Title: Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-89-123-2082, Fashion Tannery, Johnstown, New York.
Abstract: A Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) was conducted at the Fashion Tannery following a request by the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union.The request was made in response to a report published by Levin et al. in Lancet documenting a cluster of three men with testicular cancer who worked in another tannery, on the same shift, in the same department, and during the same time period.Area air samples were taken in the finishing department for dimethylformamide, glycol ethers, lead, trace metals, nitrosamines, benzidine, and formaldehyde/aldehyde.The major components in the air samples that were identified were butyl cellosolve, cyclohexanone, diisobutyl ketone, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, various C 9 H 12 and C 10 H 14 aromatics, n-butanol, isoamyl acetate, 2-propoxyethanol, acetone,and isopropanol.The results were all well below the applicable exposure criteria.Based on the environmental results, the NIOSH investigators conclude that there is limited exposure to airborne contaminants in the finishing department.However, there is the potential for dermal exposure due to poor work practices and personal hygiene.The personal protective equipment was not maintained and could result in an overexposure.Further details on the recommendations to further reduce potential exposure can be found in Section VIII.