Document Lg1KyD90agNLJpywwn0JvdnJX
FILE NAME State of the Art Literature SAL
DATE 1918
DOC SAL003
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION US Dept of Labor - Mortality from Respiratory Diseases in Dusty Trades
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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
U.S.BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ROYAL MEEKER Commissioner
. :
-
i.
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
N N UUMMBBEERR 231
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND HYGIENE SERIES NO 17
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MORTALITY FROM . RESPIRATORY
DISEASES IN DUSTY TRADES
| -
INORGANIC DUSTS . .
<j"
BALTIMORE
BY FREDERICK L. HOFFMAN a
:
vT
tes
pr
<T
we we
del v
alt
a
r
ee
De
r 1
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-
y
OT
oa~ regh ? ePSs oo
~.
(
.
v .
e
ares
}
4 ,
4
qo
oman
77)
t $
+
a ree et ee es,
a
7
oe
-. -
ys
shtre 12107
ee
_
cneres
;
fh.
JUNE 1914
WASHINGTON COVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1918
4
.
fom. oe
ss
eet
fey.
on 8
er
.
wale
er
2 ee
CE
aa
~n,
3 ig
e Fenn rtnet te sean we.
oy
agP
;
172
MORTALITY FROM RESPIRATORY
DISEASES IN DUSTY TRADES
TABLE PROPORTIONATE MORTALITY
SVECIFIED
FROM PULMONARY
INDUSTRIES OR OCCUPATIONS WITH EXPOSURE TUBERCULOSIS
INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE OF PRUDENTIAL
TO MINERAI DI
CO 1397 TO 1914 BY AGE PERIOD
15 to 26 years
25 Ls 34 years
35 to 44 years
a
45 to 54 yain
.
Occupation group
Deaths fromau
Cadiees.
Deaths
mm
pillmonary
from Mareu lasts
noaths from
CBUSES CBUSES
Num Ter
ter, joe
Dralls
from
pulmonary
till lous
Drathe from
causes
Num- Per
ber cent
Dastbs
from
Smit
tulares
from Twi
tulares Baths Lasher
Josua from sill homag
Cleef
NOCH TOP{ ber cent
Nure't Nure't
Cr
Asinatos workers Brick tile sad terra
6 } rolta
31 J122 Glassworkers.athee a
Glassworkers.athee
Lime 2410404 and
gypsum .... eenveras
Ithiraphers Ithiraphers work- 1537.5 + Marie stoa ne n word k-
Tatal 1943 1 1 25532.0 1,220 573 153.30.G133.l0 250; 5H) 3a01.01 2,13723a ... eceecees
os ee
Vezan Vezan
Vezan Vezan
Vezan
J122
33.91
+3 203 61 31.5
so
11
so
37152 37152
ag ag
10 5
fa}
is
23.
+40.0 +40.00 +40.00
37 351
20 34
25532.0
3
st 94 1371 *St 156
40 Su
| ast
1771
1771
16 1371
1,220
, Hh San
,
|
:
12.31 12.31 21 12.01 731 37. 28 50.09 931 58.21
I
1537.5
+2131 +2131
121
41 21 40. 703.11 703.11 7 14 .01 77144.01 77144.01 TU 43.
19.61
$
,, , ,, ,> 973
ay
193 |
an
,, ,26 31.31
901
15 4
M Ly
4.8
37 117 579
%
10
ms ot
% ,
i
,, ,fi ,,, ,fi ,a ts
60 27]
...
:
yt
6941
1 ...7 44 21 20.71
St
mm >
Good
Im:
Ty
101 0.01
ay
2 Wy 11 7411251 7141012.51 144.
en
isl 32.
172
2.
:
ots
2 t
to years | 63 years and over unknown Total 15 ^ N
Asbestos workers Brick le and terra
Comrietmaaker3 946 55^ 55^ Glass blowATS
Glasscutters Glasscutters 07! Glassworkers Glassworkers niber ..
Lima cement and
Lithographers cypsum cypsucm ypsum Lithographers
Marklesadstone Marklesadstone
HHaallm m
PaPaipnerthangerS
hangerS
Potteries. ..... ccc,
.. Tutal
ea, veeee
10.71 121 75
13 10.71 11.5
SH
15.1
re]
4.
NH
16 115
4
ein 4
32
4 IRS
500 20.7
G201
87 13.9
151 re
3301
11 391.1.9
117 3121.1
IF
200 16.7
i
Neresasbersecle creases seventleeees
622
622
se deeene[eassuciacae.
H
i
ny re
5271
5271
151
151 89718971
112 480
la T
3141 ti
1,684 100 8.51
Sees.
>
Eee
}
3.05
3.234
129
704
3.3711
Sunt
11.17
see] 11.17 1.17
3,181
bronchitis MORTALITY FROM NONTUBERCULOUS RESPIRATORYRESPIRATORY DISEASES
On account of the importance of
cases Table 70 is
nontuberculous respiratory dis
from asthma
included showing proportionate bronchitis
the
pneumonia
mortalit
pneumonia and other
respiratory
disease
respiratory disease
On the noblitberculous An~-l ficor be Fruterick Fruterick
*
respiratory
respiratory
og, Port
Nestem of Medicine edited
Lumileu 1000
by Sir
is in~
Penang of the
at 1. Philadelphia Philadelphia and New
Clifford Allbutt Albut had flumphrey
Bronebi Lond York 1015 I
Davy Rolfesta
OCCUPATIONS WITH EXPOSURE TO MINERAL DUST
173
among workers in occupations with exposure to mineral dust without
to divisional periods of life
eference
MORTALITY FROM NONTUBERCULOUS RESPIRATORY
PROPORTIONATE DISEASES TANTE ERAL TANTE
IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES OR OCCUPATIONS WITH EXPOSURE TO DUST INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE OF FRUDENTIAL CO 1697 TO 1914
MIN
8 -
s
Deaths eansed by nontuberculous respiratory disear
denization
denization group
.
Asthma
Nronchitis T'neumonia
Olber
Tolat
'
|| || | {| | }| || ber
| Fo r Num-
Fer
Num Por Koo
Fot Num- Ter
cont
ber
cont
Ler
cont
ber
ceal
bor
...
2
>
gar sing worketrersra
. ule and terra yo a ere
4 gmae - nesbers
. we tdawees
+
...
... .
Flak morters.other morters.other
|
m
meuatnd gyn-
Faure
eeerepererrreress
t wrathers
1. kun je alalstude alalstude work-
-n.,
eeseres
oD dete
e AntiactameS AntiactameS
' 1. ephongers.. be. tenere,
2
0s PUES.
wee .
eeee aes
+
,, . cevcecces
wecete
8
3.1
secfesaweess
3
.3
t
.5
4
of
2
5)
23--0 23--0
23--0 23--0 23--0
2
, 2
t.4 8
8 |.
ot 7
51
51
wreeens
&
87077
t
87077
4
87077
]
87077
6
87077
3
39
3
39
52
23
51
23
cneeeee
8 23 5
eveceere
1.1 1.7
17 |
5
|
17 |
~
858 858
858
21 71
20 20
62 463
== == 89 16
16
15.3 frsccvecsjeccsacel
2
15.3
12.9
11.
5.9
9.3 7.9
^n n ^n n ^n n ^n n ^n n
1.9 2.0 1.5
.y L.
20656
16.9
20656
1.3.4
20656
9.0
2065 20656 LL
20656
10.5
6.8 10.8
wa
23
wa
av
11.3
=
127
3.6 14.1
8.9 8.8
9.
83
23
2.
