Document j83X1pxX0yJGK1RZO8K6ndjy

HEALTH ASPECTS OF FIBERGLAS MATERIALS This brochure is preparedfor 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. > VS* OWENS-CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION, TOLEDO, OHIO 1948 01 500 0396 HEALTH ASPECTS OF FIBERGLAS MATERIALS FTBERGLA3*--glass in the form of fine pUeble glue fibers which can be woven into fabrics, or fabricated into bate and boards--was first produced in the wool fora in 1932. During the succeeding years, as finer and stronger fibers have been produced, and as new uses for them have been found, Fiberglaa 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. Fibergias 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 prcrpertier make it unrecognizable as glass by persons familiar with glass only as a hard, unbendable, transparent substance. Nevertheless,' the complete transforma tion that Fiberglaa has undergone is not always understood, and old connotations sometimes cling to the new material. For sound business reasons, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation--the manufacturer of Fiberglaa-- has always desired to find and present frank and complete answers to such questions. To thia 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 and Teaching in Tuberculosis, have demonstrated that Fiberglas has no injurious effect upon the lungs. In the annual report of the Foundation's Saranac Laboratory, for the year 19401, the following state ment appears: "Tho apparent lack of pulmonary damage from txposurs to glaea wool dost is being demonstrated by en inhalation experiment. For over n year animals have now been expoeed to sa high a concentration of thle meUriel aa conId ba obtatnod, with no eerlona effect upon their luge. The duet baa baan produced bv breaking into short length* the finest textile gipea [Fiberglaa] that la made, bat none of the fibers that are floating in the air can ba found la tha lugs Fil wfiss b ik mds mm (Be* UJ. Pad. 01) at gtw* isifuwM hi mf IW r lluswi fern hr OvMCtniai Fll Cwpulm. / 4U Swrmm fitirwy /r U if Filwlu^ W dU t*mw4 L Tfdtm Ftssdssdsw. fm A T*m l*4t. 1L of tha exposed animals. Their tendency, tntllke that of aibeat(M, to form felt-lika massee upon any object with which they coma la contact, probably prevaaU their Inhalation. Slight amounts of chronic --- tioa similar to those observed with other harmless doets, have reanlted from accumnlated particulate debris. These very fine, non-fibrona particles ere the by-prodact of the violent beating need to break op tha malarial." In his 1941 report as director of the Trudeau Foundation1, Dr. Gardner says: "Exposure to the dost of glass wool, a material commonly nsod to insulate buildings, involves no haxerd for the lungs because this fibrous material Is not {abatable.1* Slebert At the request of the attorney for Investigation the International Associatioq of Heat and Frost Insulators and As bestos Workers, Local Union No. 1, St. Louis, Dr. Walter J. Slebert conducted an investigation of pos sible health hazards in the manufacture and hand ling of Fiberglaa. Dr. Slebert fa Pathologist and Director of Labor atories of the DePaul and Lutheran Hospitals, St Louis. His investigation was mads in the early sum mer of 1941. A full report was published in ths January, 194% Issue of Industrial ttcdidn*; Ths investigation covered a broad field. Study of the formulas employed in the manufacture and pro cessing of Fiberglas products convinced Dr. Slebert that- ths 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 Fiberglaa failed to reveal references to any new or unusual occupational hazards in the handling of these products. "In view of tbo continually expanding market for Fiberglaa products tinea 1931," Dr. Slebert eays, "and in view of tbo promotion end advertising campaigns directed toward increasing their sale, the scarcity of referencoa to tho subject in tha literature of science and medidne, and the lack of controversy or interest in the subject on tho part of persons usually alert to poaslbie Industrial hasards, cannot bo attributed to a lack of familiarity with tha existenco and use of tho products. On tho contrary, it warrants ths con clusion that tha handling of thus products la attended by no unusual occupational hasard." On the basis of his own observation, and dust counts made in the Owens-Corning Fiberglaa Corpor ation's Newark, Ohio; factories. Dr. Slebert found that Fiberglaa la remarkably free of the dust that characterizes certain products. This he attributes to the length of the fibers and,the. ."pack strength" of IflAr tmml> iinJ UtdktS Strut / 4U Tmtim Smtmrimm md A* lUlr liMt UtfUmmt tm It, Tttr Strumdm *. 1MI. urttkm Hi e, TUnftltlh CtHitdm tf * SuStm / tXt ttmwd L. Tndtmm hmmimlm |e KttttnS md TtmdUt h Tmitrtmlmlt. Tka (UNi tuummm HI-- -- iSe I-- H-- tt '1--1 tl ika DOn-- tt (Se TnS--l rnMe IMl.* a*l,k.n. T+m U UJ>- -rUtnlm Bnh* I--i Ui.nl--In.* Mtmtd Utdlmmt. Val. XS. Ifa. I. n t-f. Ju--T. IMS. . ,,,, 01 500 0397 HEALTH ASPECTS OP FTBERCLA3 UATEXULS Page 3 the material, and to tbn-fact that the glass libers break clean!/, rather than shatter when the/ are sawed, chopped or cut during production or fabri cating operation*. Dr. Siebert examined several hundred stereoscopic x-ray plates of the ehests 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 x-ray plates of the cheats of all Newark employees. Among the plates selected for special inspection were those of employees working in the batch house where the raw mn*ritc ere handled. Beginning in &fay 1939, serial stereoseopio 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 June 1941. "In no eaec," Dr. Sickert reports, "was than say radiographic avidencc of pulmonary lUtssrs ** 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 Ffberglas products. It la the policy of the company neither to refuse employment to, nor discharge, any man for whom safe employ ment can be found. The following summarises the case histories of these three workers.. Case No. 1 worked for another company a* a molder from 1924 to 1929, and roentgenograms of the cheat 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 waa first employed by Owens-Corning on June 6, 1940. Csse No. 2 was employed as a bottle blower and machine operator from 1901 to 1930. He was first employed by Owens-Corning on March 29,194L Sili cosis was diagnosed following an x-ray of the cheat made on May 12, 1941. Case No. 3 worked for 12 yean aa a molder be fore entering the employ of Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation on.October 25, 1939. Silicosis was diagnosed following amt x-ray of the chest on November 1, 1940.--y "la aach of those silicosis esses," Dr. Slabart says in his report, "there is s eaiBdent cauaativa factor ia the mens preTiooe employment history or other eirennutaoees, end the evidence Is entirely inadequate to indicate that the condition at say one of thesethree men (hoold be attributed to any silkoeia haaard encountered in handling Fiberglass even ssewing Mich a haaard 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 Dr. Siebert by Newark physicians whoaa practices are limited to eye, ear, nose and throat diseases, and who are in no way associated with Owens-Corning, \ Indicate that these specialists notice no unusual fiyjdence of respiratory disturbances among their pri vets patients employed by the company, aa compared with their private patients who are not employee*. A letter to Dr. Siebert from the Claims Referee of the Industrial Commission of Ohio, dated June 17, 1941--when the manufacture of Fibergiae 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 e disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by the alleged inhalation of Fibergiae particles. The letter reads, in part, aa follows: "Tot your laformoHnu wo remnist dlreum of tha napirutoiT tract aa eonpooaabU occupational diaaaaaa, rad aa ailiwaia, aahaatoaia, aathrmcoaia and ifaiatoaia. Aa a mattar of fact there ia a pruviaiou oadar tha law te rucegaiaa asy diaaaaa of thia typa which ia earned by tha inhalation of any injurioua dust* "Wa mdaavur to heap a compute atatiatical record la tha Dapartmaat at Safety and Hygiona of ail eaaaa of thia typa. 1 have made a thorough chock with thia dcnertmwt, and to dato wa have saver had a claim died for a diaaaaa of tha uppar reapiretory tract earned by tha alleged Inhalation of Tiborglaa parti- otuzmusff up, uTa aieoerc says m ms report: "la submitting hia beat Judgment, baoad oa hie prufaaaimal intarpntatioa of all facta -m-- (a the eouzao of the invaatigatioa, tha author [Dr. Siabett] finds that there U aa tiUaeaia, fibreda or dust haaard eonaactsd with working with Fibergiae." Respirator* Net 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. 3. Marine Hospital, Boston, concerning the wear ing of respirators by workers engaged in handling Fiberglaa. The letter reads, in part, aa follows:4 "Aa Tiborglaa haa not, to my haawUdgo, boon in criminated aa muring flbrotie or other diaaaao of tha lungs, tha mandatory oao of respirator* would not appear justified It ia considered good hyglonic prac tice, howtvar, to provido raspiratore for worker* opoood temporarily to oxcasaivo quantities of any kmd of dust, or to worfcore who are sensitive to cartain dasto and ncod personal respiratory protection." Navy Although no specific cases of injury Memorandum in connection with the installation of fibrous glass [Fiberglaa] insulation In ships bad 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 Decamber 30,1942, to the Commandants of all Naval Districts; the Commandants of all Navy Yards; all Supervisor* of Shipbuilding, USN; the Commanding QmuC k, f--U 1. c. T.w<, MS. OM, DOhtaa W UJ--rW1 UX Mila M* IwWl 01 500 0398 Page 4 HEALTH ASPECTS OF FTBERGLAS MATERIALS Officers of all tenders and-repair ships; and all In dustrial Managers. USN. This memorandum* contained the following state ments: "Because of tho physical eharactariitiee of (Use wool tho haiard-prooueiag duufi to tho human lung U practically nil. "No cuw of (ilieooU or other disabling changes In the long hare bean brought to the attention of the Division of Industrial Hygiene of the National Insti tute of Health in association with the handling of glass wool or glass fibers. "It la concluded from observations, Investigations and available literature that there is no appreciable health hazard associated with the handling of fibrosa glass and slag wool in the blanket or board form." Aston Casualty Ths Aetna Casualty and Surety Statement Company underwrites Insurance covering any ill effects upon the health of Owena-Corning employees caused by the handling of Fiberglas products. A letter, dated June 21, 1941, written by the manager of the insurance company's Engineering and Inspection Department, to the compcny'a gen eral agent in Toledo, reads in part as follows: "... Relative to tho use of Fiber*las, rock wool, or slag wool, I havo dlscuaaod this matter vary thor oughly with our Modlcal Department insofar as it appUaa to the Installation of glnaa wool and Its rela tion to o*"< end I know at no better answer to give yon than their direct etataaent: " 'We may definitely state that this la net poaslble, baaed opon the established feet that silicatee ad which glass wool is composed will not produce sHlroels or n similar condition. " `Free allien, which whan inhaled In suffldant quan tity will produce siHeosla, is one of the ingredients of many variatiee of glass. However, In the manufac turing process, the free silica chemically unites with other substances, leading to the production of alli estoe, end gleet is a solid solution of those various sillcatss produced by the fusion of fret silica with metallic oxides. Qiaos wool consists of glass hi the fora of Tory 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 dona. The United States Public Health Service has suggested use of s soap containing a wetting agent. Such a soap is Lan-O-Iueen (coromeal impregnated with lano lin), a hand cleaner manufactured by the Wait Dis infecting Company that la widely used in industry to remove particles that cling to ths akin. w rv. fillMfUm H--f rw tmnm. VJ. n. A- 1 (Mmt i. 1M). s. umai eusiurt u-i due) tiae/ej-u unx n/uainm. HmI rnrTrt ti tfcs mansdun "h b mind dte ifca fmfdH b bmgfct la tW iflmn W ifl pmmm havteg Nfibati W er isiircn b ib n41h| w4 bisflfifii-- afl lbs Nk|el material - Tho Owena-Corning physician in charge of the medical dispensary at the company's plants and lab oratories in Newark, Ohio, writes* as follows: "Occasionally, sow employees sugar a mechanical Irrltatiou of the (khi for a few days at the start at the Job. For relief from this Irritation daring tho stage when they ere becoming accustomed to hand ling tho products; I recommend that they apply as a soothing agent --i--<-- lotion containing ana jpas cent phenol, preparation that may bo obtained at any corner drug store without a physician's prsstilption ... tho Irritation disappears within a faw days, tho bow wosksss