Health hazard evaluation report No. HHE-80-033-815, Asarco, Inc. , Hayden, Arizona

Technical Report · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5037523

Apol, A G; Coye, M

Worker exposures to arsenic (7440382) (As), cadmium (7440439) (Cd), copper (7440508) (Cu), lead (7439921) (Pb) and sulfur-dioxide (7446095) (SO2) were surveyed at ASARCO, Incorporated (SIC-3331) in Hayden, Arizona on April 23 and 24, 1980. The evaluation was requested by an authorized representative of the United Steel Workers, Local 886, on behalf of an unspecified number of workers. Personal and area air samples were collected in the pug mill department, and workers were tested for blood Pb and urinary As concentrations. All four personal samples for As exceeded the OSHA standard of 10 micrograms per cubic meter, one sample exceeded the Cu dust standard of 1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/cu m), and one sample exceeded the Pb standard of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Exposures to Cd fume, Cd dust, and SO2 were below the respective OSHA standard of 0.2mg/cu m, 1.0mg/cu m, and 5 parts per million. One worker had a urinary As concentration that exceeded 100 micrograms per liter, and two others had urinary As concentrations greater than 50 micrograms per 100 milliliters. The authors conclude that no excessive Pb exposure exists, but one worker may be exposed to hazardous As concentrations. They recommend that OSHA regulations regarding exposures to As and Pb be consulted, equipment be properly maintained, ventilation be provided, urine sampling be conducted periodically, and workers be educated about the health hazards related to As and Pb.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies
• OSTI ID: 5037523
• Report Number(s): PB-82-190067; HHE-80-033-815
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560306 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ARSENIC
CADMIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
COPPER
ELEMENTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
LEAD
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METAL INDUSTRY
METALS
MONITORING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
SEMIMETALS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS