Table 1. Summary of occupational health regulatory history of washed cotton in the United States
Year Rule Exemptions for various washing conditions Comments
1978 OSHA Cotton Severe wash: It was "not
Dust Standard Complete exemption for cotton "thoroughly clear what cleansing
[43 Fed. Reg. washed in hot water" and "known in the processes ...
27351 (1978)] cotton textile industry as purified or dyed." qualify cotton
for exemption"
[50 Fed. Reg. 51120(1985)].
Severely washed
cotton is extremely
difficult to process
into textiles.
Mild wash: Mildly washed cotton
None. was not addressed
in standard.
1985 Revised OSHA Severe wash: These processes are
Cotton Dust Complete exemption for "medical grade (USP) more severe than the
Standard cotton, cotton that has been scoured, mild wash. Severely
[50 Fed. Reg. bleached, and dyed, and mercerized yarn." washed cotton is
51120 (1985)] extremely difficult
Mild wash: Facilities for
Partial exemptions* for cotton washed: mildly washing cotton
(i) on a continuous batt system or rayon are limited.
rinse system; The continuous batt
(ii) with water; system used in the
(iii) at a temperature of no less than Task Force
600°C; evaluations had a
(iv) with a water-to-fiber ratio of no less production capacity
than 40:1; and of only 500 lb/hr for
(v) with bacterial levels in the wash water washing cotton, and
controlled to limit bacterial contamination the rayon rinse system
of the cotton. has very limited
availability.
*Exemption from all requirements except
medical surveillance and medical recordkeeping
for higher grade cotton (low middling light
spotted or better) washed per above conditions.
*Exemption from all requirements except for
medical surveillance, medical recordkeeping,
and a 500-µg/m3 permissible exposure level (PEL)
for airborne dust measured by the vertical
elutriator sampler for lower grade cotton (below
low middling light spotted) washed per above
conditions.
Table 2. Summary of Task Force recommendations for near-term future regulation of mildly
washed cotton
Recommended exemptions for various washing Commentsconditions
Recommended amendment Severe Wash: Severe washing was not
of OSHA Cotton Dust No change from 1985 Revised OSHA Standard a focus of Task Force
Standard consideration. These
processes were not
further considered.
Mild wash: The purpose of this
Partial exemptions* for cotton washed, recommendation is to
either: encourage voluntary
(A) on a continuous batt system or rayon substitution of washed
rinse system, cotton for unwashed
(i) with water, cotton as a strategy
(ii) at a temperature of no less than to prevent respiratory
60°C, disorders induced by
(iii) with a water-to-fiber ratio of no cotton dust.
less than 40:1, and
(iv) with bacterial levels in the wash Compared to unwashed
water controlled to limit bacterial cotton mildly washed
contamination of the cotton; or cotton can be more
(B) on a batch washing system, difficult and more
(i) with water, costly to process into
(ii) with cotton fiber mechanically opened fine textiles, so
and thoroughly prewet prior to forming the potential uses will
cake, probably involve
(iii) for low temperature process, at a smaller novelty or
temperature of no less than 60°C with a niche markets.
water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 40:1,
or for high temperature process, at a Mild washing may
temperature of no less than 93°C with a enhance textile
water-to-fiber ratio of no less than 15:1, processing
and characteristics of
(iv) with a minimum of one wash cycle some cotton (e.g.,
followed by two rinse cycles for each "sticky" cotton), and
batch, using fresh water in each cycle. may also enable value-
added special effects
*Exemption from all requirements except (e.g., special dyeing
medical surveillance and medical characteristics for
recordkeeping for higher grade cotton novelty yarns;
(low middling light spotted—grade code improved quality of
52—or better) washed per above conditions. rotor-spun yarns).
*Exemption from all requirements except Under the new USDA
for medical surveillance, medical classification system
recordkeeping, and a 500-µg/m3 permissible begun in 1993, low
exposure limit (PEL) for airborne dust middling light spotted
measured by the vertical elutriator sampler cotton corresponds to
for lower grade cotton (below low middling color grade code 52,
light spotted—grade code 52) washed per leaf grade code 5.
above conditions.
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