Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 85-041-1709, City of Columbus Refuse-derived Fuel Power Plant, Columbus, Ohio

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6881414

Ahrenholz, S H

Potential for heat stress along with exposure to chemical contaminants and airborne microbial pollutants was investigated at the City refuse-derived-fuel powerplant. Health hazards existed to lead and silica exposures for workers involved in handling ash. Low levels of exposure to chromium, chromium-VI, cadmium, and nickel were noted. Excessive heat stress occurred during the maintenance activities in hot areas of the facility. Airborne microbial contamination levels in the refuse-handling areas indicate that exposure hazards exist by both the inhalation and ingestion routes. Human pathogens may be present in the microbial pollutants. The author recommends that employee exposure to lead be reduced through the use of engineering controls. Eating, drinking, and carrying or use of tobacco products or cosmetics in the power plant and refuse handling areas should be prohibited. Recommended methods for controlling heat stress were given.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6881414
• Report Number(s): PB-87-117073/XAB; HETA-85-041-1709
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200103* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste-Fueled Systems
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ASHES
BODY TEMPERATURE
CADMIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
CHROMIUM
ELEMENTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYPERTHERMIA
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INGESTION
INHALATION
INSPECTION
INTAKE
LEAD
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METALS
MINERALS
NICKEL
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
REFUSE-FUELED POWER PLANTS
RESIDUES
SAFETY
SILICA
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS