Document yrwd35O3v7G04kGpaOvxYdEp3

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL A 3 S Vol. 23, No. G *ilH vi i if,:/ g REHJRi' S For == Week Ending ' vL' w' , V Viv . 1V, 1v1 b & --~-- February 9, 1974 U S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE DATE OF RELEASE: FEBRUARY 15. 1974 - ATLANTA. GEORGIA 30333 EPIDEMIOLOGIC NOTES AND REPORTS ANGIOSARCOMA OF THE LIVER AMONG POLYVINYL CHLORIDE WORKERS - Kentucky Between September l VG7 unit December 1*17.7, 4 eases nf angiosarcoma of the liver were diagnosed among men em ployed in the polyvinyl chloride polymerization section ol'a B.F. Goodrich plant near Louisville, Kentucky. This section of the plant began operations in 1*1.78. It employs about 270 persons and produces polyvinyl chloride as well as a variety ol copolymers by polymen/ation of vinyl clilotide monomer. All 4 men had worked continuously in the section lor at least 14 years prior to onset ol illness (lable I); all 4 had worked directly in various phases of the polymerization process. Case I presented in August 1*)(>7 with an epigastric mass and thrombocytopenia. An exploratory laparotomy was per- CONTENTS Epidemiologic Notes and Repons Angiosarcoma of the Liver Among Polyvinyl Chloride Workers -- Kentucky............................49 Wild Mushroom Poisoning - Pennsylvania ............................50 Current Trends Influenza - United States..........................................................55 formed in September 1967; liver biopsy revealed angiosar coma. Case 2 presented in January I`>70 with gastrointesti nal fGI) bleeding. Recurrent bleeding in May 1970 led loan exploratory laparotomy at which time a diagnosis of angio sarcoma was made on liver biopsy. Case 3 presented in Janu ary !9(>4 with Gl bleeding which recurred in May 1965 with TABLE I CASES OF SPECIFIED NOTIFIABLE DISEASES; UNITED STATES (Cumulative totals include revised and delayed reports through previous weeks) DISEASE hill WEEK ENDING February 9, 1974 February 10, 1973 MEDIAN 1469-1973 CUMULATIVE, FIRST 6 WEEKS 1974 1973 MEDIAN 1969-1973 Aseptic meningitis................................................ Brucellosis.................................. ..................... Chickenpox.......................................................... Diphtheria............................................................. Encephalitis Primary: Arthropod-borne and unspecified I'ost-Infections ... ............. ...... Hepatitis, Viral type It............................................... Type A , . . . ........................................ Type unspecified............................................. Miliaria.................. ................................... Measles (rubeola) ............................................. Meningococcal infections, total........................ Civilian . . ................................................ Military ............................................................. Mumps .................................. ...................... Pertussis................................................................ Rubella (German measles) ................................ Tetanus................ ................ .................. Tuberculosis, new active ................................... Tularemia ........................................... Typhoid fever. ..................................... Typhus, lick-borne lltky. Ml, spotted fever) . Venereal Diseases' Gonorrhea ........................................ Syphilis, primary and secondary................ Rallies in animals .......................... 34 1 3,609 1 19 12 135 871 153 6 521 34 34 - 1.762 72 258 2 529 2 6 16.H10 462 43 29 3 5,305 2 21 4 120 | 1,027 6 704 34 34 2,145 - 441 1 562 2 4 1 14,254 516 35 1 ' -" 2 18 5 128 ( 1,067 39 704 so 49 2 -2-,-5,02_ 823 1 ~ 2 4 - 67 213 9 18,811 7 86 27 934 4,914 812 18 2,414 156 156 - 9.148 182 1,098 6 3,040 10 35 12 97,831 2,661 267 238 11 27,061 12 95 20 805 } 5,775 17 3.461 174 166 8 10,400 ------- 2,269 6 3,027 10 22 6 85,951 2,917 327 2IX 11 " 17 120 2r 805 { 6,407 243 3,663 331 307 15 12,594 _____ - 2,964 6 - ,,_____ to 26 3 -- - 347 TABLi: II NOTIFIABLE DISEASES Ol LOW FREQUENCY (nm Cunt. Anthrax. ............. Botulism' it ash. 2.......................... CTingemlal rubella syndrome. Ida. I,Tex. I Leprosy Hawaii I leptospirosis: Hawaii l.lda 1 Hague i Poliomyelitis, total:............................................. .................... 2 Paralytic:................................................................................... 7 Psittacosis: Tex. 1.......................................................... ... T 4 R;ilm*s in twin ................................. .................. 6 Trichinosis: N.Y.C, l,Oklu. I.............................. . . , 13 - Typhus, murine: Culil. 1, Vn, 1.................................................. 1 SL 0272*1 50 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report ri HKI AKY IS, 1>*T4 ANGIOSARCOMA* - Continued .signs of portal hypertension. A portacaval shunt was perlormed, and liver biopsy yielded a diagnosis of cirrhosis. Repeal biopsies in October I'170 and September 1972 continned this diagnosis. Autopsy in March 1073 revealed angio sarcoma. Case 4 picscnted in July 107.1 with hepatosplenoniegaly, weight loss, and jaundice. I wo liver biopsies were interpreted as showing severe cirrhosis. Autopsy in December 1973 revealed angiosarcoma. In each ease, pathologic material revealed the presence of extensive cirrhosis ol a non-alcoholic type in addition to angiosarcoma. In 2 cases, the diagnosis of angiosarcoma was made only at autopsy, cirrhosis having been diagnosed 7 years before in Case 3 and 5 months before in Cased. None of the patients gave histones of prolonged alcohol use or ex posure to hepatotoxins outside then work place. In particu lar, none hail ever had cxposuic to thorium dioxide or to arsenic, 2 materials known specifically to induce hepatic angiosarcoma in man (1.2), (Reported by John Creech. M.D , Plant Physit urn, B /'. Good rich Chemical Compauv. Louisville, Kentucky; Maurice N. Johnson. M.D., Director of Environmental Health. B.P. Good rich Chemical Company. Akron, Ohio, Bradford Block, M.D., Medical Consultant. Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Kentuck i' State Department of Labor; National Institute Jor Oi ciipaiuuud Salclv and Health, and the Cancer and Birth Dejects Divtsioit, Bureau of t.pidcmmloky. CDC ) Editorial Note Angiosarcoma of the liver is an exceedingly rare tumor. It is estimated that only about 25 such cases occur each year in the United States. Four cases, therefore, among a small number of workers at a single plant is a most unusual event, and one which raises the possibility of some work-related laremogen, conceivably vinyl chloride itself. Although no. data are yet available concerning the occurrence ol angiosar coma among woikers al other vinyl chloride plants in the United States, it seems distinctly possible that the problem may be industry-wide. Epidemiologic studies have started to Tabic I Coses of Angiosarcoma of die laser among Polyvinyl Chloride Wnrkcis B. F. Goodrich Plant Louisville. Kentucky Age at Case illness onset hi no vs onset i 41 Aug, 1967 2 36 Jan. 1970 i 41 Jan. 1964 4 S8 July 1971 Date ol Diagnosis Sept 1967 May 1970 Mat. 197.1 Dec. 1971 Dc.Mli Jdll 7, I'XtH Sept. 27, 1971 Mat. 1. 197,1 Dec. 19, 19 74 Yc.l! . svin Ki t] with I'Vt hi'luii' illness 17 14 14 2) determine the extent of the pioblcm in the United Stales, with respect both to angiosarcoma ol the liver ami to its pos sible relationship to post-toxic cirrhosis. Published data concerning I lie potential hcp.itivluxkily and oncogenicity of vinyl chloride ate limited. Studies m Germany have suggested a link between hepatic damage and occupational exposure to vinyl chloride (J). while Italian workers have suggested that vinyl chloride may cause a wide variety of tumors in animals 141. The chemical concentrations used in these latter experiments, however, fai exceed levels likely to he encountered ill industrial environments. Elions to confirm such observations and to measure effects al lower dose levels are now in progress. References 1. ib Silva llorta J, Ahbatt J17, Cayolla da Malta L. Kofi/. ML. Malig nancy and other late effects following administration of thorolrasl. Lancet 2:201-205, 1965 2. Kcgalson W, Kim U, Ospina J, Holland Jh: llcmangiocndotliclial sarcoma of liver from chronic arsenic intoxication by Fowler's solution. Cancer 21:514-522. 1068 3 Marslcllcr HJ, Lelbach WK, Midler R, cl al ('liioiiiscli-luxischc lebcischadun bei Arbcitern in dcr PVC-Produklum. Ulsch Med Wodumschr 98:2111-2314. 1971 4 Viola PL, Bigotti A, Capulo A: Oncogenic response of ral skin, lungs, and bone to vinyl chlmidc. Cancer Research 11,516-522. 1071 WILD MUSHROOM POISONING - Pennsylvania On October 9, 1973, 37 nuns ate their evening meal at a convent in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Between % and 4% hours later (median -approximately 2 hours), 17 nuns devel oped an illness characterized by profuse sweating (76%), wat ery diarrhea (76%), chills (58%). and abdominal pain (42%) (Table 2). Six of the nuns were hospitalized; none died. Food-specific attack rates for foods ingested in the 24 hours before illness strongly implicated mushrooms as the in toxicating food ( l able 1). Stool specimens from 4 of the ill nuns and baeteriologic cultures of the remaining mushrooms yielded no enteric pathogens. Remnants of the mushrooms were identified as Cltrocyhe sp. and Lepiota sp. Sonic species of the former genus are known to contain muscarine, which produces parasympathomimetic effects. The mushrooms had been picked on the grounds of the convent on the afternoon of the outbreak. For several years, the nuns had eaten these mushrooms at meals, and no appar ent illness had occurred. On October 9, however, the nun who Table 2 Symptoms in 17 III Nuns Berks County Convent - October?, 1971 Symptom Diarrhea Sweating Chills Abdominal pain Nausea Vomiting Excessive salivation Feverish feeling Dry mouth Blurred vision Headache Weakness Faint feeling Percent with Symptom 76 76 58 42 35 23 23 18 12 12 6 6 6 (Continued on payr .5 5) SL 027242 50 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report IIIIHI AKV IV 1)74 ANGIOSARCOMA* - Continued signs of portal hypertension. A portacaval shunt was per formed, and liver biopsy yielded a diagnosis of cirrhosis. Repeal biopsies in October 1970 and September 1972 con tinued this diagnosis. Autopsy in March 1972 revealed angio sarcoma. Case *t presented in July 1972 with hcpatosplenomegaty, weight loss, and iaundice. Two liver biopsies were interpreted as showing severe cirrhosis. Autopsy m December 1973 revealed angiosarcoma. Ill each ease, pathologic material revealed the presence of extensive cirrhosis ol a non-alcoholic type in addition to angiosarcoma. In 2 cases, the diagnosis of angiosarcoma was made only al autopsy, cirrhosis having been diagnosed 7 years before m Case 3 and 5 months before in Case 4. None of the patients gave histories of prolonged alcohol use or ex posure to hepatoioxins outside then work place. In particu lar, none had ever had exposure to thorium dioxide or to arsenic. 2 materials known specifically to induce hepatic angiosarcoma in man (1.2), (Reported by John Creech. M l) , Plant Physician, B /'. Good rich Chemical Company. Louisville, Kentucky: Maurice N. Johnson. M.O . Director of Hnrironmentut Health, B.l\ Good rich Chemical Company. Akron. Ohio; Bradford Block, M.D.. Medical Consultan i. Kciituck i Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Kentucky Stale Department of Labor: National Institute Jor Oiai/iaimiiiil Safety and Heidlli.imd the Cancer and Birth Defects Division, Bureau of Epidemiolo gy. CDC) editorial Note Angiosarcoma of the liver is an exceedingly rare tumor. It is estimated that only about 25 such cases occur each year in the United States. Tour cases, therefore, among a small number of workers at a single plant is a most unusual event, and one which raises the possibility of some work-related carcinogen, conceivably vinyl chloride itself. Although no. data arc yet available concerning the occurrence ol angiosar coma among workers at other vinyl chloride plants in the United States, it seems distinctly possible that the problem may be industry-wide. Epidemiologic studies have started to Table I Cases of Angiosarcoma ol ihc Ijwr among Polyvinyl Chloride Workeis B. F. Goodrich Plant Louisville. Kentucky Age al Case illness unset liincte tmxcl 1 41 Aug 1967 2 36 Jan. 1970 3 41 Jan. 1964 4 SK July 1973 Dale ill Diagnosis Sopi 1967 May 1970 Mai. 1973 Dec 1973 IV.iili Jan 7,|96X Sept. 27. 1971 Mat. 3. 1971 Dec. 19. 19 71 VlMI , MoiKi'd with l*V( hrlntr itiiii'kx 17 14 14 2j determine the extent of the piohlcm ill the United Males, with respect both In angiosarcoma ol the liver and to its pos sible relationship to post-loxie curhosts. Published data concerning the polciili.il hcpalo-losicily and oncogenicity of vinyl chloride are limited. Studies m Germany have suggested a link between hepatic damage and occupational exposure to vinyl chloride (J), while li.ihan workers have suggested that vmvl chloride may cause a wide variety of tumors in animals (4). The chemical concentrations used in these latter experiments, however, far exceed levels likely to he encountered in industrial environments. Eflorts to confirm such observations and to measure effects al lower dose levels are now in progress. References 1. da Silva Unrta J. Abbatt ID, Layolla da Mol la L. Konr. ML: Malig nancy and other laic effects following administration of thoioliasi LanceI 2:201-205, 1965 2. Rogation W, Kim U, Ospina J, Holland JF: llcmangiocndothchal sarcoma of liver from chronic arsenic intoxication by Fowler's solution. Cancer 21:514-522, 1968 3. Marsicller 11J. Lclbach WK, Miillct K, cl ah Uunimcli.toMschc Ichcischadcn bci Arbcilem in dcr PVC-Produktion, Disch Med Wuc-luiischr 98:2211-2314, 1973 4. Viola PL, Bigntli A, Capuio A: Oncogenic respond of rat skin, lungs, and bone to vinyl chloiidc. Cancel Rcscaicli 31.516-522. 