Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 84-510-1691, Rockwell International, Rocky Flats Plant, Golden, Colorado

Technical Report · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6959317

Gunter, B J; Thoburn, T W

An evaluation of worker exposure to beryllium at the Rocky Flats Facility was made. Six of 33 breathing-zone air samples collected for beryllium analysis showed levels exceeding the NIOSH evaluation criterion of 0.5 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/m/sup 3/). These samples ranged from 7.2 to 0.57microg/m/sup 3/. Thirty-three samples collected on beryllium machining equipment were at or below 0.5micro/m/sup 3/. Breathing-zone air samples were taken on all 8 workers and the foreman in the beryllium shop and seven of the nine samples exceeded the 0.5 microg/m/sup 3/ level, ranging from 0.5 to 2.1microg/m/sup 3/. Most of these nine workers had normal pulmonary function. Two had a severity code other than zero. Neither had worked in the beryllium shop for more than a year and the more severely affected had only recently started, but had a history of pulmonary disease. The authors conclude that a health hazard exists from overexposure to beryllium existed in the beryllium shop. Recommendations were given by the authors.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6959317
• Report Number(s): PB-87-108056/XAB; HETA-84-510-1691
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
BERYLLIUM
HEALTH HAZARDS
MACHINING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
PARTICULATES
METAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INHALATION
INSPECTION
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
INTAKE
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
SAFETY
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health