US EPA

625203 

Technical Report 

Walk-through survey of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc. Louisville, Kentucky 

Jones, JH; Young, RJ; Selevan, S 

1975 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

Cincinnati, OH 

IWS-87-10; PB89-129845 

10 

A walk-through survey was conducted at the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc., Louisville, Kentucky to observe the manufacture of neoprene and discuss environmental monitoring programs for the safety of employees. Unrefined, refrigerated chloroprene (126998) monomer was brought to the facility where it was distilled as needed. Chloroprene monomer, resin, and modifier were mixed and added with a water solution in a large glass-lined reactor vessel for polymerization producing either full conversion latex or a solid material. The company provided complete preemployment physicals, and one every 3 years for employees less than 40 years old and once every 1.5 years for those over 40. Three cases of asbestosis have been reported in pipe insulation workers. Some cases of skin cancer were documented and hair loss due to chloroprene exposure was also noted. A chloroprene monitoring program was begun in the early 1970s; corrective actions were taken to lower chloroprene concentrations. Asbestos (1332214) was no longer used on process piping but potential exposure still exists. Acrylonitrile (107131) was used as a copolymer in chloroprene production. Exposure to talc (14807966) was also possible. Freon-22 (75456) was manufactured at this location. The authors recommend that exposure to chloroprene be kept as low as possible.