Document GpmX7BmJRRaVbV2Ya4mJ6o0r

@82 s=3 1551 U----- u C=3 Industrial Hygiene Digest February. 1961 160 The Pathological Anatomy of Talc Lungs. H. A. Muller. Arch. Gewerbepathol. Gewerbehyg. JT7, 262*282 (1959). German. The author describes in detail the macroscopic and histological appearances of talc lesions in the lungs of 2 men. Both had been exposed for many years to talc dust in th< same gum factory. The specimen from the first case was provided by surgical biopsy duri: thoracotomy and that from the second by lobectomy performed to remove a drug-resistant cavitated tuberculous lesion. With minor exceptions, the talc lesions from both patients showed the characteristic features of talc granulomata as described by Schepers and Durkai -- Bull. Hyg. 161 Influence of Mine Dust on the Development of Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis. M. Navratil. Arch. Gewerbepathol. Gewerbehyg. 7, 618-626 (1960). German. One hundred and nine iron ore miners who had worked for more than 10 years underground were studied clinically and physiologically, by measuring the Forced Expira tory Volume (FEV) and by pneumotachography. Comparison of the pneumotachograph resul in 24 patients with asthmatic bronchitis and 29 normal controls showed that the miners agre closely with the normal controls but differed significantly from the patients. Ninety-five of the miners were examined again after a shift underground. Signs of bronchitis (increased expiration and dry rhonchi) were heart in twice as many men as on the previous occasion. The vital capacity was higher in 32, lower in 10 and the same in S3 of the men; while the FEV was higher in 8, lower in 46 and the same in 41. The author concludes that these studies do not support a broncho spastic influence of dust; but that they indicate that dust in duces an irritative bronchitis. The conclusions apply only to iron ore miners. Further studies on these lines are at present being carried out in coal workers, - Cond. from Bull. Hy 162 Morphology of Grinders' Lung in Schmalkalden. W. Kuhne. Arch. Gewerbepathol. Gewerbehyg. 8, 37-52 (I960). German. In the vicinity of Schmalkalden, on the south of the Thuringer Forest, the manu facture of tools, such as drills, spanners, pliers, etc., is carried on. In addition to large factories there is a multitude of small works where work is done under very unfavorable coi ditions. Artificial wheels, corundum, emery or carborundum are used. The dust raised in the process consists largely of iron oxide, FejO), with traces of other metals and the main constituent of the stones and the binding material. The data for this report came fronr the post-mortem examinations of'9 grinders between the ages of 54 and 69 years. In 2 case death resulted directly from the pulmonary condition. One of these showed simple nodular silicosis, the result of a 5-year spell using natural sandstone. The dust of the stones in us does not produce silicosis. Emphysema was found in all the lunge but in more than half the cases it was of the bullous type. Chronic bronchitis was also found in all cases although it was obscured by terminal infections. Deposits of dust (mostly carbon and iron oxide) were found in the perivascular, peribronchial and pleural lymphatics. In 7 cases changes were found in the blood vessel walls possibly leading to pulmonary hypertension. In general, the pathological findings in these cases, apart from the silicosis case, do not differ, or only in extent, from those observed in other lungs. The position of dust in relation to these change requires further investigation and comparison with findings in a similar group with no occu pational dust exposure. Cond. from Bull. Hj 03120749 17.