Health-hazard-evaluation report HETA 90-011-2034, Xomox Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6145542

Reh, C M

In response to a request from a management representative of the Xomox Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a study was undertaken to evaluate exposures to workers using a polyurethane foam system in the shipping department. Xomox manufactured industrial valves, and the foam was used as a packaging material for shipping some types of valves. The foam contained 4,4'-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate (MDI) and polymethylenepolyphenyl-isocyanate (MDI prepolymer) and was applied with a spray gun. All of the time weighted average air samples measured nondetectable levels of MDI and MDI prepolymer. Short term exposure samples did measure substantial levels of MDI ranging up to 320 micrograms/cubic meter of air. Two of the seven samples taken were above the OSHA ceiling limit of 200 micrograms/cubic meter. The author concludes that a health hazard existed from short term exposure to MDI. The author recommends that the use of the polyurethane foam system should be eliminated or proper engineering controls and personal protective equipment should be used to protect the workers.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6145542
• Report Number(s): PB-91-117242/XAB; HETA--90-011-2034
• 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
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION V
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRY
ISOCYANATES
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OHIO
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERSONNEL
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
PLASTICS INDUSTRY
POLLUTION
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
POLYURETHANES
RECOMMENDATIONS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
USA