Document 7Mj1BnmzJByN27rrqkn3jwmeg

& oo c=o Industrial Hygiene Digest February. 196/ 182 Rheumatoid Factor in Serum of Individuals Exposed to Asbestos. B. Pernis, et al. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1 32. 1 12-120 (Dec. 31, 1965). The presence and titer of rheumatoid factors in the sera of 315 asbestos insulation workers a of 103 controls were determined by conditioned hemagglutination with tanned red cells coated aggregated human or rabbit gamma globulins. The asbestos workers were exposed to the dus for periods from 1 to 54 years, and most of them showed x-ray evidence of asbestosis that w; graded into grades from one to three. A definite increase in frequency and titers of rheumatc factors in the controls of same age and sex, was found in workers with asbestosis of grades ii two and three. Similar serological abnormalities are found in cases of pulmonary fibrosis of different origin, idiopathic, silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and sarcoidosis. -- APCA Absts. 183 Occupational Hazards of Pipe Insulators. W. T. Keane and M. R. Zavon. Arch. Environmental Health J_3, 171-184 (Aug. 1966). In this survey the attempt has been made to investigate all of the substances with which insulat come in contact in the normal pursuit of their trade. In the present state of technology, and i> light of existing medical and toxicological data, the majority of the substances examined prove incapable of presenting a serious health hazard to insulators. The only insulating substance w justifies concern is asbestos. This report and other available scientific data at the present tir are insufficient to provide an adequately based conclusion. The most convincing data are thos< of Selikoff. The further results of his and other investigations will be awaited and should con tribute toward sound judgment of this matter. There are 155 references. -- Authors' summary 184 Malignancies in Asbestos Workers. J. Lieben. Arch. F.nvironmental Health 13, 619-621 (Nov. 1966). A study of 68 hospital admissions with asbestosis from an asbestos textile and friction materia plant included 21 malignancies-- 1 3 of these were carcinoma of the lung and eight carcinomas of c organs. Eighteen of the patients had exposures to asbestos in their occupational environment f a period of 10 to 36 years. Only three patients had their first exposure after 1940. Extensive dust control measures have been instituted by the plant. There are six references. -- Author's summary 185 Exposure to Asbestos and Malignancy. Anonymous. London Clin. Med. J. 7, 10-11 (Jan. 1966). Recent surveys have shown asbestos bodies to be present in many of the otherwise normal lung! of those living in clean, non-industrial communities, suggesting that environmental contaminati with asbestos dust is widespread. Perhaps this is not altogether surprising considering the vai of domestic asbestos products that exist and their wide use in modern building. Present eviden suggests that there is a wide spectrum of pathological changes resulting from asbestos inhalatic Prominence was given recently to the relationship between asbestos exposure and mesotheliorru Possible widespread community contamination by asbestos clearly calls for a full assessment o its carcinogenic properties. Both crysotile and crocidolite have been associated with bronchial carcinoma and mesothelioma, but amosite has not. It follows that both qualitative and quanti tative analyses of asbestos in tissues could be most helpful in the further elucidation of this problem. In addition the relationship between asbestos exposure, smoking, and neoplasia for mation, requires analysis. -- APCA Absts. 186 Pleural Calcification as a Sign of Silicatosis. M. Kleinfeld. Am. J. Med. Sci. 251_, 215-224 (Feb. 1966). Of the agents capable of producing a pneumoconiosis, only asbestos, talc, and mica (and rarely, free silica) have so far been incriminated in the production of pleural calcifications. Such calci fications following silicate exposure may vary from a few linear or circular plaques over the do of either or both leaves of the diaphragm or the lateral chest wall to formation of an extensive shell over the whole lung field. The configuration may be bizarre, but the nature of the calci fication usually is readily apparent on standard posteroanterior and lateral films. Pleural calci fication is usually asymmetric. The plaques are most frequently located over the dome of the diaphragm rather than in other lung areas. Clinical and environmental evaluation was made of eight workers showing varying degrees of pleural calcification from exposure to talc, asbestos, or mica. The minimal duration of exposure was 23 years and the longest, 54 years. Respiratoi symptoms, chiefly dyspnea, were present in six. Four of the. six showed clubbing. In five, 03122421 23.