3. Background
Total 27 Lighting Manufacturing sites were reviewed
Solid Mercury and Liquid Mercury were used
Lamp manufacturing process were reviewed
Employees’ Occupational Health check records were
reviewed
Past Industrial Hygiene (IH) monitoring results were reviewed
Monitoring conducted by China Center for Disease Controls
Monitoring Conducted by site
4. Background
Mercury inspection checklist was developed and applied
Comprehensive Qualitative Exposure Assessment was
(QLEA) conducted
Exposure monitoring locations determined based on
QLEA
Quantitative Assessment (QNEA) conducted using
Jerome Mercury Vapor Analyzer
NIOSH Method 6009
5. Background-China Regulatory Requirements
Industrial Hygiene Monitoring
Occupational Health Examination specific for
Mercury for potentially mercury exposed employees:
Pre-employment
On-the-Job
Exit and Emergency Health Examinations
Exposure controls , work practices and PPE/RPE
6. Mercury Exposure Limits
Mercury (Elemental and Inorganic Forms) Occupational Exposed Limits
ACGIH TLV-TWA : 0.025 mg/m3
China PC-TWA: 0.02 mg/m3
China PC-STEL: 0.04 mg/m3
China Urine Mercury Limits
35 µg/g Creatine; 20 µmol/mol Creatine; 0.01 mg/L
8. Background
About 30 Lighting Manufacturing sites were reviewed
Solid Mercury and Liquid Mercury were used
Challenges
Mercury Dosing, Exhausting, Stems Cutting, Aging,
Assembly, Mercury Waste Disposal processes were
reviewed
Employees’ Occupational Health check records were
reviewed
Past Industrial Hygiene (IH) monitoring results were
reviewed
9. Ⅰ: Different Types of Manufacturing
Total 27 sites reviewed, 6 different types of Manufacturing
Type of Compa Compac Compac T5 & T8 High Solid
Manufacturi ct t t Producti Intensity Mercury
ng Fluores Fluores Fluores on (Long Discharg Manufactu
cent cent cent Tubes) e (HID) ring
Lamp Lamp Lamp Producti
(CFL) (CFL) (CFL) on &
Produc Assemb Product Assembl
tion ly ion and y
Assemb
ly
Number of 6 5 2 7 6 1
Sites
10. Ⅱ : Different Types of Mercury
Solid and Liquid Mercury were used
Mercury Dosing Quantity for each lamp were about:
4 mg/lamp, 8 mg/lamp, 40 mg/lamp and 500 mg/lamp
Type of Mercury Solid Mercury Liquid Mercury Solid & Liquid
Mercury
Number of Sites 15 5 7
11. Ⅲ: Mercury Monitoring Challenges
Difficulty in obtaining and calibrating Jerome – Shipping
from USA , buying locally
Difficulty in collecting urinary mercury samples and
analyzing the samples
Sample shipping to US lab as AIHA accredited
Laboratories are not available
CDC method does not accurately identify mercury
exposure
Area Samples Required
Short Term Samples are collected and calculated for TWA
12. Ⅳ : Exposure Controls
Basic engineering and work practices related controls were
provided
Glove Box was provided for mercury dosing activity
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) was provided
Respiratory Protection was provided, however fit testing was
needed
13. Background
About 30 Lighting Manufacturing sites were reviewed
Solid Mercury and Liquid Mercury were used
What We
Mercury Dosing, Exhausting, Stems Cutting, Aging,
Assembly, Mercury Waste Disposal processes were
reviewed
Recommended?
Employees’ Occupational Health check records were
reviewed
Past Industrial Hygiene (IH) monitoring results were
reviewed
14. Recommendations
Substitute Liquid Mercury with Solid Mercury
Provide Engineering Control as Local Exhaust Ventilation
(LEV) for Mercury Dosing/Exhausting
Conduct regular efficiency testing for Engineering Controls
Set up Occupational Health Examination Program including
On-Board, On-the-Job, and Exit examinations for Mercury
exposed employees
Include all potentially mercury exposed employees into Health
Examination Program
15. Recommendations
Conduct regular Mercury Sampling for internal management
Establish Respirator Protection Program
Provide Nitrile gloves for Mercury handlers
16. Follow-up
Assistance was provided in implementing recommendations
also
Meetings were held to discuss engineering and work
practices exposure controls
Provided information on engineering control and PPE
suppliers
Limited education was also conducted
17. Lessons Learned
About 20 hours spent at each site in conducting industrial
hygiene assessment assisted the site in reducing potential
mercury occupational health risk
Obtaining site specific information before visiting site helped
for effective utilization of time
Qualitative Exposure Assessment assisted in:
Identifying specific locations for exposure monitoring
Identifying potentially mercury exposed employees
Identifying the need for exposure controls, work practices
and PPE/RPE
18. Conclusion
A systematic exposure assessment conducted assisted
in reducing potential mercury health risk at 27 mercury
lamp suppliers site in China.
The assessment also raised awareness of the site
leadership in reducing potential health risk.
22. Occupational Exposure Limits
ACGIH TLV-TWA: American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienist Threshold Limit Values – Time Weighed
Average
China PC–TWA: State Occupational health Standards of PRC
titled Occupational Exposure Limits for Hazardous Agents in the
Workplace, GBZ2.1 2007 Permissible Concentrations – Time
Weighed Average
China PC–STEL: Permissible Concentrations – Short Term
Exposure Limit
