Abstract |
For the purpose of determining worker exposure to 1,3-butadiene (106990), an indepth industrial hygiene survey was conducted at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company (SIC-3011), Des Moines, Iowa. Large farm and truck tires were manufactured on site as well as temporary spare tires for passenger cars. Employees with the greatest potential exposures included banbury operators, cooling conveyor operators, calendering operators, mill tenders, extruder operators, wire winders, tire builders (tractor and heavy duty tires), curing operators (passenger and heavy duty), and tire buffer and repair men. Personal air samples were collected over the three shifts. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed that none of the 90 charcoal tube front sections contained 1,3-butadiene. The back sections of ten selected samples which indicated a high organic concentration in their front sections were analyzed and no breakthrough was demonstrated. Mass spectrometry of four selected samples indicated that all contained toluene (108883) and saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons. No measurable exposure to 1,3-butadiene was demonstrated at the facility. |