Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 88-207-2195, Northwest Incinerator, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7303636

Kinnes, G M; Bryant, C J

In response to a request from the City of Philadelphia and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, District Council 33, Local 427, an evaluation was undertaken of possible hazardous working conditions at the Northwest Incinerator (SIC-4953), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Full shift personal breathing zone and general area air samples were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), total dust, respirable dust, crystalline silica (14808607), and metals. Airborne concentrations of respirable nuisance dust were all well below the permissible exposure limits. Concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs expressed as 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (1746016) (TCDD) equivalents ranged from 0.01 to 12.8 picograms per cubic meter. There was also significant lead (7439921) surface contamination in one wipe sample. The authors conclude that possible exposures to PCDDs/PCDFs via inhalation and from surface contamination did exist. The facility ceased operations immediately after the evaluation. The authors recommend measures to cut down on exposure should the site be reopened for use or remediation.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7303636
• Report Number(s): PB-92-193986/XAB; HETA-88-207-2195
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BENZOFURANS
HEALTH HAZARDS
DIOXIN
LEAD
PENNSYLVANIA
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INCINERATORS
INHALATION
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RECOMMENDATIONS
SILICON OXIDES
TOXICITY
WASTE DISPOSAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
FURANS
HAZARDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INTAKE
MANAGEMENT
METALS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SAFETY STANDARDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
STANDARDS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology