Foreword It is my privilege to write these introductory comments on the Proceedings ofthe Workshop/Con-ference on the Role of Metals in Carcinogenesis. The field of metal carcinogenicity, although not new, has moved into an area of even greater prominence and urgency. We of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and its sister institutes, the National Cancer Institut...

To document more fully the applicability of the air monitoring data used in the site profile, NIOSH will add a section to the profile to address the quality, reliability and applicability of the early Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) air sampling program to the estimation of worker doses. Further, NIOSH will discuss how these measurements were consistent with the recommendations provided in ICRP ...

Thermal–optical analysis (TOA) is a widely used technique that fractionates carbonaceous aerosol particles into organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), or carbonate. Thermal sub-fractions of evolved OC and EC are also used for source identification and apportionment; thus, oven temperature accuracy during TOA analysis is essential. Evidence now indicates that the “actual” sample (filter) temp...

The purpose of the present study was to design and assess the efficiency of a local exhaust ventilation system used in a foundry operation to control inhalable dust and particles, microcrystal particles, and noxious gases and vapours affecting workers during the foundry process. It was designed based on recommendations from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygiene. After desig...

OBJECTIVES A utility-scale wind turbine blade manufacturing plant requested assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in controlling worker exposures to styrene at a plant that produced 37 and 42 m long fiber-reinforced wind turbine blades. The plant requested NIOSH assistance because previous air sampling conducted by the company indicated concerns about...

Abstract Inhalation exposure to diesel exhaust in the railroad work environment causes significant and quantifiable cancer risks many workers. Diesel has been identified as a known human carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (“IARC”) potential United States Environmental Protection (“USEPA”), California Agency’s Office of Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”), National Institut...

The standard method for determining diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposures in underground metal/ nonmetal mines provides the average exposure concentration for an entire working shift, and several weeks might pass before results are obtained. The main problem with this approach is that it only indicates that an overexposure has occurred rather than providing the ability to prevent an overexp...

Approximately 132 agricultural tractor overturn fatalities occur per year. The use of rollover protective structures (ROPS), along with seat belts, is the best known method for preventing these fatalities. One impediment to ROPS use, however, is low clearance situations, such as orchards and animal confinement buildings. To address the need for ROPS that are easily adapted to low clearance situ...