Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 87-435-1896, Wilbanks International, Inc. , Hillsboro, Oregon

Technical Report · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6587752

Thun, M; McCammon, C; Wells, V

An evaluation was made of possible hazardous working conditions at Wilbanks International, Hillsboro, Oregon. Three cases of kidney failure had occurred in male workers after performing similar jobs; each of these workers had been a hydrostatic press operator. Medical evaluations indicated minor renal dysfunction in two of 12 current Wilbanks employees who worked in or near the press area. Medical records, insurance claims and the U.S. End Stage Renal Disease registry were used to identify additional cases of kidney disease at this facility and five other Coors ceramics facilities; there was no excess of renal disease identified at the other facilities. Concern was noted about binder burnoff, which consists of partially combusted byproducts of polyethylene glycol, and which may occasionally vent into the plant from the kilns. Potentially nephrotoxic short chain glycol compounds may exist in these fumes. The authors conclude that a potential hazard may have existed from the recirculation of combustion byproducts from periodic kilns. The authors recommend that medical surveillance be instituted for renal disease in production workers. Engineering controls should be instituted to eliminate exposure to binder burnoff.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6587752
• Report Number(s): PB-89-120653/XAB; HETA-87-435-1896
• 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
ALCOHOLS
BINDERS
CERAMICS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
GLYCOLS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
TOXICITY