Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-83-276-1499: Charlie's Taxidermy and Gifts; Fleetwood, Pennsylvania

Details

• Personal Author:
  Boiano, James M. ; Kronoveter, Kenneth J.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  Environmental and breathing zone samples were analyzed for organic solvents, asbestos (1332214), arsenic (7440382), polyurethane (9009545), borax (1303964), a proprietary preservative, and inert dusts at Charlie's Taxidermy and Gifts (SIC-7699), Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, in October 1983. The evaluation was requested by the Vice President of the Pennsylvania Taxidermy Association because of concern of the taxidermists being exposed to organic solvents and chemical agents. Work practices were observed. All organic solvent vapor concentrations were below evaluation criteria except in one instance where a taxidermist was exposed to 210 parts per million (ppm) toluene (108883) while using a handheld dryer on solvent soaked pheasant skins. The OSHA standard for toluene is 200ppm. Borax, polyurethane, and proprietary preservative dust concentrations were below the relevant standards. Two paper mache samples contained chrysotile asbestos (12001295) and a liquid preservative was found to contain formaldehyde (50000). Arsenic was not found in the bulk samples. Improper work practices such as getting hands wet with solvents and eating and drinking in work areas were observed. The authors conclude that the taxidermists are not overexposed to organic solvents and chemical agents. Recommendations include substituting less toxic substances, installing a forced draft ventilation system, and improving work practices.
• Subjects:
  Animals Asbestos Dust Environmental Monitoring Inorganic Chemicals Occupational Health Safety Trichloroethanes
• Keywords:
  1,1,1-trichloroethane Acetone Air-quality-measurement Animal-products Arsenic Asbestos Formaldehyde Hazards-Unconfirmed HETA-83-276-1499 Methylene Chloride NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report Organic-chemicals OSHA Region 3 Respirable-dust Solvents Styrene Taxidermy Toluene

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• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Subseries:
  Health Evaluation and Technical Assistance (HETA)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHETA832761499
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Pennsylvania ; OSHA Region 3
• 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:
  21 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00146780
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB85-220309
• 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 83-276-1499, 1984 Aug ; :1-19
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Arsenic (CAS RN 7440-38-2) ; Polyurethane (CAS RN 9009-54-5) ; Borax (CAS RN 1303-96-4) ; Toluene (CAS RN 108-88-3) ; Chrysotile (CAS RN 12001-29-5) ; Formaldehyde (CAS RN 50-00-0)
• Editor(s):
  McElroy, Nanci
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1984
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  7699 - Repair services, not elsewhere classified - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e9613c85c15f178b90a77090f31253e548fb5c0a5d00414b5b6da7a01b0a5577af34f1ae64aab1f1178afaa3c267d403729c93b380d3b82ef3862025ae0f00ac
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/172712/cdc_172712_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.32 MB ]