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HEALTH ASPECTS. OF FIBERGLAS MATERIALS This brochure is prepared for distribution to plant physi cians, industrial hygienists, safety engineers, and'others interested in a documented summation of facts relating * to the health aspects of Fiberglas materials. L- inuuoiKitjj, inc, OWENS-CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION, TOLEDO, OHIO 1943 I_BB <>023999*7 4 -5874 THIS. DOCUMENT'VVAS NOT a Dmr. PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME^m IT'S FILES. AND CAN.vnT oVl.LC?ME FR0M NOT COME FROM fPG FILES BY Pi ASPECTS (i^IBERGLAS MATERIALS FI3EHGAS*--glass in the form of fine pliable glass fibers which can be woven into fabrics, or fabricated into bats and boards--was first produced in the wool form in 1932. During the succeeding years, as finer and stronger fibers have been produced, and as new uses for them have been found, Fiberglas in both its wool and textile forms has become a basic material of American industry. In the electrical and heat insulation fields, in the field of air filtration, and in other fields as well. Fiberglas is employed in many different ways and forms, for many different purposes. Because of its widespread use, and because it is a new material, it is to be expected that questions should arise from time to time concerning the possibility of health hazards in connection with its manufacture and handling. Still another reason for such questions lies in the very fact that Fiberglas is glass. It is glass in an entirely new physical form. Its physical properties make it unrecognizable as glass by persons familiar with glass only as a hard, unbendable, transparent substance. Nevertheless, the complete transforma tion that Fiberglas has undergone is not always understood, and old connotations sometimes ding to the new material. For sound business reasons. Owens-Coming Fiber glas Corporation--the manufacturer of fiberglas-- has always desired to find and present frank and complete answers to such questions. To this end it has encouraged and aided investigations by impar tial medical experts. This publication, which presents the answers to the questions which have arisen, is largely based on their investigations. NO HAZARD TO LUNGS Gardner Tests conducted by Dr. Leroy U. Investigation Gardner, Director of the Edward L. Trudeau Foundation for Research ^??cking in Tuberculosis, have demonstrated that Fiberglas has no injurious effect upon the lungs. In the annual report of the Foundation's Saranac i-aboratory. for the year 1940, the following state ment appears: JK* *Fp,^nt keJf of pulmonary damage from ^ dust '* k*int demonsffated by *x**n*n*nt- Tor over a year animals to m high * concentration of *riW0M to lit nto 11mm t kr Or Llir-n"iMtl rl--it -C-{a*imM.to rif-fHaw. OCf.a) Mtou|lUna. nulunnl ta.r, fm ImU, t/ *" tm tit Ttm JM. t%rt U. of the exposed animals. Their tendency, unlike that of asbestos, to fora felt-likt mum upon any object with which they come in contact, probably pretest! their inhalation. Slight amonnta of chronic inflamma tion similar to those ob*tr**d with other harmltaa dusts, bate resulted from accumulated parneulate debris. These tery fine, non-fibroua parade* are tha by-produet of the tiolent bcaang used to break up the maUriaL" In his X94I report as director of the Trudeau Foundation3, Dr. Gardner says: "Exposure to the duat of glass wool, a material commonly used -to insulete buildings. intoIves no hazard for the lungs became thii fibreua material ia sot iahalable." Siebert At the request of the attorney for Investigation the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and As bestos Workers, Local Union No. 1. St. Louis, Dr. Walter J. Siebert conducted an investigation of pos sible health hazards in the manufacture and hand ling of Fiberglas. Dr. Siebert is Pathologist and Director of Labor atories of the DePaul and Lutheran Hospitals, St. Louis. His investigation was made in the early sum mer of 1941. A full report was published in the January, 1942, issue Of Industrial Mediant.* The investigation covered a broad field. Study of the formulas employed in the manufacture and pro cessing of Fiberglas products convinced Dr. Siebert that the chemical.and physical characteristics of glass fibers are not of a kind from which serious industrial health problems would theoretically arise. An exhaustive search of world medical literature for references to possible health hazards in the handling of Fiberglas failed to reveal references to any new or unusual occupational hazards in the handling of these products. "Id view of the eontfnnally expanding market for Fibcrglai produets since 1932," Dr. Siebert aays, "and ia view of the promotion and advertising campaigns directed toward increasing their sale, the scarcity of references to the subject in the literature of science and medicine, and the lack of controversy or interest in the subject on the part of person* usually alert to possible industrial hazards, cannot be atotbuted to a laek of familiarity with the existence and use of the products. On the contrary, it warrants the eonelusion that the handling of the product! ia attended by no unusual occupational hazard." On the basis of his own observation, and dust counts made in the Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corpor ation's Newark, Ohio, factories. Dr. Siebert found that Fiberglas is remarkably free of the dust that characterizes certain products. This he attributes to the length of the fibers and the "pack stoength" of SS.*t-SmuS *------ Iimi tl lit Trrdttm ) m4 to, rkii--. S,_M StttUmttt tm lit TIf IW.14 !!' . INI, to* -- "* .'Vr./VM Cm.*--* tl Mt Str+tt tl *to l*-r* i. TnStmt tmilup-- SiMtoTt MS T---* - f M Ttitntitmt. Tit fHMto mti--tt mu m lit rm H(i * ~aT-r< tl Lk. OtoMt*. tl at T1W-1 fw><iiM. 1SU." SHr*mv--m,. Vvtdi. ix.s. j_*t. mUj. -arsif.cI-ttitM-n.*t**u*- < | BB 0024000 | 5871 this DOCUMENT 'WAS NOT^A TE: THIS DOCUMENT O'ft NQLC& FF.OM-TM f"o NNOT BE AUTHENTICATEgIE,A1.TH ASPECTS OF FIBER Pkge 3 ry PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. BY trie material, and to the fact that the glass fibers break cleanly, rather than shatter when they are sawed, chopped or cut during production or fabri* eating operations. ' Dr. Siebert examined several hundred stereoscopic x-ray plates of the chests of employees in the New ark factories. These were selected at random by Dr. Siebert from the file of some 1500 plates taken since the company, in 1939, instituted the policy of making jc-ray plates of the chests of all Newark employees. i_ Among the plates selected for special inspection were those of employees working in the batch house where the raw materials are handled. Beginning in May 1939, serial stereoscopic chest films had been made of the 15 men who were engaged in mixing the ingredients of the batch at the time of the investi gation. or who had worked in the batch house--the only place where exposure to free silica is encoun- tered.'A repeat examination of all men was made in JuneV 1941. "la no cue," Dr. Siebert reports, "tu there any radiographic evidence of pulmonary disease." Three cases of silicosis contracted before employ ment by Owens-Corning had been discovered by the company. None of these men had ever been employed in the batch house, but their employment does re quire the handling of Fiberglas products. It is the policy of the company'neither to refuse employment to, nor discharge, any man for whom safe employ ment can be found. The following summarizes the case histories of these three workers. Case No. 1 worked for another company aa a molder from 1924 to 1929. and roentgenograms of the chest were made in 1929 because of the presence of tuberculosis in his family. Chest plates were again made in 1936 because of suspicion of silicosis. He was first employed by Owens-Corning on June 6, 1940. Case No. 2 was employed as a bottle blower and machine operator from 1901 to 1930. He was first * employed by Owens-Corning on March 26,1941. Sili cosis was diagnosed following an x-ray of the chest made on May 12, 1941. Case No. 3 worked for 12 years as a molder be fore entering the employ of Owens-Corning Fiber glas Corporation on October 25, 1939. Silicosis was diagnosed following an x-ray of the chest on November 1, 1940. "la uch of thce tilicoeia euei." Dr. Siebert uya la hi* report, "there ia euffieient uuutive factor in the man't previous employment hietory or other cirenmetancea, and the evidence ia entirely inadequate to indicate that the condition of any one of these three men should be attributed to eny silicosis hazard encountered in handling Fiberglas, even assuming uch a hazard to exist." Records of disability and absenteeism filed in the office of the plant physician of the Newark factories were examined by Dr. Siebert, and revealed no un usual incidence of respiratory infections among Owens-Coming employees. Statements furnished to Cr. Siebert by Newark physicians whose practices are limited to eye, ear, nose and throat diseases, and wfto are m no way associated with Owens-Corning, indicate that these specialists notice no unusual inci dence of respiratory disturbances among their pri vate patients employed by the company, as compared with their private patients who are not employees. * A letter to Dr. Siebert from the Claims Referee of the Industrial Commission of Ohio, dated June 17, 1941--when the manufacture of Fiberglas products had been carried on over a period of nine years in Ohio--states that no claim for workers' compensa tion has ever been filed in the State on the basis of a disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by the alleged inhalation of Fiberglas particles. The letter reads, is part, as follows: For your information w. recognize diiuiu of the respiratory tract U eompcnzable occupational dt**uet. such u silicosis, asbestosis. tathfacosia and siderosia. Aa a matter of fact there is a provision under the lav to recognise any disuse of this type vhich is caused by the inhalation of any injurious dusts. "We endeavor to keep a complete statistical record in the Department of Safety and Hygiene of all cases of this type. 1 have made a thorough check with this department, and to date ve have never had a claim filed for a disuse of the upper respiratory tract eaused by the alleged inhalation of Fiberglas pani cles." Summing up, Dr. Siebert says in his report: "la submitting his best judgment, based on his professional interpretation of ail facts assembled in the eoursc of the investigation, the author [Dr. Siebert] finds that there is no silieosis, fibrosis or dust hazard connected with working with Fiberglas." Respirators Not On May 5, 1942, the Chief of the Mandatory Bureau of Industrial Hygiene, of the National Institute of Health, wrote a letter to the medical officer in charge of the U. S. Marine Hospital, Boston, concerning the wear ing of respirators by workers engaged in handling Fiberglas. The letter reads, in part, as follows:4 As Fiberglai hu not, to my knowledge, been in criminated si causing fibrotie or other disuse of the lungs, the mandatory use of respirators would not appear justified. It ia considered goad hygienic prac tice, however, to provide respirators for workers axposed temporarily to excessive quantities, of any kind of dust, or to workers who art sensitive to cer tain dusts and need personal respiratory protection." Navy Although no specific cases of injury Memorandum in connection with the installation of fibrous glass [Fiberglas] insulation In ships had ever been reported, the Navy Depart ment Bureau of Ships requested the Navy Depart ment Bureau of Medicine and Surgery to make an investigation and recommendations. After reference of the matter to the Division of Industrial Hygiene of the National Institute of Health, the Bureau of Ships and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery sent a memorandum, dated December 30, 1942, to the Commandants of all Nava! Districts; the Commandants of all Navy Yards; ail Supervisors of Shipbuilding, USN; the Commanding HQffwMWM, Ubri,yir^iMlnEaM,1 t Il.eCu, T MZ>. OiW, XHviiiii W WhM 1 -i 587C THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECORD OF PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME FROM NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT p!D fttgeHtES AND CANNOt BE AUTH|^C^T^grecTS Qr Ttsat, BUTY `PrrPUG IinNuDwUSgTi RIES, INC. HU i Uv:vit i j ii Officers of all tenders and repair ships; sad all Inlustrial Macsgers, USN. This memorandum1 contained the following state ments: "Became -of the phytic*! ehameteristiea of (lu> wool ththaxard-prnducmg damage to the human lung it practically niL "No eases of eilimeia or other disabling change* ia the long hart been brought to the attention of tho Division of Industrial Hygiea* of the National Iaatitote of Health ia auoeiatioa frith tho handling of glut wool or slats Abort. "It la concluded from observation*, Investigations tad available litersrare that there it no appreciable health hazard associated with the handling of fibrosa glass tad tlag wool ia the blanket or board fora." Aetna Casualty The Aetna Casualty and Surety Statement Company underwrites insurance covering any ill effects upon the health of Owens-Corning employees, caused by the handling of Fiberglas products. The Owens-Corning physician is charge of the medical dispensary at the company's plants and lab oratories in Newark, Ohio, writes* as follows: "Occasionally, ar* employee* (offer s mechanical * Irritation of the ekia for a few Cay* at the start of the job. For'relief from this irritation daring the stage when they are becoming mecuatomed to hand ling the products, I recommend that they apply aa a soothing agent calamine lotion containing one per esnt phenol, a preparation that may be obtained at any comer drug store without a phyiieaa's prescrip tion ... the irritation disappears within a fc*?daya, the new workers apparently become immunized against the aetion of the fibers, and they suffer no further discomfort." Soap and water has proved most effective ia re moving particles of fibers, whether of glass or aay other material, from the skin. The company has - found that there is seldom, if ever, need of gloves, armlets or other protective clothing. In their ab* -sence, there Is less likelihood that fiber partides will be rubbed into the skin. A letter, dated June 21, 1941, written by the manager of the insurance company's Engineering and Inspection Department, to the company's gen eral agent in Toledo, reads in part as follows: * .,. Relative to the use of Fiberglas, rock wool oc tltg wool, I hart discussed this matter very thor oughly with our Medical-Dependent insofar aa it applies to the installation of glass wool and its rela tion to silicosis, and I know of no better answer to give you than their direct statement: "'We may definitely state that this is not possible, .based upon the established feet that silicates of which glass wool is composed will sot produce silicosis or s similar condition. "'Free silica, which when inhaled ia sufficient quan tity will produce silicosis, is one of the ingredients of many varieties of glass. However, ia the manufac turing process, the free silica chemically suites with other substances, leading to the production of sili cates, and glass it a solid solution of these various tilieates produced by the fusion of free silica with metallic oxides. Glass wool consists of glass ia the form of very fine strands,'" EFFECTS ON THE SKIN From time to time newly employed workers, un accustomed to handling Fiberglas materials, have experienced a mechanical irritation of the skin. The period of discomfort has seldom exceeded a few days. Manufacturing experience indicates that such irri tation is minimized and the period of discomfort lessened when it occurs if workers wear clothing loose at the neck and wrists and use plenty of warm water and soap when the day's work is done. The United States Public Health Service has suggested "ev0f aJ5p wntainine * wetting agent. Such a soap is -Lan-Q-Kleen (cornmeal impregnated with lano lin), a hand cleaner manufactured by the West Disufecting Company that is widely used in industry s remove particles that ding to the skin. **?