Document 2Jz9VGB5KJywGBxJnogzk1YOL

^z$C'-'y" * / -'-- ' r-v- '- request of our Chicago Office, we are forwarding to you the foltowing data: 1. Copies of chest X-ray reports on our employees which were taken in May and June 1964 2. Spirometer tracings taken at the time of the X-rayi 3. Calculations of forced vital capacities and maximum expiratory flow rates, calculated by Or. Woodrcw Nelson of Libby 4. The preliminary reports on Spirometery tests written by Or. Woodrow Nelson You will note on the X-ray reports we have shown length of employ ment of each employee and the number of months they have been employed in our mill. Generally speaking, the dust exposure is higher in our dry mill than any other part of our operation, and the people who are employed there have a more continuous exposure. Very truly yours ZONOLJTE D1VJ-SION W. R. GRACE 'S CO. By: 3.-0.^Jc EDL/jbg E. 0. lovick sar The Measuring device used was the Vitalar 25 A of McKesson Appliance Co., with standard rapid expiration technique. Two or mare farced vital capacity (PTC) curves were made an each Individual. One second farced expiratory voltaws (TS71) and the maximum expiratory flew rates fMEFR) were calculated therefrom. using standards of "normal" cn an age-height basis, determined by Forr, smith, and Callahan in a 7.A. - Army cooperative study, FVC? of standard and FE71? of standard far each employee was calculated. X-ray reports of Dr. Little were reviewed, employees with definite pneunoccnlotlc changes were tabulated and notations made on grade and severity and of any changes in the past two years. History of duration and type of employment was obtained. Preliminary analysis was made of (1) Average FTC.i of standard, and FIVl? of standard for the entire group of l!iO employees, (Standards of Korr et al for the actual age-height as noted above). FVOtand Ft,VI* of less than 90? was considered probably abnormal and of less than 80? as distinctly abnormal. I5l4g434 b ' * " 4^-}-y7C?-KJ~Fli71l^-taRd4rd--in-the-gr oup-with-n on-pneumcoanitic-x-ray*-- (110 employees) and in the group with pneuRoeoniofcie x-rays (30 employees). RESILTS r 1. In.the<total litO enployees the average P*Tv-Cv? was 86.9? and the mm FKVl'S ins 85?. This appears to be a respiratoryftonctlm. <'OV*rJ>v'q, but distinct '* --r ;v`.'-{: in '.*#vV: ; Thirty employees (21?) of the lliO had definitepnannocaaiotic changes a x-ray. The spirograa findings in this group (30 eiployees) .and in the rest of the gronp without such changes (110 employees) is as fallows! . ki. Hcn-pnsnmoccniotlc group (110 employees) PTC?-- -90? of standard. . " rms- -88? of standard. B. Pneuwocmiotic gronp (?0 enployees) _ ft. F7C<-----75? of standard. FEV11----72?_of. standard. Chly It of the 30 nea in the pneumocmiotic gronp bad farced vital capacity of above 90? of standard for their height and age. Only 3 of these 30 had forced expiratory volume in one second of above 90? of standard for their height and age. COWCLUSIONSr Analysis of the data in hand is in a very preliminary stage. ?fo attempt to correlate such factors as duration of employment and other personal factors with individual findings had been made. Of special interest would be a study of employees with normal x-rays and measured abnormal functional findings. However, in my opinion, the results reported above are the result of valid work, respiratory 0u 5 >-7* > '/C_ The measuredyjdysfuncticn in thejilnt--ffn-nf the x-rayarf-group is of such severity that I would conclude that a serious hazard from pneumoconiosis exists to the employees at Libby and it is recommended that this analysis be completed. further studies be carried out to quantitate Tt is also recommended that/\the irritative properties of the dust unless, of course, inhalation of the same can be completely avoided.