Document 1QLyXx13QyyvxDO902pbjE66q

Report of dust Survey at national ..abestos Zz Plant of United States Gypsum Co. at Jersey City, Made by the Saranac -uaboratory May 25 - June U, 1926 Received July ?l, 1936 The National Asbestos Co. plant of the U. S. Gypsum Co. .ve s ti .cated the nature and extent of dust exposure encountered there by workers are reported herewith. At this plant are manufactured various asbestos products such as asbestos paper, pipe coverings, cement and liquid roofing, and asphalt composition roofing and shingles. Faper for the composition roofing also is made here. The plant was formerly owned by one National .-.sbestos Co. and nas been operated by the U. S. Gypsum Co. for only a few months. Plant layout The manufacture of asbestos cement and pipe coverings ia carried on in #1 building. Asbestos, clay and other minerals are dumped through chutes into enclosed rooms or bins, located at the south end of the third floor, from which screw conveyors carry the material to the first floor where it is bagged as asbestos cement. Also on the third floor are machines for corrugating paper and for malting asbestos pipes, a canvas room in which 000007 Of i 100 00 boards. V/aste from the saws is uiuonui r_d through a pipe into a "dust house" on the first floor. The office occupies part, of the second floor. Most of the first, second and fourth floors are for storage. The roofing and paper machines are arranged along parallel lines in 2 building. In making roofing heavy paper .3 unwound from a large roll and passed `r.ru 'gh a vat of liquid asphalt, farther on a heavy layer of coarse granules is added to one side cf tr.e sheet, ana a l.gnc coating of mica or soap stone to the otr.er side. finally trie long snsets are wound into rolls or cut off to make shingles. Ihe roofing and paper machines are parallel, of approximately the same length and about 15 feet apart. At the end of the paper machine in thi3 building and also in #5 building are the beaters into 'which the base material (asbestos, rags, scrap paper) is dun. ed. "facer is added to t.3.ks a semi-fluid mass and the mixt_re tries passes throurn the rolls of the machine until it emerges as paper. In #5 building, on the fifth floor, rags for making paper stock are shredded in tne rag cutters. After dropping to the second floor they are weighed and are then fed to the beaters on the first floor. Liquid roofing is manufactured in a moderately-sized room in the warehouse building. Bags of asbestos dust and as bestos fiber are dumped into a small tank, asphalt is added, the mixture is stirred thoroughly, and the liquid mass is then drawn off and transferred to cans. Much of the plant floor space is for storage. There is a large warehouse for roofing rolls and another for shingles, m fi i.xu a besides considerable apace for storms other material. permissible Standards of Pastiness The development of any form of pneumoconiosis depends upon the breathing of air containing mineral rarticle.s which must be sufficiently high in concentration, fine in size and hazardous in nature to cause permanent injury to the lungs. Thus far only free silica minerals, uuen as quartz, flint and chalcedony, and fibrous minerals described as a group by the term ''asbestos", nave oeen proved to ue the cause of a definite pathologic fibrosis. 'Vhile it car;r,usafely be said that other minerals containing silica are i tfcout danger, it is generally recognized that the extent to which a po3tiole dust hazard exists is indicated principally by the concentration in the industrial atmosphere of free eilica or asbestos particles of roar, i racle s i z s Various authorities have tentatively suggested a con centration of 5 million particles of free silica per cubic foot of air as a limit above which a silicoris hazard might exist,and this value has met with some recognition. The figure just given refers to dust samples collected with the Greenburg-Smith impinger apparatus and counted by the standard technique of the Public Health Service. There is no standard for the safe concentration of asbestos dust comparable to the val>>e just given for free silica dust. However, the results of a survoy made in four aabeatos fabricating plants and reported in 1925 in Bulletin #42, Dept, of Labor, and Industry of Pennsylvania, give pertinent data on the subject and are summarized below. Mo one in a group (iO persona; with leas than 5 years exposure had asbestusis (.vith ins exception that one person was classed as doubtful). 30 per cent in a group (14 out of 46 persons) wim more than 5 years exposure tiau usbestosis. The incidence of asbestosi3 was directly related to the concentration of asbestos oust to which workers were exposed, as brought out in t.r-e following table. (Petro graphic analyses failed to u. is close the presence o; free silica in cast from the plants studied). Incidence of aebestosta ou-; workers with more tnan 5 years exposure: Average Dust Concentration for Each Group Studied Percentage of Each Group Having- Asbestosis Particles per cu.ft.of air. 44 million iZ ((3 out of 11 persur.s; 17 * p7 "(4 " " 15 ' ) C l-0 ( 7 OH 5" 10 "(2 " " '20 ") The authors of the report conclude that it is not possible from their findings to establish the maximum safe con centration of asbestos dust in the air. In another study on asbestoaia (U. S. Public Health Service Reprint #1665, 1925) Lanza, UcCounell und Fehnel report that 43 per cent of a group with less than 5 years exposure had asbestoaia and that the proportion had increased to 87 per cent in a group with more than 15 years exposure. They also state that "it is not practicable as yet To establish standards for the asbestos dust content of air". '.Thile asbestosis may be - miiu^* ype of fibrosis tuan is silicosis, it does act appear i rum the s *--dj.es mentioned a cove that a standard for a safe concent, ra t i on 0/ asbes*os dust v.u.iid permit a greater concentration than the val;.:- already given for free silica dust. It is quite possible that the safe limit miant' be even lower for asbestos than for silica. Tor the present it .vcaid seem best to attempt to keep the concentration of astest03 dust leas than 5 million particles per cubic foot of air counted by light field examination. lusts -encountered in Plant A great variety c; i.ner .ils ..men jo to form u.r-oorne dust is used in tns plant. Among them are asbestos, infusorial earth, 3late, clay, soapstone, mica atvl limestone. Some of these minerals are definitely hazardous; others are probably not very ia.nrercus although conclusive proof u 1 con i nr; and still others have been shown to be practically harmless. Asbestos cun be classed as hazardous and diatcmaceous or infusorial earth, which is a hydrated form of free silica, may perhaps fall in the same category. Asbestos has.been shown by both clinical and experimental evidence to be capable of giving rise to pulmonary fibrosis. uncompleted experiments indicate that diatomaceou3 earth is like other kinds ox' free silica minerals in causing pathologic reaction in animals. Clinical proof of its harmfulness is still lacking. Elate, clay, soapstone and m-ica are all silicate minerals. Most authorities agree that the silicates, except asbestos, cannot be regarded as distinctly danvorourj us are quarts and other varieties of free silica, but it shoulu be noted that frequently some free r.ilica accompanies l loo n silicate minerals ana may present a hazard. Limestone is a calcium carbonate mineral and extensive ex^ruisuLs c-rrieu on with .vurbie duct, another variety of the same mineral, hilled to reveal any hazard associated with the inhalation of oust o: that composition. Hags and scrap paper used in making paper are also source of dust. Nearly all this dust is undoubtedly either organic particles, such as lint fibers or pieces of paper or cloth, or else non-hazardous mineral particles. Ins re is little likelihoou th-t appreciable quantities of dangerous minerals are present in this dust, although tne possioility that tne rags ar.d scrap paper may carry pathogenic oacteria must be ctnsiuereu. Humes arising from the asphalt vat simulate dust, ana although very ur.desiraule from a hygienic standpoint they ao not appear to increase greatly the amount of dus$ in suspension* Oust Concentrations in Plant Dust samples were collected with the same C- reenburg-cm i tc. impir.ger apparatus used in other dust surveys for the U. 3. Gypsum Co. and the particles were counted with both light field and dark field illumination. The former method of illumination is the standard of the U. S. Public Health Service; the latter is a technique employed by many investigators to detect the smaller particles not revealed by the light field method. Dust counts for both methods are tabulated at the end of this report. The collecting fluid for all samples was 35 per cent ethyl alcohol. #1 Building (and liquid roofing room) On the third floor of #1 building are the rooms or bins in which asbestos, soapstone, infusorial earth, etc. are fed into the screw conveyors. These are small rooms about 20 ft. r.r*no7 t j i o square, completely enclosed and havi.nr no ventilation, and men working in them are exposed continuously to a hidn co:;cenLrat:c:r of dust. Thus inside *1 din in v<mcn a man was shoveling Italia:; fioer (asbestos) the co ucen t ru t i c n was million part.oles _--jr ou. ft. of air; inside ,f3 bin, where bags of asbestos, clay, etc. wer = opened and the contents pusued into the screw conveyors, due count -.-as much lower, oeing only million. This indicates tuat considerably more dust is stirred uy shovexing the material than by emptying it from bags. Cver the opening on the fourth floor through rm:on the bins -re sup.jli.ed asoestes and other material the dust ooncentrat i on v.as found to be 7? mill ion parti cles _er cu.ft.of air. Ail men :.or/.in.j u; or cver the tins ware respirators and tr.e high dust counts their continuing to do so. .phanizo the necessity of Also on the third floor is :ie machine at whicn asbestos cc arc z are saweo . The dust cor.ce::? r-1. on t ..ere as met very igr., being only 3 million particles per cu.ft. of air, but that value is somewhat above safe limits. It wou-.i appear desiraole to equip r;l- oi)7 1311 tr.e machine with an exhaust system; also, if feasible, to arrange the rotation of the saw so that the dust is thrown away from the man instead of toward him. ' Several dusty operations are conducted on the first floor. Loading bags with asbestos cement was responsible for a concentratioi of 2G1 million particles per cu.ft. of air. ns the cement is about 60 per cent asbestos besides containing diatumaceous earth, the dust is highly hazardous. There was no [revision for removing dust set up by this operation. Sven though the men wear ^ respirators, the installation of an efficient system of exhaust ventilation would seen to be a uecea. ; 1.. , r.o - only to protect tne men loading the cage out also tc : rover.t the diffusion of dust into the general atmosphere. Th-.t tuere .as much dust suspended in the air was shown by sample .-yj, taken about 40 ft. away, for which the count was 42 million. .Men trucking asbestos cement and paper in that vicinity are thus exposed to a high con centration of dust. another aunty >, rihon is shoveling waste felt and asbestos from the -'uet house into bags, for which the count was 72 million. The r.eif.er assisting ,.n this operation wore no respirator. All men who rorx in such, high concentrations of dangerous dust snouid be compelled to wear respirators; out a determined effort should be made to eliminate most of the oust by' installing an exhaust system of ventilation, by arranging to fill bags without creating so much dust, by ..