Health Hazard Evaluation Determination Report No. HE 78-131-586, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Niagara Falls, New York

摘要

Environmental sampling and medical evaluations were conducted at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (Standard Industrial Classification 301), Niagara Falls, New York, on October 25 and 26, 1978 to evaluate exposure among workers in the drying and bagging department to 4-morpholinyl-2-benzothiazole disulfide (95329) (Kagarax-A). The Safety Committee Chairman of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union, reported that 19 employees were exposed to an irritating chemical substance, and that 68 cases of dermatitis had been reported in the past 5 years. Personal and area air sample concentrations for morpholine (110918) were below the environmental criteria of 20 parts per million. Samples for 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (149304) (MBT) were below the analytical limit of detection (0.035 milligrams per cubic meter, based on a 60 liter air sample). Wheal type lesions were found among workers due to skin contact with Kagarax-A. The investigators conclude that some workers may have become sensitized to the allergenic component (MBT) of Kagarax-A. Investigator recommendations for minimizing employee exposure to the chemical and preventing adverse health effects include: employee education; personal hygiene; use of laundry and eyewash facilities, personal protection equipment, and protective creams; improved housekeeping; physical examinations; and reporting of all cases of dermatitis to employee supervisors.