Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA 80-081-1173, Keokuk Steel Castings, Incorporated, Keokuk, Iowa

摘要

On March 10-12, 1981, NIOSH performed an environmental and medical survey. A follow-up medical survey was conducted in March 1982. Airborne concentrations of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), hydrogen cyanide, trace metals, and ammonia were found to be within their respective OSHA or NIOSH-recommended standards. Aromatic amines were below the analytical limit of detection. NIOSH recently classified formaldehyde as a potential occupational carcinogen and recommends that all exposures be kept to a minimum. Interviews with employees who had worked in the core production area prior to the establishment of engineering controls for exposure reduction revealed the frequent occurrence of hazy vision and respiratory irritation at that time. Pre- and post-shift pulmonary function tests were performed on 22 core and molding workers and 4 skimmers. None revealed evidence of occupational asthma. Aliphatic amines were responsible for the previous hazy vision and shortness of breath experienced by workers in the core production area.