Document 8O3bQV0n1y6dkmbnXK1p4pJjB

' -v--. " , * * Industrial Hygiene Digest a * ?* INDUSTRIAL HEALTH NEWS * * h ' . H * LITERATURE ABSTRACTS MEDICAL ' ENGINEERING CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGICAL *. . ' * - ."TV; * LEGAL- i-ttSS't?- I*#' JUNE, 1968 (Vol. 32, No. 6) . wbCw^^.. . . e *v WIpct* .' ~r- /tryj.if' 'o: -4^: / INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE FOUNDATION 4400 FIFTH AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA. 15213 SCF-ALLF-02980 5 51 Fulrr.or.arv Functicr Ir. 5a;assr Sev. r.eso. -.is. - 5c1 f T iseas'-. Fierce et at. Sever, previously 'veil :r.er. wcrkin; tit a fiberbcard piar.t developed signs and symptoms of ac"'. bagasse worker's lur.g curing a ten-week period. Two of these patients had open lung bioasieg to confirm the diagnosis. Pulmonary functions were measured from 2. 5 weeks to 26 months after the onset of symptoms, All patients had a restrictive luna defect due to a reduced in spiratory capacity: partial airway obstruction was not a feature of the Illness. All patients had a severe reduction in the transfer coefficient of the lung for carbon monoxide at the outset, this was primarily due to a reduction in membrane diffusing capacity, whereas the volume of blood in the pulmonary capillaries was more nearly normal. Although pulmonary functions returned toward normal, the total lung capactcv. ir.SDiratory capacity, vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, transfer coefficient of tie lur.g for CO. and membrane diffusing capacity remained significantly abnormal more than one year after the onset. Three patients were treated with adrenocorticosterolds and -1 were not. There was no significant difference betwe*- the treated and the untreated patients in the rate of objective improvement or in the extent of residual impairment of pulmonary functions. These data suggest that steroids do not hasten the resolution of a granulomatous infiltrate nor do they make resolution more complete. The.-r are 28 references. -- Authors' summary .552 Metal and Mineral Concentrations ir. Lungs of Bituminous Coal Miners. J. V. Crable, et a!. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assn. J. 29^ 1 06-11 0 (March-Aprll, 19681. Lung and pulmonary lymph node samples from 26 West Virginia bituminous coal miners haie - analyzed for total dust, coal, and free silica. In addition, beryllium, cobalt, manganese, r.i:- titanium, and vanadium were determined by the quantitative spectrographic methods; lead wag determined by the CSPHS dithlzone method: and copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc weredeit.-- mined by atomic absorption spectrophotometric methods. The summarized results of the mi:- analyses from this study and the authors' previous study are presented. The concentration f'". and mean values for eleven elemental constituents are compared with normal values reported ' Tipton and Shafer and Cholak. There are 9 references. -- Authors' summa.-'- 553 Tissue Response to Intraperitoneal Asbestos With Preliminary Report of Acute Toxicitv o: r-tL Treated Asbestos in Mice. J. Jagatic, et al. Environ. Research 1, 217-230 (Nov., 1 9671 Intraperitoneal asbestos not only produced fibrosis, but a special and peculiar type of fibre* which was proliferative, granulomatous and invasive, and histologically similar to mesothf-: although morphologic evidence of actual malignancy was not obtained. Further, asbestos exposed to high temperature produced a high degree of toxicity in experimental animals: tr.: resulted In a 60o mortality rate. -- Authors Editor's Note: Although the authors of this 19-page article insist that the fibrous ir.flanr tissue resulting from intraperitoneally injected asbestos is histologically similar to mesoi and that it is "invasive", they gave no evidence in support of these opinions. The 22 lUus.r* that are included in this report, support neither the claim of similarity to mesothelioma of "invasiveness" of the inflammatory tissue. * 554 Asbestos--A Hazard to the Community. C. Gold and J. Cuthbert. Public Health(London) 80, 261-270 (Sept., 1966). During a recent study of pulmonary fibrosis in a Southeast Glasgow clinic. 21 proven w a? in patients with normal or borderline x-rays by the lur.g function test and most re-ta--- _ biopsy. It is also Important to take a complete occupational history ir- cases of ^scj^e' -- fibrosis, since asbestosis or pleural tumors may occur many vears after a short . the asbestos dust. Also, persons ir. occupations usual." associated with hea.tr. be endangered by working ir. close proximitv with people who use asbestos. es?e<|:a"'^ _ spaces. Case histories are giver, and a table is presented showing the type o: a5,tf5'. ,, tior., length of exposure, age, and period elapsed since exposure of the 24 oa' ierts Since the use of asbestos has become more wldesoread ir. recent vears, it is reco-" i , native materials to asbestos should be used whenever possible. A proposal to mix .jiible a tarmacadam for road use Is viewed with concern. -- APCA Absts. ' -.j'jt03 , N-0te; Regarding 554-566, Interested readers are referred to the Editorial in the May 'and IHF Medical Series Bulletins N'o. 11 ar.d 12 which report progress and planning Ti;^v`s`^eSto3 bioetYects research. -- R. x. P. deT. - .-j-mloloay and Clinical Features of Asbestosls and Related Diseases. P. C. Elmea. iSS^rCled. 623-635 (Oct. l66). " rjtgr" -nonary fibrosis caused by asbestos dust has become less common since the introduction of 'jUppresssion measures in 1952-33. However, in occupations where these safety measures :J,*not observed, asbestosls Is still a threat. Symptoms of asbestosls are breathlessness on Jf<rtion, productive cough, tightness In the chest, clubbing of fingers, warts, cyanosis, restricted !-<t movement, kyphosis, and fine rales heard over the lung bases. Changes in x-raya are conclusive, since they also occur with other forms of chronic diffuse fibrosis involving the !'eura. No laboratory tests except lung biopsy are diagnostic of asbestosls but sputum examln- irfon and respiratory function tests help to support the diagnosis. Carcinoma of the lung result ing from exposure to asbestos appears to be common in patients whose exposure to the dust was insufficiently long or Intense to cause crippling fibrosis. The rapidly increasing number of cases of fatal mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum have been definitely traced to exposure to asbestos dust. The degree of exposure In many cases la slight and there can be a long interval between exposure to the pollutant and the development of the tumor. Preventive measures re commended are restriction of use and greater precaution In the handling of all types of asbestos, -rocidolite fiber, in particular, should be eliminated from commercial use. -- APCA Absts. iabestos--An Environmental Health Hazard. W. D. Norwood. P. A. Fuqua and T. F. Mancuso. vnrthwest Med. 66. 821 (Sept.. 19671. your Case Reports demonstrate asbestosis with pulmonary emphysema and cor pulmonale, as- bestosis with lung cancer, mesothelioma, and rectal cancer. The occupational histories of workers as plumbers, boiler makers, carpenters, pipe fitters, steam fitters, mechanics, stationary engineers, undercoaters, foremen, maintenance electricians, builders, rubber workers, construction workers, cement workers, boiler repairers, sheet metal workers and laborers must all be elicited if diagnosticians hope to record the more than 3, 000 different exposures to asbestos. For the sake of workers and their dependents with industrial health compensation rights, the diagnostician must not be misled by recent occupational history nor overlook other work exposures within the lifetime of the patients. The obvious need for de creasing the exposure to asbestos by better occupational hygiene programs is recognized but no detailed criteria were presented. Considering the growing uses of asbestos, this occupational and environmental disease may get worse before it gets better. -- J. Occ. Med. Absts. Talc In Atmospheric Dusts. H. Windom. J. Griffin, and E. D. Goldberg. Environ. Sci. Tech. 1. 923-926 (Nov. 1967). The mineral tatc has been observed in dusts recovered directly from the atmosphere and in the solid mineral phases o: rain and snow. The talc, where detected, attains levels of the order of a per cent by weight tn the solid phases. This talc probably arises from agricultural activity where the mineral is used as a carrier and diluent for pesticides. The amounts of talc found In atmospheric dusts appear to reflect a local introduction rather than a generalized global fall outMeasurement of Asbestos Exposure. J. R. Lynch and H. E. Ayer. -- APCA Absts. J. Occ. Med. i 0, 21-24 (Jan., ;363). As an outcome of an epidemiologic study, a safe level of exposure should be set in terms of a method of exposure measurement which meets the following criteria in the order given: (U The environmental factor measured should be sufficiently relevant to the disease mechanism to correlate with health status ever. In environments where exposures to mixed dust occur. (21 The sensitivity of the method should be such as to measure levels well below the Threshold Limit Values fTLVl. (31 The method should lend itself to an appropriate sampling strategy: e.g.. long-period personal samples in the case of asbestos. f4i The expense of conversion from existing methods should be reasonable. The impinger method of measuring asbestos exoosure tes not meet ar.\ of the criteria well v/ith the exception of exoense. '.`.'eight methods would be v*re an ir.alvtica. breaktr.r 'uch. At oreser.c :iber counts on membrane filters are the best method ->s:ima::r.g exposure u re.ated to the ris* f asbestosls ar.d the airo-rne fiber concentration is a tact;.- the risk . cancer. There are reterences. -- Cor.d from text. Industrial Hygiene Digest une. 55 Industrial Hygiene for Insulation V.'orkers. Z. Occ Med, j_0, 25-31 (Jar.., 2 368). L. Balzer. The asbestos worker is exposed to amosite and.chrysotile asbestos-containing materials, fjj,-0 glass, cork, plastics, and adhesives. Working in industrial and commercial building proiecri and marine construction and repair, he is exposed to many other environmental hazards not created by his own trade, Although he works with asbestos-containing products 45<r- of the tirr.e the over-all time-weighted average exposure to asbestos-containing materials is below the pr. sently recognized Threshold Limit Values (TLV) of 5 mppcf. The three work areas in which dust levels were above the TLV (prefabrication, tearing out, and mixing) account for less tha207o of his total work time. However, the incidence of radiographic changes indicative of asbestosis is over 25% in our men with 20 years or more of work. This and other evidence suggest that the present TLV is too high. Incidence of asbestosis and the risk of malignancies in the asbestos worker can be reduced by local and general ventilation, substitution of materia.* changes in work habits and personal respiratory protection combined with education of the me: to reduce their own exposures to asbestos-containing dusts. There are 17 references. - - Author's summarv. 560 Asbestos as an Environmental Hazard. I. R. Tabershaw. J. Occ. Med. n>. 32-37 (Jan., 1968). In summary, if one accepts the assumptions (1) that asbestos minerals Increase the risk of lur: cancer in occupational groups, (2) that they lead to an unusual risk of mesothelioma of the pie'.-: and peritoneum in occupational groups and those living near asbestos plants, (3) that such tr.akt- nancies usually result from exposures 30 to 50 years earlier, (4) that the "asbestos bodies found in from 25 to 50% of lung smears from routine autopsies are probably due to asbestos is most cases, (5) that these "asbestos bodies" may result from recent exposures as well as thtf many years earlier, (6) that world production and use of asbestos has increased from 500. 0C` tons to 3, 500, 000 tons in 30 years, it is Important to consider whether or not asbestos is a rr.v ' threat to public health. One is not yet justified in such a conclusion, in view of the fact thss is. of the world tonnage goes into uses that do not lead to air contamination: thatasbestos is notac:.:s-- indestructible; that the effects are dose-dependent; and that low doses probably lead to lowrr rates and longer latency. Nevertheless, there is need for epidemiologic studies directed tot' - with intermediate exposures and for evaluation of the beneficial effects of cessation of smokl-'t Another need is for experimental and industrial hygiene studies to determine the natureancd`* of exposure. Biologic studies centered on the meaning of the "asbestos body'1 are crucial" understanding the clinicopathologic response. Strict control of Industrial and neighborhooc ^ environments is essential, but it is premature to extrapolate from the effects of heavy expo* to minor and low level exposures. There are 15 references. -- Author's summa.- 561 Research on Health Effects of Asbestos. L. J. Cralley, et al. J. Occ. Med. 10, 38-41 (Jan. ,1968). Asbestos Is a general term applied to a group of fibrous crystalline hydrated silicate mis*'4 Although a number of different types of asbestos minerals exist, only four or five are os commercial Importance. Each differs somewhat from the others in chemical compositi-" physical properties such as ability to withstand heat and chemical erosion, crystalline i**^* c#- fiber dimension, and degree of fiber harshness and brittleness. It has been known since nineteen hundred's that excessive exposure to asbestos gives rise to the disabling Pu rn.rfJ. disease "asbestosis." More recently, evidence has been developed that the incidence ^ r piratory tract and other malignancies In asbestos workers is excessive. A major or ^ . studying the health effects of asbestos Is the long latent period of 20 or more years trt ^ exposure to the onset of disease. Also in the mid-nlneteen thirties ar.d earlier. :nere>i. dust control and the workers were often exposed to massive levels of dust from aS*3eS^,# a. other associated materials ir. the manufacture of asbestos products. Thus, the caa,a`_.. of the resultant disease are essentially unknown. Included in these potential sources ^ . causative agents, either a'.or.e or in combination, are asbestos fibers themselves* ' _ . associated with the fibers in the ores such as trace minerals and polycyclic aroma-- ^ - materials added during processing such as metals, tars, and pitches, and co"c9r"` 0- exposures to tobacco smoke or other air pollutants. A strong supported lor.s-tef- ' needed tc provide the Information regarding the pathogenesis of asbestosis and ^ that appear associated with the inhalation of asbestos dust. More precise data or- une. 1 368 i-al characterization of the asbescos minerals which lead to their being inhaled and j ^ tj,e v,ociv, in their carrying with them other chemicals, in their migration, mm ay open . a' avenues oi biological research. -S'-S ?