Health-hazard evaluation report mHETAa-87-110-1943, Columbia Farms Poultry Plant, Columbia, South Carolina
In response to a request from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a study was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the Columbia Farms (SIC-2016) poultry processing center, West Columbia, South Carolina. Over 100,000 chickens were processed per day at the facility. The facility was located adjacent to the West Columbia water treatment site and was first on the water line to receive water from the site. In April of 1986 a change was made in the form of water treatment from chloration to chloramination for cost effectiveness, more stable water treatment, and lower trihalomethane levels in finished water. Workers in the inspection area experienced eye, nose, and throat irritation which was traced to uncombined ammonia and chloramines in the water at the processing facility. Concentrations of these chemicals in the water were quite variable. The author concludes that the symptoms in the workers may have resulted from high levels of ammonia and chloramines on some days. The author recommends that the water-treatment facility change from post ammoniation to pre ammoniation, or that the food-processing facility should explore the possibility of another source of water or treatment of the incoming water to remove the chloramines.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5882735
- Report Number(s):
- PB-89-187991/XAB; MHETA-87-110-1943
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Illuminating the Pecking Order in Off-Grid Lighting: A Demonstration of LED Lighting for Saving Energy in the Poultry Sector
Excess lung cancer occurrence in poultry plants. Occupational risk factors: Findings for oncogenic viruses exposure and other occupational exposures
Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
AMMONIA
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
CHLORAMINES
FOOD PROCESSING
WATER SUPPLY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
FOWL
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
SURVEYS
TOXICITY
AIR POLLUTION
AMINES
ANIMALS
BIRDS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
VERTEBRATES
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health