Document Lge6z16qboazvZkg9VJXn4vYg

Air Hygiene Committee September 9. 1953 ______ Is s e x House______ GAR 00C2G9 In Atter.dan : 3. Smith, 3, W. Luttenberger, Z. T. Johnson, I. g. Schmidt. E. a. Jacxscn, D. r\. Heines. J, Weber, , G. scncatf, G, Kcvaclt, J. D sea tty Guests: Dr 0. A. Sander, Dr. a. White. Dr. ?. a. Theodcs, Dr. ?. Ca. ,ier, Dr. H. W. Hetherington, Dr. E. S. Lyers Ic Hewing th fermat cf the previous nesting, the Doctors ne sccarate ses cr. and continued the deliberations previously 1- a review of the x-rays presented by each of the -a**--........ . Doctors established that x-ray classifications of >esa:-v-!-""*' A-2, moderately advanced; a-3. far advanced. rare rstr-'*' uniformly identified. There was considerable variance"'.-*'' opinion, however, in the borderline classifications 'o' linaa-r exaggeration and A-ie early asbestcsls. It was ths conclusion that this difference was a natter of individual interpretation and or.e which could not easily be resolved! Tha consensus was that it was impossible to make*a diagnosis of asbastosis on x-ray alone since similar shadows can^ce * reproduced by other disease processes. The employment his showing adequate periods of exposure (a minimum of 5 year: the textile industry, 10 years'in the mining industry) and a medical history revealing clinical symptoms are necessary for accurate diagnosis. 2. Diagnosis is complicated in obese persons. Obesity tends tu compress the lung and produce an x-ray appearance cf asbes- tesis. Overweight often times is accompanied by heart com plications not at all related to the asbestos exposure. I: was the consensus that asbestosis should not be considered as an aggravating factor to heart conditions due to overweight 3# As a result of discussion on the relationship cf off-tho-job behavior to disease production, Dr. Shite and Dr. Thecdos agreed- to study their plant populations to evaluate the pro blem. The results of their Investigation will be presented to the Doctors at a future meeting. ( 4, Concerning the diagnosis of a disabling (compensable) areas - tesis, the following factors were enumerated: a. Adequate exposure (5 or more years in visually dusty atmospheres). b, Typical x-ray patterns and indication of emphysema. LAQ-Wy 10/93 000-i0 ~ , V; n - PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT G-3 1 8 c. Symptoms such as shortness cf breath, dry cough, easy datigue or. exertion is moderately advanced asceitcsis and easy fatigue without exertion in far advanced achesocsis. Cyanosis may be present id right heart 5is evident. di Oecreased chest expansion acccmoanied by moist crackling rales. ' e. lung function studies Indicating a narked reducti timed vital capacity and .biocd arterial oxygen is and aider exercise. ung biopsy (id feasible) in ques r.able oases. here is no cure for the asbestctic fibrosis, syncvrta .led and improved ventilation is frequently ct:a_r.=i tnroug dhe use of intermittent positive breat.hing exercises using xygsn and brcnchodilators. Although the imprcvener.: in van ilation is not always maintained, repeat treatments e to provide relief. In cases involving right heart strain and cyanosis, digitalis is indicated. 6. In reviewing the problem of Job transfer as a means cf pre vention, the Doctors recoaaended tha following criteria': a. If x-ray diagnosis is established for persons under il, transfer to a Job of less exposure should be made. This assuaes, of course, that study has determoned that tha individual's present Job environment cental.-.: an asbestos exposure. b. If progression is seen on serial films, Job transfer should be made without regard to the individual's age< Again, the present Job should be evaluated in terns .1 exposure potential. . . recommendation was Bade that basic research be considers! in tha areas of - a. evaluation od different types of fibres in disease production, b. a relationship of heart function to asbestosis. _ 2r. Theodos will outline in sere detail a prepesa- fcr tr.is investigation. nittee reviewed tha statun cf the p urents and aethods in measuring at: .1 LAQ-WV 10/93 00 r\ 811 oi lucre ci*meters encountered in airborne asbestos *~-*V* was submitted to the Travellers Engineering Laboratory "Li ' Hartford. fchile there baa been verbal indication that --ey would undertake tills work for us, official agreement ia^not been obtained pending tne working out of soae technical dif ficulties, when approval is obtained, tie member ccapaaies will be advised in detail of saapling procedures, sampling location identification and shipping instructions. Ai- aea- ber ccapaaies indicated that they would participate 4 warding samples for this analytical research. ~ *'* 2. Question was raised concerning the identification and rencval of organic fibres from the samples submitted. ?/hile tnls" " item would not affect the sample taking, the matter"w discussed with the Laboratory to insure the counting ' asbestos fibres only. *' 3. It had been determined that the U. S. Public Health Service was engaged in an evaluation of several types of air santling apparatus. Although their original research program had'"net included the use of asbestos as an atmospheric centaminator, they appeared receptive to the idea and official approval is expected shortly. The instruments being used in this study include all five of those which our Committee previously had listed as worthy of study. 