23 2.0
: 1.3
000
1.3
000
1
130 276,075
83
130 130 276,075 276,05
327 604
=
79
176 276,075
276,075
13.9 18.3
9.7 11.2
128
110
146
It does not seeni necessary as observed in the discussion of occupa-
tions with exposure to metallic dust to enlarge upon the facts dis-
,, sine] by the preceding comparative statistics which emphasize with
suflicient injurions
degree of scientific conclusiveness the obviously health-
injurions consequences of considerable and continuous exposure to
TS the inhalation of mineral dust It is clearly recognized that the sta-
e data Pd 1.stical
utilized for the present purpose are of rather limited
intrinsic value but they are in the main quite fully confirmed by the
apis extended re
consideration of occupations in detail where the ex-
*Jasure to mineral dust is sufficient to warrant their inclusion within
e the +g plan and scope of the present discussion
a
>
ENGLISH OCCUPATIONAL MORTALITY DATA
In conclusion however it has seemed advisable to add to the pres-
t
observations a table obtained from English official sources which
felnantgers plasterers consideredthe combined
of
potters paper
morltiatlhiotgyraphergslassworkers and
and which may safely be
with representative itions
sufficiently
of the entire group of occupa-
information with exposure to mineral dust in the absence of more extensive
information which unfortunately is not available
~>
~>
a
fl
fl
\
Rw weet oy
Se a 1:
Se
tt
~ 7 At
eon val
174
.
-
<a
-
en.
;
MORTALITY FROM RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN DUSTY TRADES
st
Taber
MORTALITFYROM ALL CAUSES FROM PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AN
ay, ee
Eat Sh
FROM OTHER RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN OCCUPATIONS EXPOSED TO VINET DEST COMPARED WITH THAT OF ALL occuFIED MALES IN ENGLAND AN
as
te
=?
}
WALES 1900 TO 1002 BY AGE GROUrg
-
:
Registrar-
mt
ot ey |
a ee
Kngland and Source Part IISaSppalepmenptlementto the Sixty Annual Report of the Registrar- of Births Deat
;
and Marrocsain
Wales Wales
ww Deal rata per 1.000 ^
Death rata per 1,000 dias the disestry Death per 1,00 1,00 00 dus
olber
-
to all cause ODG
:
respirator syst
louis among
among-
.
de44adt eah th
Allorto Allorto
pied males
Occupations an unaridust O
unaridust
Alloces
:
Alloces
pied males
Occalls
exposed to
A oc
| Mineral amt Mee! |
Occupation XL XL
mineral
cos to yeaTccS ses
24
4.41
2.25
0.54 0.54
0.55
Q28
1
:
4.03 1. 44 01
5.24
20
201
ori
166 10.71
12.10
2.74
100
1
17.73
33.14
4.01
3.32
106 31.01
40.
18
aH
aM
11
68.39 68.39
92.00
Lis
13
17.17
bs
ntasen at
re jens oe
oe
"
We
ola
a.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
Table 71 brings out clearly the fact that the mortality [:.
pulmonary tuberculosis among men in occupations with expos
to mineral dust is decidedly excessive at ages 35 to 64 but
the mortality at the other ages is not appreciably lower than f
occupied males generally Death rates are however not as used
and conclusive for purposes of industrial hygiene as the proportion
ate mortality figure which precisely emphasizes the quantitative in
portance of a given disease or cause of death The proportiona
mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis and nontuberculous respin
tory diseases is excessive at all ages among men with exposur
mineral dust although the relative death rate per thousand exposs
to risk is not at least according to English experience decided excessive at certain periods of life The data are not of sufhtic
importance to invalidate the general conclusion and in the main
death
rates sustain
the
proportionate
mortality
figure
although
th th
although
is not invariably the case The death rate from nontubercule
respiratory diseases among men employed in occupations with posure to mineral dust according to the English experience the older ages so decidedly excessive that obviously much mo
extended scientific consideration should be given to this group
- diseases than hins heretofore been given it At ages 55 to 64 1
illustration the in the English experience there is an actual excess
mortality from all causes aniong then exposed to mineral dust
9.22 per 1,000 equivalent to 29.7 per cent but in the mortality for pulmonary tuberculosis there is an excess of 1.53 per 1,000 equis
lent to 82.1 per cent against an excess of 6.02 per 1,000 in the mo
eh mee
be
cope ane Nay 6.
wy we. wy
te:
UPATIONS $+
WITH EXPOSURE TO MINERAL DUST
175
itality from nontuberculous
diseases equivalent 96.6
respiratory per cent
The
results
of
this
analysis
therefore
to
reemphasize
Rientific conclusiveness of the extended
the
on Industrial
discussion "
reference rumoconiosis with special
to dust phthisis Edgar
by . toilis in the Milroy Lectures of 1915 and the corresponding obser-
Ivations Ivations on pneumoconiosis by Sir Thomas Oliver in Allbutt &
oe tuRorlyleSstyosn'tseSmystem of Medicine Volume V Diseases of the Respira-
te+
Of interest in this connection are the observations by Dr. J. S.
