Document 65jZLKOp8eDB3v3K4oQE2K1gm

r-_--aei flO C---T--'-^-T- '-^ --H _iPA-- ~rJU News Items 00 5 UHLAN 0T INDUSTRIAL HUGH '37. A bureau cf ir.divt ri. Healtk Department, through -iC",; .rtmcr.t?. This bureau is to ror.der technical service tc the Industrial ussier.. which is charged with the responsibility of enforei:r.g rules and rc ^ JLaticr.s, assuring safe and healthful working conditions in the state, ( s March, 1937, issue of the Survey of Labor law Administrntic;r., includ- :r.g this and the following itcr.s with other material of inheres t, car. be .ined on application to the Division of Labor Standards, U. S. repart ee Labor, ~uzhingT,oa, 2. C.) 237. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH LEAFLETS. Surv.Labor Law Admin. 12, March 1937. The Division of Labor Standards lias prepared four .additional Industrial Health Leaflets, dealing with cause and prevention of methyl alcohol, carbon tetra chloride and carbon bisulfide poisoning and carbon dioxide asphyxiation. Copies will be available for distribution in the near future. Those now obtainable include* (l) industrial shir, diseases, (C) anthracosilicosis, (3) arsenic, (4) carbon monoxide, (5) chromium, iS) mercury, (7) lead, (8)benzene poisoning and (9) silicosis. They am very brief, but present the extent of exposure and fundamental rules of prevention for employees and workers. They are obtainable from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., at 5 cents each. The numbers given above arc the numbers of the leaflets. 238. HEALTH 0? GRANITE OUTERS. Surv. Labor Law Admin* 12, March 1937. The U. S. Public Health Service cade an extensive study of health conditions among granite workers in Harre, Vermont, in 1926, and is nor; beginning a reexamination* The results of the present study should furnish additional important data concerning silicosis unaer controlled and uncontrolled conditions. 239. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LA30P., MEDICINE & KYGTSrS TOP. MEXICO. Surv. Labor Law Admin. 12-13, March 1937. The lexicon Government has been requested by its Labor Department tc appro priate funds for a National Institute of Labor, Medicine and Hygiene. A recent cooperative meeting has given impetus to a general movement to im prove health conditions, including the establishment of that Institute. 240. ILLINOIS CODES ON SAFETY AND HEALTH. Surv. Labor Law Admin. 14, March7l937 The Industrial Commission has appointed committees representative of all in terested agencies and is proceeding with the development of codes on safety and health. A policy committee has been formed to guide the work generally and to avoid duplication and overlapping of codes. The codes of other States and Other safety information collected by organizations are being used freely as source material. 241. THE DUST STILL FLIES. Eng. Mews Rec. 118. 456 March 25, 1937. Last June Mew York State enacted a law to reduce the silicosis hazard in rock drilling ar.d excavation, but the law is still inactivo, awaiting action of the Industrial Commission in formulating a code for its application and administration. The main cause of delay is a protest by conent and Fuller - 0004 gypsun interests over the tech leal dofir.ition of silica-hearing reek. The editor urges the end of quibbl r.g over the definition, ar.d action on the law, so that ell concerned ray knew whore they stand* 242. r:?.ST AIR CONDITIONED METAL MINS. Mining Ceng. J., 23, March, 1937. ?. 41. Installation of air conditioning with mechar.ical refrigeration ir. the Magza copper nines at Superior, Arizona, was announced by ff. H. Carrier. Tho normal temperature at tho depths of 3400 to 3SOO is 95 to ICO0 with high hur.idity. A fercod ventilating system is used. 243. MINERS' PHTHISIS IN SOUTH AERICA. Iron and Coal Trades Rnv., 134 , 454 (March 5, 1937), from So. African Min. end Eng. J. The years since attention was first directed to silicosis and precautionary measures were undertaken have seen a continual dccroase in its prevalence. Silicosis cases now number less than half of what they were in 1920 to 1923. There has been a slight upturn in the past year but it is no causo for alarm. One probable cause is the great increase in the number of miners. Tho in creased amount of rock drilling is probably a factor. The reduction of dust from this source is now being studied. 