Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 87-060-1825, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

摘要

In response to a request from the Director, Environmental Health Services, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, an evaluation was made of chemical exposures in the veterinary histopathology laboratory (SIC-8071) at the university. Tissue fixing and histology laboratories were involved. Analyses were made of general room air samples and breathing zone samples for toluene (108883), xylene (1330207), acetone (67641), and ethanol (64175). Two of six samples analyzed contained toluene at 1.8 and 0.6mg/cu m. Four samples contained xylene: 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, and 3.9mg/cu m. No acetone was detected in any sample. All samples contained ethanol ranging from 1.8 to 35.7mg/cu m. Medical studies of histopathology technicians and employees in the laboratories indicated no evidence of work related injury or illness. All exposure levels were significantly below NIOSH evaluation criteria (toluene 375mg/cu m, xylene 435mg/cu m, acetone 590mg/cu m, and ethanol 1900mg/cu m, time weighted averages). Review of exhaust laboratory hoods and work stations hood indicated that improvements in the area were needed. The authors recommend adjustments to intake air handlers so that each laboratory would have an adequate make up air volume to compensate for exhausted air. Biological monitoring of employees is recommended in order to estimate solvent exposures.