Industrywide studies report: walk-through survey of American Pharmaseal, American Hospital Corporation, Irwindale, California. [Ethylene oxide]
A walk-through survey of American Pharmaseal, division of American Hospital Corporation, Irwindale, California, was conducted in August, 1984. The purpose of the survey was to determine the feasibility of including the facility in a NIOSH industrywide mortality/industrial hygiene study of ethylene oxide. The company produced single-use medical devices such as diagnostic trays and syringes and had sterilized these with ethylene oxide since 1962. A review of personnel records showed that the facility could contribute 256 potentially exposed workers and 1,691 person years to the NIOSH study. The company had maintained a respirator program since 1979. Use of respirators in the sterilizer and quarantine areas was required. Company industrial hygiene data indicated that employees working in the sterilizer and quarantine areas had the highest potential ethylene-oxide exposures. Actual employee exposure in these areas was considered to be very low due to the enforced use of respirators. The authors conclude that the facility meets the requirements for being included in the NIOSH study: contributing at least 200 person years, having adequate personnel records to identify potentially exposed workers, and having no confounding exposure to a known leukemogen.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5580413
- Report Number(s):
- PB-86-191921/XAB; IWS-67.32
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
STERILIZATION
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
AIR POLLUTION
MATERIALS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health