1971 WILD MUSHROOM POISONING - Pennsylvania On October 9, 1973, 37 nuns ale their evening meal al a convent in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Between % and 4`/4 hours later fnicdian-approximately 2 hours), 17 nuns devel oped an illness characterized by profuse sweating (76%), wat ery diarrhea (76%), chills (58%), and abdominal pain (42%) (Tabic 2). Six of the nuns were hospitalized; none died. Food-specific attack rales for foods ingested hi Ihc 24 hours before illness strongly implicated mushrooms as the in toxicating food Cl able 3). Siool specimens from 4 of the ill nuns and haclcriologic cultures of the remaining mushrooms yielded no enteric pathogens. Remnants of the mushrooms were identified as Chtacybe sp. and Lepiotasp. Some species of the former genus are known to contain muscarine, which produces parasympathomimetic effects. Tlic mushrooms had been picked on the grounds of the convent on the afternoon of the outbreak. |-'or several years, the nuns had eaten these mushrooms at meals, and no appar ent illness had occurred. On October 9, however, the nun who Table 2 Symptoms in 17 III Nuns Berks County Convent - October 9, 1973 Symptom Diarrhea Sweating Chills Abdominal pain Nausea Vomiting Excessive salivation Feverish feeling Dry mouth Blurred vision Headache Weakness Faint feeling Percent with Symptom 76 76 58 42 35 23 23 IK 12 12 6 6 6 (Coniuiucd on page 3 5; SC 0272 1164 ... ; : '.974 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER has elapsed since both of these Committees have been . appointed and public announcement has been made. Since the Act, in Section (b) (1), provides a period which is not to extend longer than 270 days, it is our opinion that you are now in violation of the Act by the failure of the two Committees to make their recommendations to you in this time frame. We reject any attempt to explain that the time begins to elapse at the initial meeting or first working meeting, even if this Section of the Act did not make such a stipulation, we would still reject it. More than 270 days have elapsed to date from the date of the first working meeting of both Committees. We would like your response as to when you expect these standards promulgated. Further delay can only expose thousands of workers to noise and heat stress hazards against which standards such as these should be promulgated to protect them. Sincerely yours, /s/George H, R. Taylor Executive Secretary AFL-CIO Standing Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Health Hazards AFL-CIO CALLS ON BRENNAN TO CREATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR LEAD EXPOSURE The Industrial Union Department, AFL-CIO, requested the Department of Labor to appoint and convene an advisory commit >ee on the occupational exposure to inorganic lead in a message to Peter J. Brennan, Secretary of Labor, on February 6. The request w.is issued on behalf of the 1UD council on lead hazards. "We feel strongly that this step in the promulgation of a standard is essential in view of the shortcomings of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommendations," the letter stated. The NIOSH criteria document, issued in January 1973 (Current Report, January 18, 1973, p. 924), recom mended a standard limiting occupational exposure to lead at 0.15 milligrams per cubic meter of air as a timeweighted average for an eight-hour workday. IUD claimed in the message that creation of an advisory committee / "will permit full examination of information and views --" not adequately represented in the NIOSH criteria docu4 ment." --Health Hazards / r POLYVINYL CHLORIDE RESEARCH IS TOP Vrf' PRIORITY WITH NIOSH NOW. KEY CLAIMS CLEVELAND, Ohio - (By an OSHR staff corres.A T pondent) -- Polyvinyl chloride research is a top priority / of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH Director Dr. Marcus Key said February 12. Key and other NIOSH experts addressed a briefing session on vinyl chloride for labor and management representatives. The session was scheduled following the announcement of four cases of angiosarcoma at the B.F. Goodrich plant in Louisville, Ky. (Current Report, Janu ary 31, p. 1099). NIOSH has taken action from the beginning to protect workers. Key said, although the proposed course of action to deal with the vinyl choride hazard is not yet in final form. All parties concerned including B.F. Goodrich Com pany, the Manufacturing Chemists Association, and labor unions have responded quickly to the crisis, he added. NIOSH Action Key said that the emphasis on polyvinyl chloride research which now has the highest NIOSH priority will have an effect on other NIOSH