Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 84-459 and HETA 85-110-1905, Budd Company, North Baltimore and Carey, Ohio

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

OSTI ID:6872021

Hartle, R W; Rondinelli, R

A study was undertaken of possible hazardous working conditions at the Budd Company locations in North Baltimore and Carey, Ohio. Concern was expressed over worker exposure to isocyanates, methylene chloride (MeCl) and other chemicals. Primary sources of worker exposures to MeCl were in the prime wipe operation, and the use of MeCl as a general cleaning solvent at various jobs and locations. MeCl exposures ranged up to 239 parts per million; NIOSH has recommended that levels be maintained at the lowest feasible level. All but one of the time-weighted average exposures to styrene were below the recommended limits. Some association was found between MeCl exposure and neurological symptoms. There were also associations between work involving repetitive motion and hand and arm symptoms; jobs involving potential isocyanate exposure were also associated with irritative and respiratory symptoms. The authors conclude that a potential hazard existed from overexposure to MeCl. The authors recommend that measures be taken to reduce or eliminate MeCl exposures, that isocyanates be monitored continuously and that jobs requiring repetitive motion be evaluated and redesigned.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6872021
• Report Number(s): PB-89-120588/XAB; HETA-84-459
• 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
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
ISOCYANATES
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METHYLENE CHLORIDE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PLASTICS INDUSTRY
POLLUTION
SOLVENTS
STYRENE
TOLUENE
TOXICITY