Current Intelligence Bulletin 56. Washed Cotton: A Review and RecommendationsRegarding Batch Kier Washed Cotton

摘要

The information available regarding batch kier washed cotton was reviewed,including the 1978 OSHA Cotton Dust Standard, the 1978 complete exception for severly washed cotton, limitations of the 1978 exemption, washed cotton in the 1985 revision of the standard, 1985 exemptions for washed cotton, limitations of the 1985 partial exemptions for mildly washed cotton, recent evaluations of mildly washed cotton, initial studies of modern batch kier washing, and additional studies of open batch keir washing. Studies indicated that, with respect to removal of potential respiratory toxicity, cotton mildly washing in batch kier systems was equivalent to cotton mildly washed on a continuous batch system in a manner acceptable to OSHA under the washed cotton provisions of the current dust standard. The Task Force for Byssinosis Prevention concluded that mild washing of cotton in modern batch kier systems will prevent the acute respiratory effects of occupational exposure to cotton dust.