*?*? * *Wr Tmi !>,. V4. ' ft*. II (r*WruW L. 1M11 .**uy**ag> *"-* *"*a*>uciui/AJ u ikuui immv(uMzjobri,/iwu-uiuil *J2L***--* <* - u. Slebert Study of this occasional irritating Investigation effect upon the skin comprised a phase of the investigation under taken by Dri Slebert on behalf of St. Louis Local No. 1 of the Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. (See page 2). An examination of the wrists, arms, ankles, necks, eyes, shoulders and waists of approximately two hundred employees in the Newark Fiberglas fac tories was made by Dr. Siebert. These workers were employed ou production lines and on fabricating operations, cutting, sawing, shaping;, transporting and packaging glass thermal insulating wool, both bonded and unbonded. No case of eye irritation or conjunctivitis was dis covered during this inspection. Evidence of signifi cant skin irritation was shown by only one worker, a man who had begun work in the plant four days before. Two biopsy spedmens of skin were removed from the arm of this newly-employed worker. Serial microscopic sections of this tissue examined by Dr. Siebert showed a mild degree of capillary dilatation in the corium of the akin. In addition, there were a few scattered lymphocytes around sev eral of the dilated capillaries. The epidermis was en tirely normal. No glass partides were found. Dr. Siebert reported no evidence of fibrosis, bacterial in fection, allergy or hyperkeratosis. Several of the serial sections revealed a small amount of a brownish pigment ia the corium which showed no inflammatory reaction around it. "It la aatuBvd," uyi Dr. Siebert, "mat tbit pig. Bent ia bakelite, one of the eubstaaces need u a binder tor tht glass fibers. Tbt fact that there vu no foreign body reaction around thia indicate* that this material 1* aa inert tubitanee, and that it does not produce either a foreign body reaction or a fibroiia. The extremely mild inflammatory reaction ia the corinm of the skis vould remit from aay alight aechaoieal irritation." - I*t- tmlwtm*a4b.,-aJa)a*maSa3, 1taH.I. In I. JL Ci--Ult. VJ9. vm Di. Tilut J. | BB 0024002 | 5K THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECORD OF- not;* 5=w iM V l v' 5 is. r* ^ ; '7- ' '") PPG INDUSTRIES, INC- DID NOT COME FROM IT'S FILES AND CANNOT BE AUTHENTIQfciSBrB ASPECTS or nasaci^MATimuhS. Page 5 BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. Dr. Siebert lummimes bis conclusions regarding' this phase of bis investigation in the following words: "Th* author [Dr. Siebert) believe* the following generalisation ii warranted by the evidence: Contact wits glass wool may cause ephemeral discomfort among workan inexperienced is handling tbe Baterial. The skin irritation, however, cannot be regarded aa a progressive dermatitis, tor it ia non-toxic and usually dlaappear* _iu a tew dart. Is extremely rare instances, where a worker msy be predisposed to secondary effects ot mechanical akin irritation bo ons* ot idiosyncrasy, allergy or the presence of loci ot inlection elsewhere in his body and otherwise dis* aociated from the effects ot mechanical irritation, lesions may persist. But these eases are encountered with seeh rarity that they do sot justify lmrrimmatlog gist* fiber aa a causative factor.'* a Sulzberjer-Baer During the spring and summer of ' Investigation 1942, Dr. Marion B. Sulzberger, , Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Syphilology, New York Post Grad uate Medical School, and Dr. Rudolf L. Baer, Junior Assistant Dermatologist and Syphilogist, New York Post Graduate Eospital, carried out an experi mental investigation of the effects of Fiberglas on the skin of laboratory animals and human volunteers. A report of their investigation was published in the October 1942, issue of Industrial Medicine.7 The laboratory animals used were rabbits and . guinea pigs. Depilated sites on the animals were nibbed almost daily, except Sundays and several aturdays, over a period of a month, with Fiberglas materials in both their wool-like and textile forms. Ten human subjects were rubbed daily, except Sun days, with the same materials, for periods ranging from aegen to nineteen days. Histological examination of the reaction sites in animals and human subjects showed evidence of a superficial inflammatory process. The histologic sec tions did not show any evidence of permanent dam age, and the epidermis was generally found to be intact and undisturbed in its continuity. Special methods of fixation which were designed to retain clinically visible glass spicules sticking into the skin, were used in the attempt to demonstrate these spicules in the histologic section. However, in none of the many slides examined could the glass spicules be seen. `Thim," Dr. Sulzberger end Dr. Beer *y, "together with the tact that so disturbance ia the continuity at the bony Uyer ot the epidermis wu seen, sug gests thst the spicules which were teen clinically stter the rubbings, were only eery superficially em