Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA 87-402-2145, LCP Chemicals and Plastics, Inc., Brunswick, Georgia.

摘要

In response to a request from the International Chemical Workers Union Local 716, an evaluation was made of possible worker exposure to mercury (7439976), chlorine (7782505) and hydrochloric-acid (7647010) at LCP Chemicals and Plastics, Inc. (SIC-2812, SIC-2819), Brunswick, Georgia. This was a chlor-alkali facility which employed about 124 production workers. The main products were chlorine gas, sodium-hydroxide, and sodium-hypochlorite. Air sampling at the site revealed concentrations of hydrochloric-acid and chlorine which were above the recommended limits. All samples analyzed for mercury had concentrations above the recommended limits of 50 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/cu m). Six of 29 personal samples for mercury had concentrations above the 50microg/cu m limit with the average mercury exposure concentration for all 29 cell room workers participating in the survey being 31.7microg/cu m. Exposure to magnetic fields was below the recommended ceiling limits. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed from exposure to mercury and chlorine in the cell rooms. A health hazard existed in the acid burners area from hydrochloric-acid. The authors recommend measures to lower the exposure of workers to mercury, chlorine, and hydrochloric-acid.