Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 88-108-2146, Asarco New Market/Young Mines, Mascot, Tennessee
In response to a request from the International Chemical Workers Union, Akron, Ohio, an investigation was made into possible hazardous working conditions at two American Smelting and Refining Company (SIC-1031) zinc mines (New Market and Young) in Mascot, Tennessee. Specifically, exposures to asbestos (1332214), silica (14808607), and diesel emissions were determined. At both mines overexposures were found to nitrogen-dioxide (10102440) (NO2) and coal-tar pitch volatiles. Twenty-four percent of the NO2 measurements taken were above the NIOSH recommended ceiling of 1 part per million (ppm), but none exceeded the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) ceiling of 5ppm. Exposure to diesel particulates ranged from 0.24 to 1.06mg/cu m. None of the 52 respirable dust samples collected exceeded the calculated MSHA limits for free silica exposure. A medical evaluation was offered and 83 of the 400 current employees and one retired employee participated. Seven underground employees were found with small opacity readings of greater than 1/0. Pulmonary function tests indicated that four employees had moderate airway obstruction, 17 had mild obstruction and two had mild restriction of lung volume. Three with obstructive lung disease pattern also had positive radiographs for pneumoconiosis. The authors conclude that workers were overexposed to coal-tar pitch volatiles and NO2; radiographic and pulmonary function test results suggest that a chronic respiratory health effect may be related to cumulative workplace exposures. The authors recommend measures for lowering the exposures and the development of a medical surveillance program.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5481650
- Report Number(s):
- PB-92-145820/XAB; HETA--88-108-2146
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
AROMATICS
ASBESTOS
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL TAR
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIESEL ENGINES
DISEASES
ENGINES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEAT ENGINES
HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MINERALS
MINERS
MINES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TAR
TENNESSEE
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
WORKING CONDITIONS