Industrial-hygiene survey report, Precision Castparts Corp. , Portland, Oregon. [2-ethoxyethanol]

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6900587

Clapp, D E

Industrial hygiene data were collected during a reproductive health study of workers exposed to 2-ethoxyethanol (2EE) at Precision Castparts Corp. Portland, Oregon. Air concentrations of 2EE were high, most likely as a consequence of the nature of the investment-casting process. Twenty two of 27 personal air samples exceeded 5 parts per million (ppm), with an average of 10.7 ppm. All environmental measurements were below the prevailing OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit of 200 ppm. Persistent, detectable concentrations of ethoxyacetic-acid (EAA), a suspected major metabolite of 2EE, were found in urine samples from exposed workers but not in samples from unexposed subjects. The author concludes that urinary monitoring can be used for assessing exposure to 2EE, particularly if there is skin exposure. The author recommends a followup reproductive health study to judge impairment of reproductive function. 2EE use has been discontinued at this facility. As the process was not changed, the substitute solvent may be rapidly vaporized into the air resulting in high concentrations that must be evaluated.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6900587
• Report Number(s): PB-87-108395/XAB; IWS-134-14
• 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
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
METAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
POLLUTION
SAFETY
TOXICITY