Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-335-1629, Lahey Printing Press and Office Building, Littleton, Colorado

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5432723

Gunter, B J; Thoburn, T W

Environmental and breathing-zone samples were analyzed for toluene, perchloroethylene, chloroform, methylene-chloride and mineral spirits at the Lahey Printing Press and Office Building, Littleton, Colorado in June, 1985. The evaluation was requested by the County District Health Department to assess solvent exposure in the building, a two story structure that housed the print shop on the first floor. Twelve office workers were interviewed. All individual solvent exposures were below their relevant standards. The ratio of concentration to threshold limit value for mixed-solvent exposure ranged from 0.22 to 1.03. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist criterion for mixed-solvent exposure is 1.0. Five workers felt that exposures in the building affected their health and reported symptoms of headache, fatigue, drowsiness, or disorientation. These symptoms tended to worsen as the week wore on. All workers reported solvent odors when first entering the building. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard exists from solvent vapors on the top floor. Recommendations include improving the seal on the ventilation duct from the first floor, installing local exhausting ventilation in the print shop, and educating print shop employees on the current handling of solvents.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5432723
• Report Number(s): PB-86-202884/XAB; HETA-85-335-1629
• 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
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BUILDINGS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLOROFORM
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OFFICE BUILDINGS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SOLVENTS
TOLUENE
TOXICITY
VENTILATION