Hazard-evaluation and technical-assistance report HETA 88-154-0000, Centre County State Health Center, State College, Pennsylvania

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6609645

Roper, P

In response to a request from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, an evaluation was made of worker health complaints including burning of the eyes, throat, and nose, among the staff at the Centre County State Health Center, State College, Pennsylvania. The building was 1 year old, and had only three or four windows (none of which opened). A survey indicated elevated levels of carbon-dioxide were present, there were deficiencies in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, humidity was low and the humidifier was inoperative, and the outside air intake valve was downwind of service station air-pollutant emission sources. No carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, or gasoline was detected in the air. Toluene and hydrocarbons were detected, but not at unusual levels. Siloxane compounds were detected in the building air. Volatile organic compounds ranged from 101 to 231 micrograms/cubic meter. A questionnaire concerning indoor air quality was administered to workers. Case histories of three workers previously diagnosed with pneumonia were reviewed. The author makes recommendations that address each of the difficulties in the ventilation system.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies
• OSTI ID: 6609645
• Report Number(s): PB-89-107254/XAB; HETA-88-154-0000
• 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
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MATTER
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
TOXICITY
VENTILATION
VOLATILE MATTER