US EPA

3101108 

Technical Report 

Industrial hygiene study of the Gouverneur Talc Company, number one mine and mill in Balmat, New York 

Dement, JM; Zumwalde, RD 

1977 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies 

Cinncinnati, OH 

PB89100762 

English 

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A industrial hygiene study was undertaken at the Gouverneur Talc Company, number one mine and mill, during November 3-7, 1975. Samples were collected to evaluate exposures to respirable dust, free silica and asbestos fibers. In addition impinger samples were collected for comparison with past exposure measurements. Bulk product talc samples were also collected for mineralogical analyses by both NIOSH and independent consultant laboratories.

Results of mineralogical analyses of talc product samples by all laboratories concluded that asbestiform minerals (tremolite and anthophyllite) were present. Time-weighted-average fiber exposures in mine and mill operations were found to range from 1.7 to 9.8 fibers> 5 μm/cc and time-weighted-average respirable dust exposures were found to range from 0.25 to 2.96 mg/m3. No free silica exposures were found to exceed the NIOSH recommended standard of 50 μg/m3. Electron microscopic analyses of the airborne dusts showed 38 to 45% of airborne fibers to be anthophyllite with lesser quantities (12 to 19%) of tremolite. More than 90% of the airborne fibers were shorter than 5 μm in length.

A review of historic exposure data of these operations and epidemiological data concerning health effects of exposures to tremolite and anthophyllite are included in addition to recommendations for workplace improvements to reduce exposures. 

PB89100762