Industrial-hygiene survey report, IMC, Sterlington, Louisiana

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6731403

Brown, B; Dobbin, R

A walk-through survey was conducted at IMC, located in Sterlington, Louisiana, to determine the feasibility of using this site for a health-effects study on nitropropane workers. The facility produced anhydrous ammonia, nitric acid, nitroparaffin derivatives, tris(hydroxyl-methyl)-amino methane, ammonium sulfate crystals, hydroxyl ammonium sulfate, nitropropanes, nitromethane, and nitroethane. Tank farms were used for the storage of fuel oil, ammonia, and nitroparaffins. Workers at the facility involved in production, storage, or working at the loading docks had potential exposure to 2-nitropropane at approximately 1 part per million. There was a safety program in place at the facility. Protective equipment provided by the employer included clothing, glasses, shoes, and respirators. The authors conclude that the length of time since these exposures began is not sufficient to conduct a meaningful pregnancy outcome study, cross sectional medical study or a retrospective cohort mortality study. Unexpectedly, some straight-chain aliphatic amines were detected in the nitroparaffin product which warranted further study as some of these can unite with nitrogen-containing compounds to produce carcinogenic nitroso compounds.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies
• OSTI ID: 6731403
• Report Number(s): PB-88-236955/XAB; IWS-79.10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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