Industrial hygiene survey in a university art department

Analysis of air samples indicated that concentrations of respirable free silica from sandblasting equipment used inside an unventilated painting room greatly exceeded the current OSHA standard and NIOSH recommended criteria. Lack of ventilation in the design materials studio resulted in excessive wood dust concentrations; levels averaged 29 mg/m3 which was well above the evaluation criteria of 5 mg/m3. Noise levels measured in the woodworking area of the design materials studio, and near the melting furnace located in the foundry of the ceramics studio, exceeded the 100-dBA limit recommended by NIOSH for a 2 hr continuous exposure. Lack of proper ventilation in the design materials painting room and in the printmaking darkroom resulted in exposures to toxic concentrations of toluene (from spray painting) and methyl cellosolve acetate (from KPR photo etching chemicals). Results of atmospheric sampling indicate that exposure to wood dust, crystalline silica, methyl cellosolve acetate, and toluene were excessive, and capable of producing both acute and long term health effects.