+s Mahlane contained in a contribution to the
ination of Mining Engineers abstracted in ParolecteteedrinfgrsomofLtohnedoInnsttio-
ItnhetJheournal orfeftehrereAdmerican Medical Association August 19 1916
paper
to Dr. Haldane pointed out that while
the age of 50 the death rate from lung disense is much lower up to
liers than in the rest of the population above 50 the
among
mind there is a marked excess of deaths from bronchoiptpiossiteInhoclodn-s
3 nuation however he stated that the deaths from this disease have
greatly diminished since 1890 for which improved ventilation
i to be the cause
secins
Fifty years ago miners often worked in air con-
; taining so much black damp that lamps and candles burned
33h such air there is usually 2 or 3 per cent of carbon
dimly
| normously increases the breathing
dioxide which
during muscular exertion The
Inathing is exactly regulated so as to keep un average of about
r cent carbon
in the alveolar
5.6
dioxide this
air and with 3 per cent of
a _,
gas in the air man breathes twice as much air so
the alveolar percentage right A man
as to keep
3 work in pure air breathes about five
doing moderate muscular
a.
or six times as much air as dur-
sin-~--rrest In air containing 3 per cent of carbon dioxide he would
breathing ten or twelve times as much air
7 Inathing would be taxed to the
as during rest and his
|
more liable to
utmost He would thus be much
is
contract emphysema The better ventilation of coal
mines largely a consequence of the greater amount of fire
rent heat encountered as mines have become
damp and
>To Dr. Haldane is inclined to
deeper
think that both the fire damp and the
|mianterhsave indirectly caused great improvement to the health of
Where there is plenty of fire damp there is
plenty of fresh and dry air and no harmful
usually also
excess of carbon dioxide
The -
proportion of deaths from bronchitis among old miners
:
the Staffordshire in 1890-1892 and
was
her ;
coal fields
1900-1902 than in any of
the to black and mines :
black
Staffordshire
are exceptionally sub-
been attributed has
The excess
breathing
among old coal miners
bronchitis has
attributed to the
dust and
previously Haldane breathing of Dr. previously
inclined previously why
to agree with this
was
why why if dust is the
theory But it is dificult to
an .
cause there has been so great a dimination in
:
. eye
~ .
ryt a oN -@ yy
LIT7 wae
ew
9 oweeaten a :
ME te ate aiad Mh,
, Y
wom iin oO
8
amresik tret
a
ve-r.* oe
be.
ae ww
4
ATna> fo
+ -
(igvy
von. wr.
a
0 TRADES 176 MORTALITY FROM RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN DUSTY
the bronchitis mortality in recent years Coal mines have on whole become drier and more dusty with increasing depth and be ventilation and if dust were the cause one would have exported bronchitis to increase whereas it has greatly diminished Certai an excess in mortality from bronchitis is associated with the brea ing of harmful dust But this excess is
accompanied by a far grea excess in mortality from phthisis and begins comparatively early life unlike the bronchitis mortality in colliers Experiments animals carried out by J. M. Beattie show that both coal dust an~-l shale dust usually associated with it on mine roads are relativ
fiornaless
It is therefore quite clear that much remains to be as tained concerning the true nature and extent of dust phthisis : that in the solution of this important industrial problem a com erable advance is necessary in the practice of medicine which much larger degree should be made to rest cerning disease causation ascertained by means uopfoanutkopnsoiwelseidngeindtrial districts subject to an excessive mortality from pulmon tuberculosis and nontuberculous respiratory diseases
ASBESTOS
e ;
by if.
