Industrial Hygiene Survey Report of Benzidine-Azo Dyes at Salz Leathers, Inc., Santa Cruz, California

摘要

An industrial hygiene survey was conducted at Salz Leathers, Inc. (SIC-3111) in Santa Cruz, California on November 17 to 18, 1977 to determine the potential occupational risk of exposure to benzidine-azo dyes. The company was involved in tanning and dyeing leather and employed 5 to 7 drum operators and one dye weigher. Personnel records were kept for all employees, including job description and length of employment. Personal air samples and urine samples were collected for all workers and analyzed for benzidine (92875) and monoacetylbenzidine (3366618). None of the urine samples contained either compound in detectable amounts and only the dye weigher was exposed to substantial atmospheric concentrations, 10.65 milligrams per cubic meter of airborne particulates as an eight hour time weighted average. The dye weigher, however, wore a NIOSH approved half face cartridge respiratory and the actual respiratory exposure was much lower. The authors conclude that appropriate work practices are responsible for the inability of detecting benzidine in the urine of these workers and recommend that these work practices be continued.