4. It was the consensus that every effort should be made to expedite items 2 and 3 in order that a yardstick might be established with which to evaluate the effectiveness of engineering control and provide a basis for job study nscessa.' for medical control (item 6, Doctors discussion). 5. lir. . T. Johnson reviewed the control methods at the twister: Lust counts (1a terms of dust particles, not fibres) indicate excellent control. 6. It was agreed that at our next meeting, each member would present a review of their companies* experience (successful or unsuccessful) with dust collector equipment. Capacities, operational methods, efficiencies and maintenance costs wcuM ba compared. To Mowing a recapitulation of the separata Doctors and Air Hygiene committed discussions, the combined group discussed end concurred that a statistical review be made of the current status of astesccsi in the industry. Accordingly, each Doctor will be requested to sub mit a list of years of service and x-ray classification for each employee (without name) for each asbestos textile plant. This data w; 11 be summarized to reflect the trends, if any, in exposure years uo cuimcr.ary involvement and may well serve as a base line against wr.ir.'j to compare future progress in the control of environmental .-xpesure and disease incidence. Ha Ha eiCjLS^r. 1 AT icc AQ-W 10/93 oocf.12 Conclusion cf a factory pdysician from X-ray ?.e ports or wC-k*-s la u asbestos :a*.ula:m:g plant wtlci u act wcrw- -e 4* ` presAt time. Tde x-ray exam cf 88 employees, male and female, of tde plant snows Interesting facts on tne frequency of asbestosls and tie " x-ray clinical findings of tnis woricaens' disease. Tor tde purpose of utmost accuracy, 1 have excluded from dese S3 employees 3 wdo have not worked permanently m tde manuacturing depts.; bollermem, masons, carpenters, etc. Among tde SO workers, 15 dave asbestosls to a more or less marked degree, l.e., 1S.7 tdat are subdivided as follows: 15 to 20 yrs 20 to 25 yrs 25 to 30 yrs 30 to 35 yrs 35 to 40 yrs 40 to 45 yrs 45 to 50 yrs. 50 to 60 yrs. 60 to 70 yrs 70 <k over 2 workers 3 7 11 13 12 14 * 14 3 1 0 asbestosls 0" 0* 13 1 54" 1 0 2- According to Seniority 0 to 5 yrs 5 to 10 yrs 10 to 15 yrs 15 to 20 yrs 20 to 30 yrs 30 St over 2. According to Tepartaents 8 workers 21 20 13 16 2 0- asbest osls 1 " 4. f. 3 - 15 f* 3 " ll >! 7 " 42.7S 1 5C. * ip r* *>i*)j 6 leavers 2 Braiders 1 Canetause (?) 5 Spinners 1 Carder .. . .. -. . .. V ." ' Tdere were five men 1C ecmen out cf a total of 34 men and 46 women. Tde mes interesting statistics refer to tde seniority of wcrier* Tde ,'umber of asbestosls cases increases witd senior: * LAQ-WV 10/93 000C13 f 0301 63 *" - - W&4 Z*tX\ iCiiC 10 expand cn tna lit* cf lit burlap covered tunnels. To do tils, * Sheet Metal Building w*a ccr.- " structed 60 ft. wide x 160 ft. long x 22 ft. hi**:. Into this building mine burlap runnels wen built. Tits* runnels e: 150 ft. lor.* and tacked up to an axis tin* brick build!.-.* h*7ir.* 1900 sq. ft- floor are* ar.d ceilir.* hel*ht of 26ft. This trie* buillir.* was used, as a Sttli.-.* Chamber with the dust laden air er.terin* directly into It. This air then passed through holes in the brick nil into the 9 burlap tunnels and filtered cut through the pores in the burlap. This arrangement would leave the longer heavier fibers in the Settling Chamber, with the rest dropping out through the entire length of the nine tunnels and collecting on the Inside of the burlap. This system would require a crew of 7 men from midnight to six o'clock in one morning every day "Seating Down* the burlap and entering -acr. tunnel to shovel up the dust and fibers from the fleer. This system was costly to clean and also subjected the cleaners to dusty working conditions. 5- In .January 1953 we discontinued the above described dust tunnels and began operating our two new collecting units pur chased from American Wheelabrator A Equipment Corporation. This installation was accomplished by removing 4 of cur bur lap runnels from the above Sheet metal Building. . These 4 run nels occupied a space of approximately 20 ft. x 160 ft. long. In this area we erected our two Hheelabrator Units. One unit was purchased to handle our Preparation Deparrsent Air and the other to handle the Card Roc Air. Both of these units are on the discharge and of the fans, the same as the burlap covered tunnels were. These two units are as follows: PREPARATION DE?Af\TmJT: Eaadles all dust laden air from this department. It is 15 feet wide x 36 feet long x 22 feet hign. Has 736 Cotton Sateen Dusrubes 8* diameter x 138* long. Han dles 56,200 c.f.a. of air with a ratio of 3.21 per sq. ft. of cloth. Has a total cloth area of 16,924 sq. ft., with an average static pressure at the unit of 1.60" fl.G. before shak ing and 1.10" *.0. after shaking. CARD ROOM: Handles ell dust laden air fro* the cards in this department, dis unit is 15 feet wide x 56 feet long x 22 fse ' high. Has 1152 Cotton Sateen Custubes 8" diameter x 138* long Handles 93,053 c-f.a. of air with a ratio of 3.50 c.f.m. per sq. ft. of cloth. Has a total cloth area of 26,496 sq. ft., with an average static pressure at the unit of 2.00" fi-S. before shaking And 1.00" W.G.. after shaking. These dus tubes are supported fro* the top by automatic shc.-cers ar.d on the bottom are inserted in cell plates. Directly under these cell plates are two hoppers with a Screw Conveyor mounts in t.he bottom of each hopper. The dust laden air enters into t.he side of tne hoppers, where the longer fibers fall direotly cut cf the air stream into the Screw Conveyor and are conveyed LAQ-WV 10/93 oooi4 ATT - - - . iCJ