Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 88-240-2210, the Mueller Company, Decatur, Illinois

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:7251416

Elliott, L J; Echt, A

In response to a request from an authorized employee representative at the Mueller Company (SIC-3362), Decatur, Illinois, an evaluation was undertaken of formaldehyde (50000) exposures to employees in the core making room and pour deck areas. The Mueller Company was a grey iron and brass foundry producing valves for water and gas distribution service. Formaldehyde levels of 0.32 to 0.65 parts per million were recorded. Three of seven readings exceeded the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 1 part per million. Silica (14808607) content in these samples was 60.2% and 50.0%, respectively. Exposure to cadmium (7440439), lead (7439921), and zinc (7440666) on the pour deck exceeded one or more of the evaluation criteria; appropriate respiratory protection was used by workers in this area. Symptoms reported by the workers included headache, sinus pain, nausea, and eye irritation. Silicosis was verified in one worker. Formaldehyde related dermatitis was diagnosed in another. The authors conclude that there was a hazard from exposures to formaldehyde and silica. The authors recommend specific measures to reduce these hazardous exposures.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7251416
• Report Number(s): PB-92-221019/XAB; HETA--88-240-2210
• 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.
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
ANIMALS
CADMIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FORMALDEHYDE
FOUNDRIES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
ILLINOIS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
MAMMALS
MAN
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
MEDICINE
METAL INDUSTRY
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
SAFETY STANDARDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
STANDARDS
SYMPTOMS
USA
VERTEBRATES
ZINC