apparently beooma tmmunlsad igainst tho action of the (but end they suger no further discomfort." Soap and water has proved moat effective in .re moving particles of fibers, whether of glass or any other material, from the skin. The company baa 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 particle# will be rubbed into the skin. Slehert Study of this occasional irritating Investigation effect upon the s]dn comprised s phase of the Investigation under taken by Dr. Slebert on behalf of St. Louis Local No. 1 of the Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. (Sea page 2). An examination of the wrists, arms, ankles, necks, eyes, shoulders and .waists of approximately two hundred employees in ths Newark Ffbergia# fac tories was made by Dr. Slebert. These workers were employed on 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 daya before. Two biopsy specimens of skin were removed from the arm of this newly-employed worker. Serial microscopic sections of this tissue examined by Dr. Slebert 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 jdtirely normal. Nq glass particles were found. Dr. Slebert reported no evidence of fibrosis, bacterial in fection, allergy or hyperkeratosis. Several of the aerial sections revealed a small amount of a brownish pigment in the corium which showed no inflammatory reaction around it. "It la assumed," lays Dr. Slebert, "that this pig ment la bskelito, eee at tbe substances used ae a binder ter the glass fiber*. Tbe fact that there vaa no foreign body reaction around this Indicates that this meUriel 1* an inert substance, end that it does not produce either a foreign body reaction or a fibroma. The extremely mild Inflammatory reaction la tbe car- iuzn of the iIda would result from any iUgbt meek enlcal Irritation." <le . to, tod Iw to. IMl. If-- E. k. ri,lill. MS, u D. Tite L toi> -- TV, la to fake* to to Or. Sbtom'l fi-jm tmm4 t.i 'I-- 01 500 0399 HEALTH ASPECTS OF FIBETICLAS MATERIALS Page 5 Dr. Siebert lummerizes-his conclusions regarding' this phase of his investigation in the following words: "The author [Dr. Slebertl believes the following generalization U warranted by tha evidence: Contact with glass wool mar cause ophesMral discomfort among worfcara Inexperiwjeed la handling the mate* rial, fte akin irritation, hewover, cannot be regarded as a progreaaive dermatitis, for It is non-toads and. osualiy disappears in a few daps. In extremely rmra Instances, whero a workar mar ha pradlspoaed to secondary effects of mechanical aida irritation be* cause of Idiosvacraay, allorgr or the nascsiee of fed of infection alsewhero in his bodr end otherwise diaeociated from tho effects of werhanfckl irritation, lesions atap persist. Bat those cases are aneseatecsd with inch rarity that thay do not justify lag glass fiber aa a causative factor." Snlsberger-Bser During the spring and rammer of Investigation 1942, Dr. Marion B. Sulzberger, Assistant CTtnfcal Professor of Dermatology and Syphiiology, New York Post Grad* usts Medical School, and Dr. Budolf L. Baer, Junior Assistant Dermatologist and Syphilogiit, Naw York Post Graduate Hospital, carried out an expert* mental Investigation of the effect! 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 Utdtcine. * The laboratory animala used were rabbits'and guinea pigs. Depilated sitee on the animals were rubbed almost daily, except Sundays and several Saturdays, 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 seven 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 sttempt to demonstrate these spicules in the histologic section. However, in none of the many slides, examined could the glees spicules be seen. .. "This," Dr. flnlitisrgar sad Dr. Baer say, "together with the feet that' na disturbance la tha continuity of the homy layer of the eaMenaie wae seen, sag[Mti that the iplcalea which werv aeea clinically after the rubbing*, ware only very superficially em bedded. No foreign-body reaction wsa seaa ia say of the sections examined, thus dsmoastratiag that no fragments of the various materials osed la thane experiments had penetrated late the deeper layera of the skin." Summarizing the results of the investigation. Dr. Sulzberger and Dr. Baer say: "All of the reactions observed ware of a transitory sad superficial nature. The only pert of the re action! which pantsted for more than s few days wars slight thickening and brownish plgmaatatioa of' tha skin. The latter ware somstimss apparent for sovaral weeks. No reactions or symptoms outside the robbed (Ida araas ware observed at any time daring the experiment. "Tho pieces of material which were seen sticking into the skin after robbings with Ftbarglae in its wool-like form appeared to be very superficially em bedded. This observation was borne out by the fact that ordinary washing with water easily removed large part of the spicnlea remaining in the alda after robbing. "No definite sensitization to any of the materials could be demonstrated. In a few snbjecta there wars a few mild and evanescent reactions to several of the. materials, bat it appeared very questionable whether these reactions ware baaed bn spadfie 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. Hie section of the memorandum summarizing re sults of the investigation (dated December 30, 1942), which refers to skin effects, reads as follows: Schwartz-Botrlniek In an investigation of skin Report hazards in the manufacture of glass fiber insulating mate rials and glass fiber textiles. Dr. Louis Schwarts, medical director, and Dr. Isadora Botvinick, PjL Surgeon of the Division of Induetrial Health, National Institute of Health, United States Public Health Service, reported the following:* "Tie hazards to workmen oclng glaze wool producta forineolationead for other purposes ere thoee doe to abrasions br dogs la the glass wooL A few may de velop allergic dermatitis from contact with improper ly cored Madera. If eaeh workara wear leather gloves, impervious sleeves, and aprons, they will bo afforded adequate protection against those "Workers handling glass fiber in textile manufac turing assy develop dermatitis from the mechanical cutting amen of tha fibers on tha alda, sad a small parcantaga of than may develop an allergic derma titis from the binder. Irritation of tha arms, nock, cheat, and other parte of tha body may bs prevented by wearing impervious sleeves and aprons. Irritation of tha nasal mucosa may ba pravsated by hearting a bland grease Into the nostrils two or throe times a day. "According to an official of tha company, tha Inddoaee of dermatitis in this plant was low, being fas the order of 1* of tha workers employed. No com pensation eases have developed, indicating that tha dermatitis is not severe. Some new employees exper ience sensitivity to handling the glass fibers for a few days and may wear gloves or protective cloth ing at first, but an Immunity teems to develop V*ei mi TlrmiT to U+rnid BffiV MV 1 I Vffiffi uaii 01 500 0400 Pago 6 HEALTH ASPECTS OP FTBESCLAS MATERIALS quickly so that the grant* majority of experienoed workers prefer to work without glows or special clothing. Exception*. in fond among employees handling hot equipmait, coarse Alter Abera, motel lath, and othor eoUataral materials of Uka nature, la ths principal wool and textile departments, work* era, according to management experience, report greater discomfort from glorea and protective cloth ing than from the material with which they work.* GENERAL HEALTH EFFECTS No claim for workers* compensation based on a pulmonary lnduatrial disease or disability resulting from an occupational skin disorder attributable to Fiberglaa aa differentiated from other materials, has ever been validated in the State of Ohio, where manufacture has been centered since 1932. Tie num ber of employees in the Ohio Fiberglag factories has risen from about 20 in 1932 to several thousand, whose total exposure aggregates millions of man hours. In addition, expoaure in Ohio includes several thousand employees u the factories of refrigerator and range manufacturers where Fiberglaa insulating materials have been handled on assembly lines. Compensation Ohio's workers' compensation Assessment Low rates (assessed against the em ployer per |100 of payroll) for men and women engaged In the manufacture and handling of Fiberglaa are lower than for workers in comparable Industries, as is shown by the following figures, which are recorded as Exhibit 11 in Dr. Siebert's report: FIberglas textile employees--------------------------------- Me FIberglas Insulating wool employees----------------- 06cAjbeetoe manufacturing--------------------------------- 11.00 Rubber manufacturing$1.00 Fiber goods manufacturing------------------------------ $1.10 Carbonate of magnesia manufacturing-------------- $1.10 Building Material dealers' employees----------------- $1-20 Clay products manufacturing----.