Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-88-328-1961: United States Army Corps of Engineers; Arlington, Virginia

Abstract

In response to a request for technical assistance from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (SIC-9999), Arlington, Virginia, a study was made of possible hazardous working conditions at Fort Myer, Fort McNair, and Cameron Station, located in the Washington, D.C. area. These three sites each had polychlorinated-biphenyl (1336363) (PCB) containing transformers. Maintenance workers visually inspected these transformers for leakage and manually felt around the gauges and valves for leaking oil. The employees did not repair the leaks, only report then to the supervisor. No detectable PCBs were noted in seven personal breathing zone samples. Area air samples for PCBs ranged in concentration from not detectable to 4.8 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/m3). Surface wipe samples ranged from not detectable to heavy contamination levels. Many of the transformers were leaking material suspected as containing PCBs. The author concludes that although breathing zone samples did not contain detectable concentrations of PCB, there was a potential for exposure to PCB contaminated surfaces. The author recommends that areas having heavy PCB surface contamination be cleaned up, that employees responsible for conducting clean up procedures wear appropriate personal protective clothing, that additional surface samples be taken following clean up to determine the effectiveness of the procedure, and that employees conduct quarterly inspections of the transformer vaults wearing protective gloves during the checking for leaks