e Siar where conditions found i pie z
1 oie agian
oar
resisting ae Oe
yei
oN 3 (aq
ae Sy Ne
decidedly be The number of men employed in trades and industries involvi
exposure to asbestos dust in the United States is unknown
_ from the mining of asbestos in which exposure is rather limAusn
there are numerous
processes involving the conversion
facture of the materials which
or rema
effects on health and
are distinctly more serious in th
longevity Asbestos weaving and spinning
described Netolitzki on the basis of observations in Bohem
the
were
to
unfavorable 1
this country our information is very limited although the
of asbestos used is very large Its
quant
led to its extensive employment for the
properties .
etc. as well as its
covering of pipes furcas
the rial etc.
wall use in
On account of its
form of
plaster roofing ma
nonconducting qualities it is
sively employed by electricians and also in the
ext
age rooms of refrigemting plants
construction of =.
"
a go om
= >
wag,
kane
Got
=| ee
.
pos.
METHODS OF MINING
Geologically according to the Technical World
bestos is a fibrous form of
Magazine
crystalline l^>niestone The vesienrspemnitninean rock occurring in strala
fourth to linlf inch but
average thickness of ot
soinetinies attain as much as 6 incl
*** Mining miturral wool by Autery Fullerton is Technical N
rld Magasinc N
gee
*
oad
yrreng. as
NET sy ee oe
she
.
4
i
-OCCUPATIONS WITH EXPOSU eto Mineral dust
177
>The asbestos fibers are as nearly as possible crystals of serpentine
"
.. According to the same magazine
_ 1 The ore is mined mostly in open quarries Overlying soil to a
> * thickness of sometimes 20 or 30 feet but quite often forming only a
' * thin layer on top has first to be removed and as soon as the asbestos | * veins are thus laid bare the actual quarrying operations may begin
" The rock is cut in a series of terraces reaching a total depth of some
weather ' the 130 or 200 feet Underground work has not proved successful
the open quarry having been found both more economical and more
* effective despite the disadvantages of exposure to the
Drill
ing and blasting are employed much the same as in ordinary stone
:
queerying queerying is
it
Wlien the rock is thus broken up it is rough sorted at the quarry
+) Two or more grades are selected according to the length of the fiber
...
_
and
are
then sent
on
to
the
cobbing sheds
where
the
further
process
of dressing goes on This process is merely the separation of the
asljestes fibers from the dead rock and is done in some cases by hand
2 hal to an increasing extent by machine Hand cobbing is the very } simple method of breaking the stone by small sledge hammers throw-
* ing the fiber into one box and the waste into another This separa-
' tion is ordinarily not difficult since the fiber lies in layers more or less
osely clinging to the rock and can frequently
off *
separated cleanly fingers The crude fiber thus
as
be picked
with the
as possible from
the waste rock and looking very much like mineralized wool is
. packed in pound bags in which form it goes to the market and
F the manufacturer
"
and dressing is not however an absolutely thorough method : The waste material from the cobbing tables and the fine pickings - from the quarries have still some fiber in them and the utilization of
+ tais frequently represents the largest profits of the nine All these
* tine pickings are mechanically dressed In case the asbestos contains
a large percentage of water the moisture is first dried out by ex-
sure to the air by steam pipes or by rotary driers and the rock is
Pe then passed on to the crushers where it is broken by successively
t Eerst rolls Cylindrical fiberizers and the cyclone machine reduce
still further The latter latter is the most effective apparatus yet devised
for asbestos separation It consists of two beaters one of the screw-
s propeller
reducing
type
driven
particles
within within
a
iron
chamber
at
a
violent
speed
yi reducing the particles of stone almost to a powder This is then
F: pissed over a shaking screen to remove the sand and in some mills
strong electric inagucts are used to take up the particles of iron
1 In all of these operations there must necessarily be a considerable
however which degree degree of dust exposure :
becomes
in the
i exaggerated and weaving with the manufacture i
pinning
weaving
exaggerated
in
con ection
with
processes in connection
pinning of asbestos yarn and cloth
q
article
These processes are
referred to in
brielly in
Engineering
Engine ring
Engine ring
The Engineering Magazine article in the
spinning
spinning
Magazine in
in part as follows
weaving
many
The spinning
and
weaving of
asbestos
have
offered
dificulties
many difficulties
fibers have no rough surface like wool of cotton but
14
the asbestos Asbestos a
"
Its miolug miolug
preparation ,
markets
and
:
usbe y
E.
