect an increase in urine bromine from the first urine sample (start-of-week) to the second urine sample (end-of-week). Urinary bromine concentrations were highly correlated to the airborne concentration of 1-BP, and it was concluded that urinary bromine may be a good indicator of 1-BP exposure. A total of 30 participants participated in the neurobehavioral testing. We found no differences in the Postural Stability test results between employees in the exposed and comparison groups. Of the 16 Psychomotor Ability parameters tested, 3 demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the exposed and comparison groups. Specifically, we found indications of increased tremor in the right hand of participants in the exposed group. Although we cannot determine the cause of the tremor observed by our testing, we believe that this unilateral tremor is likely due to muscle fatigue (a known cause of the type of tremor observed), as 1-BP exposure, if sufficient to cause tremor, would likely cause bilateral tremor (tremor on both sides) due to a potential mechanism involving the central nervous system. And lastly, we collected insufficient data among exposed workers in the reproductive evaluation part of the survey to be able to make any comparisons between exposed and comparison workers in that portion of the HHE. Although we found the Sprayers at STN to have greater exposure to 1-BP than other employees, we are unable to determine if these exposures constitute a health hazard. By enclosing the spray booths in the Fabrication area, STN has dramatically reduced Sprayers' exposures to 1-BP and 2-BP. Because of symptoms consistent with excessive solvent exposure reported among the exposed workers, concerns raised in other studies, and the lack of definitive information, efforts should continue to minimize 1-BP and 2-BP exposures. Recommendations are provided in this report to assist in this, and include improving the ventilation of spray booths #6 and #11 as well as improving personal protective equipment use.
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(2002) United States Senate and House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. (Click to open report) On February 8, 2002, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a joint request from the Sergeant at Arms Office at the United States Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer at the United States House of Representatives regarding health concerns related to handling and opening irradiated mail at the United States Senate and House office buildings in Washington, D.C. In response to the request, NIOSH representatives conducted environmental and epidemiologic eva... (Click to show more)On February 8, 2002, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a joint request from the Sergeant at Arms Office at the United States Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer at the United States House of Representatives regarding health concerns related to handling and opening irradiated mail at the United States Senate and House office buildings in Washington, D.C. In response to the request, NIOSH representatives conducted environmental and epidemiologic evaluations at the Russell, Dirksen, Hart, Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn, and Ford Buildings, the Senate Post-Office Screening Facility, the House Mail Processing Facility, the Capitol building, and Postal Square on February 13-15, 2002. The environmental evaluation included air sample collection for carbon dioxide, temperature, and relative humidity as well as for contaminants potentially derived from heated mail as a result of irradiation, including small and total particulate, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, ozone, carbon monoxide, toluene diisocyanate, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, bulk samples of irradiated mail and mail that had not gone through the irradiation process were analyzed for anions, metals, and pH. The epidemiologic evaluation consisted of interviews with individual employees who handled or had concerns about the mail, meetings with the Senior Medical Officer from the Office of the Attending Physician (OAP), and review of data collected by the OAP. Air samples indicated non-detectable or low concentrations of sampled contaminants. The types and levels of airborne substances we measured in areas where irradiated mail was handled were not distinguishable in a meaningful way from those measured in areas where irradiated mail was not handled. This comparison was hindered in a few cases where employee interviews revealed that mail volumes and/or mail opening activities were lower on the day that samples were collected. We do not suspect that daily variability of the mail load will have an effect on the results of our environmental evaluation based on the number of buildings and offices evaluated, the number of samples collected, and the low concentrations of any detectable compounds. Many of the volatile organic compounds that were detected are common in indoor air, and the results of the sampling for these compounds generally are similar to results seen by NIOSH in other indoor environments. The bulk sample analysis did not provide information that could link irradiated mail to the reported health effects. . Among the 389 Congressional staff employees interviewed, the most common symptoms were headache, skin irritation, eye irritation, skin rash, dry hands, nausea, and nose or