Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Report TA 79-58, Montana State Department of Health, Pierce Packing Company, Billings, Montana

摘要

On September 14, 1979, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) received a request to assist the Montana State Department of Health and Environmental Sciences in determining if any employees at the Pierce Packing Company, Billings, Montana, received a significant exposure to polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) after an accidental spill of PCB had occurred in June 1979. Sixteen exposed workers were interviewed and their skin was examined for chloracne; blood samples were drawn from the 16 exposed workers and 16 nonexposed workers and analyzed for PCB; a fullbiochemical profile, including liver function tests and blood lipids was done on the 16 exposed workers. Air samples were collected to evaluate the present air concentration of PCB. The 16 exposed men (5 in the inedible department and 11 who worked there for short periods of time) showed no evidence of PCB poisoning by interview, skin examination and blood biochemical analysis. PCB air concentration showed no inhalation hazard existed at the time of sampling which was approximately 3 months after the spill. The blood tests did not reveal evidence of PCB related disease.