Suba l
SubSaualbaal
Magazine Oct. 1007
ou.
Regelman
Regelman Cagi- Cagi- Cagi-
Sering e
106911-18 231-
pert:
:
.
1
ou.
7 ,
ay
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i! hee
Ayre
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f me -
ah an Fe i ;
are \
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ne -
Pa
:
ids x
(2 it Lg
.. ot
tog "tat
oe
an
Sey
3, *
iva?
vise
. rs.
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;
s so
rou
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mo
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eo.
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fr
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ete -
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ae
ows. Pe
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f ere
s
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t +f i
7 % a.
eo@mrs Poet SG ;
7
ed
4
ele a
ae
eee
ws
Pa
a
Ave oF
oot
.
rte
note,
wr
"+
oo
UF
'
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sf
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178
MORTALITY FROM RESPIRATORY DISBASES IN DUSTY TK
are very smooth and thus have a tendency to slip by one when twisted and subject to tension An admisture of vege animal fiber was therefore often necessary but while thes tated the manufacturing operations they impaired the fire re of the fabric and special machinery and ingenious devices be invented to enable the successful spinning of a pure ashestIt is however now possible to make a singio asbestos thread though weighing no more than 1 ounce per hundred yards ha strength and braided material can be made much more rese
torsion and tension while asbestos ropes chiefly used by
department can be strengthened either by interwoven wire baring a wire core
INJURIOUS OCCUPATIONAL CONDITIONS
On account of the rather limited extent of the asbestosi
in the United States at least in the large centers of populat
industrial insurance mortality experience data are insuilici
definite conclusions During the period 1907 to 1914 in the ' experience there were only 13 deaths of which 3 or 23.1 p
were from pulmonary tuberculosis At age2s5 to 44. there
deaths of which 3 or 50 per cent were from this disease ~ dust is not described in the extensive consideration of Dust if
by Hayhurst nor by W. Gilinan Thompson in his treatise Occupational Diseases In 1914 the production of asbestos United States was only 1247 tons or much less than in earlie
indicating a very limited available source of supply Most asbestos used in the United States is mined in Canada and a
lent report on " Asbestos its occurrence exploitation and us
been published by the mines branch of the Department of the i
of the Dominion of Canada Ottawa 1005 which contain
scriptive account of mining methods and of the dressing of i
by hand or by mechanical treatment including the final crusi
means of rollers fiberizers beaters cyclones and pulverizers these processes unquestionably involve a considerable dust haz the hygienic aspects of the industry have not been reported u
may be said in conclusion that in the practice of Americ
Canadian life insurance companies asbestos workers are as
declined on account of the assumed injurious condit
the industry It is regrettable that there should be no further information
able regarding the asbestos industry in its various branches
ing the utilization of products of manufacture on sequunt
evident injuriousness of asbestos dust as a predisposing
pulinonary tuberculosis
_
--
The subject
is not
referred
to
by by
:
L'or a deserfullye secount of the Cirudian log Journal New York Apr 20 1019
susions susions larict larict
see
Engineering
an ee :
in.
RS eres oe
me
.
