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662 HAZWOPER for General Site Workers III
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Symptoms of Exposure at Work

Head:

  • Symptoms: Dizziness, headache
  • Common Causes: Solvents, paint, ozone, smoke (including tobacco)

Eyes:

  • Symptoms: Red, watery, irritated eyes; grainy feeling
  • Common Causes: Smoke, gases, various dusts, vapors from paint and cleaners

Nose and Throat:

  • Symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, sore throat
  • Common Causes: Smoke, ozone, solvents, various dusts, vapors, and fumes from paint and cleaners

Chest and Lungs:

  • Symptoms: Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, lung cancer
  • Common Causes: Metal fumes, various dusts, smoke, solvents, vapors from paint and cleaners
  • Stomach:
    • Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhea
    • Common Causes: Some metal fumes, solvents, paint vapors, long-term lead exposure

    Skin:

    • Symptoms: Redness, dryness, rash, itching, skin cancer
    • Common Causes: Solvents, chromium, nickel, detergents and cleaners, paint on skin

    Nervous System:

    • Symptoms: Nervousness, irritability, sleeplessness, tremors, loss of balance or coordination
    • Common Causes: Long-term solvent exposure, long-term lead exposure
  • Reproductive System:
    • Symptoms (Men): Low sperm count, damage to sperm
    • Symptoms (Women): Irregular menstruation, miscarriage, damage to egg or fetus
    • Common Causes: Lead, toluene, some other solvents, ethylene oxide

    * Source WOSH/CAL

    Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

    4-9. What are symptoms of skin exposure to toxins?