Document V32VMQzrQ6EO6D1QJXjy78X6Z

Vol. I FOUNDATION FACTS August, ISoa' 812 This nw*-ltt#r It Utud monthly to m>mb*r comomf :tnu trad* aooauon afflllaetd with Air Hyrln Koundation. lu purpoa* la tor.port Foundation ntwi and aetiviiiaa. Air Hvpian* Foundation la a partnership of Industry and seianea omnitad to protact tht h*altn of tha IS million workman In heavy industry. ivO* A. This is t^^trst'^xs^ue of "Foundation Facts," a monthly news letter to member^of'Air Hygiene Foundation reporting news of the organization. Please relay the letter to other interested officials in your organization. Suggestions are welcome. PLAINTIFFS exhibit 315TP.OD Annual Meeting Set for Nor. 14-15 The annual meeting of Air Hygiene Foundation expanded to two days this year, will be hold at Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh, on Nor. 14-15. This has been a one-day session in the past but the wealth of information arailable forces an expan sion this year. Tha program, while bristling with important medical and engineering data, will also cater to management's interest in Industrial health. Besides the medical and engineering aspects of the subject, there will be a symposium on absen teeism, a report on legal developments during the year, and a forua on what industrial health moans to industrial and public relations. Please call the meeting to the attention of your company associates and plan now to attend. More details later. New Trustees Named Andrew Fletcher, Vice President, St. Joseph Lead Company, was elected Vice (0 qoi LL. h- [I -- 05 if Chairman of the Board of Air Eygiene Foundation at the Trustees' Spring meeting. J Dewey Dorsett of the Association of Casualty and Surety Executives was elected to 3<IXU * Ithe Board, replacing Henry Sayer, now with the New York State Insurance Fund. H. E. CL Zisaeman, Vice President, U. S. Steel Corporation, was named a trustee, replacing H. A. Schultz, resigned. C. E. Pfl.3ton Heads New Membership Committee C. E. Ralston, Safety Director, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, has been appointed Chairman of the Foundation's Membership Committee, replacing H. T. Herr,Jr., President, J. S. McCormick Company, resigned. Mr. Ralston has selected the following ccesaittee to assist in Interesting companies in affiliating with the Foundation: F. H. Atwood, Barbison-Walker Refractories Co., Pittsburgh; Alex D. Bailey, Commonwealth Edison Co., Chicago; Earl F. Blank, Jones & Laughlln Steel Corp., Pitts burgh; Dr. A. C. Crench, Union Carbide Co., New York; Walter H. Ztaerson, Homer Laughlin Chinn Co., Newell, V/. Va.; F. C. Frary, Aluminum Co. of America, New Kensington, Pa.; E. V. Gent, American Zinc Instituto, New York; C. F. Goodwin, U. S. Potters Association East Liverpool, Ohio; Harry B. Lindsay, Grinding Wheel Manufacturers Association, Worcester, Mass.; R. T. Pring, Utah Copper Co., Salt Lake City; end J. T. Eyan, Mine Safety Appliances Co., Pittsburgh. New Information Circular Issued The Foundation has just issued a new Information Circular (No. 5) which is 0 2349available to members. It lists officers, committees, members and services. ASM MVOIKNI fOUMOAtlON *00 FIFTH AVCNUt MITTI 9 I * Air Hygiene Foundation of America, Inc., 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. August 9, 1939. REFERENCES TO RECENT LITERATURE ON INDUSTRIAL DISEASES (A) News Items 573 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS FORM NEW ASSOCIATION. A. C. Carruthers. Safety Eng. 79, 33-4 (July 1939). A new organization, The American Industrial Hygiene Association, was organized at the Cleveland meeting of the American Conference on Occupational Diseases end Industrial Hygiene, Juno 5-8, 1939. The purposes of the new group are to effect a permanent organization of industrial hygienists and to constitute a clearing house of information on the progress which is being made in the field of indus trial hygiene. A tentative constitution for the Association was passed and the following officers elected: President, 71. P. Yant; President-elect, V/. A. Cook; and Secretary-Treasurer, G. C.Harrold. The board of directors includes many eminent authorities in the field. Three classes of membership .will bo establish ed: senior members, associate members and members. It is planned to establish local chapters in important cities to hold meetings and to promote the subject generally. Further information may be obtained from the Secretary, Gordon C. Earrold, Industrial Hygiene Laboratories, 7900 Jos. CarapauAve., Detroit, Michigan. 574 DR. CLARENCE 0. SAPPINGTON RECEIVES KNUDSZN AWARD. The annual Enudsen Award for the most outstanding contribution to industrial medicine in the last year was awarded to Dr. Sappington at the Cleveland meeting of the American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons. The presenta tion - the first of its kind - was made to Dr. Sappington for his authorship of the book "Medicolegal Phases of Occupational Diseases," reviev/ed in our July Abstract Bulletin. 575 AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE DRAFTS FIRST STANDARDS TO LIMIT TOXIC DUSTS AND GASES. Industrial Standardization, 10, 187-8 (July 1939). The newly organized Committee met on June SO, 1939, and made drafts of four standards on toxic gases. The four standards cover carbon monoxide, benzeno, Uydrogen sulphide and carbon disulphide and they are now in the process of adop tion by the Association membership. At their meeting the Committee discussed standards for silica dusts, lead in all fozms, end hydrocarbon compounds, and it is probable that the work will be extended to cover these materials in the near future. The adoption of these rules will for the first time make available nation ally approved and generally accepted standards defining the allovrable limits of toxic dusts and gases. Publications of the four now codes will be noted, as they appear, in these Abstracts. 0235b 'References to Recent Literature -2 x' (3) Papers on Dust, Dust Diseases and General Industrial Hygiene 576 AEJIIJISTRATION OF LAI'S FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES. Theo. C. Y/aters. An. J. Pub. Health, 2R, 723-37 (July 1939). Occupational disease compensation lav/s are the result <f a definite economic need to afford injured employees adequate compensation for Injuries they have sustained during the course of their employment. Industrialists today accept the obliga tion imposed upon industry to provide compensation whether arising out of acci dental or occupational disease means; the additional cost does not appear to have placed an unjust burden upon industry. It is to bo hoped that employers as a group will cooperate in the administration of occupational disease laws, inasmuch as there are bound to be difficulties arise in the administration of comparatively new statutes containing inherent defects. Two phases of the administrative provi sions are discussed: provisions for the creation of medical Boards and provisions for the establishment of Bureaus of Industrial Hygiene. The first are nonpartisan ' agencies to determine physical disability and tho second have the duties of main-' taining a reporting system, establishing rules and codes, and of maintaining an - industrial inspection service. Commenting on the latter, it is stated that the cost of prevention is but a part of potential liability imposed by law for compensation. 577 INDUSTRIAL HTCIZUE CODES. J. R. Allen. Am. J. Pub. Health, 29, 748-51 (July 1939). Unlike safety codes, industrial hygiene codes contain provisions not always obvious or understandable by the average layman and their formulation end enforce ment are much more difficult. The experience of the foundry Industry in develop ing its excellent code for control of occupational diseases is described. The advantage of codes made by and applying to one industry are that they ere based on experience, they are specific for that industry, they have better cooperation from manufacturers of equipment, and they can be easily amended or changed if found inadequate. State codes when included in lav;s enacted by legislatures are difficult to change when found inadequate and also cover too many conditions to be properly applicable to specific industries. State codes when formulated by supervising bodies can bo more readily changed and function with greater effi ciency. It is proposed that separate industries or trades formulate their own codes as the best means for controlling occupational disease and for reducing compensation costs. 578 ANTERA-SILICOSIS AND BRONCHIAL CARCINOMA Y.TTH QUIESCENT TUBERCULOSIS. J. E. Love lock. Brit. Mod. J., pp. 8-11 (July 1, 1939). (British). Tho increasing incidence of bronchial carcinoma is a recognized fact and recent statistical surveys suggest that the increase is real and not merely an apparent one due to improved facilities for observation and more accurate diagnosis. On the other hand many authorities consider that tho matter is still undetexmined. A ease is presented of a cool miner who died of anthra-silicosis and bronchial carcinoma. Full post-mortem findings are given. Tho coroner certified tho case as a combination of carcinoma and silicosis due to occupation. Compensation has todato been refused because of a lack of legal status between the tv/o but a final decision has not yet been reached. The greatest drawback to medical recog nition is the difficulty of diagnosis during life. The clinical, pathological, radiological and mcdico-legal phazes of the condition are discussed and it is noted that the question of silicosis and carcinoma needs further research and study. 023 si. References to Recent Literature - 3 579 A REVIEW OF SILICOSIS AND DUST TESTERS IN ONTARIO. G. C. Richards. Canadian Min. J. 60, 121-6 (March 1959). (Canadian). The incidence of silicosis has been greatly reduced since dust control and proper ventilation have been given consideration. From 1925 to 1936 the average number of cases allowed (compensation) was 36 per year. Tho average of the 5 year period preceding 1937 was 18 per year. The average period of development of tho cases changed from 10-11 years in the first period to 18 years during the latter, pro bably due to tho result of preventive methods in reducing dust concentrations. Mine employers and employees have become more dust conscious and this fact to gether with the results of research on the problem have greatly reduced the hazard of silicosis in Ontario mines. 580 SILICOSIS AND TUBERCULOSIS. M. Conrozier and J. Uognin. Industrial Medicine, 8, 287-9 (July 1939). " Thi3 article is a continuation of the previous paper (see Abstract No. 261, April 1939), a translation by Dr. E. R. Eayhurst of the original article by the French authors. It discusses further the arguments of tho two French schools of thought on the question of silicosis as a soparate disease entity. The authors adhere to the belief that silicosis can exist in the absence of tuberculosis, a conclusion that has been accepted in all other parts of the world for many years. 581 TEE FREQUENCY OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN MINERS. L. Croizier and S. Martin. Bull. Acad. Mod., 120, 42-9 (1938). (French). ... After discussing the evidence for. and against the view that miners ere more sus ceptible to pulmonary tuberculosis than the non-mining population of the same ages, the authors, who are physicians in a mining area in France, state that for their district the mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis of the non-mining popu lation aged over 15 years was 2.4 per thousand and of the mining population 3.2 per thousand. They name as possible causes: insufficient adaptation of rural immigrants to the urban conditions of the mining areas, alcohol and bad hygienic conditions, end the defective conditions in the mines themselves. They advocate a more rigorous medical supervision of miners with systematic x-ray examinations, theso examinations to extend to other members of the miners' families who may be contacts. 582 INDUSTRIAL INCAPACITY AND MODERN MEDICINE. D. Stewart. Brit. Med. J. pp. 963-7, (May 13, 1939); 1019-23 (May 20, 1939). (British). - A plea is made for greater extension of medical service in industrial- plants, largo and small. Sueh services have proven to be good investmonts,.and-not _ philanthropic institutions. The preservation of the health of tho worker is as important as tho maintenance of the machine. There is great ncod for a more ........ thorough knowledgo and understanding of industrial health problems_ by physicians so that they may be of maximum benefit to industry. _7. ^ ~ 7. 583 DISCUSSION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. REPORT OF 1938 CONVENTION. International Assoc. Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. U.S. Dopt. of Labor, Divn. of Labor Standards, Bulletin No. 24, 204 pp. (1939). Obtainable from Supt. of Documents, Washington, D. C., for 30 cents. This bulletin reports in detail on tho proceedings of tho Convention held in September 1938. Most important among the topics coverod are: the use end de sirability of state funds for compensation; legal foes in compensation awards; effectivoness of safety conferences; compulsory compensation insurance; and other phases of the subject in general. 02252. References to Recent Literature -4 534 INDUSTRIAL HEALTH SURVEYS. Northwestern University Medical School, Dept, of Industrial Medicine. Bulletin No. 7, 12 pp. (February 1939). Copies obtainable from the Department, Evanston, Illinois; for 50 cents. The bulletin discusses health surveys in general, outlines the order of procedure, and gives typical examples of records to be kept. Large plants have in their organizations men sufficiently trained for the work but this is not true in most of the smaller plants. Consultation service is sometimes necessary and advan tageous in supplementing these surveys in the small plants. This bulletin serves . as a guide to those interested in tlic subject. 535 ABC's-OF INDUSTRIAL DUST CONTROL. Roy P. Warren. Occup. Hazards and Safety, 1, 8-10 (July 1939). Larger industrial establishments have for years recognized the value of dust con trol but many more smaller plants have not heretofore realized that dust control systems pay for themselvos in worker health and efficiency, in decreased mainten ance costs, in production efficiency and in better finished products. The pur pose of this and succeeding papers by the author is to present the basic princi ples of dust control and suggestions for smaller plants to guide them in install ing efficient and economical dust control systems. Two tables are given illus trating the size of particles encountered in industrial dusts ranging frem 0.2 microns (tobacco smoke, an example) to 4000 microns (BB shot) and also the veloc ities necessary to collect and transport various materials. It is evident that each job must have proper individual treatment and thorough knowl edge of air movement and control is the first essential. An example of plant survey form containing the essential data for a dust survey is includod with the paper. 586 THE COMPOSITION OF STONE AND OF INEALED DUST IN RELATION TO SILICOSIS. A. Shaw. Colliery Guardian, 158, 522-4 (1939). (British). The prevalence of silicosis among workers in tho several nines in England .is discussed in relation to the character of the inhaled dust. Silicosis cases . among tin miners, gold miners, barite miners, and coal miners of Somerset, North Staffs, and part of the steam coal area of South Wales is almost invariably associated with long periods of work in rock containing 50-80$ of free silica. The many cases certified among South Wales anthracite workers exposed only to coal dust containing no more than 10$ free silica are not believed to be silico-. sis but rather a bronchitis. 587 TEE EFFECT 0? ALUMINUM ON SOLUTION OF MINE DUST. S. R. Rabson. Bull.- Inst. --. - Mining 4: Mot. No. 415, 4 pp. (1939). (British). The addition of finely divided aluminum powder to mine dusts lowers the initial... .'1 rate of solution in water, tut does not materially affect the ultimate solubility of tho du3ts. It is stated that since this is true, the value of aluminum as a.__ preventive of silicosis is not yet established. * 588 BUREAU OF MINES MIDGET IMPINGER. H. H. Schronk and F. L. Feicht. U. S. Bureau of Minos, Information Circular No. 7076, 7 pp. (June 1939). Previous papers describing the miugot impinger are out of print and this circular has been written to corabino the material and to make it available for distribu tion. The equipment, its design and use are described at length in the circular, and results of a series of tests on certain dusts arc includod. The circular contains nothing new regarding tho midget impinger that has not been included in the former publications (these Abstracts, No. 103 (1937); No. 342 (1930); No. 578 (1938). 02353 References to Recent Literature - 5 539 ON TEE EFFECT OF GRINDING ON THE SOLUBILITY 0? MINERAL SUBSTANCES, AND ON THE TOXIC CHARACTER OF TEE RESULTING DUSTS, il. V,f. Travers. Chen. L Ind., 58, 22S (March 11, 1959). (British). A short note by the author remarks about one or two facts that were brought to his attention following a reviev: of the literaturo on silicosis but which have apparently been unnoticed heretofore. A study by Ray (1923) showed that the solubility of mechanically ground silica wa3 markedly higher than that of crystal line silica and the fact may go far to account for the poisonous character of mechanically produced dusts. It is suggested that the microcrystalline material present in tho lung, which is probably silica, is separated from the lung fluids elready saturated with mechanically transformed silica. Tho presence of the microcrystalline material may have no connection with the toxic property of the silica. 590. ELEMENTARY MECHANISMS OF MINERAL PNEUMOCONIOSES. ACTION OF PERMUTITE OH PULMON ARY TISSUE. A. Poll card. Bull. hist. appl. phys. tech, microscop., 16. 18-31 (1939). (French). White rats were exposed to commercial permutite dust (2000 particles per cc.) 3 hours daily for 7 days. This produced no gross symptoms other than an increase in flow of nasal mucous during the exposure period. Later, however, a histologi cal study of tho lungs revealed the presence of permutite in the alveoli and the occurrence of marked peculiar cytological reactions to this reagent. These in cluded partial atelectasis, hypertrophy of the alveolar cells, and changes in the cell content of tho intra alveolar exudate. The author suggests that the perautito may exert its characteristic base-exchange reactions within the lung, end that these may be responsible for tho disturbances produced by the inhalation of this mineral. 591 PRELIMINARY NOTE ON PUMICE DUST. A. R. Smith and J. Siegel. Industrial Bulletin, Now York Dept, of Labor, 18, 285. (June 1939). Pumice is a volcanic substance, a glassy cellular lava vfhich has cooled so quick ly that little if any of the minerals have separated out as individual minerals. Most of the world's pumice comes from Lipari, an Italian possession, and is used as an abrasive in grinding awd polishing. Pumice contains little free silica (1 to 5$) and the effect of breathing its du3t comes up for discussion from time to time. Only one reference to pumice exposure was found in the literature. In 1932 almost all of 100 workers in Lipari exposed to apparently severe dust con contrations, wore found to havo pneumoconiosis in the various stages. _In this country an examination of 30 men engaged in grinding and packing pumice dust,-ro- vealed that 4 showed increased fibrosis end that 2 had silicosis. Tho past'his- 1 tories of these two mea showed no serious silica exposure other than the pumice dust, and it is therefore concluded that the pumice was at least a contributing causo in tho two canes of silicosis. 592 A NEJf METHOD OF EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF NATURAL AGENCIES OK TEE VEITILAIION OF MINES. F. B. Hinsley. Trans. Instn. Min. Engrs. London jW, 131-51 (April 1939), (British). An extensive and detailed discussion is presented on the effect of natural agen cies on ventilation in mines. Mine workings usually constitute a huge reservoir of heat as evidenced by an almost constant temperature of return air regardless of tho amount of air passing per minuto. Tho greater the airflow the greater is tho energy derived from natural sources. Leakage, especially near the pit bottoms and resistance to flow aro tho two most important items which prevent greatest utilisation cf natural ventilation. 0235-4 ' References to Recent Literature - 6 " '\ w' 593 AIP. TILTS' PERFORMANCE AS AFFECTED 3x LOV,' RATE OF DUST FEED, VARIOUS TYPES OF CARBON, AND DUST PARTICLE SIZE AND DENSITY. F. B. Rowley and R. C. Jordan. Heating, Piping 5: Air Cund., Journal Section, 11, 3S8-98 (June 1939). A continuation of the researches of tho authors (sco Abstract 73S, 1938). The tests made were to dotoiaino possible improvements in the ASHVE Test Code and not to compare the different commercial filters used. In rating a filter, high rates of feed give results comparable to low rates of feed and it is recoraended that the more practicable (in testing) higher feeds be used. It was found that lampblack and carbon bluck, which resemblo soot closely, differ greatly in pro perties even though the dust appears to be of uniform specification and it is recommended that further efforts be made to standardize on a carbon for the tests. It was stated that dust density (specific gravity) has an important bear lag on filter capacity ratings. The present code (CO# lampblack and 50# ash) penalizes most filters by a too severe test; other products give perfoxmances better than actual practice and it is recommended that a standard be made up of components of the two extremes. 594 RELATIVE AIP. DUSTINESS DURING CYCLE OF OPERATIONS AT MOUNT LEATHER TESTING ADIT. J. A. Johnson and W. G. Agnew. U. S. Bur. of Hines, Report of Investigations No. 3453, 7 pp. (June 1939). Impinger dust counts were token during on entire cycle of operations at the Mount Weather testing adit. The counts shov/ed very high concentrations (3,300 n.p.p.c.f. in these tosts) after blasting and it scams reasonable to assume that essentially the same conditions would prevail in most metal mines during similar operations. Because it is common practice to ventilate several Y/orking places with the same air, a number of men may bo exposed to tho dust from n blast where blasting is permitted during the shift, unless suitable fl'eans are token to con trol air circulation. Some metal nines pemit blasting only when the shift is going off, which is good practice, but enough time should be ollowed for dust end gas to clear before a new shift resumes. Other tests have shorn, that the concentration of dust from blasting can be reduced 99 per cent by using com pressed-air vnter spray near the face and it is planned to expand the present tests to determine the best means cf utilizing this type of spray. 595 MAIN FAN INSTALLATIONS AT METAL MINIS. Mine Safety Board, U. S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular No. 7073 , 2 pp. (June 1939). In the interest of safety in notal mining, the Bureau recommends: "That under ground metal mines be equipped with a main fan in a fireproof housing, located preferably at the surface. The fan installation should be designed to ventilate the mine adequately throughout and to permit prompt reversal of direction of air flow." Many metal mines rely on natural ventilation or on inadequate compressedair supplies, but only mechanic&l forced draft systems* ore dependable under all ~ conditions. 596 VSAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COAL-MINE OFFICIAL IN THE PRESENT CHANGE TO " AND FUTURE OF MECHANIZED MINING? D. Harrington. U. S. Bureau of Mines, Infor mation Circular No. 7081, 13 pp. (June 1939). Mechanization of mines any ultimately reduce accident rates, although the opposite effect is sometimes produced during early periods follovri.ng introduc tion. The ultimate reduction will follow the realization on the part of mine operators that, while old hazards may be eliminated, new ones with different methods of attack are presented by tho introduction of machinery into confined, poorly lighted locations. 0235'Jf References to Recent Literature - 7 597 THE FLOW OF AIR AND ITS DISTRIBUTION THROUGH DUCTS. PART 6, FAN LAiTS AND PAN SELECTION. J. R. Zv/ickl. Heat, k Vent. 36, 64-6 (July 1939). The three fundamental fan laws are: (1) the pressure produced by the fan varies as tha square of the fan speed, directly as the air density; (2) the flow through a fan varies linearly as the fan speed; and (3) the fan horsepower varies as the third power of the fan speed and directly us the density. In the selection of a fan, which must deliver a specified amount of air against a certain static head, it is important to toko temperature and pressure into account. The articlo con tains directions for fan sdoction from manufacturer* s tables which gl79 the fan speeds necessary to develop a given static suction when handling a specified air volume. 598 INDUSTRIAL IMPAIRMENT OF HEALTH AMD POISONING IN THE MZIAL-V/ORKING INDUSTRY. Freitag. Oberflnchontoch. 16, 35-6 (1939). (German). The danger of silicosis in men working with sandblasting; poisoning by nitrous gasos in pickling, etching and coloring processes; by chromium salts in chromium plating; lead poisoning in lend welding; carbon monoxide poisoning in oxy-acetylene welding and by toxic gases developed in nitriding and other hardening pro cesses are discussed at length. 599 ACTION OF VARIOUS MINERAL DUSTS OH CONJUNCTIVE TISSUE SUPPLIED WITH THE AID OF THE CORNEAL BIONICROSCOPE. A. Policord and J. Rollet. Compt. rend. soc. biol. 150. 954-7 (1939). (French). Very small amounts of finely powdered minerals were introduced into rabbit corneas. Quartz, opal, diatonaceoun earth, permutitc and cobalt arsenide pro duced a white opaque spot which showed no diminution after 5 weeks. Sahara sand and fuller's earth produced loss marked reactions. Muscovite and sericite pro duced slight reactions that cleared up in 4 weeks. Low-ash cool dust produced no reaction. . (C) Papers on Industrial Poisons, Cancer, Dermatitis, otc. 600 INDUSTRIAL FATIGUE AND THE PHYSIOLOGY OF MAN AT V.'OHZC. D. B. Dill. Industrial Medicine, 8. 315-8 (July 1939). The authored discussion centers around the pliyslological principles of man at work in tho office or mill during which there is a transfer of chemical energy to mechanical energy and heat. Mo3t of the chemical energy supplied to tho body is required to maintain life and the mechanical efficiency of the body is remark ably low, probably about 10# for a 24 hour period. It has boen found that carbo hydrates aro more efficiently utilized by the body than fats end experiments with animals or human subjects demonstrates that fatigue sets in more rapidly follow ing a lew carbohydrate diet. Glucose is one of the more readily dlgestiblo forms of carbohydrate; successful uso of it has been had in certain industries. Regard ing heat stroke, heat cramps and prostration, it is now a proven fact that the condition is partly dependent upon the amount of salt in the diet ond tho uso of salt tablets in industry is increasing rapidly. It has been suggosted that the use of gelatine, by increasing the store of creatine in the body, reduces fatigue and continued work on the latter subject will bo carried out for confirmation. 601 WORKING CAPACITY AND DIET. E. H. Christonsen. . Skand. Arch. Physiol. SI, 160-71 (1939). (Scandinavian). The capacity for sevore exercise in well-trained subjects is two to three times as great after a carbohydrate-rich diet (90# of the calories derived from the carbohydrates) than after a fat-rich diet (5# of the calories derived from carbo hydrates) ;3500-5000 calories were given daily in each case. The protein content of the diot was saall. The diminished capacity for exorcise on a fat diet is attributed to tho low blood-sugar level and tho kotonaemia. 022&B flefarcnces to Recent Literature - 8 602 `DANGEROUS GASES HI DISTILLATION AND REFINING PROCESSES. E. LeQ. Herbert. J. Inst. Petroleum, 25, 323*46 (June 1939). (British). In distillation processes tho most dangerous gas encountered is hydrogen sulphide, although the hydrocarbon petroleum gases are also present in considerable concen trations. The phy3idogical effects of both types aro reviewed together with methods of protection against each. Hydrocarbon vapors such as gasolino can be significant physiologically at slightly lower concentrations than tho lower limit of inflammability (1.45# by volume). In refining processes a number of gases are encountered, depending upon the method of treatment used. Sulphur dioxide is almost universally present in oil plants as axe chlorine, ammonia end a few organ ic sulphur compounds. In the solvent-extraction processes still further vapors are met with, including furfural, phenol, chlorcx, nitro-benzene, benzene, ace tone, methyl ethyl ketone, cresol and propane. Tho effects of these vapors are reviewed and concentrations that aro dangerous are given, but no mention is made of the magnitude of tho concentrations that are likely to be encountered within the plants. A number of tables in the paper lists the properties of each gas, toxicities at various concentrations, limits of inflammability, and methods of protection against each. 603 THE DETECTION OF GAS IN THE FIELD AND REFINERY IN IRAN. Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., * J. Inst. Petroleum, 25, 356-8 (Juno 1939). (British). The detection of inflammable gases, since 1938, has been done with two similar commercial detectors based on the temperature increase of a platinum wire as the air is passed over it. Regarding hydrogen sulphide it is the practice to assume that when all inflammable gases have been washed out of a tank it can also be considered that no appreciable amount of hydrogen sulphide is present and its detection is then emitted. When hydrogen sulphide tests are made, one of two methods is followed: the first measures the extent of blackening of a mercury salt on granulated pumice in a glass tube; the other, the~*darkness of a stain on a paper impregnated with lead acotate. Both methods ere capable of measuring dangerous concentrations with certainty. For sulphur dioxide determination the method of drawing air through paper impregnated with a starch iodine solution is used. The methods used on other gases are not included. 604 THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TOXIC GASES AND VAPORS. T. McClurkin. J. Inst. Petroleum, 25, 332-91 (Juno 1939). (British). In the first part of the paper tho physiological effects of gases and vapors which are likely to ho met with in tho petroleum industry are considered. The second pert deals with a group of other toxic gases. All are reviews taken from the literature. Those gases covered in port one ore: hydrogen sulphide, sul phur dloxldo, chlorine, carbon monoxide, petroleum spirit and benzine, acetone, benzene, mercaptan vapors, furfuraldohydo end. phenol. Part two gasos are: hydro gen cyanide, carbon disulphide, aniline organic halogens. A brief description is given of each. ; 605 THE DETECTION OF TOXIC GASES IN INDUSTRY. R. B. Vallender. J. Inst. Petroleum, 25. 392-403 (June 1939). (British). Numerous eases of poisonings ore cited to show the need for the determination of potentially hazardous concentrations of gases in industry. The methods, to be practical, should bo simple, rapid and sensitive to low concentrations. Uost nothods fall into ono of three dassos: (1) physical or physico-chemical mothods, (2) adaptations of ordinary chemical methods and (3) colorimetric or ncphdonotric mothods. Rapid mothods based on tho third class are probably the most practical and useful in these types of analyses, and a number of simple tests arc described. * 02357 References to Recent Literature - 9 606 .PROTECTION AGAINST DANGEROUS GASES IN TEE OPERATION OF CRACKING PLANTS. E.J.H. Tait. J. Inst. Petroleum, 25, 347-55.{June 1939). (British). Precautionary rules for the prevention of gassing accidents are discussed briefly. The typos of gas mask protection and locations where their use is essential are described. Special attention should bo given to entering locations where hydro carbon gases may accumulate, as in piap-houses, trenches, sumps, etc. Many acci dents occur nwnyig non accustomed to their work and who have become careless fol lowing low-accident periods so that continual safety instruction is essential. 607 TOXIC ORGANIC SOLVENTS. ' K. Tomlinson. Paint Manufacture, 9',' 140-2 (1939). (British). " All solvents other than water are regarded as toxic to some degree, and to treat a solvent casually and carelessly is inviting disaster even if it has been used with safety for several year3. Transient and cumulative poisoning ere discussed briefly. The aromatic hydrocarbons and the chlorinated hydrocarbons are the most toxic of ordinary solvents. 608 TOXICITY OF MOTOR FUELS AND EXHAUST GASES. G. Castrovilli. Rass. mod. tad., 10, 1-16 (1939). (Italian). A review of benzine, carbon monoxide and naphtha poisoning from the exhaust gases of motor vehicles is followed by an analysis, in tabular form, of exhaust gases obtained by the use of methane and naphtha in wood-gas-end-gasoline-driven en gines. A list of tho symptoms indicating poisoning from naphtha and wood-gasdriven engines is given. The toxicity of natural methane was found to be much less than that of the others mentioned. 609 CARBON MONOXIDE- H7 UNDERGROUND ATMOSPHERES. THE ROLE OF BACTERIA IN ITS ELEffilATION. G. Vf. Jones and G. S. Scott. Ind. Eng. Chem., 31, 775-8 (1939). It has been found that certain types of microorganisms- present in anthracite waters will readily consume hydrogen and carbon monoxide from gaseous mixtures. In laboratory experiments, a sample containing 4.1# hydrogen and 11.6# carbon monoxide was entirely depleted of the former in 10 days and of the latter in 50 days. A blank containing bacteriocidal solution had no effect even after 50 days. Hydrogen is oxidized to water and carbon monoxide to the dioxide; no methane is formed. It is concluded that it is not safe to assume that fires have been extinguished in sealed firo areas because of an absonce of carbon monoxide in those aroas. 610 EFFECTS ON ANIMALS OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SULPHUR DIOXIDE. F. R. Noodon, - Albert Hartsell and Carl Sotterstram. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 10 , 281-323 (April-June 1959). -- . _ i Despite the prevalence of sulphur dioxide as an atmospheric contaminant, indus trially end otherwise, there is a lack of positive experimental work on its action on human beings over a wide range of concentrations. The present paper- describes on extensivo series of experiments, probably the most important recent work on the subject. Hundreds of white mice and guinea pigs were used in the tests, and the effects of the gas on invertebrates (grasshoppers and cockroaches) were also determined. In general, the resistance to the ga3 was greater than expected and signs of distress were loss. No significant mortality or signs of ' distress occurred emong healthy animals at concentrations of 33 p.p.m. or below. Gross appearance post mortem of theso animals did not differ greatly from thoso of control animals. Above this concentration changes begin tc appear, notably: the cornea becomes opaque, the stomach becomes distonded and congestion of the viscera more definite. However, the foot that guinea pigs withstood 150 p.p.m. for considerable periods of time when exposed for only eight hours per day suggests that no direct toxic affects result to industrial workers exposed 02353- References to Recent Literature - 10 I occasionally to concentrations of this magnitude. Excellent discussions are given of the probable action of the gas, taken not only from the results of these tests but also from the literature. 611 THE SELENIUM PROELEI AND ITS RELATION TO PUBLIC HEALTH, ft. A. ManviLLe. Am. J. Pub. Health, 29, 709-18 (July 1939). The paper is a review of the literature of seme 79 items on selenium and its toxicity in the body. It deals largely v.lth the action of ths substance when ingested with foods but considerable knowledge of its action regardless of mode . of. entry may be gained from the material presented. The element is present in the soils in certain areas in the West and in Mexico and is no doubt the toxic factor in the condition known as "alkali disease", prominent in affected areas. ' Selenium is present in all plants end foods grown in selcniferous soils and while the public health aspect of the problem is limited to those affected areas it should not be overlooked that most of the world's wheat is grown in seleniferous soils and also that the use of selenium in all food sprays is increasing. Indus trially selenium exposure may occur in industries extracting end processing ores containing the substance or in industries using selenium compounds as basic mater ials for manufacturing purposes. It may be absorbod by inhalation, through the skin or by ingestion depending upon the state of the compound. Authorities ore cautious in stating its toxicity but it is certain that repeated absorptions of snell amounts have a marked detrimental effect on the body. 612 LEAD HAZARD AT SOLDERING BENCHES. Thee. Hatch. Industrial Bulletin, New York Dept, of Labor, ]> 284 (June 1939). The lend hazard, during miscellaneous soldering operations on small tanks and the like by men engaged full time on this work, is two-fold: _(1) lead oxide fume may be given off during soldering and (2) lead dust and cuttings are released by filing, grinding and sanding. While most of the latter dust may be particles too coarse to be breathed, these particles if not properly handled will bo"ground underfoot, etc., and the dangerous dust disseminated into the room. An exhaust - . system is described for a ventilated soldering bench. The top of the bench Is an open grille through which the filings fall to a hopper and pan below. An ex haust below the grille removes all very fine dust. An exhaust is placed over the soldering-iron stove to remove lead fumes. A raised floor grid in front of the table minimizes the grinding of lead underfoot. 613 THS TOXICITY OF OCTYL ALCOHOL. J. Am. Med. Assoc, (ftuerios it Minor Notes) 112. 2353 (June 3, 1939). Octyl alcohol lately has came into extensive industrial use. Some of the appli cations aro the following: anti-foaming agent, dehydration of lubricating oils,- the printing of textiles, manufacture of papor, air conditioning sprays, and other applications. Little is known of its true properties, but its extensive use with no serious consequences leads one to believe that its toxicity is of a low order. The disagreeable odor may have the effect of a deterrent in its use. 614 TEE EFFECTS OF ETHXLENE DICHLORIDE VAPORS. J. Am. Med. Assoc. (Queries & Minor Notes) 113, 167 (July 8, 1939). Ethylene dichloride is now classified as of the some order of toxicity as trichlorethylene. The symptoms of its toxic action are, in addition to nausea and vomiting, irritation of noso and eyes, dizziness, ataxia, fatty degeneration of the liver, nephritis and perivascular hemorrhages of the brain. No chronic symp toms arising from prolonged exposures have been reported. 02359 Am2ummIhnuQEBi 4* assu TTTit* A I A References to Recent Literature - 11 615TOXICITY OF ETHYLENE AND FROrTLENZ GLYCOLS. LI. Aiazzi Mane ini. . Boll. soc. ital. biol. sper. 14, 68-71 (1939). (Italian). Ethylene glycol caused no ill effects in doses of 0.70 to several cc. daily; doses of 10-15 cc. produced oxaluria and 40-50 cc. caused death or severe intoxi cation in rats. Propylene glycol was ouch loss toxic. 616 CARBON DISULFIDE POISONING. S. Saral. Z. klin Path. Hanatol. 5 , 795 (1936). (Japanese). The amounts of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and carbon disulfide in the air of two factories were determined. Symptoms produced by the gases arc described. Eight patients with mental symptoms due to carbon disulfide mostly showed symp toms- of dementia praecox and of manic-depressive insanity. Recovery followed in 10 days to 1-2 months after removal from exposure. One patient showed neuras thenic symptoms for months. The., changes in red and whito blood cells are detailed. 617 PULMONARY INJURY BY MANGANESE'DUST. K. W. Jotten. Deutsch med. T/schr. 65, 40910 (1939). (German). Of 32 rabbits inhaling manganese dioxide dust for 1 hour every day, nine died within 3 weeks from extensive broncho-pneumonia. Animals which had been exposed. to manganese showed a higher mortality rate from experimental pneumococcal infec tion than controls. Injection of manganese dioxide particles into the abdominal cavity produced severe haemorrhagic peritonitis. 618 CANCER AS AN ACCIDENTAL INJURY UNDER TEE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT. I. H. Rubcnstein and M. S. Levy. Ind. lied. 8,, 284-6 (July 1939). Despite the fact that medical science is not at all certain of the ectual cause or causes of cancer, the law, as to whether cancer is an "accidental injury"under the several workmen's compensation acts, seems well settled. Casos Involving cancer may be divided into two classes: (1) wixero the injury is known to have brought about a cancer, and (2) whore injury aggravated and accelerated a pre existing cancer. The essential difference is the existence or not of a cancer prior to occupational Injury. Casos of both types are described in which compen sation has been allowed or denied for either type, depending upon the apparent evidence as to real occupational cause or effect. 619 OCCUPATIONAL MELANOSIS FROM PITCH. H. R. Foerster and L. Schwartz. Arch. Deimat.- end Syphilol., 39, 955-68 (June 1939). The authors have previously reported (Abstract No. 493, 1939) that pitch dexmati-' ; tls and melanosis are true reactions of photosensitization resulting from the local exogenous activity of a specific phatosensitizer in pitch, activated by specific spectral bands of light. In this paper, case reports ere presented of workers exposed to pitch and tar. Dermatitis and melanosis are Important, occupa tional hazards in coal tar and pitch industries. Most workmen exposed to the hazard have dermatitis or melanosis (pi<paentaticn) though some may not be offooted and variations in susceptibility exist. Histologic studies indicate that the discolorlzation due to pitch is true melanosis. Prevention is best accomplished by personal hygiene, good ventilation, sanitary conditions in plants, night oper ations, rotation of work and selection of employees. Appropriate protective and therapeutic measures include the application of creams and lotions containing physical and chemical blockers of light. 02.3 so References to Recent Literature - 12 620 PROTECTIVE CSEAHS IN TEE PRETENTION OF D22LMITI3. G. C. Harrold. Occup. Hazards & Safety, 1_, 1S-20 (July 1939). Supplementing the mechanical types of dermatitis protection equipment--gloves, clothing, leggings, shoes--are creams, ointments and chemical mixtures. These substances can also be classod as mechanical forms of protection but they offer the additional factor of a cleansing action; the application on clean hands three times a day and the resultant cashing off of the cream will in itself be on aid in the prevention of dermatoses. The best protection requires the use of a specific type of cream or ointment for each general group of irritants; no single cream is a positive protection for all substances. The types of creams for use with specific agents aro not given in the paper, probably because of differences in trade names. Creams for certain dermatitis producing substances used in industry are on the marhet and their use is recommended in this article. 02361