Document Lg1dnkEeL4QYBeLreRnZeKbdz
FILE NAME: Eagle-Picher (EP) DATE: 1930
DOC#: EP024
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Book Excerpt - Occupation & Health - Asbestos
ni 21 2
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE
OCCUPATION
AND
ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HYGIENE, PATHOLOGY AND SOCIAL WELFARE
Volume I
A-H
GENEVA
1930
-- 1 --
.\sn:sTOS
Ihc nwynr, whtrh nm^i he renewed every wi-rW. The Californian low ti*|ouil Hint no child miller .11 b-;i>t 1U years of mj* eon te eiiipiovcd in a simlm unless unlv uihonsed and after medical fu m iiia m m earned out by a medical man in the Child Welfare Service. Three evumuiations are made every three months. Children takin" part 111 Him production mn>i not t>e emploved more then eight heurs a day. Including lesions lasting lour hours given by a qualified teacher, ['aid, but not selected, lv the studios. Employment of Children be'fore 8 a.m. and altvr i p.m. 1 prohibited-
BllLtotiUZHI .
p u u . * La patotogia professionals degh artist! dramatic!. * ft iiai/iucctnf, 1913. Florence.
For other sources, see Bibliography of Industrial f/yji ene. published quar terly by the I.m u c m iiov w . L*o c h OrricL.
Asbestos . French: Amlant' . Asbtsie. Pirnre (i colon.
-- German: Asbcst. .tmiunt/i. iw^/luc/is. -- Italian and Spanish: Annumu.
C hemical P nopcnm s
\vfe` ins is a brilliant filamentous min
eral. 011v 10ih t'.ucli. whuc. Misery
creemh or htuisn. It- dMi-uy is - ,J - J.
Its ch m u cal cninp-j'iti'-n consist1, uccor.l-
in- to ns origin. of calcium ` ilicate and
magnesia or of a m a.nesia silicate accr.m-
Darned bv qua:iun*5 of
more or **?$
extensive. Analysis of Uilf-rent varirtics
of a-bevtos reveal* a siiica i."fiicnt id
40-30 per cent. -- - 11 in Canadian asbestos.
41.3 in Siberian a-pr'ios. and 31 1 in the
African vari*`tv -- wfi:P- "Mdr el in.vgtt'.sia
varir- t-nvoi'ii -Vi African' and <.!_.
(Canadian'. Ovnle Of iron between I-<L
[Canadian1 and 23.S 'A lin an . In Siberian
j .t 'e - t is th-*re 11 tV'idi-j In :9 Pvr cent, of
lii in iim . When m l up u K ' - S l . H inUy
coiton-lik* (..rm w iifti ! ti--ii--If easily
10weaving. It 1* in* "ntl'M-iiId''. p rc v n la
heat l-'*-1. 1--a ili'.Tiui** and ii\:rtc tn.-n-
laior amt i m.( atia- k~l by m-'-?i acids.
O f the three difl'T'-nt imt.,'ral varietn'S
known hv Hie nunn- '( a-he*to*. it 1*
ftf rfif) 0lU6 anil
hornblende a-t---1j* . wlndi are ihv* ni**M
comnionlv u>ed; the flr*i n( these is the
most sought after variety. Industrial
asbestni is cfii'dlv denied from Canada.
Russia. Italy, and the Transvaal.
Ttcii'ot-ocr
Extrnclinn Involves two distinct operations: (I) quarrying oi I'"asbcsios benring rock, generally mined
in open qunrrics or.. In countries
h a v in g is seveie w in ter rlm iale. in galleries : (-') iv p .iraln .rj of the aid'estos from the s u r r o u n d in g riv k. I In*
rock is rut in terraces. reach in g .1 depth of some 1L0-> ftQ u arryin g is more economical a n a
etfectivc than underground work y '* a
despite exposure to weather. Drilling
and blasting are engaged in as m ordinary stone quarrying. The miner
al c o l' from the q u a rry is rough sorted, di fie rent grades being chosen
for length of fibre a n d sent to. " coh. m g slreds " where dressing Is carried o u t.
