Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 82-309-1630, Inland Steel, East Chicago, Indiana

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

OSTI ID:5655645

Almaguer, D; Orris, P

Environmental and breathing-zone samples were analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and coal-tar-pitch volatiles at the Inland Steel Company, East Chicago, Indiana in November, 1982 and September, 1984. The evaluation was requested because of concern about employee exposures during maintenance of the coke battery precipitator at the number 2 facility. Four former employees were interviewed. The cyclohexane soluble fraction of coal-tar-pitch volatiles ranged from 0.232 to 0.668 mg/m/sup 3/. The OSHA standard is 0.15mg/m/sup 3/. Naphthalene concentrations up to 0.107mg/m/sup 3/ were detected. The OSHA standard for naphthalene is 50mg/m/sup 3/. Other PAHs detected included phenanthrene, fluorene and acenaphthene. The employees reported experiencing local skin, eye, ear, nose, and throat irritation while working on the coke battery precipitator in the past. Personal protective measures such as wearing safety boots, barrier creams on exposed skin surfaces, and showering and changing clothes before leaving the facility were implemented. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard from PAHs and coal-tar-pitch volatiles is being adequately addressed by the facility. Recommendations include continuing the present personal protective measures and providing emergency rescue training.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5655645
• Report Number(s): PB-86-203494/XAB; HETA-82-309-1630
• 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
ACENAPHTHENE
AIR POLLUTION
ALKANES
AROMATICS
COAL TAR
CONDENSED AROMATICS
CYCLOALKANES
CYCLOHEXANE
FLUORENE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MATTER
MEDICINE
METAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENANTHRENE
PITCHES
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SAFETY
TAR
TOXICITY
VOLATILE MATTER