bedded. No foreign-body resetion wes seen in eny el the eections examined, thus demonstrating that no fragments of the various msterials used ia these experiment* had penetrated into the deeper layers of the skin." Summarixtng the results of the investigation. Dr. Sulzberger and Dr. Baer say: of the reaction* observed were of a transitory ad superficial nature. Tbe only pert of tho re action* which persisted for more than a few days. were alight thickening and brbwniah pigmentation of the elds. Tbe latter were sometimes apparent for several weeks. No reactions or symptoms outside the rubbed skin areas were observed at say time during th* experiment. *Tbe pieces of material which were soen sticking into the skin after robbings with Fiberglas ia its wool-like form sppeared to b* eery superficially em bedded. This observation was borne out by the fact that ordinary washing with water easily removed a large part of the spicules remaining in the skin after rubbing. **No definite sensitisation to any of the materials could be demonstrated. In a few subjects there were few mild and evanescent reactions to several of the materials, but it appeared very questionable whether these reactions were based on specific sensitisation." Navy The Navy Department Bureau of Memorandum Ships and Bureau of Medicine and Surgery investigation of possible health hazards in connection with the installation of Fiberglas insulation in ships (see page 3), dis cussed the effects of Fiberglas upon the skin. The section of the memorandum summarizing re sults of the investigation (dated December 30, 1942), which refers to skin effects, reads as follows; "The Irritation of the skia from contact*with glass fibers is of s purely transitory and superficial a*cure. Only the immediate skin tress is contact with or rubbed with glass wool are slightly irritated, accom panied by a slight thickening of the sltin, lasting at most for a few days. Minute pieces sticking to the skin snd appearing to be superficially embedded are readily removed by ordinary washing with wster." Schwartz-Botviniek In an investigation of. skin Report hazards in the manufacture of glass fiber insulating mate rials and glass fiber textiles. Dr. Louis Schwartz, medical director, and Dr. Isadore Botvinick. P.A. Surgeon of the Division of Industrial Health, National Institute of Health, United States Public Health Service, reported the following:* "The hazards to workmen using glass woo] products for insulation and for other purposes are those due to abrasions by slugs in the glass wool. A few may deTelop allergic dermatitis from contact with improper ly cured. binders. If such workers wear leather gloves, impervious sleeves, and apTons, they will be afforded adequate protection against these hazards. "Workers handling glsss fiber in textile manufac turing may develop dermatitis from the mechamcsl cutting action of the fibers on the skin, and s small percentage of them may develop an allergic derma titis from the binder. Irritation of tbe arms, neck, chest, and other parts of tbe body may be prevented by wearing impervious sleeves snd aprons. Irritation of the nasal mucosa may be prevented by inserting a bland grease into the nostrils two or three times a day. "According to an official of the company, the inci dence of dermatitis in this plant was low, being in the order of IT* of the workers employed. No com pensation eases have developed, indicating that the dermatitis is not severe. Some new employees exper ience sensitivity to handling th* glass fibers for few days and may wear gloves or protective cloth, lag at first, but aa immunity seems to develop liriiT**; i4**- *- **-?- "< ***- L. LB. -Urn* u rtwnO. M rni Muu UlA.- ImMnU *I--.. Yd.Xi.Hm 1*. e*. * * ItUwa. Uia ul 11 i-i.uk. lain, -JU, III* k ik. Wu.Iuw* W CUa Tal h4 T%rm4~ Jb Ji,rf.nnW V^. XB. Ma. t (Uw<A mi), SV- lO-lx I BB 0024003 J THIS DOCUMENT. WAS NOT A RECORD oi- not- PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME FROM Page 6 IT'S FILES, AND CANNOTnasscidLuik'lt^l^ H ;'I: 1;.`i*,!* .U*,, BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. n quickly to that tbs r**1 majority of asperienred workers j,r./r to work without gloves or special clothing. Exceptions art found among employee* handling hot equipment, want Alter fiber*, metal lath, and other collateral material* of like nature. In the principal wool and textile departments, work* on, according tn manaftment experience, report motor discomfort from rloeei and protective cloth ing than from the material with which they work." oxtrsaiely low rate, and no claim has ever been proanted, indicating, of count, that there is so baxard is tbe nae of Fiberglas or any of ita produeta." Surgical Uses Several surgical uses of Fiberglas deOf Fiberglas scribed in recent medical literature are of interest as demonstrating the fact that glass is an inert, non-toxic substance which produces no harmful effects on human tissues. ' GENERAL HEALTH EFFECTS No claim for workers' compensation based on a pulmonary industrial disease or disability resulting from an occupational skin disorder attributable to Ffoergias as differentiated from other materials, has ever been validated in the State of Ohio, where manufacture has been centered since 1932. The num ber of employees in the Ohio Fiberglas factories has risen from about 20 in 1932 to several thousand, whose total exposure aggregates millions of man hours. In addition, exposure in Ohio includes several thousand employees in the factories of refrigerator and range manufacturers where Fiberglas insulating materials have been handled on assembly lines. Compensation Ohio's workers* compensation Assessment Low rates (assessed against the em ployer per 5100 of payroll) for men and women engaged in the manufacture and handling of Fiberglas are lower than for workers in ^separable industries, as is Bhown by the following figures, which are recorded as Exhibit 11 in Dr. Siebert's report: Fiberglas textile -- Fiberglas insulating wool *iplny--c .... 