projects. Hopefully, Key said, no other projects will have to be dropped. Despite budget cuts for research activities, NIOSH will be allotted 40 more positions in fiscal 1975. Still NIOSH needs additional resources and must contract for.some of its surveys, Key said. The average GS level of NIOSH employees is now 7.82. NIOSH is not the only organization working on the polyvinyl chloride problem. Key stated. Other government organizations, companies, and unions are participating. NIOSH was only alerted to this problem three weeks ago, Key said, adding that NIOSH does not have all of the answers, but it will attempt to handle the problem in a professional manner. Key said he was hopeful the anjgosarcoma problem would remain a small occupational outbreak. He said he hoped the other plants to be investigated, would have more open work processes than the Louisville plant, and that workers consequently would have less exposure. Vernon Rose, assistant director, NIOSH, said the United States produces 25 percent of the polyvinyl chloride in the world. There are 23 plants and 5,000 workers employed directly in the polymerization process. Tens of thousands of workers are involved in subsidiary operations involving use of the product, he said. The latent period for angiosarcoma involves decades, Rose said. Consequently NIOSH decided it is necessary to compare present work practices with those of the past. A list of some 50 chemicals that have been used over the years was identified and is being checked by NIOSH. Louisville Plant Operations The first step of the polymerization process at the Louisville plant involves the unloading of vinyl chloride as a liquid under pressure. Rose said. Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas with an odor threshold of 250 ppm, half of the OSHA maximum exposure standard of 500 ppm. Workers involved in this transfer operation reported smell ing the odor*many times. Vinyl chloride is then pumped under pressure to a reactor where other chemicals are atided, Rose said. The slurry then flows into a blow-down tank where it is subjected to high heat. Up to that point the substance is in a closed system. After the substance leaves the blow-down tank, it goes to a blend tank that is covered but not really closed, Rose said. The substance then goes into dryers and is packaged. Employees must enter and clean the reactor tanks, Occupations! Safety & Health Reporter SL 027244 CURRENT REPORT 1165 Rose said. Because of obvious ill effects from exposure, such as a malady of the fingers, a steam cleaning system was developed. Now the employees only enter after each third batch to scrape the residue off. After each sixth batch employees enter from a more thorough cleaning. There was a natural background level of vinyl chloride in the plant, Rose said. This was probably the result of various leaks in the system. In the case of the two OSHA personnel present during the investigation of the Louisville plant, Rose stated that they were there on a fact-finding mission from the national OSHA office, and consequently were not con cerned with issuing citations to the Goodrich plant. NIOSH Recommendations NIOSH made several recommendations for work prac tices to the B. F. Goodrich Company and the MCA, Rose stated. The recommendations covered the following areas: (1) Housekeeping- moderate amounts of resin were found in the plant and NIOSH recommended that they be cleaned up. NIOSH further recommended that the resin be stored in closed containers and that eating facilities for the workers be separated from the work area. (2) Protective clothing - NIOSH recommended protec tive clothing, including coveralls, for all employees, and that employees working in the tanks be provided with impervious suits. (3) Showers -- NIOSH recommended that all workers in the polymerization process be required to take showers after leaving work. (4) Monitoring NIOSH recommended that monitoring be carried out of the work environment to determine where leaks are occurring. NIOSH further recommended that eight-hour breathing zone samples be made for all employees. (5) Respiratory protection - NIOSH recommended that all workers in transfer operations be provided with selfcontained breathing apparatus and that employees in the tanks be supplied with air-supplied respirators. Plant Fatalities Dr. Henry Falk, Center for Disease Control, said he had examined all four cases of angiosarcoma reported at the plant. One of the men had been diagnosed as a victim of cirrhosis of the liver, he said. An autopsy revealed the existence of angiosarcoma. All four of the victims had non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver in addition