Meeting air quality standards in the foundry industry: a study of four Pennsylvania foundries.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Davis JW ; Irwin VC ; Knott K
• Description:
  A study was carried out at four Pennsylvania foundries to evaluate the possible replacement of silica (14808607) based sand in molding operations with silica free sand, in terms of the effect that such a substitution would have on air quality. Studies were also carried out to examine the quality of the air at a shop where free silica was removed by air extraction. Air quality was determined using personal samplers, cascade impactors, and tape samplers. The results of sampling revealed that the levels of silica and particulate matter in the air of the foundries studied were higher than those compatible with suitable working conditions. In effect, 48 percent of all the samples taken during operations using silica based sand were in violation of the prevailing regulations. At a foundry provided with a baghouse and an exhaust ventilation system, 65 percent of the samples were in violation of the regulations. The use of olivine (1317711) in place of silica sand clearly improved the conditions, although it did not eliminate violations. Good results were also obtained with mixtures of olivine and silica sand. Better housekeeping played a role in this improvement. The authors conclude that the use of olivine can improve the quality of the air in foundries by reducing both free silica and respirable particle matter in the air. They also suggest that exhaust ventilation and isolation of dusty areas, such as grinding areas, are probably necessary for further reduction of particulate exposure.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Aluminum Silicates Dust Environmental Monitoring Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Noise, Occupational Occupational Health Preceptorship Safety Staff Development Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Air-quality-control Control-methods Dust-analysis Dust-control Foundry-workers Mineral-dusts NIOSH-Contract Occupational-exposure
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Conference/Symposia Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  188-203
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00175066
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the symposium on occupational health hazard control technology in the foundry and secondary non-ferrous smelting industries, December 10-12, 1979, Chicago, Illinois. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-114, 1981 Aug; :188-203
• CAS Registry Number:
  Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7) ; Olivine-group minerals (CAS RN 1317-71-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1981
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the symposium on occupational health hazard control technology in the foundry and secondary non-ferrous smelting industries, December 10-12, 1979, Chicago, Illinois
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a586b0af2aed010e977db5929cf33d1b19f622bc4d29c69499e7304c643bacbd3cfcb959789022dd2bb2821c07e009bf257a510bf039f947eecaef947e6b35fe
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180032/cdc_180032_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 6.23 MB ]