Document MG5jQnmn4wR36a2oGgOD3XQ3y
MEDICAL FINDINGS ON PITTSBURGH - CORNING CO.
TYLER, TEXAS /
A preliminary evaluation of the medical data collected on employees of
the Pittsburgh-Coming Co., Tyler, Texas, by the East Texas Chest Hospital,
in August, 1971 and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
in October, 1971 have shown the existence of some serious health hazards. The
data collected by members of the NIOSH team consisted of establishing the
-existence, of certain signs consistent with Asbestosis, these being dyspnea,
rales, and finger clubbing. By use of a questionnaire, a smoking history and
occupational history was also taken on each employee currently working at the 0. JtcttU- t-f G5
Plant, The data from the East Texas Chest Hospital gave an evaluation of the
individual pulmonary function status and included 11" by 14" chest X-rays, I
although not classified by the UICC code on pneumonoconiosis. As a result i 3 of the survey, it was found that of those employees with ten (10). years
employment or over, 38.9% meet the criteria for Asbestosis, ou'.'Kv a* utva.C{
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To support a diagnosis of Asbestosis an individual must meet three of the
following criteria:
1) X-ray with a profusion of 1/0 or greater according to UICC classification on pneumonoconiosis (positive).
2) Dyspnea - grade 2 or 3: according to aS 0-3 scale, 0-moacurtngno breathlessness,breathlc3-3nc33->.
- * r 3) Rales - present or persistent
. 4) Finger-clubbing -
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5) FVC/PFVC - less than 80% .
I In the case of the results presented above our diagnosis could only be made
using four (4) of the criteria, since there has been some delay on the part of
the company physician in releasing the X-rays taken by the East Texas Chest
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Page 2 - Medical Findings on PC
Hospital for evaluation using the UICC classification on pneumoconiosis. .
However, the X-ray results can only support our findings and could even give
us a greater number of people meeting the criteria for Asbestosis.
V
We are also concerned about nine (9) additional employees on which we
were unable to obtain complete medical results
since they no longer are
employed by the plant. Three of these individuals definitely had depressed
pulmonary function results and should be followed up with further medical
tests to determine any effects which may. be due to Asbestos.
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