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occupational health studies NEWS LETTER^ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health Vol. I, No. 4 March, 1974 ) 7## IN SUMMARY In this fourth issue of the newsletter, the Occupational Health Studies Group announces its change of location to new facilities in Chapel Hill. A report is given on a meeting between the members of our study group and professors from the Harvard School of Public Health, which is also conducting a study of the rubber industry. Plans for a health study to be carried out at the Firestone Pottstown Plant during 1974 are discussed, and developments in polyvinyl chloride research are reviewed. RELOCATION OF THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STUDIES GROUP r~ ro cn S The Occupational Health Studies Group is moving to new facilities in the North Carolina National Bank Building in downtown Chapel Hill. The tentative date set for moving into our new quarters is May 1, 1974. Members of the project are now located in two houses adjacent to the School of Public Health. It was thought that the study group would be able to function more efficiently and with better coordination if all the menbers were located in the same office area. These new and more spacious facilities are being provided by the University. The Occupational Health Studies Group will be located on the third floor of the North Carolina National Bank Building Plaza. The office area will include twenty-seven rooms allocated for adminis tration and research and an additional area consisting of five rooms for data processing. We will have a more spacious reference library and a conference room in our new facilities. The research teams will be located in modules to allow for more efficient collaboration on various research projects. URL 21573 -2- MEETING WITH HARVARD The Harvard School of Public Health is conducting rubber industries studies similar to ours. On December 18, 1973, Professor William Burgess, from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, and Drs. Richard Munson and John Peters, physician-epidemiologists, of the Harvard study came to Chapel Hill to meet with the Occupational Health Studies Group and to see our facilities. Members of the two study groups conferred on the methodology being used in various re search probes that are being undertaken. Development of a universal coding system for the occupational classification of the workers was discussed. Such a system would permit the two study groups to compare overall results by work class. Other areas of interest which were discussed include: pulmonary function testing; environ mental sampling and laboratory support; long-term cohorts (pro cedures for follow-up of workers who change companies); techniques for long-term surveillance of working conditions and health status; and techniques for sampling air in curing areas. The two study groups, (UNC and Harvard), plan to maintain lines of scientific communication and have agreed to meet at intervals for discussions of technology as the studies progress. HEALTH STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE FIRESTONE POTTSTOWN PLANT During 1974, the Occupational Health Studies Group will conduct a health study at the Firestone Pottstown Plant. Studies in in dustries other than rubber products manufacturing have revealed various work-related chronic diseases. Some of these diseases cause early death, others cause disability, and still others cause illness and discomfort. For example, asbestos and some specific chemicals are believed to cause cancer; foundry fumes and cotton dust can cause chronic lung disease; exhaust gases and various types of work pressure may contribute to heart disease. Some of these health problems effect active employees, others may appear later in life (perhaps only after retirement). Within the U.S. rubber industry, certain obvious health problems - for example, dermatitis (or "rubber rash") - have frequently been observed. During 1972-73, preliminary health studies were carried out at several Firestone plants, especially Akron. The results of those studies have suggested particular areas for detailed investigation. Four of those will be investigated in the Pottstown study: 1. Skin rashes (dermatitis). 2. The effects of dust and fumes upon the lungs. 3. The effect of certain types of chemicals upon the function of the liver and kidneys. 4. The effect of on-the-job pressures and stresses upon health (particularly, heart disease and ulcers). The health testing at Potts tovn vill include tests to measure lung function. Dr. Mario Battigelli (left) tests Mr. Stephen Rappaport on the lung function testing machine Dr. Mars Longley (industrial hygienist), Dr. Tony McMichae (physician-epidemiologist), and Mr. Bob Spirtas (biostati stician) discuss plans for the Pottstovn study. c I-- ro cn & URL 21575 -3- The Pottstown study will involve three components: 1. A questionnaire will be mailed to all clockcard employees. 2. Approximately 500 persons, from selected work areas, will be asked to take a brief health examination. 3. Periodically (i.e. every 6-12 months), follow-up health information will be obtained both by questionnaire and health examination. In analyzing the information collected from the total Pottstown workforce, the university will compare the frequency of disease be tween groups of workers in different work areas. Because of the need to allow for the additional effect upon health of such things as age and smoking habits, it will also be necessary to collect (via the questionnaire) some personal information. Certain other health problems are being investigated in other plants. In each case, the research also involves intensive environ mental sampling by the university's industrial hygienists. As the health research program continues, the university will recommend systems for routine monitoring of the work environment and the health status of employees to help prevent the development of new health problems in the future. The information necessary for these studies will be collected by the university and will be used for the university's research purposes only. Information about individual persons will not be made available to either company or union. However, the overall research results, not identifying any individual, will be pre sented to both company and union. POLYVINYL CHLORIDE RESEARCH Polyvinyl chloride research has become a top priority of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health following the report in early January that four people working in a polyvinyl chloride plant had died of a rare cancer of the liver called angio sarcoma. Dr. Marcus Key, the director of NIOSH, and other NIOSH experts addressed a briefing session for representatives of labor and management on vinyl chloride in Cleveland, Ohio on February 12, 1974. Dr. David Fraser, the Director of Occupational Health Studies, and Dr. Robert Harris, the Deputy Director, attended the session. NIOSH will be investigating the entire spectrum of diseases that may result from polyvinyl chloride exposure and will study the records of former workers in polyvinyl plants. NIOSH will undertake studies in plants that have had polyvinyl chloride operations for fifteen years or more. The study will include workers with varying amounts of time of exposure. On February 15, 1974 in Washington, -4- D.C., the Labor Department's Occupational Health and Safety Admin istration held a formal administrative hearing on vinyl chloride. Labor representatives and government and university scientists urged the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to adopt standards to protect workers potentially exposed to vinyl chloride. Two of the plants under agreement with the University of North Carolina's Occupational Health Studies Group have polyvinyl chloride operations. The members of the study group are examining available medical information and are expediting their investigations in areas where polyvinyl chloride is a factor. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has asked the UNC Occupational Health Studies Group to cooperate in their studies on vinyl chloride. With the concurrence of the URW and the companies, we have agreed to this request. # The Occupational Health Studies Newsletter is published and distributed by the Occupational Health Studies Group. We welcome your suggestions and response. All correspondence should be ad dressed to: Ms; Anna Donegan Occupational Health Studies School of Public Health University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 URL 21576