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From: Gary M. Kehoe <GKehoe**At_Symbol_Here**MWGEN.COM>
Subject: Cooling Tower Hazards
Date: Jul 10, 2007 22:38 UTC
Reply-To:
"Gary M. Kehoe"
In-Reply-To:
Good Afternoon, I received a question this afternoon about potential hazards associated with exposure to water vapor/mists from our mechanical draft cooling towers at one of our electric generation plants. The plant is located on a river and the cooling towers are used to cool the water before it is discharged back into the river. It is a closed loop system so the river water never comes into contact with any water in the system side. Depending on weather conditions and wind direction maintenance workers sometimes are exposed to water mist from the adjacent cooling towers. Concern has been voiced about exposure to biological agents (i.e - legionnaires, etc.) in these situations. Has anyone ever evaluated these types of exposures in this situation or know of research that has been done relative to this subject? Any good leads or ideas are gratefully welcomed. Thanks, Gary M. Kehoe, CIH Senior Industrial Hygienist Midwest Generation EMG 312-583-6103 312-925-1813 (C) 312-788-5533 (F)