Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Health hazard evaluation determination report No. MHETA 81-108-9004

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6818253

Employee exposure to diesel emissions at the Climax Molybdenum Company Mine (SIC-1061) in Climax, Colorado was investigated. The study was requested by the Oil, Chemical, Atomic Workers Union and was performed on September 23 and 24, 1981. The mine employed about 1200 people in underground operations. Environmental air samples were taken for nitrogen-dioxide (10102440), sulfur-dioxide (7446095), polynuclear aromatic compounds, formaldehyde (50000) respirable particulates and free silica (14808607), carbon-monoxide (630080), and carbon-dioxide (124389). Seventy four percent of the environmental samples collected for diesel particulates contained an average of 0.3 percent polynuclear aromatic compounds by weight as the cyclohexane soluble fraction. Thirty six percent of the free silica samples equaled or exceeded the NIOSH recommended limit of 0.05 milligrams per cubic meter. An average of 0.26 parts per million of nitrogen-dioxide was present, although long term exposures may have exceeded the NIOSH recommended limit of 1 part per million. The remaining substances were either not detected or were well below the recommended criteria. The authors conclude that the potential for a health hazard exists from exposure to free silica and polynuclear compounds.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV (USA)
OSTI ID:
6818253
Report Number(s):
PB-84-148501
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English