Industrywide studies report of an in-depth industrial hygiene survey, Micro-Biotrol, Griffith Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Elliott LJ ; Greife, Alice L. ; Morawetz JS ; Ringenburg V ; Stayner L
• Description:
  An in depth industrial hygiene survey was conducted at the Micro- Biotrol Company (SIC-2099), Chicago, Illinois, to assess the extent of ethylene-oxide (75218) (EtO) exposure for workers. Micro-Biotrol is engaged in the contract treatment of spices and mixtures, including sterilization with EtO. Average EtO exposure levels ranged from less than 0.11 parts per million (ppm) to 4.03ppm during September, and increased to 12.13ppm during January with vessel operators experiencing the highest exposures. Short term exposure monitoring also depicted the potential for extremely high peak exposures of 6.9ppm to 444.8ppm. These exposure levels are all above OSHA and NIOSH standards. Although vessel operators wore air purifying respirators during some procedures, other personnel in the general area were not protected. No respirators were provided at this facility prior to 1984. The authors recommend that the company conduct personal exposure monitoring for EtO to assure exposure levels are below the standards. A comprehensive respirator fit testing, training, and maintenance program should be instituted if respirators are to be used in the future. The authors conclude that this company meets the requirements for the industrywide mortality and industrial hygiene study of workers potentially exposed to EtO in industrial sterilization processes.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Chromatography Energy Metabolism Environmental Health Laboratories Mass Spectrometry Neoplasms Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Carcinogens Epidemiology Ethylenes Field-Study IWS-67-28 NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Oxides Region-5 Solvents
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Industry Wide
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; 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:
  1-43
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00163308
• 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 67-28, 1986 Jul; :1-43
• CAS Registry Number:
  Ethylene oxide (CAS RN 75-21-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1986
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  2099 - Food preparations, not elsewhere classified - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:05287051127bf6b81acf12dc5214470fe73432b0889ee71211f29263dead182f2b720eea39d03275d5c439f67b7bbbfbf9f004b04183532cb036341e1b29c6a2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/179824/cdc_179824_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 22.98 MB ]