9fig Asbestos manufacturing nn Rubber manufacturing *i on .Fiber roods *1 ,n Carbonate of magnesia manufacturing----*1.10 Building Material dealers' employees------*1--0 Clay produeta --eft Paper manufacturing Wood pulp wiiii -- *Q no Health Record The health of Fiberglas workers is Excellent regarded as better than average by the Aetna Life Insurance Company, which underwrites group insurance (life, disability, sickness and hospitalization) for employees of Owens-Coming Fiberglas Corporation. In a letter to an- Owens-Coming executive, dated June 11, 1941, Aetna's Toledo general agent wrote, in part, as follows: . **Ths heilth of your employees baa been better than *T***ge. Tbia ia evidenced by tbe fact that w now 'have ia effect a 36?* reduction ia rate (from stand* ftrd) oir both the tielmess and hospitalisation inauraee carried by your employees. This is tbe result el aearly four fall years' exposure, and develops a Si* 'j**7 t*l*a similar industry that w* have *Tbsre is ia effect a permanent and total disability **'mf* in connection with your life iaauranee, and as nJ .v,*rt "* orJr one claim from an employee, and this was due to a non-occupational accident, far i-3 f health baxard m bis occoui*patiooncc. upation or from . "As farther evidence, our Casualty Company car ries, what is toown aa, Products Liability at an The use of a strand of Fiberglas yam as a tracer thread that makes it possible to detect the presence of a surgical sponge if left in a wound during an operation, is described by Captain Edward F. Lewison9. Medical Corps, United States Army, who says: **... Z undertook to find x toft lorgical sponge-- oso thxt would cast a permanent X-ray shadow and, , thus, oould be readily detected by an X-ray film . . . it was not nntil tbe recent development of fiberglas thread that a practical and expedient solution to the problem was found, "... this specially prepared fiberglas yarn was found to embody tbe following qualities: 1 Marked radio-activity 2 Minimum tissue reaction 3 Chemical inactivity 4 Physical properties of pliancy, delieaey and appearance resembling a fine thread 6 Reasonable east of production ... "Like glass, whieh ia the basic constituent of ita composition, this thread is chemically, physically, and biologically inert, yet nnlike glass it is a thread of exceptional strength, soft texture, and remarkable plasticity ... "It was. therefore, almost inevitable that the hid den eptitudes at a specially prepared radio-opaque fiberglas yarn ihould be discerned and a thread de veloped which was permsnentiy impenemable to the X-ray and perfectly harmless to body tissue aa well. "... no more than one opaque thread per ipooge is required. Tbit reduces the cost of produnfit, and thereby enhances the practical virtues and expediency of this type of safe surgical gauxe ... "Tbe essential characteristics of a sponge as defined by tbe American College of Surgeons are aa follow*: 1 Ability to absorb the greatest quantity in the shortest time 2 Ease of sterilisation 3 Freedom from loose threads 4 Uniformity 5 Softness, to prevent trauma 9 Freedom from foreign substances "... With the innovation of Yaysblc' surgical gauxe these general standards remain unaltered. Radio-opaque thread is toft, sterilises readily, aad as a single strand could hardly change the absorbent Suality of a sponge or pad. If characteristic (6), ia le classification of tbe American College of Sur. geons, 'Freedom from foreign substances,* is con strued as meaning freedom from Harmful, and toxic foreign substances, then this benign fiberglas yarn qualifies within the interpretation of this essential uaracteriatic." Dr. Roy Philip Scholz and Dr. Philip S. Mountjoy10 describe the use of Fiberglas thread as a suture material employed to sew surgical wounds. The authors of the article write: " .. . Because Fiboglaa is inert and non-reseting Hum, UnH r. C**mI*. MiSiul Car*,, U*j4 Iwa Imt. *XitiII< Cm* , rMt- *4 S*(.tf A S-**iui O--i*------f*** */ M. Shmm C----f. *4 *>**--. VW. XXYU. 1, **. M-M, JaawT. IMS. a*r ruu*. kx. ItMml- Hr,* k~ht. run* s. us. -rrwti- -- 'o tn. iw a **- USXL J--. IMS. BB 0024004 T I HEALTH ASPECTS OF FIUERGULS MATERIALS Page 7 in the tune, tad practical!? buolnble. it does net . east* exudation, edema, or cell proliferation; and it in a via* interfere* with wound beeline ... * ... It is not aeeted by tissue fluids, enzemotie action, or aetioa of eheaicals: neither does it produce loans or allergic reaction. Tbe faet that each fiber is an extremely fine, solid filament of pure glasa, makes it non>absorhnt, and in view of its being a non* irritant, it