Dermatitis of the Scalp Associated with the Installation of Ceramic Wool Fiber (Kao-Wool) Insulation in a Nuclear Power Station – Ohio

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Maiwald, D. C.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  In September 1980, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a clinical and environmental evaluation involving 24 guards and 28 other workers at a nuclear power station, because of a history of dermatitis of the scalp within the preceding 2 years. Disease typically started at the point where the occipital scalp had contact with the plastic inner liner of a hard hat. One case had progressed to folliculitis that necessitated treatment with topical and systemic antibiotics and steroids. No significant differences were found between patients and nonpatients with respect to age, sex, race, history of allergy, shampoo use, length of employment, glove use, frequency of positive scalp cultures, or use of a hard hat. Cases of scalp dermatitis had occurred in 2 waves - 5 in the summer of 1978, and 27 in the spring and summer of 1980; 4 other cases were reported sporadically. Cases occurred with nearly uniform frequency among all occupational groups surveyed except clerical workers and power plant operators. Further questioning indicated that both peaks in cases had coincided with periods of installation of Kao-wool, a ceramic wool fiber (and asbestos substitute) used as insulation in the power station. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dermatitis Minerals Nuclear Power Plants Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Skin Wool
• Keywords:
  Ceramic Fibers Dermal Exposures Employee Exposure Exposure Assessment Insulation Materials Mineral Wool Mineral Wool Fiber Nuclear Power Plants Physical Examination Synthetic Fibers Wools

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• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• 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:
  3 pdf pages
• Volume:
  30
• Issue:
  37
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055754
• Citation:
  MMWR 1981 Sep; 30(37):466-467
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1981
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:de66fc2158ff744dc6d9ad2c3c820c157a26ae80e580907d3f66d9a18b3941b2945015627092daf894fe60f2c12088f2b46f5fc601f6c25b6957acfba59e9ea7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183069/cdc_183069_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 331.23 KB ]