Document dYwgrkVpaegx98xLDO5OpGgMe

G E R E N C IA MONTEVIDEO ( u RU6UAt ) March 31, 1941. SUMMARY OR A REPORT SUBMITTED TOA.H.C.A.P's BOARD OR DIRECTORS BY DR. ROMULO ARDAO, PHYSICIAU OR SAID IDS- TITUTIOiT, Oil MARCH 6, 1941. The studies were started six months after the instal lation of the Oil Refinery and the first report was sub mitted one year later, in March 1938. Ibis first report insists particularly on blood modifications, poliglobu- liae and linfocitoses, tending to the inversion of the leucocitary formula into cephalalgiae and digestive trou bles. . 50 clinical histories have been documented since the Refinery was started. BLOOD MODIPIOAIIOHS: POLYPIQBUIIAE; ' One case with 10.000.000 red globules. Three cases with 8.000.000 id. id. ' Three cases with 7.000.000 id. id'. Six cases with 6.000.000 id. id. Eleven cases with over 5.500.000 id. id. ' If we take as percentage "over 6.000.000", then we have in the 50 histories a 26$ of polyglobuliae. These are not per manent; after a. variable period they fall back into norma lity; some of'them turn into anemia and others present.re peated alternate periods of polyglobulia and light anemia. LYMPHOSITOSESt Considered from 30$ up. Oscillating between 30 and 55$ they make an 82$ in the fifty histories. AUBMIAE: '' . These are light anemiae showing between 3.700.000 and 4*300.000 and are important because they affect workers having formerly had polyglobulia. \ \. .\ .. ........................... ADMINISTRACION NACIONAL DE COMBUSTIBLES ALCOHOL Y PORTLAND oe 869 GERENCIA MONTEVIDEO (u O U A v) - 2- One of them who paid a heavier tribute to such an in toxication, showed in Hcvember 1939 4.100.000 red globules. He stayed away from his work, on medical leave, in the coun try and on the shore, with injections of liver, and yet his anemia advanced more and more, and one montit later he show ed 3.700.000 red globules, which means that the intoxica tion persisted even after having taken the patient away from the injurious medium. Only after tiree months of in tense treatment he showed 4.600.000 red globules, ^his work er was transferred to another section and kept away from the Plant by medical prescription. When he entered the Piefinery he was a young man with a perfect health. 50SIH0PHI1IA: Considered over 5 it is equivalent to 26?S of the cases studied. But in our medium a 4$ is an evidence of patho logic blood. If we consider it thus , we have the 34/ of the cases observed. DIGESTIVE TROUBLES: . Dell proved in persons viho did not feel them before enter ing the service of the Befinery. Drowsiness after the meals, a sore and burning stomach, vomits, nauseousness, lack of appetite, persistent costiveness. This affects the 34i of the workmen under observation, but most of those working in the Befinery suffer from a light dispepsia. This troubles are accompanied by a gastro-duodenal irritation which has been radiologically observed by Dr. Camilo Menendez, a ra diologue working with Dr. Barcia, and specialized in digest ive troubles; for better illustration I cm transcribing one of the reports in connection with a workman who had been two years at work in the Topping Unit. In the radio logical examination of I^r. A.N.Ms gastro-duodenal trouble, we have observed morphological and functional peculiari ties quite common among the workers of said Section, i.e.: and hypertonic stomach, contracted, with persistent spasms in the region of th e antrum and the pylorus, and therefore, notwithstanding the Hypertonia and the Hypertinesia its emp tying is somewhat slackened. On examining the general plate,  ADMINISTRACION NACIONAL DE COMBUSTIBLES ALCOHOL Y PORTLAND D I R E C T6LG* A NCAP* C A S I L L A DE CO RR E O 869 GERENCIA 25 DE M A Y O ' 09 MONTEVIDEO (u u * u * r) -3 your vail find a contracture of the. pylorus end the bulb -which lead us to think of an organic duodenal lesion, but this was discarded after examination of the series' plates enclosed. Conclusion: gastro-duodenitis of the type common among the gastric patients of said Section." A similar gastro-duodenitis affected twelve of the workers under obser vation. This would make up a 24$, but it cannot be consi dered an absolute value, because the report was exactly the same for all the men which underwent observation, and if I had sent 50 workmen for radiological examination, the figure would have been higher. QEPHAIAL&IAE: They make up a 42$ of the workmen examined. This is a very frequent sympton among the men working in our Refinery and is related with the intoxication. PAIRS IT.' THE IQv/ER LIMBS: -he workers in the gas area suffer frequently from pains in tli4 lower limbs. The symptom maskes up a 100$ among those working in the gasoline treating plant. I have fur ther found some several well-proved cases of polyneuritis and a long medical leave had to be granted to the workmen feelirg this symptom. ,, INSOMNIA: ' . Persistent in a 4$ of the dases, but light insomnia is far more frequent. . DROWSINESS (16$). ` It appears when the men are very intoxicated, i'hey sleep from 12 to 14 hours and it is not enough for them. They fall asleep in the omnibus. When they are on leave a period of 7 to 8 hours fully satisfies them. GIDDINESS (16$): A workman who has been for a little more than one year in the Refinery and in whom this intoxication has been most violent, feels not only giddy but suffers from actual ver tigo,- and on turning his head he feels as if he were going to fall and has to fix some stationary object in order to DMINISTRACION NACIONAL DE COMBUSTIBLES ALCOHOL Y PORTLAND ElEG. kP * C A S I L L A DE CORREO 869 GERE C I A MONTEVIDEO (S U U A v) - 4- Or-ITSISERA'SLB ROSS QD UH,DRY (12#) Some workmen which had a very good memory now forget everything and are obliged to write things down in order ot obviate this trouble. CIlARROflU 0HARGISS , 6#. fell proved irritability in formerly good-tampered persons. at TT,roa'Tn?wr<T? c.cf. Surprising in 25-year old workers. I believe the percentage is still higher and also that the men do not disclose it out of shame. It coincides \it'n the other troubles. I'he histories are rich in particulars which cannot be dis cussed in a report.. I'he atmosphere of the Refinery undoubtedly alters the health of the men therein working. Our Refinery is quite modern and shows all the comfort which time and experience have been able to create. Due ventilation lias been supplied thus improv ing the atmosphere in the Units. One liter of milk is daily supplied, at the expense of the Institution and by medical prescription to the men working in the gas area, and two liters to those working in the gasoline treating plant. This has been going on for three years (the Refinery was installed four years ago). The only men wearing protective masks are those working with tetraethyl lead and those effecting tank measurements. The above mentioned hematological and clinical syn drome shows in almost the totality of the men working in the gasoline treating plants and in a 30 to 40# of the men working in the cracking and topping units, laboratory, main pump-house and in tank measurements. KE 0013315 \ ADMINISTRACION NACIONAL DE COMBUSTIBLES ALCOHOL Y PORTLAND D I S E C TELEG. * A NC A P * C A S I L L A DE CO RR E O 669 GERENCIA MONTEVIDEO (u V u * t ) April 1st.,1941 Mr.Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. University of Oincinnati College of Medicine Kettering laboratory of Applied Physiology Eden Avenue CINCINNATI Dear Dr. Kehoe: I received in due time your letter of Peb. 7th., and the literature applying to investigations on Industrial Hygiene practiced by your Laboratory, which although highly interesting, do not refer exactly to the point, as you state. The cases observed in regard with ANCAP, are not accidents nor acute intoxications, but light trou bles, with quite fixed characteristics, and too much gene ralized not to be attributed to the emanations of gase3 in the petroleum refining. As an accesory detail I should point out that they are observed more frecuently when pro cessing Venezuela crude petroleum, which has a higher sul phur content than those of Ecuador and Peru. It is interesting to add that the slight phenomena involved, such as indisposition, cephalalgia,etc., decrease when the wind is strong, particularly from the East, which blows directly into the openings of the work shops, and which is cold. The task is accomplished in the general process work without masks. The working day is di vided in two four hours turns with a four hours rest bet ween both turns. It would therefore be interesting to know in which operations masks are used in your country, and the precautions used in the tasks of the topping, cracking, cleaning of tanks, welding of drums, in the laboratories,etc. I am sending you herewith an abstract of the clinical records with the symptoms observed,their frecuency * ADMINISTRACION NACIONAL DE COMBUSTIBLES ALCOHOL Y PORTLAND DIRE'C TELE6. A NC A P ry * / C A S I L L A DE C ORRE O 869 GERENCIA 2 5 DE M A Y O 4 MONTEVIDEO { U * 6 U A ) 02 ) and the results of blood analysis, concerning which I would like to know your opinion. I wish to thank you for sending me the labora tory method for lead determination, as well as the Associa ted Ethyl Company ltd. for the one year subscription to the Journal of Industrial Hygiene & Toxicology. As to the men who work in the tetraethyl,I had them examined at the beginning of this year, performing a blood examination after their daily task; the analysis gave no chromogenic granulations. In these days I will practice a new clinical and laboratory examination. I await with the greatest interest your valua ble opinion concerning these data which I submit to your consideration, particularly considering that there is very scarce literature on this concern, regretting that your stay here has been so short, since it could have been high ly useful. Nevertheless I remember your sqjourn with a great satisfaction, since it has given me the opportunity of meeting you as well as consulting you on these particu lars, and I hope you may be able to repeat your visit. In case of my possible return to the United States you may be sure that I shall have a great pleasure in paying you a visit in Cincinnati. With kindest regards, I remain, Sincerely yours, Orig.by reg.mail. copy by airmail. K E 0 0 1 3 5 1 'i Rafael Schiaffino