Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-86-445-1831: Aluminum Company of America; Lafayette, Indiana

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hartle, Richard W.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In response to a request from employees at the Aluminum Company of America (SIC-3354) facility in Lafayette, Indiana, an evaluation was made of potential exposure to polychlorinated-biphenyls (1336363) (PCBs) during the extrusion press operation. Hydraulic fluids used in the running of these presses contained PCBs. A group of 15 mechanics, electricians, and laborers serviced these presses. The hydraulic and coolant lines and pumps required maintenance both internally and below the presses where there was a series of catacombs containing the equipment. These areas were typically soaked with the hydraulic and coolant fluids. Concentrations of PCBs ranging from trace amounts to 2.0 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/m3) of air were detected in the environmental air samples. Surface concentrations ranged from trace levels to 900 micrograms/square meter. While some of these concentration levels exceeded the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (1.0microg/m3), serum PCB levels (nondetectable to 15.9 nanograms/milliliter) were not above those of the normal nonoccupationally exposed population. The author concludes that the levels of PCBs presents a potential hazard. The author recommends the use of personal protective clothing and decontamination of the area.
• Subjects:
  Aluminum Compounds Dust Hydrocarbons Maintenance Metal Workers Occupational Health Polychlorinated Biphenyls Safety
• Keywords:
  Aluminum-industry Aluminum Extruded Products Chlorinated-hydrocarbons Hazard-Confirmed HETA-86-445-1831 Hydraulic-equipment Hydraulic-fluids Maintenance-workers NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report OSHA Region 5 PCBs Polychlorinated Biphenyls Serum PCBs

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• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Subseries:
  Health Evaluation and Technical Assistance (HETA)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHETA864451831
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Indiana ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  20 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Richardson, Fred D. ; Crandall, Michael S. ; Jenkins, Joyce ; Conway, Kathy
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00178068
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB88-204490
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 86-445-1831, 1987 Sep ; :1-25
• CAS Registry Number:
  Polychlorinated biphenyl(s)-PCB(s) (CAS RN 1336-36-3)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1987
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  3354 - Aluminum extruded products - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8de7f6828533865c91e9c7cccfb0c6d897719c83dc79b900e4d3c5a8870f1b1b9142ae9095e20898c8884237435c8e696ec6e5d6f429eb2e0c372e53d74fde71
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/172034/cdc_172034_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 169.01 KB ]