Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 88-156-1984, Georgia Gulf Corporation, Tiptonville, Tennessee

Technical Report · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:7024760

Calvert, G M; Mathias, C G.T.

The Georgia Gulf Corporation, Tiptonville, Tennessee, was investigated because of an outbreak of dermatitis. The facility produced polyvinyl-chloride compound by blending polyvinyl-chloride resin with other ingredients. Rashes were reported by 22 production workers and three clerical or management workers. Examination of seven of the workers indicated that all of them appeared to have contact dermatitis. Rashes were found in areas of the body where powders may come in contact with the body, and the rashes improved when away from work. Blender operators had a significantly elevated risk of developing dermatitis compared with production workers who had lower exposures to dusts and powders. The report concludes that the dermatitis was probably of occupational origin, due to exposure to airborne pigment powders and acrylic polymers containing residual monomers. The report recommends measures to reduce exposures and prevent dermatitis, including showering at the end of a work shift that involved exposure to dusts and powders, reduction of airborne dust levels through engineering controls, and the use of protective clothing, barrier creams, and skin moisturizers.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7024760
• Report Number(s): PB-90-161852/XAB; HETA--88-156-1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DERMATITIS
DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERSONNEL
PLASTICS INDUSTRY
POLLUTION
POLYMERS
POLYVINYLS
PVC
RECOMMENDATIONS
SKIN DISEASES
TOXICITY