Document JrNQ4j1O4aDxMy3Z0vwZzVoOO

4 s. I Qu^dz<JLr /ToSp.P-y MEDICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM t*" IN INDUSTRY ROBERT E. ECKARDT. M.D., Medical Research Division Standard Oil Development Company, Linden, New Jersey here exist numerous problems of medi of workers. Naturally, tthe Tcine in industry which need further re tion immediately arose whether or ni>t jr search effort. For instnnce, how can thethe amounts present in gasoline it wouhj cardiac be used in industry, effectively, yet have an effect on the henlth of gas static safely? What is the effect of noise on em attendants, automobile mechanics, .nit,lnK ployees, and how should this be handled? bile operators, and, from breathing the What are the effects of air pollution on in automobile exhaust, on the general pub. health and well-being? These are but some lie. As a result of a brilliant piece of T>. of the medical problems of industry which search by UR. ROBERT kbiiob and his need research for their solution. ciates, the unswers to these questions Our own interest in organized medicul re obtained and we all today use tetraethj; | search began about 1045, when several of the executives of our company began to wonder what the effects of the increasing use of additives in petroleum products might have upon the users of those prod lead without worry. This does not nuki | it any less toxic today than it was in jjj, The Division had its origins in <me dividual who served ns advisor to this toe mittee. As the number and scope of th# ucts. Prior to that time, ROT BONSIB had re problems referred to this individual . viewed potential toxicity hazards and writ creased, additional personnel have (*n ten recommendations for their control based added, until today the organizational seta) principally on literature searches. of the Division is as indicated in Fig. 2. In order to insure that the Division would Once a problem has been referred to tb obtain the proper perspective, company Toxicity Subcommittee, the Medical wide, on potential toxic hazards, a Toxicity Subcommittee was created (Fig. 11. To this committee our Division serves as advisor. Potential problems are referred to the committee by the various groups repre sented, or by any other person or group within the company. From these groups the Medical Research Division is familiarized with the contemplated use of the compound under consideration, the volume of busi ness contemplated and other technical facts search Division begins to accumulate tfe information which will make it possible k evaluate any potential health hazards whid may be associated with this use. Our fnt source of information, naturally, is theft eruture, to determine whether there is it) published toxicological work. If we are able to find the required information in tk literature, we next turn to others whow have sources of information not avsiltUf to us or in the literature. Those are which will put the potential problem in its proper perspective. New uses for old prod ucts can be reviewed from a toxicological standpoint during or before this use. Perhaps, one of the most dramatic cases of the effect of additives is the well known exnmple of tetraethyl lead. In its develop mental stages, it was found that this com pound had serious effects upon the health PreaenteU si the Sixth Annum! HemJth Conference, Houston, Texu, October 1 1953. Fig. I. .at*'** EKO02984 IRAM USTRY erefore, the que*. hether or not in gasoline it would Ith of gas station echanics, automoireathing the lend the general pub. liant piece of reIOE and his assose questions were ay use tetraethyl s does not make in it was in 1920. irigins in one inivisor to this comand scope of the iis individual inonnei have been tanizational set-up rated in Fig. 2. en referred to the the Medical Re.o accumulate the take it possible to dth hazards which this use. Our first itu rally, is the litether there is any ork. If we are un information in the to others who mar ition not available re. These are our lllljliixtria/ Hyyie.ne Quarterly I MxHeg Muirtli Biuin [ bination of these? How often does exposure occur? How long does each exposure lust? What level of exposure occurs? What are I H hmftt LlW-oimil the work habits of the men and how can they be altered so as to minimize exposure? What are the engineering features of the Clinical SNtlM tadhitrial Vftaaa hUt equipment and how can they be altered or ventilation improved to reduee exposure? Can non-toxic chemicals be substituted for _L rtud tnraatitatar* i.. laboratarj lUul/MI toxic ones and still accomplish the same operating effect? Will protective equipment provide the necessary protection where ex fiq. 2. posure cannot otherwise be avoided, and if so, what protective equipment should be friends and acquaintances in other indus- provided and where and how should it be .rjeit, the universities, or government who used? This is the type of question which m#y bo able to furnish us the desired in can be answered by the Industrial Hygiene formation. Finally we consult other toxicity Section after careful study, collection of laboratories, in industry or elsewhere, who samples where indicated, and analysis of wav be able to provide us the toxicity in samples after collection. Let it be empha formation we need. sized at this point that the techniques of ^ a result of this preliminary ground industrial hygiene are not unique in and ork, we are able to evaluate what is known, of themselves, but frequently the collecting md what additional information will be methods are quite specific, and the amounts needed, and plan the toxicity studies which of material being analyzed are quite small, ,re indicated. These studies may be done so that special analytical techniques must in our own laboratories if the facilities are be used. Therefore, it is essential that the nailable, but if not, then they are per industrial hygienist be fully familiar with formed under contract by one or another the limitations and pitfalls of his tech toxicity laboratory. It is very important ' niques. This implies that he must have spe Jut the toxicity laboratory chosen be well cial training or long periods of supervised nrned in toxicological techniques, other- instruction in these techniques before he tine completely extraneous, misleading, or can be considered