Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HHE-80-195-811, Elco Corporation, Connector Division, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

摘要

Personal air samples were analyzed, radiofrequency (RF) radiation was measured and employees were given medical questionnaires at Elco Corporation (SIC-3678) in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on September 5 and November 5 and 6, 1980. Employees of Elco Corporation requested the evaluation due to their concern that RF or ultraviolet radiation was causing eye and skin irritation, nausea and scalp lumps. Of the 450 employees at the facility only 5 were exposed to RF radiation. Measurements of electric and magnetic field strengths were made for the eyes, neck, chest, waist, gonads, knees, ankles and hands. None of the RF measurements exceeded the OSHA standards of 40,000 square volts per square meter and 0.25 square amperes per square meter. Air samples contained concentrations of hydrogen-chloride (7647010) below the limit of detection and ozone (10028156) concentrations to 60 micrograms per cubic meter, below the OSHA standard of 200 micrograms per cubic meter. Medical questionnaires of five employees revealed one with eye irritation, two with skin irritation, one with sore throat and one with a heart problem. The authors conclude that a hazard does not exist due to RF radiation exposure. Problems due to infrared, ultraviolet and visible light may have caused skin and eye complaints; these problems were rectified by installation of a darkened plastic shield. Recommendations include shielding and tuning of machines, use of proper procedures during maintenance, and an increase in distance between worker and RF source.