T h is consists of sep arating the abes-
(a) to fibre, from the su rro u n d in g rock
an d m a r be done
by hand - the
stone being broken by a sm all sk*ige
hammer and the fibre thrown there
after into one box and the waste into
another -- or lb) by m a c h in e f mtl.s I-
Hand separation ("picking and sort
in'* "1 is not difficult since Ihe fibres He" in layers more or less loose.y attached to the rock and can fi equrotly be picked ofT with the fin d e rs; hut hand dressing is not thorough anil
the waste m aterial from th- cohoing tables contains much fibre, the further
utilisation of w inch represents af'K5
profits to ihc m ine, and these hue p ickings have to be dressed iiiccnam c-
allv. Ther are passed after drying
to 'crushers' where ihev are brok.-n by successivrlv tiner-set rollers and fur-
Iher reduced hy cylindrical fih-risers
and the cvclouc machine, which re
duces them "to fine p o w d -r. The cotton
like fibres com-? to ihc surface ami are ni>-cliaiiictUy with!rawn by suction.
1 he pulverised ro*k and ground jih e s tM are then separated by p ns-in g
them throned a h i k i n g scre-m. In vonie m ills the 'articles of iron p r e :ent 1 ore taken np bv strong el'Ctnc m a c n e ti. T h - crude fibr* cii sep-nration from thr waste rock rcs-unblxs
rmnerah.-ed wo"l. The asbest-ia is graded according to the length o. hhre
on a sncs <! cy lin d ric a l >;rcens: It s then card 'd and packed ih sacks
and placed on the m arket ui b-iU.
Js-Dusmiu. Uses
Th-* nes to w hich abi*stos is pul are very vart-d. The long hares are uv.nl iii the tevtile industry for the manufacture of clotn. braid. r"l'. tlveatrc curtains, dci'oration, ui'holsterv hangings, and for iim'i.ng pistons for st".m engines. The Miortrr fibres tcgelh>r with an aggloni'-rating i.gt-nt are Uw d in the m a n u factu re 1 ^it, p2iW*r; ca rd b o a rd . varn ish es, covering agents (especially fur strong
01214
a s b k s t o -s
- -- If) --
room *), cem ents. rubber tvres for
lu io n .o l.ilc s a n d bicycle*. M b c * ** Ztso used a s a n .e le c tric a l fo r covering e le ctric w irm s fo r h J a n d lowr p re s s u r e c u rre n ts , m
m anufacture o f tile *. P ^nks.
m a!trU '-T r h e ^ S l a . i n p firemen's
plos.
S & ^ . " V b a i l * ? > . etc.
O .M ZX S U 9 H v c io t
T h e -worker enpaped on the xtr3*
tion and manufacture f
1n j,,
constantly exposed to dan p tr
dust. mure r s p e c i:ll>v h o e -ie ^
the operations of spm nm 0
` n T h e b a n e fu l Influence of hei dust
(<te also ortiole " T u hcrru losis " .) In an ashes!,- weavlnc factory in Sasony the workers com plain--I of headaches
and loss of appetite. These affections were c a u s 'd by fumes riven oft bv a
rubber solution with \\luch the asbes tos cloth had b-en cn-itod to eliminate
dust.
.
An inve-licstion carried out in Can
ada in I'Ml revealed that hygienic conditions were e r r a tic unproved as a._
result of lti< adoption of a n eflrc4iv< system of ventilation. Nevertheless,- local doctor with lone experience stated that resniratory troubles, and in particular tuh-rculosts. were of very frequent occurrence anions-l asbestos
workers.
. .
namhou**k drew atlenimn (o the risk
of lend poisomnc d u n u c the
,*
Of a * b e s U wh-n a t h r e a d -o f U a J h
added to the wtit. as is sometimes the
m
m
m.
S S T S ,,.*" ?& **
C Marked frenucncy of chronic i.in c ti' ti i* with hypertrophy of m r ms of the pupils h a , also been noted a mo nest the asUistas workers the Island of Cyprus. The worker. question were chwriy engaged in S 1 * i n - . screeninr. and p a c k .n b the
a i ; f 5e v ^ o f nsN-stos h a s only
V w d h a wooden tiail, which pro
occasioned the P ^ l u c U c n of
much dust. Uom en sjucd
|
trcses into section.
the I
ws
y La :et w as* rep orfed' at llochdale
flan' dn). Tih,e,e victim waisn aan awsol-mwatons whn had beenno^mortom e\.unm..tion I
^r c vU. u ldt d dd rr. t.UU i. a s ^ .^Vuc )rofvt.ehlity m tt.oal.ia- |
fil.*roM'l*f
nf _tle nuncral
P" -.^ i-s
n.ml icin,,ojamr'.
" U ,! : T f ; h T ' l u u - and Of dust s ,m .
inattan of lb*.
d.ff-r*-nt w.rk-
V - ' * i T ' f s r ^ P v ` ` r - v c l c d the S S T b .a e k " ^ . , * i - r ^ m * each.
abWe tn f o ^" 1
studied in
v r ' - ' l l t V - o t ' n n - l M:!l '-rent l'-rt:nmV
v \ i n k i n - ' example nf the uosm us p rAop err..c> no .' - aa- b --fc*.licd; ">ittl ias ,, inas*t|a.cn*cteod>
bV '
-.,,d vr.inii.d factory (C>lv:.-
d.,)
rc r e iu .h-atll* in <>>* ' * l ho I.w ri.ility la t.:
^ 7 \ o V'a . . r ^ ..' a nil.!.'.. - .........................
i s that above d'-crih-*d called for Ml prove-*--1 fr*>rt extraction onwards
n.qucstiOiiably involve a hazard, and American and Canadian life insurance comC-.-nieS E'-ne .. ) re(u*e a s l - d o * w orkc.s on account ot the a-vwinu-.l deleterious conditions in
the indu-try.
,
The luck >( more accu ra te and
del wb-I data in medical hteratu.e
r .- m d in o tins industrv in its varmus
lir 'i i c l i .- in r lu .h n - ! " e u tili'a lio n of
bv.i-r.elu.-t. IS tn be .i f l n i . d 1.1 '..'w nf til.- ..-vi.I-.-nt mil" rtanci- of n s.es-
1 , 1. . , :
. , - r c d i ............
TM .i*e
,,.dm vn.-.rv tu b -'r c u h - .- . mure e'!><>` -
V, v it.Ve
r,r-M !y.inrre:...m c
d , - v c W m c i . t Of i n - i n .: i i, >- u l i h - m R
,i.c-t.-> a-l-l- '--ri-.iilv to t h - n r r " v ) u( vtii.lv ir..- th-: c,-n-htiuiis vv it!, a v.cw
to tlwir .mi- h-iration. All provi:n,n* Olre.-ly described for
w ill.-Ira" .1 of dust should be enforced
in this industry.
I.f.ISL*riOS
h-.,> m.-l.-r tf. and clrl> nn-ler
"
, ...
.-\. ti.l.-l (nun work-
} ' ' ^ V i -re . l v a m i w,-.v.n_- c f
I
Of Uv:*
Atni> nt ' rt ^ V`:
* if
Vun:
Tttr
l::
A?
opnoliyr
in *'
fP5rTf -'
jpe-
tmrrn.->. n*H*
of * *trr n'o: the the the mir of ' M, : * N* or. re^ fr m
lr. P* j :.
V
dc. r 0
tc
t
r I:
i:
r
c t. t.
01215-
M M H i\
-- I'M
\MMl M . T
rnttift* nr#
l> jri*\*nt tl<* .hfiuoloit
i,t tlul U . r - . ( h o uiiio^^lcrc.
n isu o cniritY
A vnirtT . LTiygi.-n' la eviriti di.*
O U V T le rS rt.XMS f * ftl.X tlir '? i l llS '.X g r S
d'arn iani * : ilw/l. <fe l ' h u p . Ju 7 /<it d . I0u6. pp. lCU-tll. P a r is .
5lwrs-o?. F. \V,, in Brif. Med. Journ.. SS May Iter*. p. Sii. London.
* Umtt statt Di*rrvrNTOr !.**ot:n. ru:nrr or Lr>i Staustics. Dulteim .Vo. a i . pp. 17G-lu>.
Ashes, Cinders
French: Cen^rei. -- German: Airhtn. -- Italian: Ctneri. -- Spanish: CnLj.
Ashe? present problem? from the point f view of indtitrial hvgirne, not only wh'en cinder* from hearths are In question /lancers from hot dust, pre<ene of certain product?, etc.), but especially when thev are employed for special purposes. Thu* (or instance, treatment of goldsmiths' ash by lead m ay cause injury hv reayou of the metallic dust which it liberate*.
Hygienic measure* .assure coverin'! of an- openings civittg on to the public streets, thorough ventilation of the workshop, the installation of hoods for the furnaces and cupels connected to the chimney by a strong exhaust. If the treatment is effected by nreans of mineral acids, application of measures of protection against toxic fum e- is re quired, viz. cntid'it? iti-*n of lea-1 fum e*. Noisy m achinery s*i"u!d he isolated. nd measures applied for evacuation of residues and the pr.-tectiori of worker? from the heat and rl ite .-f the furiiares.
Pearl asli from Combustion of organic material, such as ?h~-ts of vine, wine lee, \rtia*-c fr../n ; . 'r - - . a . . i- c..nip<el of impure }-.-` :i **:iuii car! >.'iiu*-* and its treatment liberates harp, pi quant, thick, and di-oxcr--.ihlc filings arid injures vegetation it: tt-e neighbourhood. Factories should : e -re-*i^.i at a lone distance fri>m il'.veihr.g hi-n-es and cal cination should fe -ifected in closed oxen. Gases and fume? should b ' led to special harth< or re piisite measures taken for their destruction. The chitnnee nuit l- a very high one. It w o u lJ be advisable to collect the incandescent mass of carbonate of potassium in a spcci.-l apparatus so constructed that the gases can be led to the hearth or into apparatus where they can be burnt. Hoods should be
in sta lle d above the e v a p o ra tio n Itollvf?.
1 h e w a t e r s l u e i l d I-- l e d I n a >-w.-r: t h e
r e s i d u e s r e q u i r e f a i r l y f r e i j u e n t l v t o be
r e in u v r d a n d r a n lie mili<--t a- in . m u r e .
llv the expression " dust shot with a lead content " is meant the impure
oxides which form on the surface of each balh containing lead or lead
alloys. This scum or black dross is
removed as it forms and is oficn pul aside on the floor, where it heroines mixed with other substnnees. In ap pearance it rc---mhle .in-*, henre itie
Fren ch expression " c o u le e s J e ;do ml
Kelp ash is lixiviated for the extrac tion of the salts of potassium. The
ash is got by burning different kinds o f sea-weed known as kelp or wrack and
thrown up on the seashnre. . Dried in the sun, they are thereafter reduced to ashes in furnace lined with refractory
bricks. The product of combustion
" kelp a s h " is in the form of a solid compact black, from which the salts of potassium are extracted. The blocks arc then ground and put into special apparatus for gradual dilution with
water. The solution is concentrated in iron boilers and poured into vats where,
after coaling, the potassium chloride is deposited in crystals, which are then
subjected to purification.
Hygienic precautions to be recom
mended are impermeable flooring,
cement walls to the height of one metre, hoods provided above the boilers to draw oif the fumes to the ch im n ey , all
openings to the public h ig h w a y s lo be kept. c i o * ' d , and n e u tr a lis a tio n of the
water u-ed befure it enters the sewers. The /commendation adopted at the
International lab ou r Conference at
W ashington ilOl'J) regarding the piutectiun of women and children against
ltud poisoning demands the exclusion
of women and young persons under eighteen years e,f a ge from work
involving manipulatin'!, treatment, and reduction of asiies containing lead.
A sp h a lt /Mineral Pitch. !f..rd Hitumen) French t.pfi.i'fr. p-dr noner-i/e. Pncm r. -- r.t'UiiAii' . I '//!"/'. F. ' !/'Ch. F r `th-i r ; . -- Italian *:nl ap.xm-h: li/u/lo.
Harsh and reeks impregnated with himni-n .re exil'd a-(-halt In mineral''.'/. lii.'Awer. th-* ii.xm- .halt i* also given to t-iturr..-: in a fr-- state. Il i> lu.-Mv irrif..-rn:,i to <t:xiiitgnish r--iw em thc-e two products. Asphalt i* generaliv m tin' f'<rnv of line groined rork. Dtark or dark D r u m in colour according ts it Is more or lej