throat irritation. We believe that it is likely that multiple factors are responsible for the reported symptoms. The added dryness of the mail from the irradiation process can lead to dryness and skin irritation from repeated handling of the mail. This is due to the absorptive effect of the damaged cellulose fibers from the irradiated paper drawing moisture off the skin. This drying effect can cause the outer layer of the skin to dry out and fissure, causing chapped and irritated skin. Individuals with a history of atopy (allergies) may have been particularly vulnerable. The we observed in our environmental survey can also exacerbate the symptoms of eye and skin irritation that were seen. In general, established guidelines for occupational exposures are based on the goal of preventing and minimizing measurable adverse effects in healthy populations. They are not based on avoidance of odors, and many chemical odors can be detected by smell at levels below exposure guidelines. Some odors can be detected by humans at levels below those detectable using industrial hygiene techniques. There is evidence that irritation can be produced from volatile organic compounds at very low levels -- levels which would trigger the activation and amplification of the neurosensory mechanisms for an odor threshold (activating the sense of smell), but potentially below levels that we could measure for some compounds. Thus, odors could potentially trigger irritant symptoms experienced by the employees, including some of the mucous membrane irritation and headaches. Adding to the unfamiliar and unpleasant odors causing headaches and irritation, skin irritation, and mucous membrane irritation, was the fact that these occurrences happened in a climate of heightened awareness and unusual anxiety in these Government Buildings due to recent terrorist acts. It is possible that this heightened awareness and resultant employee stress, while not a root cause of the problem, may have contributed to problems caused by the handling of the very dry irradiated mail. Environmental samples collected across several Capitol Hill building locations over a three day period did not reveal any exposures exceeding any existing occupational guidelines. In addition, exposures in irradiated mail locations were not demonstrably higher than exposures in control locations where no mail was opened. These findings are similar to what has been found in other recent investigations of irradiated mail. Medical interviews did result in finding a fairly high number of individuals reporting symptoms of irritation. As noted above, the absorptive effect of the irradiated paper drawing moisture off the skin could account for some of the symptoms, other irritant symptoms may be due to odors associated with the mail, still others due to the and heightened awareness. Therefore, it is likely that a number of causes were responsible for the reported symptoms. Recommendations are provided in the report.
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(2001) Foeste Masonry, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (Click to open report) Foeste masonry recently received an OSHA citation for overexposure of workers to crystalline silica during the dry cutting of brick. Foeste subsequently purchased several brick/block cutoff saws equipped with water dust suppression. Until Foeste could show that exposures were adequately controlled, Foeste was required by OSHA to enroll the operators in a respiratory protection program (fit testing and use of half mask, cartridge respirators). On April 3, 2000, Foeste Masonry requested a Health H... (Click to show more)Foeste masonry recently received an OSHA citation for overexposure of workers to crystalline silica during the dry cutting of brick. Foeste subsequently purchased several brick/block cutoff saws equipped with water dust suppression. Until Foeste could show that exposures were adequately controlled, Foeste was required by OSHA to enroll the operators in a respiratory protection program (fit testing and use of half mask, cartridge respirators). On April 3, 2000, Foeste Masonry requested a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) to assess the effectiveness of wet dust suppression during the cutting of brick and block. On May 8, 2000, NIOSH investigators met with Foeste representatives to discuss sampling procedures for collecting airborne dust samples. Environmental measurements of airborne particulate were obtained on May 9 -10,2000. NIOSH investigators determined that dry cutting can lead to intense exposures to silica dust. Such exposures are likely to be very hazardous to workers operating the saws and working in their vicinity. NIOSH recommends that wet cutting be used when ever possible. The sampling undertaken in this study indicates that wet cutting, undertaken using the manufacturer's guidelines, generally leads to exposures to silica dust below the OSHA PEL. It is recommended that saw operators continue to wear at least a NIOSH-approved, disposable respirator, especially when wet cutting for two hours or more. If dry cutting brick or block is necessitated by the building design a Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) should be worn and the cutting time should be limited. Routine evaluation of dust exposures is desirable to ensure that the workers are adequately protected, especially for brick or block of high silica content.
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