Health-Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 84-180-1776, Jacksonville Fire Department, Jacksonville, Florida

Technical Report · Sat Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6182117

Kominsky, J R

The efficiency of a trichlorotrifluoroethane based system to remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from Nomex fabric garments used by the Jacksonville Fire Department, Jacksonville, Florida was evaluated. The system used a sealed dry cleaning machine with a revolving chamber and trichlorotrifluoroethane solvent. From 66 to 99% of fireborne PCB contamination and more than 99% of experimental contamination was removed from fire fighters protective clothing using the system. Because of uncertainty concerning the adequacy of decontamination, the garments were replaced. The author concludes that this system can remove a high percentage of PCB contamination; without established permissible limits for fabric levels of PCBs, it is not known if the level of decontamination is adequate.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6182117
• Report Number(s): PB-87-206595/XAB; HETA-84-180-1776
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
AROMATICS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CLEANING
CLOTHING
FIRE FIGHTING
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MATERIALS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
SAFETY