****' - '*C--on1d. 'f--rom- text. t-a Pathological Studies ot Pulmonary Asbestosis, Assn. IS'. 4? 5-4o3 (Aug., 1)6*1. ixarr.ura. ..Ironmental conditions in asbescos factories lr. Osaka and Nara were investigated. The *e e'"0i the dust in the factories was studied by electron microscopy. The concentration of -tied particles is tabulated for different plant operations in a N'ara factory. The occurrence '^oestosis among the employees of these factories was studied by periodic x-ray examinations. : ^ definite asbestosis could not be found in employees working less than 5 years, the ' 5 ency of detection oi definite asbestosis increased in those working more than 5 years as rf' s. there was 21% in those employed between 5 and 10 years, 54% between 10 and 15 years, between 15 and 20 years, and 100% for those employed for over 20 years. The classification / '.ray findings and the development of asbestosis are discussed. Case histories and photo- ?'-aphs of x-rays and lung sections are presented. -- APCA' A''bsts. . ,thlIoma and Its Association With Asbestosis. \i. Borow, et al. rjS-TCT .Vied. Assn.~20i'r587-591 (Aug, 21, 1967). ithin a three-year period 17 cases of mesothelioma (9 of the pleura and 8 of the peritoneum) ere seen at a community hospital in N'ew Jersey located near a major asbestos mill. The -cidence of mesothelioma as well as asbestosis appears to be increasing. t Am. Rev. Reso. Dis. Abate. n,.lmor.arv Function Tests in Asbestos Workers. G. L. Leathart. --*ns. Soc. Occ. Med. 13, 49-55 (April, lqo3). There are three ways in which pulmonary function tests may contribute to the management of workers exposed to asbestos; they may be used to confirm a diagnosis of asbestosis, to follow the progress of the disease, or to monitor unaffected workers at risk. The object of this paper U to consider how successfully these three parts are played. The typical physiological ab normalities are described, serial studies in cases of asbestosis are presented, and tentative conclusions are drawn from a small prospective study of asbestos workers who were free of disease when first seen. The findings from this investigation are summarized as follows; (l) Established asbestosis causes a loss of diffusing capacity, vital capacity and compliance. i Pleural calcification by Itself does not. (2) Progressive loss of function is seldom arrested when the patient Is transferred to other work and most cases deteriorate. (3) Diffusing capacity ippears to be the best measurement for making an early diagnosis, but the diagnosis has been subsequently confirmed by other means in only four of the cases reported In the literature. (4) The development of crepitations at the lung bases sometimes precedes a significant drop In diffusing capacity and this may be a useful observation. (5) Finally, as a general conclusion, the function tests should not be Interpreted In Isolation nor be given undue respect. They should always be Considered in conjunction with clinical and radiographic examination. -- Cond. from text. Source and Identification of Respirable Fibers. L. J. Cralley, et al. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assn. J. 29, 129-135 (March-April, 13&81. Fibrous bodies with an iron-containing coating have been found In the lungs of persons coming to autopsy in a number of urban hospitals, the number of fibrous bodies varying greatly with approximately 4 to 6% of the persons examined showing numerous bodies. Because these find ings raise a.uestlor.s with regard to the possibility that asbestos is a factor In increased lung cancer, questions concerning the nature, source, and significance of these bodies are discussed in the light of research needed to find answers. There are l1 references.-- Authors' abst. Pulmonary Ferruginous Bodies. Development In Pesnonse to Filamentous Dusts and a Method of isolation and Concentration. P. Cross, e: al. Arch. Pathol. i_5. 539-546 (May. >63). Reprints available from Industrial Hygiene F our.datlor.. 4400 Fifth Ave.. Pittsburgh. Pa. 15213 Formation o ferruginous bodies wnauld ro: ne ar.fused with pathogenicity. Failure to understand `'is differer.1 it La;-, may result lr. the erroneous teneralizatior. that all fibrous dusts share the t P l (