NIOSH exposure assessment of cellulose insulation applicators

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fernback, Joseph E. ; Hall, Ronald M. ; McCleery, Robert E. ; McCullough, Joel E. ; Fernback, Joseph E. ; Hall, Ronald M. ; McCleery, Robert E. ; McCullough, Joel E.
• Description:
  Introduction: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was presented with an opportunity to assist in the evaluation of cellulose insulation (CI) by conducting an exposure assessment of CI applicators through an interagency agreement with the National lnstitute of Environmental Health Sciences/NTP. NIOSH completed the study by evaluating 10 contractors in various geographic locations across the United States. Methods: During each contractor site visit, air samples were collected for total dust, respirable dust, and for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis to characterize any fibers in the dust. The CI installer and hopper operator each had two SEM air samples collected for each day of CI activities. Bulk samples were collected and analyzed for metals, boron, and sulfate content. Real-time and video exposure monitoring were also conducted to further characterize the CI dust and workers' exposures. Results and Conclusions: Employees in virtually all CI application activities were exposed to total dust levels which exceeded the OSHA PEL, 8-hour TWA of 15 mg/m3. Air sampling results indicated low levels of respirable dust. The SEM analyses identified fibers with an average length of 28 micrometers (um) and ranging from 5 to 150 um. Statistical analysis revealed that area and CI installer, total dust air sample concentrations in the attic were significantly higher when applying the CI dry than wet (geometric mean concentration for CI installer, dry was 74.8 mg/m3 versus wet at 18.7 mg/m3; p = <0.01). Exposure concentrations vary significantly between employees when involved with dry CI related activities (p = <0.01). Respirable dust air sample concentrations vary significantly between sampling areas when collected during dry CI related activities (p = 0.03). Based on the air sample data, NIOSH investigators conclude that there is a potential health hazard from exposure to CI and recommends that employees involved with CI activities wear at a minimum NIOSH approved particulate filtering respirators with a N95 designation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Boron Compounds Dust Environmental Monitoring Irritants Metals Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Air-samples Boron-compounds Cellulose-fibers Dust-exposure Dusts Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Fibrous-dusts Filters Insulation-industry Insulation-materials Insulation-workers Metal-dusts Metallic-dusts Particulate-dust Particulates Respirable-dust Respirators Respiratory-irritants Statistical-analysis Sulfates Work-environment Workers

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• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary ; Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  54-55
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20041411
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2001 Jun; :54-55
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4e98c7f0f21938778e9117b176f32fd8d01cab549efc28d33268fd2983c3afda3a495606132f3292c4e9d6f587f25f4ce43bfd99218e0634a4be0153adcf6433
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193985/cdc_193985_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 243.45 KB ]