Health hazard evaluation report No. HETA 90-010-2170, LTV Steel Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5375722

Kinnes, G M; Letts, D

In response to a request from the United Steelworkers of America, an investigation was made of possible causative agents for allergic contact dermatitis in workers who clean the coke oven gas inlets at the LTV Steel Company (SIC-3312), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The LTV Steel coke oven facility consists of five batteries, with a total of 315 by-product ovens. Almost 3 years ago a skin problem of potential occupational origin was identified among the heaters, helpers and patchers. A list of 26 workers with skin problems was developed by the union and management and provided to NIOSH investigators. The suspected causative agent was a condensate from coke oven underfiring gas which collected on gas nozzle seats in the gas heating pipes of specific batteries. The nine employees diagnosed as having occupational allergic contact dermatitis tested positive to at least one of the coke oven gas condensate fractions. Many compounds were identified in the condensate sample. The authors conclude that the dermatitis in some workers was probably caused by contact with the coke oven gas condensates. The authors recommend measures intended to prevent contact with the condensates.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5375722
• Report Number(s): PB-92-164276/XAB; HETA--90-010-2170
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COKE OVENS
CONDENSATES
DERMATITIS
DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FLUIDS
GAS CONDENSATES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
LIQUIDS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
SKIN DISEASES
US NIOSH
US ORGANIZATIONS