Document oeb82Zdbjj8y2YOdKX3qpVgR8

I DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. LOUISIANA DIVISION P. 0, BOX ISO PLAQUE MINS. LOUISIANA 70764 604 3B9-S000 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE REPORT The asbestos in air monitoring for the first half of 1981 has been completed in the Cell Service block. Survey results were below the acceptable threshold limit value of 2 fibers per cubic centimeter greater than five (5) microns in length except for two overloaded area samples. The highest sample recorded was 0.40 fibers per cc of air. Due to the low results obtained in routine time-weighted sampling, it is recommended that short duration excursion sampling be empha sized in future surveys. Good housekeeping, strict safe operating procedures, and a constant vigil for problem areas are the most important con siderations for a successful abatement program. Employees must be informed of the survey results and must review the consequences of over-exposure to asbestos fibers. (See Attachment 2.) DISTRIBUTION LOUISIANA MIDLAND M. F. Currier 2303 L. W. Rampy - 1803 *F. D. Axe - Pittsburg G. W. Daigre 2501 M. Swank - 1803 *R. L. Daniel - Freepor A. J. McKirdy 3701 *S. A. Goode - 0CD C. L. Melancon 4701 R. J. McCormick - R. Peebles 5601 Strongsville rF *W. J. Neely 2306 C. J. Weber, Jr. 5601 *R. D. Olsen - Sarnia File (2) OP&^0l,tGAN UNIT OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY 0]?053 CONFrDFNTTAl -2- J INTRODUCTION The required asbestos in air monitoring for the first half of 1981 has been completed. The survey serves to protect the employees against over-exposure, pinpoint problem areas and fulfill the requirements of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act. DISCUSSION In addition to everyday safety equipment, operators are required to wear disposable paper suits, rubber gloves and proper dust respirators when handling or working with asbestos. The safe procedure for handling asbestos should be discussed with each new employee before entering the work area and reviewed annually with the experienced operators as part of the ongoing Industrial Hygiene Education Program. EXPERIMENTAL Sampling Method Personnel samples are collected from the operators' breathing zone with a millipore filter (37 mm diameter; 0.8 micron pore size) mounted on an open-face filter holder and attached to the operators' lapels. These cassettes are connected to monitoring pumps calibrated with a soap bubble meter to operate at a rate of 1.5 to 2.0 liters per minute. Area samples are collected utilizing the same equipment and method as the personnel samples. Analytical The asbestos samples are analyzed using the NIOSH Aproved Method, P & CAM 239. RESULTS (See Attachment 1) Monitoring results of 11 samples indicate all samples were well below the present exposure limit of 2 fibers > 5 microns in length per cubic centimeter. Highest recorded sample was 0.1J0 fibers per cc. Four personnel samples were collected from the operators' breathing zones. A high of 0.M0 fibers per cc was recorded. Two of the four personnel samples were unable to be analyzed due to gross contamination of copper particulate generated during grinding operations on copper cell parts. DO 01P0S4 CONFTDENTTAt i -3- The seven stationary samples recorded a high of 0.16 fibers per cc with two area samples of the storage room undetermined due to excessive fibers content. RECOMMENDATIONS Short-term excursion sampling is recommended in future sampling to better determine if problems exist in some jobs. CONCLUSIONS The monitoring results were satisfactory and well below the established exposure limit of two fibers per cubic centimeter. However, due to the hazardous nature of asbestos, housekeeping and good safe operating procedures remain the most important con siderations for a good abatement program. This must be a daily, job-by-job program to offer the greatest protection to the employee. The Cell Service employees must be informed of this survey's results and the consequences of over-exposure reviewed. (See Attachment 2.) sb on 010055 CONFTDFNTT At. ATTACHMENT 1 DATE 1/21/81 SAMPLE NO. 1335 SAMPLE DESCRIPTION Area - Center post of Cell Service Building DURATION (MIN) 357 VOLUME (1) 606.9 FIBERS/CC > 5 MICRONS IN LENGTH 0.01 1/21/81 3/2/81 1336 1337 Area - Asbestos Storage Room Personnel - Laborer - brushing copper contacts 362 436 579.2 741.2 0.09 *NA 3/2/81 1338 Personnel - Laborer - brushing copper contacts 433 736.1 NA 3/17/81 3/18/81 1347 1348 Area - Asbestos Storage Room Area - Center post of Cell Service Building 393 465 668.1 790.5 OVERLOADED 0.04 11/20/81 1387 Personnel - Laborer - loading truck at Ramsey-Scarlett Warehouse 28 47.6 0.10 4/20/81 1359 Area - Asbestos Storage Area Ramsey-Scarlett Warehouse 28 47.6 0.10 4/20/81 1361 Area - Semi-truck unloaded asbestos on pallets at Dow Receiving 45 76.5 0.16 4/20/81 1360 Personnel - Teamster unloading asbestos pallets into Cell r> Service Storage Room 18 30.6 0.40 4/21/81 1363 Area - Asbestos Storage Room during unloading 90 152.1 OVERLOADED *NA - Not analyzed due to copper particulate content OVERLOADED - Overloaded with fibers prohibiting analysis consi quenci s or exposure 10 ioxic a'vtjnjs CO'-'MXJND: eyes: ASBESfOS CONTACT WITH THE DUST CAN CAUSE MECHANICAL IRRIIAMON SIM) CAR TO THAT CAUSED BY ANY SOLID PARTICLE. skin: unlike fibrous GLASS, THE FIBERS DO NOT CAUSE DISCOMLORT OR MECHANICAL IRRITATION. ) NGL S T J ON: ' SOME EVIDENCE SUGGESTS T1TAT LONG TERM INGESTION OF ASBESTOS /W INCREASE CHANCES Ofi STOMACH CANCER. DUST inhalation: SHORT TERM: HIGH CONCENTRATIONS CWELL ABOVE ACCEPTABLE LEVELS) MAY CAUSE ONLY MODERATE DISCOMFORT FROM MECHANICAL IRRITATION. LONG TERM: 'THE FIBERS CAN CAUSE SCARRING. OF THE LUNGS (ASBESTOS!S). A CANCER OF THE CHEST LINING (MESOTHELIOMA) MAY ALSO RESULT FROM ASBESTOS EXPOSURE. MOST IMPORTANT, ASBESTOS EXPOSURE AND CIGARETTE SMOKING GREATLY INCREASE THE RISK OF' LUNG CANCER. ihg: AUTHOR: CHECKED BY: ACGIH TLV IS 2 FIBERS/CC G. H. FLORES R. L. DANIEL - INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE G. C. JERSEY - TOXICOLOGY R. E. FLAKE - MEDICAL * ISSUE date: . REVISED: 6-6-80 RtSlRtClfO. for uh v*?lMn Th# Do*r Ch* mVc ) Co<T\p* r>y only. --- DO DO hlF 01D057 TOEHTTgi