- proving the dust house to reduce leakage and permit the remove, of ..aste felt end asbestos with less exposure to the man, and by providing better ventilation in general. Mixing liquid roofing involves the exposure to consider able dust as the concentration next to the vat was found to be 165 million particles per cu.ft.of air. Most of this was asbestos because the ingredients of liquid roofing are asbestos saw dust, asbestos fiber and asphalt. The high count shows how important it is that the man continue to -wear his respirator. An exhaust system of ventilation over the vat i3 very desirable not only to get rid of dust but also to remove fumes arising from the asphalt. Also, the vat should be covered. z 11 Corruraticm Machine There was little cu:-t ce?.r ! be corrugating .achins. Samples taken at the feed end cr;a at tee discuarge end ooth snowed the dust concentration to be lees Mian 1 million particles car cu.ft. of air. The concentratiui in the canvas room where asbestos ^aper is cut off in strips far making pipes .vas about 2 million. roofing Tachir.e '** ^ \ O O ^ e, X A <S tn: roofing machine, although - ...h'--y hi ,;;her t:.an c of the North To nciwar.ua roofir;;* ... j.nt , ere not ox: lomoarative light field counts are *adulated below acted near e s u r v e ' At saturator Coater tender Backing man Feeding slate flour Shoveling granules Shingle machine Light Field Count (.in millions,) :n: 2.1 5.2 *7 t 5.4 1.9 1712.9 3.2 3.0 0.8 From a hygienic standpoint the couuition of the atmosphere at the roofing machine was quite unsatisfactory. Fumes from the open asphalt vat3 diffuse through the air and there is little or no ventilation to carry them away. Plana have been made to enclbse the asphalt, vats at the North Tonawanda plnnt more fully; ouch a change i3 even more desirable fbr the Jerr.ey City plant because `here ventilation is poorer and non at both the roofing and the paper machine are exposeu u tne fumes. The sample taken on the - .at form suave the roofing machine, where slate flour is uum - j d into a tan*, shows that the man working there is exposed to an exceedingly high concentratio of dust. For even a harmless dust the concentration would be excessive, but since slate flour contains some free siiica there would appear to be a possible siiicosi:- uaiani. This very dusty condition should be eliminated, r o s.. . u 1 by ring the tar..-: and arranging an exhaust removal of lust. In. t:.e meantime tne man should wear a respirator. rrovis ion should also be made for improving tne ventilation. Paper Machine The dustiest operation associated with the manufacture of paper is the .handling and cutting of rays. Un f o r t una c ei y r.c dust sample could be obtained, since no rag paper was being mads. At the Skaneateles Falls plant the oust concentration near the rag cutter was 53 million particles per cu.ft. of air; it was 2 undoubtedly much higher in the Jersey City plant because additional dust was released when the rags dropped from the fifth to the second floor. Aa noted in the survey report for the Skaneateles Falls Mill it would appear desiraole to furnish respirators to men working in such a dusty atmosphere and also to provide better ventilation. The du3t. concentration near men filling the beuter machines was 3 million particles per cu.ft. of air when paper stock was used and 10 million when the material was asbestos. Since the latter count is somewhat. hi nor L. m a safe value, the men shoulu w-ar respirators v.tvjn f .11 inf *...* beaters v.ith asbestos. Much dangerous oust is set free v.-heri empty asbestos cars are shaken out so that the .,an uoinr this -.verm is exposed to cd mi LI ion particles per cu.ft. of air, a conceal rat ion .veil acovs safe limits. It is suggested that tul.-. o..er tion be eliminated, possibly by shaxing out the bars in a car v.-neel as is done with emrty cement suc.-ts. In the me -in. Mae ' ..e a.. _:.cu_. -:.s=.r a respirator. In the passageway along the pacer -a i ne the concent ra t ion of lust v.as about the same as a=-r the reo:i.;./ m acnir.e, being c million particles per cu. ft. of air. lost of'this aust prooubiy comes from the roofing machine. is o e1iano c u s For samples taken in tr.e roil arehouse ana shingle v.are- hoo -e , represent mu the average _ust cuua i r.n i n those ouiiuin.es, the counts were less than Z million particles per cu. ft. of air; for a sample collected in the machine shop it was less than 1 million. Summary and Conclusions 1. It is recommended that the concentration of free silica or asbestos dust to which men are exposed be kept less than 5 million particles per cu.ft. of -Lr by light field examination. Men exposed to greater concentrations shoulu wear respirators. S ie t 2. It is suggested that Uu!ni tv- Uiu duu condition be brourht within sate limits respi.ru.foi s oe vvo rn v the i olio.- i.-.;: 'nen (in adaition to those already su-..!ieu witn t:.e:): (a) All men on fhe first floor of jl building especially those working at the dost house und loading asbestos cement. (b) The man feeding slate flour uoove the roofing machine. (c) Man -working near the rag nutter. (d) Men at the ceaters when dumping asbestos into the vat. (e) The man ho snakes out asbestos jaga. 3. An exr.au st system of uu-1 r^cvu. v.oulu be very de si asle for the following operations: (a) Sawing asbestos boards. (b) Loading bags with asbestos cement. (c) Mixing liquid roofing. (d) Feeding slate flour. 4. The ventilation snoui be ::::proveu in several 1ocali*ie s: (a) Cn the first floor of #1 building. (b) At the roofing machine, especially around the asphalt vat and on the platform where slate flour is added. (c) 'Tear the rag cutter. 