Industrial hygiene characterization of the phosphate fertilizer industry.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Herrick RF
• Description:
  An in depth industrial hygiene survey was conducted to evaluate occupational health hazards in the phosphate fertilizer industry (SIC-2874). Four fertilizer factories and one phosphate ore mining and beneficiation facility were studied. Samples were collected for phosphoric-acid (7664382), sulfuric-acid (7664939), fluoride, cadmium (7440439), chromium (7440473), uranium (7440611), vanadium (7440622), arsenic (7440382), respirable free silica (14808607), and respirable quartz (14808607). Radon (10043922) gas samples were also measured. One of the factories exceeded the OSHA standards for fluoride concentrations, with an average concentration of 3.39 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). Another factory exceeded the OSHA standards for arsenic, vanadium, and respirable silica. The concentrations of these substances at this factory were 0.08, 0.08, and 0.195mg/m3, respectively. Total chromium concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 0.008mg/m3. This was below OSHA standards but at or above NIOSH recommended standards of 0.001mg/m3 for carcinogenic chromium-VI. All other measurements at the four factories were below applicable OSHA standards. At the phosphate-ore mining facility, concentrations of uranium, arsenic, respirable silica, and respirable dust exceeded either OSHA or NIOSH standards. The concentrations for these substances were 0.228, 0.003, 0.07, and 1.62mg/m3, respectively. Of 19 samples collected, 2 showed detectable concentrations of radon daughters but were below exposure standards. The author concludes that the survey identified potentially hazardous substances in this industry. They recommend additional investigations be conducted on employee exposure to arsenic, chromium, and silica, and suggest an aggressive program of respiratory protection.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Agriculture Chemistry Dust Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Preceptorship Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Ventilation

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• Keywords:
  Fertilizer-industry Field-study NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Occupational-hazards Safety-research Workplace-studies
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Industry Wide
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; 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:
  1-44
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00134648
• 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, IWS 57-05, 1982 Jun; :1-44
• CAS Registry Number:
  Phosphoric acid (CAS RN 7664-38-2) ; Sulfuric acid (CAS RN 7664-93-9) ; Cadmium (CAS RN 7440-43-9) ; Chromium (CAS RN 7440-47-3) ; Uranium (CAS RN 7440-61-1) ; Vanadium (CAS RN 7440-62-2) ; Arsenic (CAS RN 7440-38-2) ; Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7) ; Radon (CAS RN 10043-92-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  2874 - Phosphatic fertilizers - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:febfdaadeba58eda5bd19517b3e8dc95177072e1fbbd7485b22294a7463c23f015edbaaee6d57ebd3bf3cf3ca8cdfb9e2c8c52a9dc5f2eef4ca7349cd7280c76
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/179624/cdc_179624_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 710.92 KB ]