Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 81-384-1443, FMC Corporation, Tipton, Indiana

Technical Report · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5747193

Stephenson, R L; O'Brien, D

In response to a request from the United Steel Workers of America, Local 2166, an evaluation was made of employee exposures in the primer parts spray paint booth and sanding area of the FMC Corporation (SIC-7535), Tipton, Indiana. The facility was involved in manufacturing custom fire trucks, and had 125 production workers. The measured concentrations of individual solvents were below NIOSH and ACGIH recommended levels and OSHA standards. One worker had potential overexposures to solvents based on the additive effect of the solvent vapor mixtures; although the worker wore a respirator, the protection afforded using the respirator was inadequate. Total particulates ranged from 5.1 to 36.3mg/cu m, compared to an exposure criteria of 10mg/cu m. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons ranged up to 4.1 micrograms/cubic meter. A medical questionnaire administered to nine employees revealed occasional eye and upper respiratory irritation. Among the painters these symptoms coincided with the use of the bitumastic coal-tar paint. The seven sanding employees reported no symptoms associated with their occupations. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed due to overexposures to total particulates, mixtures of organic solvents and to coal-tar paint containing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. The authors recommend specific measures to reduce exposures.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5747193
• Report Number(s): PB-92-137892/XAB; HETA--81-384-1443
• 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
AROMATICS
COATINGS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
INDIANA
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INHALATION
INTAKE
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PAINTS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
SOLVENTS
SYMPTOMS
USA