Health hazard evaluation report HETA 84-163-1657, Siouxpreme Egg Products, Sioux Center, Iowa

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5101519

Smith, A B; Carson, G A; Aw, T C; London, M A; Kopp, S

Following a request from workers, a health hazard evaluation was conducted at Siouxpreme Egg Products, Sioux Center, Iowa where raw eggs are processed into egg yolk powder and liquid egg white. Air was sampled for chloride and iodide ions, hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, and total and respirable egg dust. Chemical contaminant exposure was below OSHA, NIOSH, and ACGIH guidelines. Personal total dust in sifting and packaging rooms were respectively 12.8 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) and 7.3 mg/m3 for one worker. Dust samples were 50% protein. Noise levels ranged from 98 decibels-A (dBA) in the sifter powder room to 85 dBA in the pick and prewash area. Five of 31 employees examined for occupational asthma showed positive findings due to hypersensitivity to egg protein. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed due to occupational exposure to egg protein. Recommendations include: removing workers with work related asthma to other areas of operation; evaluation of workers who develop episodic wheezing and shortness of breath; notifying employees in whom hypersensitivity reactions have been documented not to receive immunizations with vaccines grown in eggs; provision of local exhaust ventilation for the sifter and packaging room; and more positive removal of decontamination mist.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5101519
• Report Number(s): PB-86-223013/XAB; HETA-84-163-1657
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
EGGS
FOOD PROCESSING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INHALATION
INSPECTION
INTAKE
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NIOSH
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
PROTEINS
SAFETY
TOXICITY
US ORGANIZATIONS
VENTILATION