Health-hazard-evaluation report HETA 89-057-2003, Cincinnati Electronics Corp. , Cincinnati, Ohio

Technical Report · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6275507

Hills, B; Lushniak, B

In response to a request from a management representative an evaluation was made of an outbreak of illness at the Cincinnati Electronics Corporation located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company manufactured electrical circuit boards and electrical equipment for the commercial and defense industries. In September of 1988 two boilers were prepared for operation by adding corrosion inhibiting chemicals, diethylaminoethanol and cyclohexylamine. Steam produced by the boilers was used for humidity in the work area. Symptoms consistent with acute toxic effects of diethylaminoethanol and cyclohexylamine were noted in 65 of the employees. These included nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. A significantly higher risk of having several symptoms was noted among the employees in the areas humidified with boiler steam than among employees in the nonboiler steam humidified areas. Employee exposures to metals from solder fumes and methyl-ethyl-ketone were all below established limits. There was friable asbestos insulation exposed on one boiler. The authors conclude that the exposures to the two corrosion inhibiting chemicals were responsible for the workers' symptoms. Following the outbreak the company suspended the practice of using steam from the boilers to humidify the building.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6275507
• Report Number(s): PB-91-108746/XAB; HETA--89-057-2003
• 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
ALCOHOLS
AMINES
ANILINE
AROMATICS
ASBESTOS
BOILERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
ETHANOL
FEDERAL REGION V
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OHIO
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
STEAM
SYMPTOMS
USA