Formaldehyde is used in the production of many household and building products and its health hazards are well recognized. Airborne formaldehyde concentrations can be measured using several different techniques, including laboratory-based methods and direct-reading instruments. For this study, two commercially available direct-reading instruments, an RKI Instruments Model FP-30 and a PPM Technology FormaldemeterTM htV, were compared with NIOSH Method 2016 in different test environments to determine if these direct-reading instruments can accurately measure formaldehyde.

This document summarizes the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) evaluation and recommendation of a health hazard evaluation (HHE) completed at a poultry breading plant in Georgia. The United Food and Commercial Workers union submitted the request. The request stated that employees at the plant were experiencing asthma, bronchitis, and nasal symptoms from exposure to breading dust, which consists of flour, spices, and other ingredients.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) at a base camp supporting the Siskiyou and Ukonom fires in the Klamath National Forest, California. Federal agency managers submitted the request due to concerns about carbon monoxide (CO) exposures of personnel working at base camps who support firefighters during wildland fire suppression activities. NIOSH findings and recommendations are detailed.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential employee request for a health hazard evaluation at the Sara Lee Bakery in Sacramento, California. The requestors were concerned about rashes, possibly from exposure to propylene glycol which had been used in the refrigeration system for approximately the past three years. There were concerns with the adequacy of the ventilation system and respiratory symptoms among workers. NIOSH investigators conducted three site visits between August 2005 and March 2006. This report contains NIOSH's findings and recommendations.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a health hazard evaluation at the request of the United Mine Workers of America, Local 1702. The request concerned potential methylene diphenyl isocyanate (MDI) exposure during the application of polyurethane foam and silica and asbestos exposures during rock dusting at the Consolidation Coal Company Blacksville #2 Mine in Blacksville, West Virginia. NIOSH findings and recommendations are detailed.