------------------- 11.60 Paper manufacturing11.60 Wood pulp mills___I--------------------------------------- $2.00 Health Record The health of Fiberglaa workers is Excellent regarded as better than average by the Aetnn Life Insurance Company, which underwrites group insurance (life, disability, sickness and hospitalisation) for employees of Owens-Corning Fibergise Corporation. In a letter to an Owens-Corning executive, dated June 11, 1941, Aetna's Toledo general agent wrote, in pert, aa follows; "The health of your employees has been better than average. This ie evidenced by thr fact that we now have m effect e U% reduction in rate (from stand ard) on both the ijckneee end hospitalisation Insur ance carried by your employees. This to the result of nearly four full years' exposure, end develops n rate lower then any similar Industry that we have Insured... "There to in effect e permanent end total disability feature In connection with your lifs Insurance, end as yet there has baan only eaa claim from an employee, end this was duo to e son-occupational accident, far removed from the coune-of his occupation or from any health baaard in Ms occupation. `As further evidence, our Casualty Company car ries, whet to known as. Products Liability at an extremely low rote, end no claim has ever been pre sented, indicating, of course, that there to no haiard la the use of Fiberglaa or any of its products." Surgical Uaen Several surgical usee of Ftbergina de- Ot Fiberglaa scribed la recent medical literature are of Interest aa demonstrating the fact that glaaa la an inert, non-toxic substance which produce* no harmful effects on human tissues. The use of a strand of Fiberglaa yarn aa a tracer thread that it possible to detect the presence of a surgical sponge if left in a wound during an operation, is described by Captain Edward F. Lewi- son*, Medical Corps, United States Army; who say*: "... I undertook to And e safo surgical sponge one that would cast a permanent X-ray shadow and. thus, could ha readily detected by an X-ray Ala ... it was not until the rveant development of Aborglas thread that a practical and expedient solution to the problem was found. " . . . this specially prepared Aberglas yam waa found to embody the following qualities: 1 Marked radio-activity 2 Minimum ttosuo reaction 2 Chemical inactivity 4 Physical properties of pliancy, delicacy and appearance teaambling a Ana silk thread < Reasonable coat of production . .. `Like glass, which to the basic constituent of its composition, this thread to chemically, physically, and biologically Inert, yet unlike glass it to a thread of exceptional strength soft texture, sad remarkable plasticity... `It was, therefore, almost inevitable that tha hid den aptitudes at a specially prepared radio-opaque Aberglas yen should he discerned and a thread de veloped which was permanently impenetrable to tha X-ray end perfectly harmless to body tissue aa walL " ... no more than one opaque thread per sponge to required. This reduces the cost of production end thereby enhances tha practical virtues and expediency of this typo of safe surgitei (muse... `The essential characteristics of e sponge as daAntd by the American College of Surgeons are ea follows: 1 Ability to absorb the greatest quantity in the shortest time 2 Ease at sterilisation 2 Freedom from loose- threads 4 Uniformity 5 Softness, to prevent trauma 8 Freedom from foreign substances " . . . With the Innovation of *rsyablo* surgical rauso thaao general standards remain unaltered. Radio-opaque thread to soft sterilises readily, and as e single strand could hardly change the absorbent quality of n sponge or pad. If characteristic (8), In the classification of tits American College of Sur geons. `Freedom from foreign substances,' la con strued ea meaning freedom from harmful, end toxic foreign substances, then this benign Aberglas yarn quaUAes within the interpretation of this essential characteristic." Dr. Roy Philip Scholz end Dr. Philip S. Mountjoy19 describe the use of Fiberglaa thread as n suture material employed to aew surgical wounds: Tha authors of tha article writer " ... Because Fiberglaa to Inert and non-reacting tevtaa, XSwS F. teeui* IMImI UvbW Itaw Jumf, "tew*. tewe a fate, < Mar la feqtui Ofautoa*' l.Hats / lJU iaeVa Cal>,, M iww T4. XXVH. N* b so. west lam, IMS. hte a. ILO. -reW> la Uaarfal.