US EPA

1516424 

Journal Article 

In-Depth Survey Report of U.S. Chrome, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 

Sheehy, JW 

1982 

19821982 

An indepth survey of control technology was conducted at US Chrome (SIC-3471), Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in September 1981. The survey was conducted to evaluate engineering control technology used in a production plating and cleaning operation. Personal air samples were collected for hexavalent-chromium (18540299) (CrVI), sulfuric-acid (7664939), and nitric-acid (7697372). Area samples were also collected for these and for chromium (7440473) (Cr) and hydrofluoric-acid (7664393). OSHA permissible exposure limits for CrVI, sulfuric-acid, and nitric-acid were 0.100, 1.0, and 5.0 milligrams per cubic meter, respectively, for an 8 hour time weighted average. Personal samples showed good control of CrVI, Cr, sulfuric-acid, and nitric-acid for most tanks. A mixed acid tank showed escape of some sulfuric-acid not captured by the one sided local exhaust ventilation. Low exposures to Cr compounds and acids were due to good local exhaust ventilation, low density of plating and cleaning tanks, high ceilings, and general exhaust ventilation. A 300 percent increase in plating production did not affect Cr concentrations in the room air or around the tanks. The author recommends the facility for a followup study to test the hypothesis that higher plating production increases emissions and worker exposure. 

DCN-119949; NIOSH Publication; NIOSH Author; Control technology; Atmosphere analyzers; Exposure levels; Air sampling; Worker health; Sampling methods; Air sampling techniques; Industrial hygiene; Region 5; 18540-29-9; 7664-93-9; 7697-37-2; 7440-47-3; 7664-39-3