US EPA

1516535 

Journal Article 

Preliminary Survey of Wood Preservative Production Facility at Koppers Company, Inc., Forest Products Group Specialty Wood Chemicals Division, Valparaiso, Indiana 

Todd, AS; Timbie, CY 

19801980 

The Koppers Company, Incorporated, a chromated copper arsenate manufacturing facility (SIC-2851) in Valparaiso, Indiana was surveyed on July 24, 1979 to evaluate work practices, exposure controls, past exposures, and medical, industrial hygiene, and safety programs. The facility employs five workers. Two NIOSH sampling methods were used to measure arsenic (7440382), chromium (7440473), and copper (7440508) at two sites for 5 hours at each site. The company provided a comprehensive medical surveillance program, periodic air sampling and exhaust system maintenance, and mandatory protective clothing and showers. Airborne levels recorded were 19.0 and 135.2 micrograms per cubic meter (m3) for copper, 4.2 and 22.2 micrograms/m3 for total chromium, 1.1 and 15.2 micrograms/m3 for hexavalent chromium, and 4.2 and 24.2 micrograms/m3 for arsenic. The authors suggest that arsenic exposure exceeded the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 10 micrograms/m3 averaged over an 8 hour period. The OSHA permissible exposure limits of 1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3) averaged over an 8 hour period for copper dust and mists and 0.5 mg/m3 for chromic acid were not exceeded. 

DCN-182134; NIOSH Publication; NIOSH Author; NIOSH Survey; Field Study; IWS 110 17; Region 5; NIOSH Contract; Contract 210 78 0060; Wood preserving manufacturer; Air sampling; Toxic substances; Exposure limits; Overexposure; Personal protective equipment; 7440-38-2; 7440-47-3; 7440-50-8