Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 91-051-2177, AVX Corporation, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7029101

Bernard, B P; Hanley, K W

In response to a joint request from the International Brotherhood of Electrical workers, Local 1591 and the AVX Corporation, an evaluation was undertaken concerning dermatitis and hoarseness in workers in the screener stacker area at the AVX Corporation (SIC-3674), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. AVX Corporation manufactured multilayer ceramic capacitors for electronic applications. Qualitative analysis of air samples identified xylene isomers, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (71556), toluene (108883), methoxy-ethanol (109864), methyl-isobutyl-ketone (108101), limonene (138863), formaldehyde (50000), acetaldehyde (75070), unidentified aliphatic amines and C9 to C12 aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Wipe samples revealed contamination of work surfaces with aluminum (7429905), barium (7440393), cadmium (7440439), lead (7439921), silver (7440224), titanium (7440326), zinc (7440666), chromium (7440473), and palladium (7440053). Of the 36 employees who were interviewed, 20 had histories consistent with work related contact dermatitis. The authors conclude that a potential health hazard existed among workers in the screener stacker and dicer areas due to contact with multiple skin irritants including barium, titanium, palladium, and mineral spirits. The authors recommend specific measures to reduce the potential for skin irritation and dermatitis from chemical contact.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7029101
• Report Number(s): PB-92-193994/XAB; HETA--91-051-2177
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACETALDEHYDE
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
ALUMINIUM
AMINES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BARIUM
CADMIUM
CAPACITORS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHROMIUM
DERMATITIS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
EQUIPMENT
ETHANOL
FORMALDEHYDE
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
KETONES
LEAD
MAMMALS
MAN
METALS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PALLADIUM
PERSONNEL
PLATINUM METALS
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RECOMMENDATIONS
SILVER
SKIN DISEASES
SOUTH CAROLINA
TITANIUM
TOLUENE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
XYLENES
ZINC