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Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. TA-80-115-802, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.

PB82187907

Publication Date	1981
Personal Author	Ruhe, R. L.
Page Count	10
Abstract	Employee exposures to xylene (1330207), ethyl-alcohol (64175), formaldehyde (50000) and asbestos (1332214) were evaluated at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (SIC-9199) in Atlanta, GA. on October 9 and 10, 1980. The measurements were made in response to a request from the Office of Biosafety at CDC to evaluate employee exposure to organic solvents and asbestos. Personal and area samples for evaluating exposure to organic solvents were analyzed by gas chromatography; asbestos was estimated by polarized light microscopy and dispersion staining techniques. In five area and personal samples, xylene concentrations ranged from 1 to 5 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/cu m); the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 435mg/cu m on a 8 hour time weighted average. Ethyl-alcohol ranged from 6 to 8mg/cu m; the OSHA PEL for ethyl alcohol is 1900mg/cu m. Formaldehyde ranged from 1 to 3mg/cu m, exceeding the NIOSH ceiling limit of 1.2mg/cu m for a 30 minute average. No asbestos fibers were found in air samples, but 6 of 13 bulk insulation samples contained chrysotile asbestos in concentrations 5 to 60 percent. The author concludes that a health hazard exists at CDC from overexposure to formaldehyde, and six areas have a potential for airborne asbestos exposure. Recommendations include the provision of adequate ventilation to control formaldehyde vapors, the replacement of asbestos insulation, provision of an employee education program, and provision of personal protective equipment.
Keywords	Environmental surveys Industrial medicine Exposure Toxicity Inspection Hazardous materials Xylenes Ethyl alcohol Formaldehyde Asbestos Toxic substances Occupational safety and health SIC 9199 CAS 1330-20-7 CAS 64-17-5 CAS 50-00-0 CAS 1332-21-4
Source Agency	Centers for Disease Control Bureau of Laboratories National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 94D - Job Environment 68G - Environmental Health & Safety
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH. Div. of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	198216

Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. TA-80-115-802, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.

Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. TA-80-115-802, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia.
PB82187907

Publication Date	1981
Personal Author	Ruhe, R. L.
Page Count	10
Abstract	Employee exposures to xylene (1330207), ethyl-alcohol (64175), formaldehyde (50000) and asbestos (1332214) were evaluated at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (SIC-9199) in Atlanta, GA. on October 9 and 10, 1980. The measurements were made in response to a request from the Office of Biosafety at CDC to evaluate employee exposure to organic solvents and asbestos. Personal and area samples for evaluating exposure to organic solvents were analyzed by gas chromatography; asbestos was estimated by polarized light microscopy and dispersion staining techniques. In five area and personal samples, xylene concentrations ranged from 1 to 5 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/cu m); the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 435mg/cu m on a 8 hour time weighted average. Ethyl-alcohol ranged from 6 to 8mg/cu m; the OSHA PEL for ethyl alcohol is 1900mg/cu m. Formaldehyde ranged from 1 to 3mg/cu m, exceeding the NIOSH ceiling limit of 1.2mg/cu m for a 30 minute average. No asbestos fibers were found in air samples, but 6 of 13 bulk insulation samples contained chrysotile asbestos in concentrations 5 to 60 percent. The author concludes that a health hazard exists at CDC from overexposure to formaldehyde, and six areas have a potential for airborne asbestos exposure. Recommendations include the provision of adequate ventilation to control formaldehyde vapors, the replacement of asbestos insulation, provision of an employee education program, and provision of personal protective equipment.
Keywords	Environmental surveys Industrial medicine Exposure Toxicity Inspection Hazardous materials Xylenes Ethyl alcohol Formaldehyde Asbestos Toxic substances Occupational safety and health SIC 9199 CAS 1330-20-7 CAS 64-17-5 CAS 50-00-0 CAS 1332-21-4
Source Agency	Centers for Disease Control Bureau of Laboratories National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 94D - Job Environment 68G - Environmental Health & Safety
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH. Div. of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	198216