Health Hazard Evaluation Determination Report No. 75-11-403, Port of Duluth-Superior Grain Elevators, Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin

摘要

A health hazard investigation was conducted by NIOSH at the grain elevators in the Port of Duluth-Superior in 1975-1976. Elevator breathing zone exposures to chemical fumigants were nearly nonexistent; only traces of carbon tetrachloride were detected at five of the elevators surveyed. Some elevator workers were exposed to airborne total grain dust at levels exceeding the OSHA nuisance dust standards. Symptoms of eye irritation were reported by a few workers presumably due to excessive dust exposures during the survey. Extensive medical evaluation of the 307 exposed workers led to the conclusion that the working environment in the grain elevators has caused acute respiratory, eye, and nasal symptoms as determined by history from workers and personal observation. A high frequency of skin reactivity to intradermal injection of insect and flax antigen was found among workers; significant correlation with wheezing upon exposure to grain dust and respiratory function abnormalities were also found. Recommendations are made to provide for worker protection, surveillance, and health maintenance.