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

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 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

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
AIR POLLUTION
METAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ACENAPHTHENE
COAL TAR
CYCLOHEXANE
FLUORENE
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
PHENANTHRENE
PITCHES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
TOXICITY
VOLATILE MATTER
ALKANES
AROMATICS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
CYCLOALKANES
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
MATTER
MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
TAR
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health