to the angiosarcoma, Falk said. In addition, he stated, they had no prior history of hepatitis or any other experience that could account for the disease. NIOSH will be looking for the entire spectrum of diseases that may result from polyvinyl chloride exposure and will conduct studies of records of former workers in polyvinyl plants, he said. Other Comment Dr. J. William Lloyd, NIOSH, said that angiosarcoma is an extremely rare disease with a reported 20 to 30 annual deaths in the United States. The National Cancer Institute reports that only 16 of 623 known malignant cancers are classified as angiosarcoma. Dr. William S. Lainhart, Center for Disease Control, said the first priority of the investigation will be the study of PQlvvbwl chloride process to detenTun^ffieTevefsoTworker exposure and its effects. In addition to that, NIOSH will need to obtain data on the uses of polyvinyl chloride and products that contain polyvinyl chloride. Dr. Joseph K. Wagoner, NIOSH, said that NIOSH will conduct studies in plants that have had polyvinyl chloride operations for 15 years or more. The study of workers, however, will include workers with varying amounts of time of exposure. NIOSH is now finding the initial study group. NIOSH initiated a telephone survey of polyvinyl chloride plant facilities. The initial survey seems to indi cate that most of the polyvinyl chloride facilities are clustered in Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. NIOSH will be looking for the entire spectrum of diseases that may result from polyvinyl chloride exposure. In addition, NIOSH will conduct studies of records of former workers in polyvinyl chloride plants. Dr. Edward Fairchild, NIOSH, said he would initiate a study of the available literature regarding the toxicological effects of exposure to polyvinyl chloride. One toxicologi cal report based on annual studies will be reported during the Labor Department hearing on February 15. Health Hazards MANUFACTURERS CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION STOPS ISSUANCE OF VINYL CHLORIDE SHEET The Manufacturing Chemists Association announced it has stopped circulation of a chemical safety data sheet on vinyl chloride operations because of four fatalities from Ever cancer among workers exposed to the substance at the B, F. Goodrich Company. The action, taken on MCA Chemical Data Sheet SD-56 (1972), resulted from a report by the company that one. of its plants had experienced four fatal cases of angiosar coma, a rare cancer of the liver (Current Report, January 31, p. 1099). The 1972 sheet called attention to reports that long-term, massive exposure of rats to vinyl chloride vapors had produced malignant tumors of a kind not found in man. In the 1972 revision of the data sheet, MCA called attention to the reports but added that carcinogenicity to humans had not been observed. The report from Good rich questions the validity of this statement, MCA stated. A new vinyl chloride data sheet will be issued by MCA when the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride to humans has been resolved. State Plans NACOSH SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT URGES FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT UNTIL EVALUATIONS Federal enforcement in states with approved plans should continue until initial evaluations have been con ducted, the state plans subcommittee of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health recommended in a report submitted to NACOSH on February 12. Copyright 1974 by The Bureou of Notionol Affoirs, Inc. SL 027245 1168 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER now planning change or believe that there is some pro bability of its occurrence. standard intermittent work procedures where TCE levels do not exceed the workroom standard and which occur The report may be ordered from The Conference on not more than five working days a month. Board, 845 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022. Prices are $4.00 for associate members (or for educational purposes) and $20.00 for nonassociates. Major Objections / PPG Industries. Inc., objected to the publication of a\ / standard on TCE without simultaneously publishing simi- \ * f' jy J / Standards I lar standards on perchloroethylene, methylene chloride, \ } and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The objection was based on the 1 | fact that all of the solvents are used in vapor degreasing 1 v- 0SHA RECEIVES trichloroethylene -v criteria document comments from firms l operations and that publication of a standard for TCE / \ alone would be discriminatory. / \ Numerous reservations were expressed by firms comymenting on the criteria