does not cell forth tissue fluids which would harbor germ life.1* A third surgical use of Fiberglas deserves mention because of the part it is playing in helping to save the lives of men of the fighting services who are wounded in battle,11 From all the war fronts comes word that blood plasma transfusions are proving to be one of the greatest single factors in radically re ducing the number of wounded who succumb to their wounds in this, as compared to other wars. A small strip of tape, woven of glass fibers, is used as a filter in the tubing of the light, portable apparatus used to give the transfusions--frequently just behind the front lines. Through this strip of Fiberglas tape all the plasma fiuid passes on the way from the plasma bottle to the wounded man's veins. The Fiberglas tape is used as the filter because the tape can be sterilized for repeated use, because HKw fm PImn Him Till Ail la fmami W r,ul Vm4 IWk* la SttfitJ M-miu. tut. IMS. . SJ. it requires no bulky housing, because the weave is close enough to strain out any undissolved particles the fluid may contain, and because, being glass, the fibers do not swell when wet, thus offering no im pediment to the free passage of the fiuid. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES The raw materials of which Fiberglas is made are selected sands and mineral oxides. The result of the fusion of these materials is true glass, which is then processed into a radically new form. Chemically, Fiberglas is similar to other forms of mineral wool. It can properly be classified as a new, refined form of mineral wool. The fact that other forms of mineral wool (rock wool and slag wool) have been used for many years, in itself strongly sug gests that there is nothing in the inherent chemical and physical characteristics of Fiberglas that is likely to introduce any serious occupational hazard. Fiberglas contains no free silica; no free sodium silicate. No carcinogenic hydrocarbons or other hy drocarbons can be present because of the extremely high temperatures employed in fusing the raw ma terials. No harmful fumes can be given off. since no substances are present which will volatilize within the recommended service ranges. THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECORD OF `^USTR,ES- INC. DID NOT COME FROM rv pp^ ^ND CANN0T BE AUTHENTICATED BY PPij INDUSTRIES, INC. f v i * `f J`-19 a jU, 1 o# r r:M f:: r i>u ... ' ' `~r . . T 1 l)' J / r?Lcz> < hrmmd tlUA. | BB 0024005 | 588C NOTCOfv^' jlT'-v'.;: . HEALTH ASPECTS OF FIBERGLAS MATERIALS THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A; RECORD OF ---------------------- 3ii^^^I^OTBE,!iS?rS^t^3tWW02Vt r-D BlBflOGBAPHY. _ riLEo by ppg .Industries, inc.* ; * * LUNGS AND RESPIRATORY TRACT CiH< M. UT 0. k*D* Aaaaaf W fW iP< am ItotiM* J1 tm aka Smdf mf fi 11 f>'i #/ tor L. trait m fmtUitm U* to* Ir IMP* k? U k*D* "Iimh to toa Piiwia to Tka rm4itwlHI" a TV ftfrf-Smmwmik t4oa*aefAb nM#t?ai^w*m**i *A**apJaTrtrto9c1tockJ* afg/stkorrawamiM/#CMtoM* 1aami aktof Sammmmmr to, lt*J, layoir* mi iM riwfl fifth CaVattrnm mf to# faiiM #/ to* Ld*f4 L. tarn 4m* /wMa fimil r<*AiC4 to 0* tk tan paps, Dr, Cu4>r ispaiis Ad nrt cn*4 tk Ww lakafsiarts* is 1M1 ton <M--tini4 tka* *p*as* t* 4m to tiara ns#4 IsraJm sa ksacto fa# tka iu^ >wc-- to*a UifHHimJka *lmcii ! MiSa Mm WWl* It MC*M. Wi*n.r*mwo,C1f.mmW.. imtory, YsL XJX* M*. ? Dr. Crtm*i Maitk b (iDcrtt kass k**a Ri4fu| tks Ii W IskahW tiara snL ApparwU? mm tk# isat isntiia plan at p a a iisarWttt 4%m b m tokaM is rp- prssiakla mminiisi s4 4mm pat praksss asy `^ttowna Cba lasalartm !Tm flarafaf* to fW rfatoL* t*4 Jcsrna* YsL XL Ma, tft (rskvsary A* AM*), p. X TAb irtkl* mmw talsbii kw4 a at b*a ltot# ky tka lm *4 Skips v4 tka lm to Mt4icia a*4 Sarirrf to tk# Nary &4f4/nt. rsii aitsan "h b Mtlt4*4 Ym Marti* baa* jjiaiifu--i u4 tnJMt Ihintvfv ikat tWa ta W mveattoU Wm)to kassto a**t*i*4 U tk* kssdbst to kkt am (la* a*4 alaf naal to At kkakst m bH CsiHU4 -Ttt**s CImb tsralaibai HaaUk iawa * ^ a rapao mi ib iinaifiUM iwuiab a , ismia 4t*4 tiyi--iw >0* 1PC vkitA la M a *USBtFS SM I 1*141 SMJ2/A2-11 ^*4 junta n/iM*t uu). * . srm Udm. < B. IU. m4 *~G. I_ M-0- kk idiical Mlmilt wl L#nWrx. Cw HA. Vwi, S3^*>r, IA. TV* dm f rikwtUa w4 Kwh IUi Lit ill ul la hdmtmUt H^teu. Tat. XL w. ja itnw, imi, r>- w m. Iwm rf Akil k*MlntlH # aftra if |b. ikan aa tka a., la <*a* iH --*ia Mi "Ait . td ika --la. Illlaai* MB ml a aauBT aa4 anokaial aam^~ AHhm ti antela kt > Ball I n(n ' ud Sr. Barr. M tkai. iraaaia to liiurW kfirrar ^ftr, Vrl. to. Bto 1 (Takraart. mi). * X rkBWto. Lrato. WaAtoal Dim, * Bairtoltk. la- J**- IA knar, DWii r/ liltanl Hrtiraa. NaiMai larUait *f Braiik. UaKrT Juira fakka BalU Vri "Jto Baaaraa la tka HualMiara al Ctoaa V_| .1 TV~T" to lilwnd k^arn, VaL AS- H. *' (Uvak, 1M1), |r- 14*144. CEXE1UL HtAlTH *(l 1 a"- tik# J. u. 