Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-90-179-2172, National Park Service, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hilo, Hawaii.

Abstract

In March 1990, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request for a health hazard evaluation (HHE) from the National Park Service to evaluate park employees' exposures to volcanic emissions (both gases and particulates) within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HVNP). An industrial hygiene study was conducted at HVNP during March 25-30, 1990, which also included the administration of a symptoms questionnaire to all park employees. Park personnel were concerned about their exposures to sulfur dioxide (SO 2) emissions, to the asphalt decomposition products (generated when the lava covers the roadways and burns the pavement), to acid mists when lava enters the ocean, to volcanic-caused smog (termed VOG), and to Pele's hair (a fibrous glass-like material which is formed when lava enters the ocean and is rapidly cooled and also during periods of high lava fountaining). None of these conditions, with the exception of SO 2 emissions, were present during the NIOSH evaluation in March 1990 either within the national park boundaries or outside the park. Long-term colorimetric detector tube samples, used to characterize HVNP workers' personal fullshift exposures to SO 2 , revealed no detectable levels. General area air samples taken at various locations within the national park where employees occasionally worked had SO 2 concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 5.0 parts per million (ppm). Direct reading, short-term detector tube samples collected near a naturally occurring sulfur vent showed SO 2 levels of 1.2 ppm. The current NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for SO 2 is 0.5 ppm for up to a 10-hour timeweighted average (TWA). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for SO 2 is 2 ppm for an 8-hour TWA. OSHA has also established a 15-minute Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 5 ppm. Symptoms questionnaires were distributed to all park workers on March 25-30, 1990. Forty-three (approximately half) of the park employees returned the symptoms questionnaire before May 1, 1990. Work-related symptoms reported by more than 50% of the respondents included headache, eye irritation, throat irritation, cough, and phlegm. Chest tightness or wheezing and shortness of breath were also frequently reported. This Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) report and any recommendations made herein are for the specific facility evaluated and may not be universally applicable. Any recommendations made are not to be considered as final statements of NIOSH policy or of any agency or individual involved.