Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 87-311-2087, Penick Corporation, Newark, New Jersey

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6148619

Klincewicz, S; Siwinski, G; Fleeger, A; Paulozzi, L

In response to a request from the International Chemical Workers Union to evaluate symptoms of headache, nausea, and respiratory symptoms among workers, an investigation was begun of possible hazardous working conditions at the Penick Corporation (SIC-2833), Newark, New Jersey. The company produced morphine, codeine, synthetic and semisynthetic narcotics from the raw materials gum opium and poppy straw concentrate. Industrial hygiene monitoring detected substantial exposures to alkaloid dusts throughout the building. A concentration as high as 23,564 micrograms/cubic meter was detected in a short term sample collected during the hand scooping of dry powder. Over exposures were detected to toluene (108883), butanol (71363), methanol (67561), and ethanol (64175) during short term episodic jobs. Thirty-two current employees participated in a study of immunologic parameters. A significant decrease in morphine-6-hemisuccinate/human serum albumin immunoglobulin-G antibody levels was noted in 21 workers who submitted blood specimens during both test periods. Narcotic production workers had greater reactivity to most of the compounds on a quantitative skin prick test with opiates. The authors conclude that workers at Penick Corporation developed asthma from occupational exposure to narcotic dusts. The authors recommend that exposures to narcotic dusts and solvents be reduced, and that workers with suspected work related illnesses be evaluated.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6148619
• Report Number(s): PB-91-238188/XAB; HETA--87-311-2087
• 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
ALCOHOLS
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BUTANOLS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DISEASES
DRUGS
ETHANOL
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INHALATION
INTAKE
MEDICINE
METHANOL
NARCOTICS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SOLVENTS
SYMPTOMS
TOLUENE
WORKING CONDITIONS