Hazard-evaluation and technical-assistance report HETA 89-352-l2037, Scott Paper Company, Chester, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6406148

Fleeger, A K; Blade, L M

In response to a request from management and the local union, an investigation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at Scott Paper Company, Chester, Pennsylvania, due to dust exposures at the cogeneration facility. The facility supplied steam and power to the Scott Paper Mill nearby. The fluidized bed combustor cogeneration unit used anthraite culm as fuel. Lime was added to the culm to supply the final fuel for the combustor. The system consumed 200 tons of fuel per hour at full operation. Results of air sampling indicated respirable dust concentrations ranged from 70.0 to 7600.0 micrograms/cubic meter (micro/cu m). Respirable quartz concentrations reached as high as 1220.0 microg/cu m. Airborne levels of trace metals approaching any of the established occupational exposure criteria levels were not identified. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed from airborne exposures to free silica. The authors recommend specific measures to maintain the dust levels within acceptable margins. Also, the acid and caustic pumping systems should be physically isolated from each other.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6406148
• Report Number(s): PB-91-108233/XAB; HETA--89-352-L2037
• 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
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRY
METALS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PAPER INDUSTRY
PENNSYLVANIA
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
RECOMMENDATIONS
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TRACE AMOUNTS
USA
WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY