Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 90-348-2135, Grosse Pointes-Clinton Refuse Disposal Authority, Mount Clemens, Michigan

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5626177

Mouradian, R F; Kinnes, G M

In response to a request from a representative of employees at the Grosse Pointes-Clinton Municipal Refuse Authority (SIC-4953), Mount Clemens, Michigan, an evaluation was undertaken of possible exposures associated with incinerator ash at the incinerator site. Two visits to the site were made. During the first visit it was determined that the weekly clean out operation was the primary source of employee exposures to ash. During the second visit analyses were made of air samples, total dust, respirable dust, respirable crystalline silica (14808607), ash and metals. Potential short term exposures to high levels of crystalline silica, lead (7439921), and total dust were noted during the clean out operation. One personal air sample collected for total dust exposure measured 20.5mg/cu m which exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15,g/cu m. The NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit of 0.5mg/cu m for crystalline silica was exceeded for one personal breathing zone air sample. The author concludes that workers were exposed to crystalline silica, lead and total dust during cleanout; personal exposures did not exceed the OSHA PELs because cleanout was completed in less than 2 hours. The author recommends improvements to work practices and provision of better personal protective equipment.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5626177
• Report Number(s): PB-92-137876/XAB; HETA--90-348-2135
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ASHES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INCINERATORS
LEAD
MANAGEMENT
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
METALS
MICHIGAN
MINERALS
MONITORING
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESIDUES
SAFETY STANDARDS
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
STANDARDS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES