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2801073 
Technical Report 
Health Hazard Evaluation Determination, Report No. HHE-76-37-394, Torwico Electronics Lakewood, New Jersey 
Kingsley, I 
1977 
NIOSH/00070668 
NIOSH 
HHE-76-37-394 
76-37 
A Health Hazard Evaluation Investigation was conducted by NIOSH at the Torwico Electronics, a transformer manufacturing company (SIC-3612), in Lakewood, New Jersey, on April 14 and October 12, 1976. An authorized employee representative requested the investigation for worker exposure to contaminants released during degreasing and brazing operations on epoxy filled transformers. On the basis of environmental air sampling, observations of work practices and available toxicity data it was determined that the employees were not exposed to hazardous airborne concentrations of trichloroethylene and other varnish solvent vapors during degreasing and varnish dipping operations. The brazing operation was not evaluated since the process was not active at the time. Interviews of 10 "affected" employees revealed that one worker complained of headache, nausea and coughing from exposure to varnishes, while 4 others stated that one time they had developed skin rashes from contact with either trichloroethylene (79016) or epoxies. Recommendations are made for further reduction of the airborne concentrations of trichloroethylene and varnish solvent vapors.