Industrywide Studies Report: A Walk-Through Survey of Becton Dickinson Labware, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Oxnard, California

摘要

A walkthrough survey was conducted at Becton Dickinson Labware, Becton, Dickinson, and Company (SIC-3079) in Oxnard, California in August, 1984. The purpose of the survey was to determine the feasibility of including the facility in a mortality/industrial hygiene study of ethylene-oxide (75218) being conducted by NIOSH. The company manufactured plastic disposable lab ware. Ethylene-oxide was used to sterilize the products from 1969 to 1980, after which it was phased out and the use of gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source for sterilization was phased in. The authors conclude that the facility meets the eligibility requirements for inclusion in the NIOSH study: having at least 400 person/years of exposure, adequate personnel records, and no serious confounding exposure to a known leukemogen. It should be included in the study. Since ethylene-oxide is no longer used, an industrial hygiene survey of the facility is not planned.