Dust entry

Ferrous-foundry dust

Dust generated during ferrous foundry operations including finishing, melting, molding, pouring, shakeout, and sand preparation.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

lung cancernonmalignant respiratory diseaserespirable crystalline-silica exposureoccupational mortality concern

Evidence

A NIOSH-indexed study measured long-term dust levels in ferrous foundry production areas and concluded that the cited permissible limit was inadequate to protect against malignant and nonmalignant respiratory disease.

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Abstract · 1

There was a significant proportionate excess of lung cancer and nonmalignant respiratory disease among the workers in the foundry; workers in the finishing department showed the strongest associations ... The authors conclude that a permissible exposure limit of 10mppcf for foundry dust ... is inadequate to protect against malignant and nonmalignant respiratory disease.

Controls

local exhaust ventilation
enclosed sand preparation
dust suppression
foundry housekeeping
exposure monitoring
appropriate respiratory protection