Document 1ypd6VLkBoz6JGYwqOKEmv9Ka

j.y. roeebtb mmd Medical Officer's Report forJjoalth Comlttoo Meeting Qft 3rd. April. I9g Ventilation of Seslnatlncr Plant A problaa exists 1a this area with regard to nauseating fuse** which day be potaatielly toxic. Two types of resin are apparently need in the Beeinatlng Section - (a) Basins 21# 19 and 11 are phenol-formaldehyde resins and are voter soluble* (b) Basins 23. 103# 10fl and 110 axe creaol-formaldehyde resins which are spirit soluble* Bisno-l is corrosive for akin and nuoosa. It is absorbed through the shin. The acute toxic effect for oral uptake is similar to that of percutaneous absorption t Weakness . Headache Diesinass Binging in the ears Irregular respiration Circulatory failurs Cona Death Oral or percutaneous uptake of 1 g* say be fatal* Qurenia intoxication is seen very soldooj sysptons arising free ths gastro-intestinal traat and oantral nerrou* systn# dosage to liver and kidney* Because of the lev volatility the industrial hassrd in respect of inhalation is very snail# la contrast to ths possibility of percutaneous absorption* Formaldehyde, o yolatile gas# is irritating to the Mucosae of eyes and air passages* 3 following effects nay occurs Bronchitis Dermatitis Rhinitis Oropharyngitis Conjunctivitis The Irritation provosts bs a good wanting signal) serious acute intoxication (poisonsiy cedant, eon*} rarely occurs. However. habituation to irritating levels nay ba quickly established. Iho taxioology of aldahydes has been extensively covered by U.3. Public Health Service (1943) and Henson (lBSB)t the toxicity of the lower aldehydes decreases with chain length* unsaturstod aldehydes are core toxic than those saturated* Uroa io no&*toxic; as to no odoefuato dAto aro xeportoo# / Page 2 With regard to the akin, phonal and forealdehyde are both primary irritants and sanaitisar*. Phenol sensltination occurs lass frequently than forealdehyde sensitisation partly due tothe volatility of the letter, hookey (1944) gave aft excellent description of the processing ha sards of phenolforealdehyde and urea-forealdehyde resins* The Chestcal Safety Data Sheets SD-4 (1846) and SD-1 (1862) give extensive information about handling precautions for phenol and formaldehyde* The MAC/TLV for phenol is given as 5 p.p.s. and for formaldehyde as 5 p.p.s. (American Conference of Govern mental Industrial Hygienists 1962). I would like to suggest that the present exhaust ventilation system on tho lmpregnstors and driers is inadequate; that monitoring of the environment should be carried out at set intervals every day, and that all cases of unusual illness or obsentseisa be reported to the first Aid Jiocai for my attention. Improvement of the efficiency of the exhaust ventilation should be given issediate attention. Housekeeping *nd general Staaarkq During the week ending 6th March Z walked round the factory and was appalled at the shambles in low-pressure moulding. It is understandable that with conversion of the area from a production to warehouse area sees disruption will occur. y primary objections were to the fact that contractors' sen ignored our precautions and lunah boxes and billy cans were freely soattered about on benches where cheniosls were still in use. A nan who informed me that he was finishing Coopar exhaust shields (I say have forgotten the exact description of the item by now) was doing so without tearing an approved respirator, without any adequate exhaust ventilation and in the midat of the chaos now existing in the low-pressure moulding area. In the high-pressure moulding area the dust from the band-saws was noticeable and served to illustrate the need for this equipment to be exhausted as soon as possible. Z would recommend that all aschining of `Terebeetes* be confined to one area. This mates the follow-up of workers a reasonable proposition and, I assume, also simplifies the engineering problasts of providing a better working environment. The proceeslng of blue asbestos and blue asbestos felt continues to prompt me to draw attention to the acknowledged association between this fore of asbestos and an increased incidence of mesothelioma of ths pleura* At an inquest in Buxton last month the Coroner recorded a verdict of death due to mesothelioma of the pleura in an asbestos worker who had worked with "Perobestos* at Ferodo Ltd. This material has at tines consisted of blue asbestos lspregnsted notarial. In view of the fact that 2 oases of mesothelioma of tho pleura have occurred at Ferodo in men who have been expo rod to this material, Z feel that the Company should seriously review its continued use of crooidolite is this banner. I n r 1 `Torcbastoa* * Kedlcal Examination and X-gayg - I am sacagad at proaent on a *hlind* reading trial of XBays and there remain one or tvo exposed operatives to exasine before ty conclusions can be finalised* It la by intention to circulate to the ne&bers of the Health Committee the findings in this study together with conclusions and recommendations as eoon as possible* If this can be done before the next meeting on 3rd rpril 1968 it oan be discussed then* rt i Referencesi Aeerlcan Conference Govexnaental Industrial Hygienists* Threshold Libit Values* Detroit* Michigan, 1982* Chemical Safety Data Sheet SD-1. Properties and Essential Information for Safo Handling and Dse of Poraaldshyds* Kanufsct. Chemists* Assoc.* Washington 1952* Chasical Safety Data Sheet SD*4* Properties and Essential Information for Safe Handling and Use of Phenol* Msnufact* Chemists* hssoa.* Washington 1946. Henson* V,* The toxicity of some aliphatic aldehydes*!. Occupational lied** 1 {1959)457. Lockey, S.D.* Contact dsruatitls resulting frees the manufacture of synthetic resins and methods of control* J. Allergy, 15 (1944) 186. Public Health Service, U.3., Formaldehyde - its Toxicity and potential dangers* Hatl.Iast.Heelth.Pufal.Health Sept.1945, Suppl.181. i- o t i