Occupational exposure to formaldehyde in dialysis units

Journal Article · Fri Aug 08 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5393531

A company in Illinois that operates three dialysis centers became concerned about the occupational exposure of its employees to formaldehyde. The company requested an investigation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to determine the extent of employee exposure to formaldehyde. Investigators from NIOSH conducted an initial environmental survey of the facilities in April 1982 and a follow-up environmental survey in June 1982. In the areas used to reprocess dialyzers, they collected air samples to analyze for formaldehyde in the personal breathing zones of workers. The results showed that workers at two of the three facilities involved were exposed to formaldehyde concentrations of 0.50 and 0.57 parts per million (ppm), respectively, as a time-weighted average (TWA). The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard establishes a permissible exposure of 3 ppm, 8-hour TWA; NIOSH recommends minimizing workplace exposure levels and limiting exposure levels and limiting exposure to the lowest feasible level.

• OSTI ID: 5393531
• Journal Information: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 256:5; ISSN JAMAA
• 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.
AIR SAMPLERS
ALDEHYDES
ARTIFICIAL ORGANS
BODY
CLEANING
DECONTAMINATION
DIALYSIS
DISINFECTANTS
EQUIPMENT
FORMALDEHYDE
GERMICIDES
KIDNEYS
MECHANICAL KIDNEY
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NIOSH
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
PROSTHESES
SAFETY STANDARDS
SAMPLERS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STANDARDS
US ORGANIZATIONS