5. The diffusion of uust, especially dangerous dust, into the atmosphere should oe reduced as much us possible. Special attention should bs .'iven to preventing leakage from the dust house and asbestos cement loader on the first floor, and from the slate flour and liquid roofing mixing vats (possibly by cover Lnr t.hem). 6. The present method oC i suiiiiu s i l o flour f 111 a r over the roofing machine should be changeu to retrace tr.e dust hazard. 7. npty asbestos bags sncuiu be snarer. in sor:;a way /.Utah does not allow the asoestos oust to uifinse into the atmosphere. 8. Men inside the bin3 on tue third floor of 41 building work in a high concentration of dungerouu Just. It mould be desirable to develop a metnca of u u.. ' j i material to the screw conveyors without requiring the continuous exposure of men to the Cl -3 Summary of :..euic i-'mu inr s The majority of the physical examinations wury made by Dr. Arthur B. Slinn; a few were reported by Dr. Hill. The x-ray films of the chest taken by Dr. Periberg .ere interpreted by Dr. H. L. Sampson. Cccupat l jimi Histories .-.ere taxen oy < Fred K . Sephton. .3 IdtiB there rare see r. h-j em:.-oyee s examined of 160 had v.orxsd mo re than 1 year a nn ctuiu be mroper1y consis s c 1 i am w 2. 3 * S 5 S * Sight, of tne out.ro group we.e young wome under 23 years of cl S * i h 0 <i :2 ~ tetribution of all employee shown in Table I, indicates that practically all of them are under 50 years of are. We have n c information -.= to hstr.tr there rere cider individuals ..he . 0 i . CclUSQ Of 3 L S ;i C . but th e iack of c cmulaints in tae u.-tory of those still emr surges ts that thi a .vas not the ca se. Table I Age Distribution in 206 Employees Are Periods 15-20 21-25 26-3031-35 36-40 41-46 46-50 51-60 Number of Employees 26 40 29 27 30 20 30 a iZ of Total Grouo 12.6 19.5 14./ 13.1 15.5 9.7 15.5 GP 0 0 7 1 3 1 0 These individuals were a. pai'ea ily in goou ^nys icai condition and naos no complaint. .-.side iron incidental fLauings, that have been noted on tne e.xairuiut.on a. units unu will u.ndouatedly receive the attention of the plant , iiysLcuu, tlie only common abnormalities were chronic tonsillitis and bad teeth and gums. In view of the prevalence of these conditions in the general population they can hardly be attributed to occupation. Tn :: cLr*1? ci. L >r a 'T 'j 1 ^ v s s . " u u 6 according to tne ca :o r cccul. -u t L j ns in ..t; i ;;i * r.e y re re ecu-loved at the time cf the survey. This a rran _emen L is of doubtful value owing to tne fact that tr.e factory superintendent usually assigned each man to. a job for tne day; on the following one he might worK in another place with a different dust exposure. However, as it is necessary to tab-..it 3 a.l of cases in come for-, tne one auouted seems ae useful as an. hoofing machino (Some mica, soapstone or slate flour) ro CD N o. Mame Age *. 1 m e X- Ray Physical Findings Cheat Finding c Occupation 282 J. Skiba 264 S. G1uhan S.Marinki 285 M. Sfano t 19 yrs. 3 mo s. 18 It 1 yr. 21 >1 l (1 19 II 1 II 0 0 0 ^1 0 0 0 / 256 '.7. 2uska 26 PI 301 J.Czermanski 38 n' 39C ? .:,:a je-.vski 230 I. Kwityn 45 <! 43 tt 269 J.Stefanowsky 40 n 271 A.Tchis 46 ii i > It - M 13 mo s. 2 yra. 2 ft -l rl 0 F1 **1 F1 0 I m/ 1 / 0 27 9 S . S p a r x s w-zWrrS\J L.Niece 260 S.Tooias 267 H.Farmer 268 N.Wanot % 284 J.Huatyk 277 F.Baltazuk 263 L.Panasuit 278 J.Yosey 265 A.. Dennis 262 D.Coll ins 266 D.D LToria 27 2 E.Ge rhardt 21 n 24 t 27 it 32 it 52 it 22 it 23 it 47 it 39 it 36 it 34 ii 34 it 46 it 2 ii 2 (f 3 if 4 It 4 It 4 tt 5 tt 6 II 6 It a it 9 It 10 it 11 It rl F1 0 P.C . 0 / / 00 Pi 0 F.c . 0 0 00 A1 / P'l 0 00 p'l 0 P'1 0 *1 / Moving rolls of roofing material Moving roll3 Moving roofing material Mixing granules brick and atone Slate anc coating mixer .Mixes slate granules Moving roofing material Mixes slate " slate flour in coat:;. tank. Cutting sr.ir.glea Coats roofing 7;ith asphalt Dumps wheel-barrows Saturates felt roofing pap Mixes slate Mixing granules,brick/ston Cutting shingles Ciler Cutting shingles o c o>4 __ Rolls felt Q Keeps fire in asphalt stil Saturates felt roofing pap Rubs soapstone on rollers r.CCFIHC- . :n JH i X (continued) Mo. Hame Acs Time X- Ray Physical * * .icings Chest Find i nsrs Cccupation 275 S. Howard 26 yrs 274 S.Schemchuk 41 II 27C N.Tarby 46 it 273 F. Kowal 42 tl 11/ yr. 12 13 13 00 C " u 0 ?1 Chr. / Active Tj At / Cutting shingles Cutting shingles Mixes slate flour in coating tank Hubs soapstone cn rc11= rs ruwj 2, EAT XT. (very heavy 1 int and fuse) All men in this department at some time or other are engaged in shaking bags of asbestos into a feeder - caking asbestos paper. Fairly heavy asbe stes exposure at time. ::o. Marne Age Time X-Ray fhynical Findings Cii-^st Fiuuinr 3 Cccupat i w n 251 G. Oress 247 T. Marinki 250 ?. Marcenkus 240 J. Clow 242 S. Skiba 249 P. Homick 253 C. Hurtuk 236 J. Bojar 239 V'.Twardusky 246 J. Sokel 233 D. Rodgers 31 yrs 1 mo. 45 ft 5 II 46 II 5 It 46 It 1 yr. 46 II 1 n 39 If 1 it 47 It 1 it 46 It 1 ii 49 II 2 ii 49 If 2 it 32 It 3 ii F1 0 Fi 0 Tx 0 O(Heart) 0 Aj^ ( III! * ) / F1 ^ 00 Fx 0 Fx 0 V 0 / o Cut ting rags in c i S3 tl It It It ft If H T5 O a II It 'Jj N It to to RAG 5EATER ( Jy-.iliuue-'i ) .Vo. j a m e Age *. L m e A~ na y r 11 y i l c a 1 Findings Chest ___________________ _______________ Fin". i :;."S ^ c c u j.11 lion 243 . S tar.f ord .o' 3uda v> J rs 5 yrs. 0 r.C. 37 il 5 " Fi_ / 0 C u 11 ing rags m bales it 244 J.Liszkiewicz 45 if 3 " F3 A It 245 7.Smith 35 il 9 " 0 G tl 235 '.T. '.Tando w3ki 234 V.Giuhan -5 *7^ h" 72 ** ' * wu 9 "48 If 46 t| i r m --W -0 7 *W ii Fi(t:l.i.d v' k- ' sj A 0 It 11 il 241 H. 31i.-3en u ",** "i it f-. c H v * -'i Var.e 337 Car.pien 344 '7. '"itkewski 334 '7. Jankovski 293 '.i. ?atteraon 335 J. Evans 340 J. Carter 342 n. Ellis 333' J. English 338 F. English 343 J. Parker 336 F. Ellis 341 C. Johnson SHIVG LE PACKERS AtU Pr.lU ]_< wTikCtu-PlS (General Dust ) Age Time 7 -Roy Fh ysical est Find 13 yrs . 