.. OCCUPATIONS WITH EXPOSURE TO MINERAL DUST
179
< end Ilanson in their
published treatise on Discuses of Ocen-
pation recently '
and Vocational Hygiene nor by Sir Thomas Oliver in his
Diseases Occupations +Recent work on
of
The rapidly increasing des a
|: elopment of industries using asbestos as ascertained from domestic 4
-! or foreign sources suggests the urgency of more qualified medical
* consideration than has heretofore been given the subject There are &
i? ye references to asbestos in the Index Catalogue of the Surgeon Gen-
teral's Library which however brings the literature of the subject . down only to 1890. The discussion of asbestos in the annual reports
of the United States Geological Survey on Mineral Resources is lini-
4 sted entirely to the technical aspects of the inining industry which
*
uuring recent years hus experienced a rather retingrade movement Jon that the production has diminished from a maximum of 7,000 tons
re in 1911 to 1,247 tons in 1914. In contrast however there has been a
B gradual increase in the quantity of the unmanufactured asbestus im-
Ho tel chiefly from Canada The American production is prae-
rally limited to the States of Arizona California Georgia and
Vermont Vermont Georgia las for years been one of the chief producers of
kibestus ,
in the United States but no medical observations are on
RB woord as regards the possibly injurious results experienced in the
5 maning and manufacturing of asbestos materials in that State The
rw industry itself has been described however in a report on the
" astus talc and soapstone deposits of Georgia in Bulletin No. 29
5
of the Georgia Geological Survey 1914
.
EVIDENCE OF DUET XXPOSURE
The relation of asbestos dust to pulmonary tuberculosis is reported ; at some length in the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of
: Factories and Workshops for England and Wales for 1910. Th"iu-
vestination was made by Dr. Collis who states in part that
was Following up information received from the registrar it was found that five deaths of persons suffering from phthisis had urred in five years among a staff of under 40 workers employed
at where asbestos is woven The process which appeared
tsrheWosorsnteifscaactttcwhlhhooseeaherysoshowing hope of asbestos, dwahnigecrhous is the production of asbestos mattresses These mat-
are composed of bags of woven asbestos filled with
man
asbestos fiber are placed on a table and beaten out flat by a
wooden fail from which process much dust arises
Worked
who sew the mattresses into sections with asbestos threads
inhaled
close to the man who beat the mattresses and of necessity
inhaled tion
dust The roorganization of this process with the appli
tal tal
of localized exhaust draft was called for and an annual medi-
by certifying institutedexaminationexamination of the workers
instituted in the
the
certifying
surgeon has has been
dust those
detecting and removing from exposure to
become only early signs of respiratory disease Weaving
other Years Two
an important industry during the last 15
other
large factories Thich was foundfound
large asbestos
were visited each of
st prevention
to have its own
is required
specialty
in
the
production
of
which
_
prevention is required
+
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a.
4
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he: re |
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evw? o ] ra
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wee
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a
ne
kcga) nag
>
u*.
ow
"2
z
57
wt ton
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andy teka
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pit8 Wek ST
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7
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aed 74
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.
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o
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r
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;
is a
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qe
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iz i$
+
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paneOES .
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be 4%pe
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(ne.
Famer
180
MORTALITY FROM RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN DUSTY THA
3 There is evidently an urgent need for a more qualified and
ve investigation of the health aspects of asbestos manui
especially so in view of the fact as observed in the Scientific
can August 1 1916 that on account of the restrictions place shipments of asbestos from Canada the possibilities of utiliz asbestos deposits of this country are increased as well as bec the much larger demand for asbestos products on account recognized value of asbestos for protective purposes in the f ance of the industrial safety movement Of value in th nection is the evidence of Dr. M. Murray before t partmental Committee on Industrial Discases limited h to the single case of an asbestos worker verified as * diagnosis by a post mortem examination In reply to tion by the chairman of the committee as to whether in , the fact that there is something characteristic in the earlic of dust phthisis in the predominance of shortness of brenti physical signs become very obvious such a condition i:
observed in the case of the asbestos worker under treatment
Murray and under observation for fourteen months the doc
that it had been noticed in the case in question and : other words there was a definite relation between the co
phthisis and the physical incapacity resulting from the ini
ae
. of asbestos dust It is therefore to be anticipated that the co
Geer
*< of asbestos workers will attract more qualified attention
sa von,
country in the future than it has in the past
ee
ee
MICA
No special investigation has been made to ascertain the less injurious effects of mica dust According to W.