'HI Uto Itokk ____I UMwt, 1M21b. /p4^ambmP./ Iff4km. f^tL *XLL UIks.. 11 w, '5sr* i71**" t> VfkW MW --'n, . a ^ t*** ** *" * . ------------------ -- *"* . **TT<aiwif Vitb DC'S* fQis AasvStcbU** Is W / M itwtli Wf Cu4 iHNMMM. Y4a CXYlL Mm U (bisbt U. ;HO. p. ILL Dii irtpU-- sf tftit pUa4 to vbbr tfts* r^wfUt ur |li wm pmUmm Ofsi iiM to bf lrto |Ua Mb* ikrsto to sstiptiaasl siapk ito lana, s4 miiMU pUsbSilf * * it cto lbfi/n, l--UwitoU tkat iks apto* b4a to S epariaUf ffmfatmd toanMit 4Mr* fbi TVS skatoi b 4bsms4 at t>oa4 4asl *pM absk ass paiuniiy b)aiauk la tka X-sy M ptoatir biaM m Mf ^*a s . C* Kucri FJL UJ--mW Krr*< CcpM (JO, Ua3-F.fla.La "TtBMHpi ad li*b m brss to fii ittls Hittrsb.M bttryi Ypbs ib Jmiuao to tbs m*4t Uks4 ts4wond B4lA toctiniM My IDf*lrtotIvHsLto4Isp4--cmjt al Cftlorv>tcosMrriXilnXitDsmvm* Mto **t to -- m to ik MmuhJ brfiB b to 4* MM> Isium b<rr vmk.trr H , . --to ctoby. ftoM ts>ry to uf nris. is to* amm mi , FlWirito* iMm darntma to mi tob ba Bcaiitr 7b (cl)*U| tom tobi )} to 4>stto Vito istlifto stos itof aft birto. ss4 tontoutoJT iY>"wm; L IftbkS (Ua (to (to to M tosfii to lb X biliMbs to U# ifT* tob^toi, X Ms flssttto ptofiij fstwuM 4r*tofl* r bL. top mW to to*. nc*b bn to wvkto toJtoiiM W iImi (to, (mis m toias (bto ( prstfvt ifiaii Yto| Mia. X r<Miti s4 tofly k^ar to*L M v*r *iU fm4kJy mmmrnm aK mi tto sscO ito* tilswc to Iks itos u( MU tobass my bk|`.H "BiaWi Xir( Tr Lfm" b to/m frifiatgniat. VaL LXXXJY, Ms. 1 (Jsiy, iHO. pp. Aft-H* Usa s| fltoryto* far ito*toi trnmUtim^, mmmd sto HUM ut Ubt fiflaiiu ta a toulM toob*T initfcly ^Isait ritotntob to toiaf laMta> ssiai is *ha*sciiM tocspstiaasl totorto, Tw*S*fi Ab Ct4>itoii|* Is laJidfC md 9mdid~ isf i/w(fAta (Oncbt, 1MO. pp, UU. toflto mlaff fans* afcbfc b*M to i tostsiliM tor iw4itiMiS| vsipMai. Us* at Titor* piu ir illsra mmimirnm mmmkm Lmm 4r Sat in. FIBERGLAS IN SURCERY loins t(r*W f. VJ, Ccpuis. 3C **Xykl Coa. &w*1msih mi a IWUmos %ra(H Cavta topul Spates** Is (uaa mf VL CXVL Ms. 1 (Asctot* mo. pp, six-six Dr* lo'toi if|iiu tktt Ip tto satYann m4 *S sar**to psM ttoi b to to ^4 to tka mrnma* tototf laao. a stofls ami to b4 fe*lSvyi*w tos4 aipb to toapraib tots ito pw ato, pr am pUr4 to piafwii pto** rpnattp ss4 (** toil Ctor* (tot "bat** ry rayo ui to mars n<* Of iiutub to iMMtn*r*|to Mastltosiiaa, Uto'is- Ckpt. T*mmM f, M,C UsHW ftmtm Agar. "tbiaOpifM TinM A 64s to tto 'Ism* toif*H to Mmda*a flsrpkto, YaL IYTO* Ma. 4 (AptoL 1MI), pp* 174k Utosa^ tfesto P. "A Stos 3*vb4 Ssaa#r* la Jatny# Cnntorr M Otorw, Vto. ,LX(X (VtomMr, 1U). pp* M*4M, Dr. Lnba npaa apatoaul to Utotof is (mlitoni to s iMtoMM. bna |Im ifwa 4b is4 is topitl pssia. Lsatotoa tiasto r*. Cspsto. MWUal Cmph Ubltto ftsito 4iar, "Ssrskls C*-- As rata to toap to Ssrftsto Oyoiti*ag" to ** to 4* (s*sa tor* / Jaiaw, YsL XX\1L Ma* 2 Qmmmmn. tPQ). pp. Mto. to i auasJ to fttorplto fin am s Mb 4a*4 ts aipni fr Vma Df. Laatotot "Uks listo* toMk b to* tosb rvwutiat to tto natanas. tka (rs>afU) ik*ato b ibs* ktoAPi pkysbsUy* md lut, yai sabk# Ssksb. tap Pkdip* k^. ss4 kmlay, Pkibp 3. Mr 0. Tibf|la Sstsrs Miimii" to (saap Immm- kmi mi Janrf* Yak LYZ. Ma* I Utok (MO, pp* (1141 Irpsrt am aipariamul ms to niaiiw atm to ssitosi ss< Isus <sto*n. Dr, kbs saS Dv* Masaitay arnst , . kavssss PikafTiss b toaft ami sas.fasstlsf to tk* itoM, ss4 j~ msillj to* saiwkis. ii 4mm sst Ssars nsssost, tortos, ma sail fniilatUMi ss4 it S m am Siwttia attk ass4 ksrksj , , Ii k sat tosstto ky tttsas ls*4v atawr mas* sr aun to it mu Is; ssnkto 4m a pa4s tstoss ma aiirrpr ra>si>as* Tkt (mat tbt mk Ibr b sa avtaiif 4ss, ai4 ftUarst to pars |Um* mm ft aaa-sasarkasi, m4 * ta m* to Ms bit| ssa-tmiisu it 4ca sto call tmatk tlsras 4a*4s wkik a>to4 ksfkar iwa Uls.** a i _ 5a|irf aitk Clsa" to ftm k* YaL XIX. Ma. 34 (Jsss IX ItoO. PP. 42-42. titosanul ssa to Fibr|lM ssisns Ip S4 lian sarysry* "Mra Tm PU*a* TUtt* til AU to Pmabn to Pstsl Ytu4 Ska4M to JwfWiY Itatai, YsL Y, Mm 3 (May, 1P3|. pp. * 21. PiWtfUa sto ss tksr Is Uaa4 pUssis Mto Yarn tppsrmias* UsX J. Yfa* X3, "As Onto lsaa Sra a4 Drtir* to Tka dmanmm /ato / Smtta^* Maa Sto* M. YsL UY, Ma. 2 (Msmkaf. ltol). pp. MLU7. Dr, lack i spam tks ss to Una jUm kniton t4 toto tks ifsmctMi si ss bsime mow mptoyaS is paaar 4nU bst ai|ay* HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS Aspm* Tylr* Mots, "Sals fmtin to tka Uai/rt* * tin sa4 Um si fkkarfiss," Mato as ito# Ptac***# Mmildurn As, ti (Tmkaaarj, iPSkl, to tka Ostipauaaal Dtaaaaa Fr***suas Smt*m pcah*k#4 to BsonSsrp kf Iks FnsfriviM Dspaifai to Ubf sto toSaary, kr. ltam toy uni "IlkanUs b ilwn, W4a Isysikto katisr. sastsiss lav *4sto` as4 (cnifi auaniia ikas tks asanas ml aval as4 ik| anal imUuMi a*a4 tma amt Ilip yaars * * , Fiksffiss nsylaysaa ka*s smtilto ss satoas4U bMtS msr4 saaviaf nAlia as to oaa Mato to btoU*| rtoayia pa4art^" krtlraia. L L, kJ>- "U#*bSc to Sm*to-tHto Tntih" Ms4 sa Safa Prmmma Bmilttm Mm. i (JlJtl to tks OrtlMiato Dean Fmaauaa Sanaa pskfiaaM ( sa Mansaksry ky iks fsaaaylrssto D^fimst to Ink** ` ami itowtry* Dr, MtOrsls prpctoi: "Flbnto yitoi4 tka paaL km navally rssck* sa as taatoaoaa prtostt to somto-itasS ustaa as4 is 4iMaa kaa s*ssa sale tma kmmdLkt parpw ky mm makmm." "Mr TtfV<m Yas4U Fikafylaa Tkarmal ta>al>ttos Matatoala." Msto FnAa^rtor Stmdaada FXL) (Mat, lkskl, pski Mi to ky Qmma Caas.sf Ftkarfito Ci H 11* Kama, Uskato D* ksist* A. U. 2. "tba to FtAraa* 6laaa ky tka Amy aa4 Navy," Is tfmaay Tmkaaiafr* Yslstoc YT1* Ms, t (Mir. 1H1). Pskiatota* Ma. UN (da* X. ibnto Mtosb PHaas Mm xvn. pp* m. tv* b a tom-tot to m i|</n 4aU*nW kr kaiar Kaar to br Tart Oiy a rlnny IL MU. bfm ja**i 1 -- mi tka Aaavu boat to tones aa4 toe tsksarpl Uatcnal* DM**n to tl i* am is tsaxiat# to b*sS4 a*4 tosiailsrpo*! f ipinaa.toTkaamatsoYMtloatoSnaaaUi iSparaammeae*. T BB_0024006__l