3. General and Scientific Papers In cases where we know or believe that reprints are obtainable from American and some other authors, their addresses are given. A few papers under this heading and many under the next one are by Trench and German authors. In many casos reprints in the original language are prob ably available from the authors, but considerable delay will be involved, both in locating the author's address and in sending for the reprint, ffe suggest in order to avoid some of that delay* to order a copy of the per iodical giving the name of the periodical (as abbreviated here), and the month or day of issue if given, or the pages included if not, from G. 2. Stochcrt & Co#, 31 East 10th St,, New fork, N.T. They will first quote prices if preferred, but it will probably average 50 cents or so for ordinary publications. 244. SILICA AND SILICATE SOLUBILITIES. Albert C. Titus. J. lad. Hyg. & Tox., 19, 138-145 (March, 1937). In earlier investigations of the solubility of silica, the methods did not permit distinguishing the silica in true solution from that in the colloid al state, and the rocults were variable and often apparently too high. The author used a combination of earlier methods with ultra filtration anff^1 determined the silica by the colorimetric method of King and Stantial. He found 0.05 mg. silica in 100 cc. water when either pure silica or scricite was dissolved, end 0.1 ng. per 100 cc# from dolomitic chert containing 5$ free silica. In blood serum, which contains normally 1 mg. silica per 100 cc., none of the materials mentioned dissolves sufficiently to increase the amount perceptibly. (Reprints are obtainable from the Division of Industrial Hygiene, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass.) gutter - 0005 Raf. ?.ec. - o. 245. 71-3 OCCURRENCE CT SILICOSIS IN THE MANU7AC7UHZ 0? SILICON ALLOYS. Torster. Brace, J. lad. Eyg. and Tex. 19, 155-152, April 1337. The author presents the recults of an investigation of the presence of silicosis in two Swedish factories producing silicon alloys. In the process loth silicon and silica vapors rise through the furnace and are condensed and given off as dust, in considerable quantities. In one factory 8 out of 18 workmen oxamined, who had worked 4 to 8 yoars,'were found to have silicosis, 3 being in tho second stage. In the other factory, which was such older, 5 out of 25 examined had silicosis, only one being in the second 6tage,and the first clear case was aftor 14 years1 employment. There wcrealso two other suspected casos after 9 yoars1 employment. The lower incidence in the older plant is evidently due to the use of an oxhaust system which renovos most of the dust which would otherwise sot tie in tho plant* (In this survey and others made in Swodon, dust counts would have added much to the value of tho reports. - Abstractor.) Reprints in English are obtainable from Dr. Bruco, Royal Saraphimer Hospital, Stockholm, Swodon.) 246. FURTHER STUDIES QF TEE TOTAL PULMONARY CAPACITY AND IIS SUBDIVISIONS IN CASES CP PUIMQNARY PI3RCSIS. Nolan L. Haltreider, TTalter Pray and H. van Zilo Hyde. J. Ind. and Tox., 19, 163-176 (April 1937). This paper plenents earlier work by some of the authors, showing the ertent of tho impairment of lung capacity in cases of fibrosis. In the present paper a correction for age is applied to the earlier results, and now cases aro added. As fibrosis increases, the total and vital capacities are reduced.,' while the residual air and mid-capacity increase. If emphysema is prosent, the total capacity is not materially changed, but the vital capacity is reduced end the ro9idual air is increased. The percentage of residual air referred to total capacity is proportional to the degree of dyspnea. In dividuals with minimal fibrosis do not become worse when removed from the dusty occupation. (Reprints may be obtained from Dr. Kaltreider, University of Rochester, School of Medicine, Rochester, N.Y.) 247, SILICOSIS AND RELATED CONDITIONS, Leroy U. Gardner. J. Ind. Hyg. & Tox.