Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 84-311-1575, Grain Elevators, Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota

摘要

Personal air samples were analyzed for carbon-disulfide (75150), ethylene-dibromide (106934), carbon-tetrachloride (56235), and grain dust at grain elevators (SIC-5153). The survey was requested by a representative of Local 118 of the American Federation of Grain Millers to evaluate exposures to grain fumigants and dust among workers at the two sites. All concentrations of carbon-disulfide, carbon-tetrachloride, and ethylene-dibromide were below the detection limit. Grain dust concentrations ranged from 0.34 to 38 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/cu m). The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value for airborne grain dust is 4 mg/cu m. Short term sampling for the fumigants was performed; however, the results were inconclusive. The author concludes that a health hazard due to overexposure to grain dust exists at the grain elevators. Recommendations were made.