Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 91-056-2129, Oakland County Department of Social Services, Pontiac, Michigan

Technical Report · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5705744

Decker, J

In response to a request from a representative of the United Auto Workers local 6000 an investigation was begun of possible hazardous working conditions at the Oakland County Department of Social Services (SIC-8322) located in Pontiac, Michigan. Including visitors, as many as 130 to 150 people may occupy the building at one time. Some of the work performed in the building includes word processing, typing, filing, photocopying along with interviewing and counseling activities. Average environmental carbon-dioxide (124389) concentrations ranged from a low in the morning of 350 parts per million (ppm) to a high of 875ppm in the afternoon. Temperatures measured over four sampling times ranged from 73.4 to 77.7 degrees-F. Average relative humidities ranged from a high of 32.2% to a low of 20.4%. Respirable particulate concentrations were typical for office buildings except for the smoking room where levels increased to nearly 12 times the EPA ambient air quality standards for airborne particulates. Personal breathing zone ozone (10028156) concentrations measured at two photocopy machines ranged from 0.02 to 0.18ppm. Most of the 85 subjects participating reported thermocomfort complaints, in addition to a number of nonspecific symptoms that could have resulted from a variety of causes. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard existed from exposure to ozone generated from the photocopy machines. The authors recommend measures to improve air quality and comfort in the building.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5705744
• Report Number(s): PB-92-133255/XAB; HETA--91-056-2129
• 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
BUILDINGS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MICHIGAN
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OFFICE BUILDINGS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
USA