1 mo. 0 C 19 tf 23 if 31 II 38 ir 34 ii 33 23 u 24 ti w-XwT it 30 i 37 i 1" 2 yf*s 2" 4 2" 4" 5" .5 " 7" 9" 14 7D?ac tive 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 / / O Co T-. UCKI vc r: ! 'aru'-( ; L* -ll a oading trucKs wi tn sningles a:vi rolled roofing) .Vo. Name A *] Time 357 0. McCullough 355 r . r 2110 359 V. gazula 351 John O'Connell 335 J. Nde riua.<a 352 J. :: island w V I. Nook 177 C. '.vatkins 176 a. Catkins 23 yrs 13 II 20 It 44 ! 2 3 >1 25 H H 29 If 44 It 1 mo. w** it 4 it o<w it 2n 4 it 4 ii 5 it 10 H X-Ray Physical F L nn i n,rc Chest Findings 0/ 0/ 00 r\X / O0 X1 0 00 F1 0 F1 0 w.!L.Ci\DxN- C/\n.w .UiXi.. J (Very heavy asbestos dust. ) T 4 Vo. Vame Age Time X-Ray Physical Findinro Chest Findings 106 J. '"ojnaaki 107 F. ,7a sko 104 J. Craig 105 R. Mackey 41 35 40 40 4 yrs. si " 11 " 12 " ri 0 F1 A1 0 / 0 / z.m : d )< .)i i T'T r MAKING u, .. ' ' ; T (Small amount a^be; LUO uU.U j '.'0 . :.:ame A $Q 13 V. Horosz 21 V. DiChirics 13 r DeFelice 23 <1n Criteili 29 C1V. i e L c z 7 0 V 1 t. 2 "7 Zi-os i to 27 Guastillo *AT Adorni roi< 3 A Nit to ' 2 # a. "astro1ia Tv V 7rione ' T Mai 1 z i. re <w Feretti r\ ;-s rrone 2 J. Kail ' 9 V. Giannone 20 F. Tartarete 3 ?. Messina 10 S. ITander 5 T. Carmella 24 J. Miglino 16 *ut. Dc Vita 39 23 21 4o*4-*) 23 19 25 -* r1 2Q 33 35 45 33 32 49 29 4? 28 45 41 44 56 50 7 i .7i e 1 yr 1" 20 mo. 2 yrs. O Ow ^.. ' W-l II 3 5" 7" 7" 7t " 3" 9" 10 " 13 " 13 " 13 " 14 " 19 " 21. " 24 " 27 X - 7) -i 7 ri:iai:i;o 0 0 : hyst Chest G 0 ^1 r 00 -\ '"V tr. 0 1 o 00 ***e 1 0 *S'o 0 r- 0 r. rv 00 A,i. ? 0 00 F1 / 00 0 *1 0 0 V/ *Y 0 H3EI Ot)JJ : r*- i r v (General lust, asbestos and slate flour) No Name 343 T. rw 1 n 253 J. Kvri tyn 289 M. Rawlinke 392 Cs trcr;s:<i i;: Ire snock 331 * Ceivscchie 292 wC Sielicki 302 FlU3t 294 S. Pevelko 35a .t* eras 339 or # Cheinters 39 5 3 # 2esink 153 S. Russe 339 A. Carlucfci Age 19 20 13 15 11 21 2 22 27 22 21 21 44 19 * i,ne 1 day 2 it wT wks .^ > 2 i 5 if 6 it 7 mos. a 't 1 yr 2 'l 22 11 ?1 ft X-Ray Physical Finr. in.~c Chest Findings Healed ncn-T3 `1 F1 0 0 0 :i 3 n0 r, X^ 0 0 2 *! 0 Healed T2 F1 0 0 0 `w 0 c 0 / SZt l 00 JJ ,\rO . Came 215 J. Jacoby 216 S. Graczik 219 'T. Kazmieski 214 17. Gardner 1 3 A. Saltazuk FIR.'.1 N n i'i D J( .-.L (Soft coal and asues) Age 43 48 47 36 45 Tine 3 yrs 3" w% M 4 '' _" w-1 if / _ r; a * ~ "ACi j F i nd i :;:*3 F hysical Chest, FL:. r/ r--1 i i e a 1 e d TI 0 0 00 r Sa,V DEF.iRTM.C. 7 (Sawing dates to 3 pipes - very heavy asoestcs) 49 F. Horboski 43 R. Mil teer 46 M. Gentile 45 G. Darniano % 39 15 yrs rL 36 rw\ in r~A 39 13 " G 48 24 " fl g ^'>J / 0 CCRRUGA TED ROLLING ,vCKI:;e (Make corrugated asbestos paper - very heavy asbestos) 41 0. I'ussillo 51 17 yrs. *1? 0 42 F. Romanowsky 56 29 " A1 / v z ti foodJ WAREKCVS'd (Putting canvas tops on rolls of roofing) :;o. .Came Age 376 U patson 376 G. 3igart 372 M. Michalkowsky 373 J. Halupka 371 -- * a c -* y "7 4. Lisz.:ie-.7ioz 25 22 24 29 29 ?o Time 3 mos 1 yr 2" 2^ " if 4 X-Ray 7 i :ui i ngs 0 0 0 0 0 Physical Chest 71 1 inns 0 0 0 0 0 l \ Packing IT (Packing pi:jes for shi .. i: rr - floor dust) 39 n 2e va c o ua 13 4 mo. 96 vr` Bordasone 43 4 " 35 t Perrara 13 5 " r_ r. 0 0 0 0 76 A. Cacac i* 91 r Hambsch 90 A. Tavern!se 79 .4*r White 22 1 " 26 1 " 21 2 " 45 11 " F1 F1 0 0 / 0 0 0 81 J. McGuirl 38 12 " 0 / f.r 007 MACHINISTS (Snail amount mica, sc-a;. s Lone ) Mo . Mama 207 u '.Volf 204 H. Karl 205 - Kleht 202 IV '.70 If 205 ngl atiara t 201 He mo 1 2 212 Sac inzici 211 A Kosl oslci A 6 35 35 34 37 4~ - v- 349 46 Time 6 mo s. 1 yr 2 k <1 3 it 4 if 9M 15 ' 17 rt X-r'ny Flu i4 0 i C 0 9 : .c. 0 M.J. :i : i " i i n/si cal 'Jiiest Find i / r/ 0 / 9 c / n ROOFS'* ALL -- .n . ^ n *. * . - ' ' . *, Saturating fait v. i. tii uopiml t. (Very lit tie mica, soaps tone ana slate flour) 325 F Minor * 323 L * Jo r.e s 324 .1 0 cues 322 i.*1* Mart 233 w ..right 321 H. '.'right 35 2 yrs. 39 6 ft 37 7 If 43 9 U 30 9 It 23 10 it ``1 0 0 0 F1 0 / 0 0 0 / 0 6P007 U Z tt PAr'SR MILL (Small amount mica, i- o c. [. a L 0 u c ) Mo. Mame 291 1 Adamski 230 n Res tek 225 w Gazdwlcz 224 ij Ksenick Age 24 24 21 27 ime * X-Ray Thynciai Findings Oh'> a t fiuuiiu-.z Occupation 6 mos 0 r.C. 0 Cutting rags yr. 0 0 Cinder if = 6 If ri 0 0 Back tender 0 Press man 231 H Jobel 229 =011 e 36 27 7 ft 7 1! r i 222 KoblansKy *5 rj * Ram s e y 43 29 3 It 3 If "* . .'* ' I" Sirf --\ 221 # Sandusky 223 7/ Schloss 22 5 O *5 r W Ramsey Sen Lns<y 225 R.ashard 44 32 9 It 9 fl *1 0 F 0. 1634 It 0 45 16 l 2 48 17 ft 0 252 A . Czindzie m 47 17 rt 0 C 2 / / / A 0 r 0 / C i Is r '.V inter Machine tenusr Winder Macnme tenuar Press man .7 inter Mill -right 3acic tender Machine tender 1 PIPS WRAPPERS (Small amount asbestos) 69 Mist F.DiGievanne 13 6 mos. 0 0 73 Miss F. Conte 66 > R.Lombarde 70 n S.Ciasulli 19 6 mos* 0 20 1 yr. F1 13 H " 0 0 / 0 1. Mr. 2. j.Cacaci 61 Mrs. D.C*Keefe 33 2 " 23 5 " F1 F%X P c / 0 62 i S U H. ./eztewica 23 9 " Fl 0 Rolling canvas on asbestos pipe. ft It It Supt. Rolling canvas on asbestos pipe. It liquid bc^r.r, r?_:w-x t (FI as to r m ixer, ia be i 1 i nc, s tenc * 1! i - u a h l ; i,j , c i o s i. n*. cc 50^ o f time in heavy a she.-' 1 os, = 1 L e flour. No Marne Age T ime X- Fay Physical . iuciinrs 369 F. Russell 19 2 mos. 0 / 367 F. Sininsky 21 1 yr 0 / 365 J. Halast 361 A. .'.testier 27 1 rt *7 *T ww 2 11 0 0 / / 364 E. Sweeney 366 J. Furka 326 *j 3t*r*0''Szci 353 F. So car 27 2-1 24 2 It oH 2 (1 2 it 0 2 r. / 0 '/ 362 J. Sir.chak 33 am w t *i w L. .srs . } No. Marne 336 L. Mack 396 Z. Kaprelian 398 R. Kerr 102 J. VanAlstyne 213 G. Hall&n w'**w*X') F. Sephton 308 S.Kost tnowski 101 C. Major 332 7. Ellis 306 J. Hudak 151 J. Huatyk 47 M. Santoll Age 23 29 35 34 23 42 19 37 36 50 47 46 ' T WC.~W* -T-T1 ' W< WV .- ' Time X - - j. y ! iy o i ca1 j.t Findings Occupation 2 1 mo. 