Thompson the dust is slightly irritating to the respiratory like dust containing any sharp solid particles but as a gene-
clusion he states that the dust does not appear to be part
injurious Mica is extensively used in the manufacture of e
machinery as well as in the glazing trade as a substitute fo
and in the decorative trades including the manufacture
paper There are two principal varieties of mica known as
rite and phlogopite but whether there is any essential di between the physical and mechanical properties of the tlust
been determined There are mica deposits in some 20 State
United Statbue t tshe annual production has fluctuated consi
reaching the lowest point in the last decade during 1914 3 there are any special hazards in mica mining in consequence
dist has not been ascertained The occurrence exploitation ofisica ofisica have been admirably described in a report published
mines branch of the Department of the Interior of Canada
.
ayant
want
MSE ye.
2
Ft
a
SPI PE wv
vot
u
way ony, hI
-
7?
hel eae 7
a
aes OCCUPATIONB WITH EXPOSURE TO MINERAL DUST
181
s
observations port however includes no
on the sanitary aspects of
The various employments It is pointed out with special reference
the inanufacture of ground mica that the difficulties of
grinding the great owing to the tough and scaly nature of the mineral which
n, may be assumed to indicate that even when reduced to fine powdler
the dust is apparently not of very serious importance to the em-
i juhovies
briefly
e:
me:
re
ww we
kee
on els the
Dred =e
te3 =
we
ars Mea dust is briefly referred to by Kober and Hanson in as of Occupation and Vocational Hygiene in which
their
their
it is
bhancre gen Nig
} and that mica is a mineral of widely varying chemical compo rato, but is essentially composed of silicates of aluminum and an
~ -
me
seo
Bare
^' alisuch as potassium sodium or lithium It is stated that the # eral splits easily into thin flexible colorless transparent plates or sales known as isinglass and that in the powdered form it is emss ved in the manufacture of giant powder and that it is also used
foeRiedie JT i a
oo ee
all
* Aw:
20
. aor
* tur corative purposes chiefly in the manufacture of wall
.
a
paper
-ottde 3minated designs etc.
1!
The ouly medical conclusion arrived at by
ee e
ete
ne -
authors is that mica dust is doubtless a frequent cause of in-
+
* flammatory conditions of the eyes and air passages It is therefore
of, a
e r flammatory sted by inference that the dust in
.
x a!
finely comminuted form may
sya es have an irritating effect upon lung tissue and to that extent
en
Boe
ote, 4 dispose mica workers to
we
pulmonary tuberculosis although much
7
Hey,
ea TE *** *** extended observations are required before definite conclusions
i
can be arrived at,,
et
t
THE STONE INDUSTRY
fe a
ed
Pr
+ le
The stone industry in the United States is of vast areal extent and
ag summercial importance The product for 1914 was valued at
$ 1,000,000 Stone is quarried or produced in
nearly
State
territory and the number of
every
and
4 persons employed in the stone in-
try exceeds 100,000 The principal varieties are granite trap
knarble a
knarble limestone and sandstone
divided
The industry may broadly
1
into the manufacture of crushed stone for road
making
and other purposes paving stone building stone and monumental
tune The two latter are subdivided into rough and dressed
brtsy
The labor conditions in
prod-
Hundamental
differences
an industry of such vast extent and
Hundamental Hundamental
in
differences in the nature of the product must neces-
* e valuable
<p 3.
descriptive account of male see the
Na
National
Museum
Report
1899
With . Det
.
Untere
Untere
diimusion of mica
Det
monditions monditions
mining to the United States with special reference to under-
reference to see an article in the Engineering and Minor Journal
catalog melbods in
May 4 1209
Untere of Aprit 19 1008
Canada se an article to the same publication in
' also9
Preording
.U Preording . Milonga a
in
the extended discussion by Mr. C. Usafoni
;
Mr.
Popular Science
llenderson un
Atica and the
a
Sloothly for Sept 1902
sistement by the
Milonga
Milonga
manager of the Crown Illes Co.
copilderd copildered very urality as most of it
Co.
of Coser
,
is done in open cuts
en om
4 bm.
mira City City ,
. +
7 eamore oe
owt. nth
eT
ta
$
vA
n ?rin
vm om
e
EE
LD,
waetule '
"Sate