Exposure, occupational

Chronic Occupational Exposure Lead is the most widely used nonferrous metal, and a large number of occupations may be associated with risk of exposure. 

Lead is present in the work atmosphere as fumes, mists (e.g., produced by spray painting) and dust. Inhalation of lead fumes or of fine lead particles is the most important route of absorption in the working atmosphere. Lead poisoning is one of the most common occupational diseases, especially when prevention measures are not established (IPCS 1995). Further metals and their compounds that, among others, are known to cause chronic occupational intoxications at the workplace are antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, manganese, mercury, nickel, thallium, and vanadium (DEG 1972-2001). 

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Criteriafor Recommended Standard Occupational Exposure to Jicrylamide U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C., 1976. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, "A Recommended Standard for Occupational Exposure to Acrylonitrile," DHEW Publ. No. 78—116, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C., 1978. 

OSHA has a TWA standaid on a weight of Sb basis of 0.5 mg/for antimony in addition to a standard TWA of 2.5 mg/m for fluoride. NIOSH has issued a criteria document on occupational exposure to inorganic fluorides. Antimony pentafluoride is considered by the EPA to be an extremely hazardous substance and releases of 0.45 kg or more reportable quantity (RQ) must be reported. Antimony triduoride is on the CERCLA bst and releasing of 450 kg or more RQ must be reported. 

NIOSH has issued a criteria document (30) on occupational exposure to inorganic fluorides. 

Criteria fora Lecommended Standard—Occupational Exposure to Inorganic Fluorides NTIS Document PB-246692, National Institute foi Occupational Safety and Health, Rockville, Md., 1975. 

OSHA has a standard time-weighted average (TWA) of 2.5 mg/m based on fluoride. NIOSH has issued a criteria document (24) on occupational exposure to inorganic fluorides. 

Exposure to formic acid vapor causes irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. The TLV/TWA occupational exposure limit is 5 ppm (40). Self-contained breathing apparatus should be used when there is a risk of exposure to high vapor concentrations. 

Occupational Exposure to Hydra nes, NIOSH Criteria fora Recommended S tandard, U.S. Dept, of Health, Education and Welfare, National Institute of... 

Evaluations of occupational exposure to physical agents such as noise, radiation or heat, biological agents, and multiple chemical agents are similar to the process for single chemical substances but have some key differences. 

N. A. Leidel, K. A, Busch, and J. R. Lynch, Occupational Exposure Sampling Strategy Manual, pubhcation no. 77-173, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (NIOSH), Washington, D.C., 1977. 

N. C. Hawkins, S. K. Norwood, and J. C. R.oAi, A Strategy for Occupational Exposure Assessment, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Fairfax, Va., 1991. 

Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde, Final Rule," Fed. Reg, Part 11, Dept, of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR, Part 1910, May 27, 1992. 

Because of the toxicity of lead, special care must be taken when working with lead ahoys. Lead and its inorganic compounds are neurotoxias which may produce peripheral neuropathy. Eor an overview of the effects of lead exposure, see Occupational Exposure to Lead, Appendix A (29 CRE 1910.1025) (see... 

See pubhcations of R. LiUs for additional studies related to the toxicity of lead following occupational exposure. These pubHcations have been compiled into a volume entitied Studies on Eead Exposed Occupational Groups 1967—1989 and ate available from the Dept, of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, 1991. 

Health and Safety Factors. Malononitrile is usually available as a soHdifted melt in plastic-Hned dmms. Remelting has to be done carefully because spontaneous decomposition can occur at elevated temperatures, particularly above 100°C, in the presence of impurities such as alkaHes, ammonium, and 2inc salts. Melting should be carried out by means of a water bath and only shordy before use. Occupational exposure to malononitrile mainly occurs by inhalation of vapors and absorption through the skin. Malononitrile has a recommended workplace exposure limit of 8 mg/m, an LD q (oral, rats) of 13.9 mg/kg, and is classified as slight irritant (skin irritation, rabbits). Transport classification RID/ADR 61, IMDG-Code 6.1, lATA/ICAO 6.1. 

Prior to the 1990s phenyhnercuric acetate was the primary bactericide and fungicide in latex and waterborne paints. Because of the increasing concerns of mercury toxicity and the potential for high consumer and occupational exposures to mercury when present in paints, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) induced U.S. manufacturers of PMA and other mercury compounds to withdraw their registrations for use of these substances as biocides in paints (see AIercury). Mercury compounds are used only for very limited, specific purposes, such as the use of phenyhnercuric mXx.2LX.e[55-68-5] as a bactericide in cosmetic eye preparations (see Cosmetics). 

Maximum Permissible Body Burdens and Maximum Permissible Concentration of Radionuclides in Air and in Water for Occupational Exposure, ReportNo. NCRP, No. 22, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement, Washington, D.C., 1959. 

Inhalation of crystalline or fused vitreous silica dust, usually overlong periods, causes a disabling, progressive pulmonary disease known as silicosis (84). Amorphous siUcas have not been linked to siUcosis (85), but can cause respiratory irritation. The history and poHtics of siUcosis have been reviewed (86). Standards have been set or recommended for occupational exposures (87,88) and review articles on the health effects of siUca are available (83,89). 

Recommended Health-Tased Eimits in Occupational Exposure to Selected Mineral Dusts Silica, Coal), Wodd Health Organization Technical Report Series 734, Geneva, Switzedand, 1986. 

Occupational Exposure to Silica and CancerRisk, lARC Monographs Vol. 97, Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K., 1990. 

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), Guide to Occupational Exposure Values, 1992, pp. 1489—1493. 

Guidance Note EH40/96, Occupational Exposure Limits, Health and Safety Executive, Her Majesty s Stationery Office, London, 1996. 

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