'w G Sample maker -0 1 mo. 0 0 Inspector - 5 (nos F1 0 Inspector 2 yrs 0 / Might watchman 2 rt 2n 2 il F1 0(Cong. Cyst) 0 0 /? / Wheels aches Chief Inspector Coal wheeler 4n F1 0 Shipping cleric 10 M 0 / Repairs shingle 10 II F2 / Porter 12 ft 0 0 Mason 31 II Fi Healed TB / Canvass cutter Chegt Findings The physical examination r'-.'V'e u-id only one case ,,,.th '/ell-defined disease but the x-ray -e icxed op -a variety of condi tions some of which were probably das to inhc led lust and others to infection. Among the latter there ..ere 4 tnat were of nuntuberculous origin. There were 4 more v.i L/i healed apical foci of adult type tuberculosis whose occurrence has no clinical signi ficance. (Its incidence is only uuoul c.uj-haif that to be expected in an urban population.) Two cases snowed more active mani festation a: tuba real os is. Case .j7'j (d.Tarcy) had u unilateral chronic tuberculosis of considerable extent with a probaole cavity at the base. This finding was substanh iute-1 by physical examin ation. The possibility of sanatorium treat.cent for tms man should be considered. Another case, 344 ('.Titkowski) had shadows possibly indicative of active tuberculosis. In view cf the fact that this individual was only 19 years of age, ms condition should be investiuated further to determine whether treatment is required. Only u.<3 per cent of trie group showed evidence of healed childhood tuberculous infection, a very low incidence for an urban group. They are marked "P.C." (primary complex) in the table. Of the conditions that might be due to the inhalation of dust several forms were discovered. They are designated and defined as follows: F]_ - A moderate degree of exaggeration of the linear markings in the lung fields. This may bo due to inhaled dust of any type, t.o heart or arterial disease or to nontuberculous infection. Its incidence increases with lE E l i.OhdJ advancing age. Unless l t. cm L; -mown to progress to more advanced conditions .n a given industrial exposure its significance is negligible. To - A more advanced stage of linear exaggeration. This i3 more frequently a result uf innaled dust but, of course, the finding must be correlated with the history of exposure in the particular- industry. F3 - An extreme stage of linear exaggeration that may be due to chronic bronchitis. A. - indicates a possible ascestosis. Two groups are noted"A^" 'where the condition seems quite definite and " ?Ai" where there is some doubt of its significance. The designations P.G and healed or chronic TB have already been mentioned. In table III the incidence of these various conditions have been tabulated in relation to the tuiatiun of employment. The percentages are based upon the number of men employed for each five year period of time, lien working for one year or less are new employees whose chest films could hardly be influenced by their present occupations. -n 5 Uj U; CVJ Table III Employed Number 0 Ft No._______2___ No." X - flu 7 F2 No. `3 Nc.~ 1 Less tnan 1 vea-r 34 21 61.7 2 5.3 2 5.3 0 - nl No. ~1 0 rv i No. 0 Aauit T3 No. % 0 1 to 3 64 33 59.3 24 37.5 0 0 - 11.5 1 1.5 0 4 to 5 21 10 47.6 9 42.3 0 T -0-0 0 6 to 10 36 16 44.4 15 41.6 2 5." l 2. Li l 2.5 1 2.5 1 2.5 11 to 15 17 a 47/ 3 47/ 0 0 -0 1 5.3 0 15 to 20 in 5 50 v-2 w v 1 1C ^ r*'. i_ 21 to 25 4 1 25 2 50 0 25 to 31 3 1 33.3 ' -7*7 t n _ 1 25 0 WW 0 1 w*7 w*7 w'Z Considering the x-ray.changes that might be due to dust there i3 first, the group cl a s s i f i e d as F_, which oc curs in 35.4 t 0: all t he employees. It incr ease C T> re or -ess irreg ulariy w ith the durat Lon of employment but tabu lat. i, oris not included in this repor t indicate that it is not part ocularly common in any occupational group. The Increase 13 much more regular when it is tabulated in relation to the age of the men as shown in table IV. For comparison a similar tabulation of 200 cement workers is included in the table. Since the incidence of this type of re action is higher in the roofing plant under consideration it is believed that more than the mere age factor may be responsible in ~ this case. Probably the various different dusts may play some part in producing it.. But in any event the change has no clinical significance and it is not indicative of a serious dust hazard. This is further emphasized by the lack of more advanced cases of L O O d 'J To, a change which '.fas found in only 3 men Age Total Period dumber Under 21 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 25 70 57 50 4 Table IV r_ Rav 7i r.d i nr* s 0 NO. .'3 Z1 < No 16 54 43 68. 7 26 22 .1 s-'i t 31 54.3 24 42.1 15 3. Q 2 5 30. (2c C-r.:n*nt '.Yorkers 0 r: 57.3 s; 97.8 37.5 6-3.5 75.3 12.5 f 2.3 14. 3 22.2 20.0 Evidence cf the noduiar reaction .reduced by silica is entirely lacking in this group of cases. There -seems to be no suggestion of a silicosis hazard. As already mentioned, the x-ray diagnosis of asbestosis 1 3 'icult ana unless substant la ;.ed oy u definite nistory of exposure and by ciirucai findings it cannot be accepted as final. The orange consists of a diffuse uazi.iesa, particularly marred in the io.ver naif of toe lung fields, which may be associated with some accentuation of the normal linear markings. Usually the reaction does not become apparent until persons have worked in asbestos dust for 5 to 10 years, 'whether any of the other silicate dusts can produce pictures simulating early asbestosis has not been definitely established. In the National Asbestos plant tue exact duration of the occupational- exposure to asbestos dust could not be determined owing to the practice of shifting the men from job to job. The l i t C l 100 <TJ presence of mica, soapstone and si- - au-l.. funds to make the analysis more difficult. Physical t-xuainuUiuu was not helpful because although fine marginal rales were detected in all cases whose films had been read as A]_ anu m 2 of the 5 read as ?Ai , the same type of rale was reported in 23 other individuals whose films did not 'allow the same changes. hone hud the persistent rales which'one might expect with a tru* fine fibrosis of the lung* ............ C:f the entire group thr . . er- a case u wnose fil.ns were consistent' w i t h a diagnosis cf n..c-.; tccis c r.c 3 more., which, were considered suggestive though do-btful. <vii but 2 of the 10 men had been working for this company for more than 6 years. The exceptions will be discussed first. Case 42 was 46 years'old and had worked in various places over a period of 32 years. He had worked for the National Asbestos ;y. for only 1 year and he could account for only 3 more years e: ms muustrial life, wnich were not dusty job3. During the other 25 years his dust exposure might have been most anything. His film was read as but if the condition was due to asbestos dust it could not have been inhaled only in this plant* The other case, 246, was a man aged 49 who could account for all his jobs over a period of 35 years. d>l h iiid j He had spent the last 2 years as a rag beater's helper and cutter in the National Asbestos Company. His films were diagnosed us This exposure seemed too short to have t.roduced this effect but his only other job with a suspicion of dust exposure was 1 year which he spent in a foundry. whether this man acquired his roentgenological changes in hi3 last employment or elsewhere is undetermined The details of the occj, i' iuuai. ...'.a medical histones of the other cases wi ih evidence of asuesLosic are c-ve"* in table V. It should be rememoered '.hut tue occupation in the National Asbestos Company merely represents ttie individual's last job and that his previous types of ..eric in the same company could not be determined. Since all of these Men are over 40 years- of age and have worKsd for c., tuiy for at least 6 years and generally more, it seems a safe assumption that the dust- La this plant -.-.as respor.sioie for t;.= condition in the ir lungs. 3ut even if tr.ese are cases of pneumoconiosis due to the inhalation of asbestos cr cf sere of M.j ot..sr dusts in the plant the condition has not apparently advanced to the stage where it i3 noticeable clinically or causes any disability. Cnly by follow ing these men over a period of several years could the seriousness of the pneumoconiosis be evaluated. 9C l iOOd- Table V Five Cases A]_ Study Occupational History in Mo. National Asbestos Co. Other Dusty Work 263 6 yrs.Oiler Roofing Machine(mica and soap stone ) Wonted 37 yrs without other dust. 273 18 yrs. Looper man. (Roofing machine) (mica.soapstone,slate) Worked 34 yrs. without other dust. 1C 5 12 yrs.Gen'l laborer, (extremely dusty asbestos. ) Worked 26 yrs. No other lust exceot wood. 42 29 yrs.Corrugated paper Worked 41 yrs. machine. 12 yrs.wool factor*/. Clinical Findings nge Lungs 0 the 1 47 Tine rales both Chr. tc bases.Prolonged exuiration. 42 Fine raies left Chr. tc base 40 Fine rales left Chr. tc case. 58 Fine rales loft ^ WU4 1 - - base. 242 1 yr.Gen'l laborer Worked 32 yrs. 46 Fine r&les right Remembers only base Chr. to. 4 yrs. None '!ustv Five Caseo 1 " # "" 246 2 yrs.Rag heater*3 Worked 25 yrs. 49 Rough breathing Heal c Helper and Cutter. Dust? right base. Chr.tcn _______________________________ 1 yr. foundry.____________________________________________ 41 17 yrs. Corrugated paper machine 6 11 yrs. Pipe maker Worked 31 yrs. 3 yr coal dust. 51 Worked 26 yrs. 3 yrs.JohnsManville. 9 yrs. mason. 49 0 SI.hyps tens CT ** 0 3 Hyperte. Ui ... 24 24 yrs. Pipe maker Worked 41 yrs. 12 yrs.JohnsManville. 56 Fine rales both bases. Mild chr tonsils 50 7 1/2 yrs. Sawing asbestos Worked 25 1/2 yrs. elsewhere 43 0 Mild chr tonsils The other medical C.u nul ream parties.urly alarming. There seems to be r.o co...plaint of excessive u.per respiratory infection and nc evidence of l was brought out in the physical examination. coils and other shin affections are in frequent. Five men had positive Vasserman and Kahn reactions, 1C more had doubtful blood tests many uf which were negative cn re examination. None of these occurred u cases wnose films were read as or ?a1 so that syphilis could re excluded as a cause c f the wUlmonary aoncrmallties. It seems probuole that t..u oust ..u tnis _lant. .-.as affectea the lungs of a considerable pro. orttca ciue workers but it is doubtful whether any case of disabling ..uj.,nonary fibrosis has developed. There is a higher incidence uf F^ , or linear exaggeration x-ray readings than in a group of cement workers but a: p-rccimately t ^o are f reuuency as was discovered in ...e gyp sum workers a uai^v ia. (In the latter location the re . e r " ..Iso a bout 2Eo films i n the more ad vanced stage her.l.,uu ted <.iSi :.j . The type diffuse reaction described as ?j_ or fu in the gypsum study was not found in this study). The higher incidence of the Fj. readings suggests some accumulation of non-irritating dust in the lungs. The occurrence of 5 cases whose roentgenograms were inter preted as consistent with a diagnosis of asbestesis and of 5 more in which the films were questionable is suggestive in view of the LOO JO fact that asbestos was being fabricated in this plant. The lack of advanced and definite cases in probably due to the practice of rotating the men from one job to another 'so that no person was exposed to high concontrutIons of unbeaten duct for prolonged periods. It is significant that most of the cases so designated r;ere old employees of the company ami only one esse (;y246) rave a satisfactory history that wuula not admit of an explanation cf his chest findings. But granting that these are cases of asbestosis, the condition has apparently failed to reach a disabling stage with manifest symptoms, secondary changes in the circulatory system and complicating pulmonary infections. GP007 1339 C o m m e 11 t After the dust concentrationr hud do3a computed it. .7as logical to determine whether the -.