Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-018-1759, American Crystal Sugar Company, Moorhead, Minnesota

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6334269

Almaguer, D; Boiano, J M

A sugar-beet mill owned by the American Crystal Sugar Company (ACSCO) was evaluated for worker exposure to airborne contaminants during beet processing and welding fumes during facility maintenance, following a request from ACSCO management and the American Federation of Grain Millers International Union. Total and respirable dusts were measured in personal and general air samples, and personal welding filter samples were analyzed. Analytical methods included spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, gravimetry, and chromatography. Quartz was detected in settled dust and high volume air samples; beet pulp was considered to be a potential health risk. Exposures in excess of the most stringent environmental criteria were found for calcium-oxide in lime kiln workers, formaldehyde in diffuser area workers, and total welding fumes, nickel, and iron-oxide during welding operations. Exposures to nickel and formaldehyde presented potential cancer risks. The authors recommend formaldehyde replacement, particulate containment, ventilation improvement, and use of appropriate respiratory protection.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6334269
• Report Number(s): PB-87-189445/XAB; HETA-85-018-1759
• 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
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
BEETS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
FOOD
FOOD INDUSTRY
FORMALDEHYDE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
JOINING
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
NICKEL
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SOLS
SUGAR BEETS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VEGETABLES
WELDING