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Chemical Sampling Information |
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| Limestone (Total Dust) |
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General Description
Exposure Limits
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 15 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 15 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 10 mg/m3 TWA; The value is for particulate matter containing no
asbestos and <1% crystalline silica. (TLV listed under Calcium Carbonate)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 10 mg/m3 TWA
Health Factors
Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, mucous membranes; cough, sneezing, rhinorrhea (discharge of thin mucous); lacrimation (discharge of tears).
Health Effects: Nuisance Particulates (HE19)
Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system
Note: A case of pneumoconiosis without pulmonary fibrosis attributed to limestone dust was reported in an office worker, whose unventilated office where he had worked for 24 years was situated within a limestone quarry. The authors cited a 1955 report of pneumoconiosis in limestone miners that was attributed to the presence of silicates (up to 10%).
Date Last Revised: 09/28/2005
Literature Basis:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Limestone.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Calcium carbonate.
- Crummy, F., Carl, I., Cameron, C.H.S. and Heaney, L.G.: A possible case of pneumoconiosis in a limestone quarry worker. Occup. Med. (Lond.) 54(7): 497-499, 2004.
- Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Calcium Carbonate. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 453-454.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
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sampling media: tared 37-mm diameter low-ash polyvinyl chloride filter
maximum volume: 480 Liters maximum flow rate: 2.0 L/min
current analytical method: Gravimetric
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA PV2121)
method classification: Partially Validated
note: OSHA personnel can obtain tared sampling media from SLTC.
note: If the net weight of the sample yields a concentration below the standard for the substance, SLTC will perform no further work on that sample. If the net weight corresponds to an amount greater than the standard, the sample may be analyzed for the appropriate element and the result reported as the substance.
current elemental analysis method: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; AAS
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA ID-121)
method classification: Validated
note: An elemental analysis is performed for total Calcium and reported as the compound.
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Page last updated: 04/06/2006
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