Document XO8x9dbEL2jVRk7XDv50gp1mR

\ o> u 001276 N 5816 il J-lL , -Il-Y LiIIi APRIL ord ,1 9 2 3 . J E F F E C T S O F H A N D L IM O r E T H Y L . DR. M. COP LANS' of these mechanics and to protect their health the periodic medical exam ina `'A-'lias'. been drawn out and in -th is case can only bo removed by scooping it R EPO R T. lions were not only justified b u t would have to be m aintained had their expo sure to the action of leaded petrol been continued. In short, it would have away .with the fingers. ,- . C is <the sample of deposit (from, cylin-- xlers) and need not be touched .by.the fingers,, although there are ` many mechanics who certainly, would touch it.' WORKER ENGAGED IN FUEL TEST. D EFINITE TRACE OF LEAD IN SYSTEM, Below we (Subllsh the first section of the medical report on the effects on health of tetraethyl petrol. The head lines and the cross-headlines throughout the report are our own. . By DR. MYER COPLANS, D.S.O. been necessary to continue to keep them under medical observation, inas much as one of them had shown repeat edly th a t not only had he been exposed tb an industrial lead risk but also that, at a com paratively early stage, he was already ingesting slight quantities of lead; .' Spectroscopic exam ination with photographic record was employed on every: occasion for th e purpose of de tection o f.the presence of lead. - Posi tive find unm istakable records were ob tained. p o r tio n s of th e o u te r c lo th in g ,w orn by these two m echanics a t th e ir work while employed in these -tests liave been subm itted to m e for analysis w ith In: regard to the accompanying tabid dealing w ith 'th e medium-powered car, th e ;small bulk of sample available-or thovjercentage of lead present', ren dered it, difficult to d eterm ine th e ac tu al composition of lead compounds present, but by analogy w ith sim ilar previous tests it.m a y be assumed that a. largo proportion of the lead present (about 50 pel* cent.) js com bined with, bromine,' at least as far as the deposits are con cerned. - ... MEDIUM-POWERED CAR. .. vInformation Furnished by. . Research A ssociation.. , Q u an tity .. - - - - Found G ram s - ' . ... . - .- -.Analysis of -Samples R eceived'for,.;' t r vr * 3 Examination. haul . : B romide T h e following suim n& rises-the m edi th e follow ing. resu lts :-- . ' , Crankcase Oil. ... 3,100 cos. 9.075 ca l re p o r ts 'o n th e tw<> m echanics who, MECHANIC A. ,f . . Washings ......... 3601' ,, 0.2245 h a v e been em ployed in connection w ith Workshop overall: 4 email pieces taken-- Sludge ........... ... 24.068 gmB 0.453* th e D aily 21a.il tests on eth y l petrol by th e Research Association of B ritish M otor an d Allied M anufacturers in at tendance upon th stationary engine tria ls (ex h au st gases an d deposits) and! th e exam ination of the medium-powered and light family cars and m otorcycle. W ith th e ir consent; these mechanicshave been subjected to independent one1from each sleeve and one from each forepart.(chest), . : - Total weight o f 'material examined: 20.-1 grams (nearly oue ounce). ' .' Lead tetraethyl present per grants .0015 milligrams. ' ' ' Total lead present per gram =11.3 milli grams'- . ,' - MECHANIC B. . Workshop overall: 4 pieces taken (as for . ,,Mechanic,A). -, Outside of Block \ and crankcase ... > 52 ccs. Inlet m a n ,if o ld acid washings ... 250 * In let V alves...' ... 4.072 *E xhaiist r a lv e s ... 1.925' Pistons:.. .......... 15.884 *C ylinder H eads... 3.740 Sparking Plugs... 1"-104 Exna'st manifold I acid washings-... j 2,500 ccs. 0.0626 0.202" 0.106 0.7225. 17.98 0,5245 27,24 I.5705 8.62 10.8 20.09 0.354, o;25 4.706 m edical .examinations weekly, w ith par? tic u la i reference to th e signs of the . Total weight; o f ' material 21.63 grams (3 ounce)^ examined: ^_E_x_h_a_u__st pip e 1l ssttv'' scrapings (powd'y > 43.5 gms. II. 680 action o f lead. They have; also been Lead tetraethyl present-.per gramss.005 black deposit) J !\. exam ined by th eir own private doctors; T heir exposure to handling ethyl milligrams. - ' ' * ' ", Total lead present per gram =12,4 milli Exhaust p i p c >. acid w ashings,... j 1,500 ccs. 0.1268 petrol and its products of combustion ns m otor fuel; was in; th e ordinary n a tu re of th e ir ejnploym cnt. ! T here \va$ no additional eXpbsiire. nor have these m en t^een m ade ;the su b ject of personal experimentation!; of any description. . grams; . Cloth cap: Portion examined T 1 .3 grates.' Lead tel rant byl present per gmin = .005 m illig ra m s . T o tal lead present per gram = 4.G m illi ' gram ; '' E x h au st, p i 'p e ^ final .scrap in g s... t '13.3 g.ms. 1,925,- ^Silencer an'.l t a i l ) ! `. p i p e {poy.dc-ry V 201.0 ,, mack deposit) ...J " ' . * 7 item s t o ta l : 221.255 gins 51.441 T h e ir exposure ;to , th is special fuel , These resu lts confirm th e fact of ex? com menced on Ja n u a ry IS and term in poSre to lead. . ,' **4 items total \ a te d o n M arch; 31, 1928. 'T heir `first- Tlie . la u n d ry to w hich g a rm e n ts.. bo ' T a k in g tlie ratio o f to ta l lead to leads m edical specialist exam ination took stairied are sent should ordinarily be brom ide i n . .th e above figures as pla ce ion F ebruary; 14 a n d was! repeated notified of: th e lead r is k in h a n d lin g 100:82.5, a n d ap p ly in g this ;to th e d a ta thereafter a t regular intervals.' ; su ch m a terial, m ore .p a rtic u la rly b y fu rn ish ed by th e a d d itio n of-, th e seven B oth these m en a re aged about 25 an d Ihmidresses.; ; - ' item s (deposits), th tjotaT lead found,' single. ; MECHANIC A. Changes In blood: ., -- , . Hreinoglobiu 'content ~ INDEPENDENT. ANALYSES/ * * . The following analyses are th e results o f exam ination of sam ples of m aterials viz.,- 51.44 gram s, corresponds w ith 42.439 gram s lead brom ide,v;th is' b e in g . a p^r^ cen tag e of 13.2 of th e to ta l a m o u n t.4 ' .(red colouring platter) which was 98 per fu rn ish ed m b b y th e R esearch Associar ; The to ta l am o u n t.o f le ad bro m id e a s cent, oh February 14. diminished to 90 .iid p for th e :p u rp o se of independent.in-: su m ed t - b e p resen t in th e seven ; d e - / / ^ per cent. March. 13; .: Presence of l ad r On each, of three occa sions whn'ho was examined for signs of lead, ingestion .o r . lead absorption, lead w as' definitely, discovered tb l^e present in tfie bowel content to| the extent of not less than 1 part in 10,000. The report by his private doctor on April;-2 states th a t he has sbm what in creased blood pressure : T38-1S5. MECHANIC B. Change: in ; blood: Hmoglohin content, -which was :92!per|cent. on February 10, . diminished. to 89, p er ' cent, on M arch "15. A t no tim e was there any sign .found of lead ingestion o r,lead -absorp- yestigation.y '. j, , ;.v ,:.t_ --rM' . thl Ptrtrl i j samples received for exam- l ination. ' Average content per sample of l lead tetraeth y l 0.1566% by weight or l 1p a rt, in 638 (by weight).; '. - Stationary Engine: Samples furnished for ' analysis : ' . Sample A.-- Uscd oil ex. .crankcase, i : .T otal ah 0.13% - Lead in, sample ............... 0.12% : , T,he ash therefore^ co n tain ed 90% ; of lead. a' ; The am o u n t of ash1obtained-w as n ot sufficient,1`to .perm itio f! th e determ m - tio h . Of; th jm a tu r e 'o f th e lead) com posits is-th e refo re 42.439 m illig ram s;1 / ? / MOTOR CYCLE. : . / - 'r Analyses of Sam ples received from ' Research Association. Quant ity received Grains) Total lead present Grams %, Lead Non volatile %(wi.) ethyl % Crankcase Oil .; - 37.1 .026, .07 {v W b } Chain sprocket w a sh in g -- appa- rentlv D enzoJ washing -- large 40.0 .096 .24 =3; .337 am ount of tfiuk (A smhVl quantity'of chloride h u t U brown sediment . . brOmide found in sample) , Wiping <Trty ohy rag) 18.08 34 1.88 - -.-'`'U."."' ' " . ' p ounds present.-- ..L .. ''Vv The report ty ihis p riv a te doctor on Sample B.-^-rSludge ;ex crankcaee. ; ` n p .o * It from piston-and head (black granu'- Brimloe jn au Dromiae 1.743 j i.8.8 A p ril'5 is th a t the p a tie n t shows slig h t ; T otal ash ........................5.69% pownerj pallor. ; Lead in; sample .............. 2.66% W ith reference to ' th e se rep o rts, th e 1 T he ash th erefo re co n tain s 46.7|6% of ' LEAD POISONING. inform ation furnished to m e on A pril 5 llead (largely lead brom ide or lead The in te rp re ta tio n ' of th e foregoing by th e D irector of th e Research Asso c iatio n ,u n d e r -whose im m ediate direc tio n add! o b serv atio n these m echanics rem ained throughout th e period of the tests, is ps follows : M echanic A has benijhandlingithe! ethyl petrol in the en g in e, w hereas M echanic B has been i n atten d an c e a n d y ery little exposed to personal contact. i ; - chloride). . , . Sample C.T-^Sample of deposit. . i Lead content ,25.46%. containing either 1 : lead bromide o r chloride. . . ! HANDLING TH E MATERIALS. The following * inform ation is ur- n ish ed b y .th e ;D ire c to r of R esearch As-1 s o ia tio ^ 'with ^reference to these m ate analyses m ust be based partly on the vast clinical and. industrial experi ence, and.partly bn th e experimentation w ith animals, as recorded by a number of au th o rities in w bom 'th is co u n try has been 'singularly rich, viz., Sir Thomas Oliver, Sir.R.eniteth Goadby, Sir Thom as M. Xtegge, and M!r. G. D uckering, in :re - ' Stteie recently, a literature peculiar to tho/ experimental study of ethyl petrol has grown up .irii the.: United.- 'States, 1 FINE DUST FROM EXHAUST. ~-l Continued from Preceding Column. ; Tfte.rjuestioii of this fine leaded dust' - ,,,,saw -noiKon- n the discharge from a motor'exhaust greater quantity of this rapiny_ p while another literature has arisen:in this, country bv reason of the lead treat ment of canper (Blair Bell), coupled,; as it now is, with.-the certainty of rapid identification:of lead in- minute quanti ties b y means of spectroscopic examina l ^ l i A l rS>ation. - . : " ' f a car using ..loroughfares ethyl petrol necessarily, oum- ^ithhnee.ppuububliliicc concerns-ih' e ooOaaui^l s33^aTa.-rgra:ar:-:s-!u' udsiin.s"cg.h"a"ert-hg-ey-dl- from--T-h,e, e_ .opcettrrooil. twhia.np. io.c u c ut s ublic generally, forrtthe tests conducted wi''h arny other k1ind orf p,, e r r o n- . . . |y the -Research 'Association o f:British:^i%t, C-aarbcon monoxide; iotor Manufacturers state that of'the: diffuses away rinto sad supplied in the petrol 80.4 per cent.''atmosp'here in o ras discharged ..into- the: atmosphere, in There is, moreover, a vast literature upon the subject of plumbism generally, a compilation having been published in he case of the motor-cycle, the figures or the light family car' ahd themedium- _B_u_twith le a d dust,- as. it lowered oar'being,75 per- cent. and 88J8 exists in .motor exhaust of an engine 1922 (in ' German):' citing references ; some- 3,000 . , . ; >er cent, respectively. V , using ethyl' petrol,; the- problem,is en In the -case of the stationary' engine tirely '-different, s -f ' ` _ , DANGER TO WOMEN. mder test, it is stated that as the engine CUMULATIVE DANGER. . i The records , prove , that so minute' a quantity a s.half a -milligram' -o f;soluble, le a d ., .consumed daily -regularly, and; without intermission, as a contamina tion of drinking water,`causes outbreaks o f lead poisoning among, the exposed population, , women being peculiarlyaffected. With: regard to lead dust; the, experience ,of the 'English authorities cited above (Eegge and Duekering) Places the figure at 2 milligrams per day ! in the. case o f,persons exposed.to. indus !trial risk. (In this connection lead dust- Signifies dust containing compounds of- became warmed upland as the load in creased; the ..lead ontent-in-the-exhaust ;ases rose to 60.2,;,per .cent, of the lead Supplied in the petrol... It is shown that f a ll the lead in the petrolwere emitted the exhaust gases there would be, mder average conditions,. 94 milligrams if lead 'pr cubic .metre of exhaust, gas ; out even assuming-ht 30 per cent. - ly of the lead is being, emitted as a reason able average, this would mean: 28 milli grams: of, lead per| cubic metre of ex haust gas. ' ' - ' ; OF GRAVEST CONCERN.' Tn industrial enterprises the removal f of' lead'-'dust can ohly. bf effectively | achieved 'by powerfully 'driven . r suction apparatus.. Iw ga.rage=, tunnels, \ ohartemaovopysepiuh"nesarpteuacrwees,itht'theinni*sdisdh; uet'sotbjjhlrwaenahtgihc..hi.nmgi s of a the level | ^Som e of it will d ep a # t$ n `the ground inly to be raised agairfai . f f ^ <Hist by ither passing vehicles, and -.thus, a ieious circle of accimiulation and dis- Ittirbance of lead dust. }s set up. - Some of'this dust will accumulate m low- lead.) - , ' . . .. It is important to .bear, in mind that M ng places, such as areas, cellars, ` Even so, women' and young persons' each:,and; every'car: using ethyl petrol in Garage nits, and on the walls and win are so susceptible to this form of poison-; a public thoroughfare is emitting this dows of' adjoining houses., . . . . mg. .that: their :employment 'in.;; certain I quantity of lead into the "atmosphere, Jt is iknown that;.lieacl' dust,- being ot lead industries: has had to be prohibited and the -conditions, in. narrow streets a s t ick y natur e, will,,: iii.the pr.e; e" ce,1^ by legislative enactments iii a large with; tall! .buildings .-.in the neighbour slight moisture, tend .to adhern to die Bnurmitabienr. .of, c ountries,vi nclu-ding , G. reat! hood of tiinnefe, trafile, blocks, o r ,in .'vehicular becomes a matter of.the gravest 8urfaeebnt-wlueh.it deposits.. I rpm the ground' will r esult surface p ollu tion iof j The fineness of division of the par concern iii,this, deilsely populated coun water supplies if tlie dust, ^ntainfl cm - ticles of the dust;,: as emitted from the exhaust pipe of motor-cars, is another factor affecting its poisonous ;nature. The- more finely, divided particles::.find their way into .the,,'lung more easily than the coarser .particles. s T " ' .: try. ' . - : The . question, ;,of " carbon ' monoxide which may be present in the. exhaust gaseS-to th extent ' o f 5:5 per'cent.,; or even'greater, doestnot present :.ahy-new factor for; consideration, for there ,is' no pounds .o t "a. water-soluble ^nature, . . . . Inhalation of leadrcontaminated dmt ' Continued in Next 'Column... in industrial lead exposure is considered to be-a -hundred times more dangerous than.,any other, method .of exposure & ' (skin, swallowing), and the -experience of industrial-lead: poisoning is that 90 per cent, of all eases are. considered to be. due to inhalation of fine particles of / 1 compounds in the form of fine dust. K 9001277