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Dust entry

Secondary nonferrous-metal processing dust

Airborne metallic dust encountered during secondary nonferrous-metal processing and refining.

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

respiratory symptomsthroat paingastrointestinal symptomsweakness and fatigueneurologic symptom concern

Evidence

In a NIOSH evaluation of a secondary nonferrous-metal facility, copper dust exceeded the OSHA standard in all 13 tested samples; some lead, arsenic, nickel, and cadmium samples also exceeded applicable limits, and workers in dusty areas had increased reported gastrointestinal, throat, and respiratory symptoms. NIOSH characterized the airborne metallic-dust exposure as a serious hazard at that workplace.

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Description · 1
Copper dusts in all 13 samples tested exceeded the OSHA standard of 1000 micrograms per cubic meter. Arsenic concentrations in 2 of 10 samples tested exceeded the NIOSH recommended standard ... Nickel in 5 of 47 ... exceeded ... Medical evaluations revealed an increased prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms, weakness, fatigue, hand tremor, joint pain, throat pain and respiratory symptoms in employees working in dusty areas. The authors conclude that a serious hazard exists due to exposure to airborne metallic dust.

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