Health hazard evaluation determination report No. HE 78-44-715, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, Ravenswood, West Virginia

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5704724

Kronoveter, K J

Environmental and medical surveys and technological assessments were conducted on July 18 to 20, 1978, and April 3 to 5 and June 11 to 14, 1979, to update environmental conditions and evaluate the ventilation systems in the potrooms at the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation facility in Ravenswood, West Virginia (SIC-3341). The evaluation was requested by a union safety and health committee member of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 5668, on behalf of the potroom employees. Personal and area air samples were obtained for determinations of coal tar pitch volatiles (56996932) (CTPV), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNA), total particulates, and fluorides, indicator tube sampling was done for sulfur dioxide (7446095), carbon monoxide (630080), and hydrogen fluoride (7664393). CTPV concentrations ranged from undetectable to 0.37 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/cu m), exceeding the OSHA standard of 0.20 mg/cu m; PNAs were present in 27 of 46 samples; total particulates ranged from 0.3 to 177.0 mg/cu m, exceeding the OSHA standard of 150.0 mg/cu m; sulfur dioxide ranged from undetectable to over 25 parts per million (ppM), exceeding the OSHA standard of 5 ppM. Medical questionnaires indicated that dust and off gases from the pots may have caused mucous membrane irritation. Ventilation assessment showed that the pothood system was well designed but that deficiencies in maintenance and housekeeping may have reduced its efficiency. The author concludes that potentially hazardous exposures to CTPV, total particulates, and sulfur dioxide existed for certain potroom workers. He recommends that ventilation maintenance be improved, that workers use respiratory protection when necessary, and that anode setters be studied for pot emission exposures.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
• OSTI ID: 5704724
• Report Number(s): PB-81-171118
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
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HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
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INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
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OXIDES
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