Industrywide Studies Report of Walk Through Survey of Lederle Laboratories Division, American Cyanamid Company, Pearl River, New York

摘要

A walk through survey of Lederle Laboratories Division (SIC-2834), American Cyanamid Company, Pearl River, New York was conducted in December, 1983. The purpose of the survey was to determine if the facility should be included in an industrywide mortality study of ethylene-oxide (75218) exposure in industrial sterilization processes. The company had used ethylene-oxide as a sterilant for about 40 years. Sterilizer operators were required to wear respirators, safety glasses and shoes, uniforms and leather gloves. About 500 workers were estimated from personnel records to have been potentially exposed to ethylene-oxide. Jobs having the highest exposure were removal of biological indicators from sterilized products and operating the syringe machine. The authors conclude that the facility should be included in the industrywide study. The authors recommend isolating the syringe machine and continuing ethylene-oxide monitoring.