document on occupational ex posure to trichloroethylene (TCE) issued by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, according to initial comments received by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The NIOSH document, issued last July (Current Re port, August 2, p. 254), proposed a limit for worker exposure to TCE of not more than 100 parts per million (ppm) as a time-weighted average exposure for an eighthour workday and a peak concentration to TCE of not ' Detrex Chemical Industries, Inc., recommended that standards for all the vapor degreasing solvents should be issued at one time, including fluorinated hydrocarbons. The firm stated that no standard should be issued until OSHA has complete recommendations from NIOSH on solvents used in the vapor degreasing process. Hooker Chemical Corporation stated that the data in the criteria document does not support a change in the present standard for exposure to TCE. The firm recom mended also that standards should be issued at the same time for all four solvents used in the degreasing process. more than 150 ppm. Among 11 firms and agencies which commented initially on the document, only two rejected the proposed limit completely. However, there were numerous reservations about parts of the document. Sections receiving the most comment and recommendations for changes included sampling and analysis, medical surveillance, labeling, monitoring and recordkeeping requirements, work practices, personal pro tective equipment and clothing, and sanitation practices. In general, objections to these sections were based on claims that procedures or requirements in the document were redundant or unnecessary. Standard Support Although many detailed changes were recommended in the comment, Dow Chemical U.S.A. "strongly supports" the standard proposed by NIOSH. The comment added, "such a standard is necessary for the widely varied operations within both the manufacturing and consuming industries." Dow Chemical noted, however, that major anticipated costs of implementing the medical surveillance, monitor ing requirements, personal protective clothing, and record keeping requirements of the document would total $11 million. In an effort to reduce these costs, the firm Workplace Exposure recommended tri-annual medical exams, annual monitor Bethlehem Steel Corporation and Organization Re sources Counselors, Inc., questioned the need for a peak exposure limit of 150 ppm. The firms recommended consideration of a peak ceiling of 200 ppm as justifiable V ing, deletion of the monthly monitoring requirement, and improvement in the protective clothing requirement. Dow Chemical claimed that these steps could reduce the costs of compliance to approximately $4.5 million. under the data utilized by NIOSH in the criteria docu ment. American Telephone & Telegraph Company outlined a Standards surveillance protocol for exposure to TCE divided into four risk categories with requirements for frequency of medical examinations and environmental monitoring based OSHA RECEIVES COMMENTS ON GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTOR DEVICES on levels of exposure above 100 ppm. Deletion of the The majority of firms commenting on the proposed 10-minute minimum sampling time for measurement of requirement for ground fault circuit interruptors (GFIs) in occupational exposure was recommended also. Dow the construction industry urged delay in issuing the rule Chemical U.S.A. concurred in the deletion of the until practical, safe trip values can be developed, accord 10-minute period and recommended a time measurement ing to responses received by the Occupational Safety and based on industrial hygiene analysis. Health Administration. National Starch and Chemical Corporation recom The requirement, originally scheduled to become effec mended that some consideration be given in the docu tive on January 1, would require the use of GFIs in all ment to exposures between 50 ppm and 100 ppm with 15 and 20 ampere receptacle outlets on single-phase respect to frequency of exposure. Such consideration circuits. At the request of the National Constructors would cover industries in which TCE is used infrequently Association, the original effective date was suspended and in the manufacture of a product that is not made every a public hearing is scheduled on February 26 in Washing day, the firm claimed. ton, D.C. (Current Report, December 13, p. 898). The Department of Defense recommended that ex The basic attitude of firms which recommended suspen posure criteria be supplemented to exclude from the sion or postponement of the effective date is that there Occupational Safety & Health Reporter SL 027246