Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 83-313-1534, Municipal Court Section, City of Englewood, Englewood, Colorado

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5493231

Pryor, P; Thoburn, T W; Koons, R K

Environmental air samples were analyzed for formaldehyde at the Municipal Court Office, Englewood, Colorado in April, July, and December, 1983 and March, 1984. The evaluation was requested by the county health department to investigate employee reports of respiratory disorders, eye and skin irritation, and a low platelet count in one employee. Six employees were given questionnaires in April, 1983. Reported symptoms included upper respiratory and eye irritation and dermatitis. A temperature survey was conducted in July, 1983. The pattern of symptoms suggested that the cabinet containing non carbon paper was the source of the problems, the paper forms contained formaldehyde. Airborne formaldehyde concentrations ranged from nondetectable to 0.05 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3). The OSHA standard for formaldehyde is 3.6 mg/m3. Temperatures were 77 to 80/sup 0/F in the vicinity of the forms cabinet when the outside temperature was 87/sup 0/. Indoor relative humidity was 29 to 36%. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard to the employees exists. Formaldehyde liberated from the non carbon copy paper stored in the cabinets heated by one of the heating systems is the probable cause of the irritative symptoms. Recommendations include moving the copy paper storage area and installing ventilation to reduce heat buildup.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5493231
• Report Number(s): PB-86-191244/XAB; HETA-83-313-1534
• 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
ALDEHYDES
BUILDINGS
FORMALDEHYDE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
SAFETY
TOXICITY