Health-hazard evaluation report MHETA 87-040-1838, Freeman United Coal Mining, Frankfort, Illinois

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5320006

Cornwell, R; Stark, G

In response to a request from the United Mine Workers of America, Deputy Administrator of Occupational Health, a study was made of worker exposure to a resin used in the roof bolting operation at the Freeman United Coal Company Mine No. 6, located in Frankfort, Illinois. One worker developed a severe asthma attack following initial exposure to the resin, Du-Pont FASLOC, and was diagnosed by two pulmonary medicine specialists as having occupationally induced asthma. Sensitization to the resin or its components was not tested. Three other workers reported headaches, sore throats, and coughs following exposure. All four were interviewed, and medical histories were requested but only one was obtained. Air samples were taken near machine operators' breathing zones and downwind of vapors during roof bolting. These were analyzed for resin components, styrene, vinyl-toluene, or butyl benzyl phthalate. There were no detectable levels of the latter two chemicals, and styrene was present near the detection limit of 0.05 parts per million. The authors conclude that there is no health risk to the general work force from this resin. However, if a true hypersensitivity does exist in the asthmatic individual, further resin exposure would be harmful to the worker.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5320006
• Report Number(s): PB-88-162714/XAB; MHETA-87-040-1838
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
ASTHMA
COAL MINING
DISEASES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
MINING
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POLYMERS
RESINS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SAFETY
TOXICITY
UNDERGROUND MINING