Mercury control technology assessment study, Louisiana State University, School of Dentistry, New Orleans, Louisiana, in-depth survey report for the site visit of April 27-28, 1981.

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  A visit was made to the Dental School of the Louisiana State University, in New Orleans, to study methods used to control worker exposure to mercury (7439976). Mercury arrives at this site in sealed 1 pound plastic bottles. Before use mercury was transferred to special dispensers. The preparation of the amalgam, the filling of the tooth, and the capture of waste amalgam were described. Isolation and containment of mercury was assured through the operation of the Ritter Dental Unit and a mercury spill portable vacuum cleaner. Ventilation to the clinic was achieved through a series of air handlers. The clinic was in the process of changing over to a self activating dental capsule. No personal protective equipment to protect against mercury exposures was in use. Mercury vapor was detected throughout the operatory areas at an average concentration of 0.002mg/m3. Samples taken near the floor were about the same as background levels suggesting that wide spread contamination was not occurring. Breathing zone levels ranged from a simulated mercury spill clean up procedure using a portable surgical vacuum pump. The authors conclude that mercury exposure levels are maintained below the OSHA standard of 0.1mg/m3; controls and practices in use were adequate to protect all the individuals who handle mercury.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Mining Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Dental-laboratories Dental-materials Dentistry Dentists Field-Study Health-care-personnel Mercury-poisoning Mercury-vapors NIOSH-Contract NIOSH-Survey Region-6

  More +
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB10917b
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Control Technology
• Place as Subject:
  Louisiana ; Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 6
• 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:
  1-21
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00183558
• 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, ECTB 109-17b, 1982 Mar; :1-21
• CAS Registry Number:
  Mercury (CAS RN 7439-97-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Performing Organization:
  Enviro Control Division, Dynamac Corporation, Rockville, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7b43e72471ed391bc750b57d1f2ff570ad83c2608f018139749478fceeccbb0b1c5223184cb3452301212f5be33cf4929cd1b5576577fb002e8808b39327447a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180137/cdc_180137_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 393.40 KB ]