# 19, 111-125 (March, 1937) The first clarifying studies of silicosis in 1915 gave results that have been repeatedly confirmed by subsequent investigators, namely, that free silica is the only cause of silicosis, that the action of silica is chemical and not mechanical, and that pure silicosis is not infective, that it . renders the patient mors susceptible to tuberculosis, and that other dusts, including silicates (except asbestos) do not produce any type of fibrosis. The author defines silicosis as ua chronic disease resulting from the pro longed inhalation of particulate silica." The most distinguishing charac teristic of silicosis is tho presence of flbrotic nodules, found especially in the nodes of lymphatic vessels, and caused by irritation resulting from the presence of free silica. The only other cause of similar nodules is the tubercle bacillus; no other inorganic material (except asbestos) pro duces similar effects. The complications that arise from silicosis include neither pneumonia, which seems to be retarded rather than assisted; nor heartand kidney diseases in spite of statements to tho contrary basod on isolated cases. Emphysema (inflammation of lung tissue) sometimes exists, but tho most important complication is tuberculosis. It has been fully established, statistically and experimentally, that tuberculosis is much more common among silicotics than among normal persons. The tuberculosis of silicotics, however, exists in such a modified form that the distinguishing term silicotuberculosis is generally applied. In most cases silico tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages, because the bacilli Fuller - 0006 arc not expelled through the sputum, free which they are cftcr. absent un til just before death. This increased susceptibility to tuberculosis has not been cxDlaincd satisfactorily. Various thoories have been presented, but r.ono of* them has boen conclusively established, and much more work is necessary in that field. Din^tosis of silicosis, whether pure or complic ated by tuberculosis, is difficult because thore'are few physical manifes tations before the final stage. It must be basod on X-ray examination and a complete occupational history, including that of exposure to dust and the concentration and composition of the dust. In a very general way it can be said that prolonged exposure to free silica dust in excess of 5 or perhaps 10 million particles of free silica is sufficient to produce silicosis, but the action of silica is so modified by the presence of other dusts that higher free silica concentrations may be harmless when other dust3 are present. Much more experience will have to be acquired before any general standard of permissible dustiness can bo established. Tho difficulty of recognizing both pure silicosis and silico-tuberculosis in their earlier stages, and therefore of boginning adoquate treatment boforo it is too late, cakes periodic and thorough examinations indispensable. Tho real solution of the problem is dust prevention. "Tho time is not far distant when danger ous concentrations of dust will no longer, bo permitted in .American industries. They have been reduced to safe limits in some of them; they can be in all." (Reprints may bo obtained from The Saranac Laboratory for the Study of Tuberculosis, Saranac Lake, N.Y.) 248. qUART2 III INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND DEPOSITS ON HUMAN LUNG TISSUES: X-RAY DI3TRACU TIQN, CHEMICAL AND SFECTROGPAFHIC STUDIES. Victor Hicks, Olive McElroy and Mary E. Varga. J* Ind. Eyg. and Tox,, 19, 177-186 (1937). Several samples of industrial and atmospheric dusts were examined by X-ray diffraction and spectrographic methods. The methods gave somewhat different results, as they vary in the emphasis on different substances. Silicon was found by the spectrographic method in all the dusts, and quartz was iden tified by the diffraction method in most of then. Since quartz dust is so generally present in the air, it may be expected in lungs,whether silicotic or not. X-ray examination showed the presence of quartz in 5 out of 8 nonsilicotic lung specimens examined, but an unidentified substance was pres ent in others. The silicon content of some lungs in which quartz was thus found was as low as 1.4 mg. silica per gram of dried tissue. (Reprints may be obtained by addressing this office.) 