Health hazard evaluation report HETA 84-416-1673, United Hydraulics, Hampton, Iowa. [Honing department]

Breathing zone and general area air samples were analyzed for benzene, ethylbenzene and toluene in the honing department of United Hydraulics, Hampton, Iowa. Urine samples (3 from honers and 4 from individuals working elsewhere in the facility) were taken preshift and postshift for phenol determinations. Evaluations were requested by the Iowa State Health Department because of an apparent leukemia cluster at the facility. Two personal air samples showed trace amounts of benzene calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average; 0.06 parts per million (ppm) from a honer and 0.07ppm from a worker in another department. The current OSHA standard is 10ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift. Urinalysis showed four individuals possessed cross-shift increases ranging from 1.0 to 2.6 milligrams per gram creatinine which probably did not represent increases conclusively attributable to benzene exposure. The authors conclude than there appears to be a clustering of leukemia cases among workers in the facility, but the leukemia cases are of epidemiologically dissimilar cell types, current working conditions do not expose workers to substantial benzene concentrations, and substantial changes in solvents, cutting oils, or working practices have not occurred at the facility since 1973. The investigation should be reopened if additional leukemia, lymphoma, ormore » aplastic anemia cases occur. Recommendations include wearing gloves impermeable to benzene and other solvents.« less