competent to interpret irrelevant results may be obtained. The the significance of his findings. It often imple fact that a compound mpy or may occurs that a safety supervisor is suddenly Kt be toxic, by itself is of very little help made responsible for industrial hygiene a attempting to evaluate the hazards from without any period of special training or iu use. This was illustrated by the case of previous experience. This is unfair to the tetraethyl lead, the toxicity of which was safety supervisor, and in most cases would altered by DR. kehoe's work but the lead to a false sense of security. These re Uurds of handling were definitely elimi- marks are not intended in any way as a uted by his work. In addition it is essen criticism of safety supervisors, who huve tial to know where it is to be used, how it done an extremely wonderful job in a field ! *tU come in contact with people, how often iu which the training and background must "d lr how long contact will continue, etc. necessarily be different from those of the j Once the toxicity information has been industrial hygienist. It is intended only to | {"doped, either from the literature or caution against expecting from the safety actual toxicity laboratory investiga- department personnel a service which they ** nd it appears that a material may are not trained to provide. * potential health problem, then the When the Industrial Hygiene Section has [ *w*lrisl Hygiene Section takes over and completed its studies and developed the facts 7** the possible exposures and methods about exposure, then the Clinical Section ^toolling them. Is the exposure from swings into action. From the facts developed i v ,'"* material, from contact with by the toxicologist and the industrial hy ! a'", or from ingestion, or from a com gienist, an attempt is made to evaluate the EM002985 1 ! i! U6 ' June, i I potential effect* on man of exposures at terns affected by aliphatic or nmniatir level* determined by the industrial hygien drocnrbouK, and if so, how? Do t| ist* to compound* of the toxicity determined changes in body enzymes occur licfot-c by the toxlcolojfist. Will men bo affected by Inaly cells are visibly ilnumgcil? If so. these exposures? If no, how enn the effect these methods lend themselves lu uppf be measured? Are preplacement examina tion by the phyniciun in studying the nr, tion* necessary to exclude those who may of different exiiosures before iiTepar; be unusually susceptible? Are periodic ex damage has l>ccu done? It is a fart t aminations necessary, and if so, how fre pnrathipn is a very toxic mnlerial wt quently should they be done and what should will eaiise convulsions in men overex|K the examination consist of? Should men be to it. However, long before convulsion* removed from the job if certain changes pear, it will depress the blood chnlinester. are observed and at what stage should they A* a result, a practical field test ha* |, be removed? Are the controls recommended developed to detect parathion exposure* by the industrial hygienist adequate, or are a time when the only detectable cliangi more elaborate controls necessary? If an in the blood cholinesterase. At this *t accident occurs, what is the best method of the blood cholinesterase will restore it treatment, are there any antidotes, what to normal, without having subjected the first aid measures should be developed? posed person to any danger from con These are the questions that must be an sions. Are similar sensitive enzyme ri swered by the Clinical Section. All of these tions occurring in benzene and other r answers should be available before any new matic hydrocarbon exposure!*? Today process or the use of any new chemical only measure of benzene toxicity is its ef progresses beyond the pilot plant stage. It on the bone marrow. When this occurs, ii has been found that if we develop this in parable damage has often already Istcn dc formation for the protection of our own em Because industry is always develop ployees, then we are in a position to answer new processes or new products, or find the questions which will be raised by the new uses for old products, we find that ccnsumers of our products, and to assist are never lacking in work projects to tiiem in the proper handling of our products performed. We have found it nrivnntan w thout dnnger to their own employee*. _ to be set up organizationally in the Sty In addition to evaluating the hazards nrd Oil Development Company, the cent from the use of new chemicals or new pro research affiliate of the Standard Oil Q cesses, our Division is also concerned with pany (N.J.). This permits us to leant the development of new concepts in each of new ideas as they are developed, and tots our three lines of endeavor. A* an example, right along with the chemists and engiai the Industrial Hygiene Section i* perform as their efforts proceed from mental { ing research on new methods of sampling, cesses to laboratory bench work, to m new analytical methods, and improvement pilot plant, to large pilot plant, to enlist of older methods. Recently an extensive ing design for full scale production a study of skin contact wns undertaken in Our efforts quite nulurnlly vary with-t conjunction with the Medical Department stage of development, but our ultima!^ of the Esso Standard Oil Company. The jectives are to identify medical or hjj techniques developed were somewhat un problems arising from the mnnufaetu^ usual and should be' applicable not only use of various petroleum ami rhcmical|fj within our own Industry, but also in other ucts as they affect, employee*. rustniMPh industries with skin contact problems. A the general public, mid to investigat*# study of protective clothing is also under to be taken to minimize or elimina way to try to develop a suit which would problems. Our motto is that no cha provide protection, yet be cool enough that too toxic to be used, provided it ill it could be worn in hot climates. stood how to use it safely. Our pn Our Toxicology Section is embarking now designed to develop in formation < on a program of fundamental research on a proper understanding of the the effect of hydrocarbons on various me precautions for the safe hnmllini ffijff tabolic processes. Are body enzyme sys- health ntandpoint of any chemical ofW*5 ... -S3 EMO 02986 i