A NIOSH evaluation of sintered-metal parts machining found previously reported respiratory disorders improved or disappeared after ventilation improvements; the source describes dust containing iron, copper, lead, magnesium, zinc, tin, antimony, molybdenum, graphite, and silica, and warns that silica above its standard can cause permanent disabling lung disease.
Description · 1
Environmental surveys ... associated with the grinding, drilling, milling-slotting, and grooving operations at an iron and copper sintered metal parts manufacturing facility ... Previously reported respiratory disorders disappear subsequent to ventilation improvements.