A survey of airborne and skin exposures to chemicals in footwear and equipment factories in Thailand
LA Todd, K Mottus, GJ Mihlan - Journal of occupational and …, 2008 - Taylor & Francis
LA Todd, K Mottus, GJ Mihlan
Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, 2008•Taylor & FrancisThis research reports on a pilot industrial hygiene study that was performed at four footwear
factories and two equipment factories in Thailand. Workers in these factories were exposed
through inhalation and dermal contact to a large number of organic vapors from solvents
and cements that were hand applied. In addition, these workers were exposed to highly toxic
isocyanates primarily through the dermal route. A total of 286 personal air samples were
obtained at the four footwear factories using organic vapor monitors; individual job tasks …
factories and two equipment factories in Thailand. Workers in these factories were exposed
through inhalation and dermal contact to a large number of organic vapors from solvents
and cements that were hand applied. In addition, these workers were exposed to highly toxic
isocyanates primarily through the dermal route. A total of 286 personal air samples were
obtained at the four footwear factories using organic vapor monitors; individual job tasks …
This research reports on a pilot industrial hygiene study that was performed at four footwear factories and two equipment factories in Thailand. Workers in these factories were exposed through inhalation and dermal contact to a large number of organic vapors from solvents and cements that were hand applied. In addition, these workers were exposed to highly toxic isocyanates primarily through the dermal route. A total of 286 personal air samples were obtained at the four footwear factories using organic vapor monitors; individual job tasks were monitored using a real-time MIRAN Spectrometer. A total of 64 surface, tool, or hand samples were monitored for isocyanates using surface contamination detectors. Real-time measurements were also obtained for organic vapors in two equipment factories. From 8% to 21% of the workers sampled in each footwear factory were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals from solvents and cements. Up to 100% of the workers performing specific job tasks were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals. From 39% to 69% of the surface samples were positive for unreacted isocyanates. Many of the real-time measurements obtained in the equipment factories exceeded occupational exposure limits. Personal protective equipment and engineering controls were inadequate in all of the factories.
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