-.uncim-- in the highest concentrations of asbesto3 dust vers the ones whose films had been interpreted as consistent with a diagnosis of asbestosis. The occupational histories did not. wer.-ut l.uoh correlation but Mr. 2d wars Hembert, manager of the pi..;!1., a .3 su:. wiled adai t tonal information on certain amployees .nit:; is a..., enued to this report together with their x-ray readings. The men who worked i n s: u e an a on t0 f the b i ns . .vne re dust concentrations of 22, 79 ana cPn million ^articles per cuoic foot of air were discovered, were either pipe makers or other persons who might have had spare time. The :ol Lowing cases r.sd lorded insiue the bins and in the oust ;:ous off ana on over the periaa of years that follows their names. *.u Mis last column is the symcol designating the x-ray finding in the individual'a chest '105 *104 #107 12 years 11 " 6 A1 F1 0 CPUD7 3T HO #106 4" Thus the man with the longest exposure in the bins apparently developed asbestosis but the others escaped. Sawing asbestos gave a lipht Lieid dust concentratiou of 33 million ^er cubic foot. Tour men wero reported to have worked more or less steadily at this occupation but none developed signi ficant reaction *45 24 years #46 18 " 0 #48 15 " 0 #49 14 " It is to be noted that case 50, who worked only 7- i/2 years at this job developed a cues liuriabl-j xsbestosis reaction as mentioned in the medical report.. Loadir.~ asbestos oamont .as an ex* reinely dusty -recess, the count was 261 million per cubic foot of air. "Various men were used in this vvorre and it is oaf. to say that at one time or another the majority of the employees were utilized for this purpose." The men listed below were employed more steadily than any of the others. .7176 12 years #177 6" ?i c poo7 u t Shoveling waste felt and asbestos from dust house into bags produced a count of 72 million per cubic foot of air. "Any available man was utilized in this work". Mixing liquid roofing was responsible for a count of 165 million. The following cases had exposures here #362 12 years F^ #363 3 " 0 Feeding slate flour'on elatform above roofing machine produced 1712 million particles per cubic foot of air. Long ex posures seemed to have little effect upon the lungs. While most of the men on the .roofing machine had done this work at one time or another the following were regularly assigned to this durty occupation: #270 #267 13 years 4 `1 0 #271 2 Ft Even 13 years Intermittent sx^osurj to this high con centration of slate dust apparently cioes not produce a dangerous pulmonary reaction. Shakinn out asbestos h : is a dusty job that produces about 33 million particles per cubic foot of air. "This task was performed most frequently by men work in/: inside of bins and men. on the beaters." Packing asbestos cement in bugs anu boxes was responsible for a count of 261 million. "All the female employees listed be- time in the past" e ng #61 9 years T1 #62 9 " F1 #65 6 0 #67 3 0 #70 #66 #69 #73 2" 1 1 1" 0 V *1 F1 0 N> The inconsistency of these findings emphasizes the futility of attempting to correlate the occupational history with the medical diagnosis. The data indicate that the combination of various exposures which may have been responsible for the pro duction of a few cases of apparent asbesto3is were likewise responsible for protecting the ma0ont; o; the employees from serious consequences. 3ut it is felt that this fortunate circumstance should not prevent every effort to reduce the concentration of dust in the plant, particularly at those points stresseu in the engineer ing section. Many of the old employees have already had long exposures to excessive quantities of asbestos dust; if they / continue to inhale it, it is inconceivable that more of them '..ill not develop manifest disease. Whether all of the conditions diagnosed as a3bestosi3 or questionable asbestosis are actually ouch or whether they may be an effect of the other silicate dusts in t.hio plant cannot be definitely determined for no standards of their effects have been established. It is even possible that the silicates have modi fied the reaction to asbestos dust but this is mere conjecture as no investigation of the action of such mixtures has yet been reported. In the light of present knowledge one must assume that there were 10 cases of asbestosis in this plant. None has reached, a stage that produces clinical symptoms and disability either because of the intermittency of the exposure or because of a modifying influence of other dusts inhaled with the asbestos. No evidence has been discovered to suggest that the pro longed inhalation of the mica, soapstone, slate and organic dusts in this plant has produced any significant reaction in the respiratory tract. (s) Leroy U. Gardner Leroy U. Gardner, Director Saranac Laboratory iCP007 3l| DDMDU:: After completing the report four more histories and examination blanks were received. Since the x-ray films cf none of these cases shows any significant, finding they are added in supplement. To insert them now in their respective occupational groups and to change the various tabulations and figures on incidence would delay the issuance of th<j i-. ..urt. Study * Mame 34 Salvatore `taggio 19 C. .'roupr inti Age 13 42 14 John frovenza 30 65 3eatrice yuroski ? 1 cca..-i t ion Y _ T2 \t Other Ce:: M W V ^ FL ;td i'lff'S Pi nd i:i < Laborer 1 yr. Pipe maker 6 yr3. (5 yrs. Connell Asbestos Co.) *rl 0 Plpemaker 10 yrs. ( 3 yrr ... u i - e-n cn iisbestoo Co . ) Pipe v; rap per 6 yrs . 0 0 11 j ten sii- i ti n II n "a one bad toot a ^4 C* (.| 007 1 l*p I # r tic ii ( In paurU cu llo .ii.o ii*) r o u I "B i 03 % *s