Notices to Readers
NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in Preventing Bladder Cancer
from Exposure to o-Toluidine and Aniline
CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) periodically issues alerts on workplace hazards that have
caused death or serious injury to workers. One such alert,
Request for Assistance in Preventing Bladder Cancer from Exposure
to o-Toluidine and Aniline (1),* presents new evidence that
clearly associates exposure to o-toluidine and aniline with an
increased risk for bladder cancer in workers. NIOSH concludes
that o-toluidine and aniline are potential carcinogens as defined
in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's carcinogen
policy (2). Workers and employers are therefore urged to
implement the recommendations in this alert to reduce exposure to
the lowest feasible concentrations.
o-Toluidine and aniline are aromatic amines used as
intermediates in the manufacture of a variety of dyes,
pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and chemicals employed in the
manufacture of rubber. o-Toluidine is produced or used in the
United States by 13 facilities, with onsite quantities ranging
from 1000 lbs to 10 million lbs. Aniline manufacture and use in
the United States is reported by 62 facilities, with onsite
quantities ranging from 100 lbs to 50 million lbs. During
1981--1983, the most recent years for which data are available,
an estimated 28,483 workers were potentially exposed to
o-toluidine, and 35,781 workers were potentially exposed to
aniline (CDC, unpublished data). Primary routes of exposure to
these compounds are inhalation and dermal contact.
NIOSH recommends reducing o-toluidine and aniline exposures
to the lowest feasible concentrations through hazard awareness,
training of workers, and use of engineering controls, good work
practices, and personal protective equipment.
Reported by: National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, CDC.
References
NIOSH. NIOSH alert: request for assistance in preventing
bladder cancer from exposure to o-toluidine and aniline.
Cincinnati, Ohio: US Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, CDC, 1990; DHHS publication no.
(NIOSH)90-116.
Office of the Federal Register. Code of federal regulations:
identification, classification, and regulation of potential
occupational carcinogens. Washington, DC: National Archives and
Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register, 1990. (29
CFR *** 1990).
*Single copies of this document are available without charge from
the Information Dissemination Section, Division of Standards
Development and Technology Transfer, NIOSH, CDC, 4676 Columbia
Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226; telephone (513) 533-8287.
Disclaimer
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