349. REPORT ON 1936 SURVEYS OF MEDICAL SERVICE IN INDUSTRY BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS. M. N. Newquist, Surg. Gynecol, and Obstet., vol. 64, pp 403-406 (Tebruary 15, 1937). This paper reviews 1,593 surveys of in-. dustrial establishments in the U. S. and Canada. The first point considered is the scope of adequate'industrial ecrvico, with emphasis on medical exam inations and supervision, proper caro for industrial disoases, first aid and advice about occupational hazards. The second subject is the confidential nature of physical examination records. Civil courts have ruled that these are confidential. An industrial commissioner, however, may subpoena such information as has an important bearing on a claim for insurance. Only results of examinations expressed in codes should be filed with the worker's employment record. Finally, the problem of medical service for small plants is a special problem. These plants employed million workers in 1929. The solution of the problem is "group service11, i.e., a group of qualified phys icians should provide service to groups of small plants. Fuller - 0007 I 250. Roc. Lit. - 5. spec: IC TISSUE REACTION TO PECSPHOLLPIUS. A SUGGESTED EXPLANATION 70?. TEE SIMIL RITf C? THE L2SIGNS 0? SILICOSIS ANE PLUilONARY T13IP.CULCSIS. J.T. Eallon. Canadian lied. Assoc., J., vci 35, 223-228 (March, 1937). The many similarities betwocr. the tuborclc and the silicotic nodule led tho author to search for a single substanco that is produced in both silicosis and tuberculosis and causes the irritation leading to nodule formation. In both cases there arc largo accumulations of aonbeytos which degenerate with the production of phospholipids. There is therefore a probability that the phospholipids are responsible for the irritation and' resulting fibrosis. This hypothosis was tested by sever?.! methods. After injection of silica into various tissues of rabbits the amount of phospholipids increased until the 16th wock, whon it bogan to dccreaso. Silicates introduced similarly produced only a moderate increase in phospholipid content of tho lung and no fibrosis. Some of the phospholipid recovered from these animals was filtered to remove silica and then injoctcd into other rabbits. In 4 weeks nodules very much like the silicotic nodules in the early stages wore formed* They oIbo simulated/ieSions already demonstrated by Sabin, who similarly in- jeetod phospholipid from the tuborclo bacillus. In the author1s experiments the possibility remains that some silica in soluble fora remained in the phospholipids injoctcd. However, the theory is most attractive, and if fully substantiated answors one of the perplexing questions of the histogonosis and tuberculosis, (Reprints arc probably obtainable from the author, at Banting Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.) 251. ETIOLOGY OT SILICOSIS. 7. Rciehnann. Mod. Klin. 33, 226-229 (1937). Tho author disagrees with ether German investigators who claim to have ob served silicotic changes resulting from inhalation of graphite and rust, on the ground that no roentgenological, pathological or histological proof has been presentod. Of the 20,000 eases of silicotic lung changos he has seen, he found none that were not caused by several years1 exposure to quartz dust. A check of a nuabor of cases of silicosis, allegedly due to other causes, disclosed that there had been, sufficient exposure to silica dust to produce the result. Arguments against the Jones sericite theory are also presented. 252. SILICOSIS IN SPAIN. A. QUer. Arch. J. Gewerbepathol, 7 , 383-387 (1936). The author gives statistics on silicosis in the Spanish Rodalquilar gold mines, in which gold is found in layers ofquartz, but no sericite is present. The mines are dry drilled and have been in operation for 6 years. Ten work ers died from silicosis in 1935, and 32 cases of silicosis were found in the 110 employees. In a ceramic factory 16 cases of silicosis were found among 350 workers. Bygienic improvements have been made in both industries. --~ 253. ASrESTOSIS AND ITS PREVENTION. FIndel. Arbeitsschutz, 9-16 (1937). A survey of 11 German asbestos plants employing 385 workers disclosed 22 cases of asbestosis and 13 deaths. A short description of the clinical and X-ray pictures is followed by a careful description of the exhaust systems needed for certain processes with illustrations. 254. THE CARBON CONTENT OF ANTHRACOTIC LUNGS. E. Muller. Arch. f. Gewerbepathol., 7, 316-318 (1936). A method for determining the carbon content of anthracotic lungs is presented. It aonsists primarily of pulverizing the tissue, extracting the fat with ether and alcohol, and then treating it repeatedly with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The method can be used also or. other tissues. Fuller - 0008