An industrial hygiene field study of dental laboratories in the greater Salt Lake area.

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Publication Type thesis
School or College School of Medicine
Department Family & Preventive Medicine
Author Kimball, Anne Collier
Title An industrial hygiene field study of dental laboratories in the greater Salt Lake area.
Date 1983-06
Description An industrial hygiene study of thirteen dental laboratories in the greater Salt Lake area was performed in order to characterize the typical personal occupational exposures to hazardous substances in these workplaces. Full-shift personal air samples were collected for nickel, chromium, cobalt, beryllium, and free silica during the grinding and polishing of non-precious metal and porcelain dental restorations. Short-term personal and area samples for beryllium fumes were also taken during the metal casting process. Personal samples were collected for methyl methacrylate vapors generated during the preparation of acrylic dentures. The results of the air sampling were compared to the threshold limit values and permissible exposure levels for these substances. Most of the air samples indicated low or non-detectable time-weighted average concentrations of the metals and free silica. However, three high exposures to beryllium (>1.5 um-g/m3) and one high exposure to cobalt dust (>160 um-g/m3) were measured in two of the laboratories during the grinding and polishing of non-precious metal. The samples taken during the casing process also indicated low or non-detectable levels of beryllium fumes. Very low (<1.7 ppm) time-weighted average concentrations of methyl methacrylate were detected in the samples collected during the preparation of dentures. Ventilation measurements were taken at these laboratories and recommendations have been made in consideration of the other factors that appear to affect exposure patterns in these workplaces. The potential for significant overexposures to hazardous substances in dental laboratories does exist; however, exposure levels to these materials apparently can be minimized with the utilization of proper ventilation design and work practices.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Hazardous Substances; Utah; Salt Lake County
Subject MESH Environmental Exposure; Laboratories, Dental
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name MPH
Language eng
Relation is Version of Digital reproduction of "An industrial hygiene field study of dental laboratories in the greater Salt Lake area." Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. Print version of "An industrial hygiene field study of dental laboratories in the greater Salt Lake area." available at J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collection. T 7.5 1983 K54.
Rights Management © Anne Collier Kimball.
Format Medium application/pdf
Identifier us-etd2,8244
Source Original: University of Utah Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library (no longer available).
Funding/Fellowship American Fund for Dent Health in Chiacog, Illinois.
ARK ark:/87278/s6bp0hb6
Setname ir_etd
ID 192979
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6bp0hb6