In-depth industrial-hygiene survey report of the Bunge Corporation, Kansas City, Kansas

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6358142

Blade, L M

Potential exposure of workers to phosphide was examined during an in-depth industrial hygiene survey at the Bunge Corporation, in Kansas City, Kansas, where the gas was used as a grain fumigant. During the study, 14 men were employed at the facility. Tablets of aluminum phosphide were added to the grain mass for fumigation. General dilution ventilation resulted from outside air entering the work areas through ventilation louvers; there was also a local-exhaust ventilation system. Air samples revealed that, when the fumigant dispensers were being filled, workers in the area had significant exposure. At the time of the survey the relative humidity in the facility was high, permitting the reaction to phosphide to occur more readily. The levels of phosphide and respirable dust were reasonably low in the elevators, suggesting that the ventilation system was adequate. The author recommends that workers filling the dispenser with the aluminum phosphide be required to wear personal protective equipment during the operation.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Industrial Hygiene Section
• OSTI ID: 6358142
• Report Number(s): PB-87-162905/XAB; IWS-149.10
• 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
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM PHOSPHIDES
DUSTS
FOOD INDUSTRY
FUMIGANTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PESTICIDES
PHOSPHIDES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PNICTIDES
POLLUTION
SAFETY
TOXICITY