- iuSa /wai / iwfay. Vat in. N* a so- USD. Jm* IMS 01 500 0401 HEALTH ASPECTS OP FOKXCLAS MATERIALS Pge 7 fat th* duo*, and practical!T tnaolabla, it doae not cmm (zodation. adama, ar call proliferation; and It In no wiaa lataxfaroa with around healing . . , " ... It la not afactad by tlaava fluids, oniomotle action, or action of eharnicala; noitbar doaa It prodace tozina or allarcia reaction. The fact that each fiber la an axtremolr da, oolld filament of pure (laaa, maboa It non-absorbent, and in view of ita betas a non* irritant, It doaa not call forth tlaana floida which would harbor farm Ufa." A third surgical use of Fiberglaa deserves mention because of the part it is playing in helping to save the Uvea of men of the lighting services who ars wounded in battle.11 From all the war fronts cornea 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, aa compared to other wars. A small strip of tape, woven of glass fibers, is used ss 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 Fiberglaa tape all the plasma fluid passes on ths wsy from the plasma bottle to the wounded man's veins. The Fiberglaa tape is used as the filter because the tape can be sterilized for repeated use, because M-lWTm Ptaaaa ntm ICUk hnlln W Fatal Wmmt Caafcaaa. Kar. IMA *> MCA la ivflaal it requires no bulky housing, because the weave la dose 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 pssssgs of ths fluid. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES His raw materials of which Fiberglaa is made are selected sands end mineral oxides. The result of the fusion of these materials is true glass, which is then processed into a radically new form. Chemically, Fiberglaa is similar to'other forma of mineral wool It can properly be classified as a new, refined fora of mineral wool. The fact that other forms of mineral wool (nek-wool and slag wool) have been uaed for many years. In itself strongly sug gests that than is nothing in the inherent chemical and physical characteristics of Fiberglaa that Is likely introduce any serious occupational hazard. Fiberglaa 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. P..a;e4 * U. ft. A. . . I 01 500 0402 HEALTH ASPECTS OF FIBERGLAS MATERIALS ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY LUfliCS AfliU RESPIRATORY TRACT Cardwr. LMr U,, MX-, Ammmti a/ FA# mm Lmttrmmy I-- Aa indy a/ / 1. fn^ia /r A* Faar INS. P II. r.^w, Urr U. MX. -ap-- ti ib* KniM al Tba Tndaw Fraa/nte- IS4I- to TV* Jpanil ^um< Mtdfte Sayan / ii Mm ImmHm wd ii flter Far tea Fan IhmW Jf. IM, M|iW di4 fwnry fifth CtUmdm / tl# Jndte *4 to# XM A. f>Jwi /ar Iwwri nd to 0 tit I Hf*b Dr* Cardan NfM that ml iirti4 t M tit Sanaa* Lihaniatea li IMl bn ^ll^lllll tba* --nna W Mat at plan M In iba Wan WaaM MW Una aatatel to wt tobalabto* _____ j ad KaOaa ImUm INMt** W Xm XJ> CUmimk SmUtf, Vat XXX. da* I (Apt* I*. IMl), p. ML Dr. Cudant mwab It nfM a* ftflMt ~V* kata baw andytep lb* tfaat ad UbtUd ^aaa vaaL Afptraad? mm ib* Wat tmlla ten tat ip a m nai^rt daat W aat hlaM to a^ pwiallt taatai . Mai 'flWaaa Claaa l--litoa Hat iMaM? to XU Wlm dalyAte Hmt tmi liana. VaL 0. ton U (Ftenary L ISO), 9. U Tib artel* t^in mhMm kaaal a m tow liMtea bT to* Bnwa W ttJpa mi to* fenw ad tfdUtM aad lap p ad toa N**y O^tMto. Flaal atannn* t *1 b itaiMad Iran abanva- ibara aa tyymliHa batkb banal aaaaatetaA alto to* haadllw ad linn dan wd dap aaal It toa blaabat a* Wad ten." al,** a rtfat! ad to* W laadd--antt n tuUsSxDxr*t ^tol tal BUMKD FS/SIfrl (If a. Maalto At| i b itttaliad ta a to, IMS aiia* W (totol RJtM/AJ-il SKIN iiblapr. Mates B. M-D, aad Bata. Kaiadf U MX., vlto toa inbaWal anhaaw* ad La-abam, Oan. U S. nd MawaL llHinrd. U, -Th* Uaato af F(baryte a lifaal tad Sanaa IM-^ppate nil Tr , - p" to ftdiato Mi*Mf, TaL XL Nt. to (Onabar, IMi). ^ Mi ML apart ad tllaWal Waanlpton ad afaan ad Man Iban aa toa tod*, to white toa whan ladi ``AS ad to* rantew aWanad -- aO*P WaWay ad Abnnat ad andala bp Or, U*4 tba**. ippan la U TO. Nt.1 (Ftbnny. ISO). 9* * Dn 4an, FJl. Sanpna, PMilia ad feteatet Irtoto NatWaaA Tantoalt ad fnhh. Mad Sanaa Pabtta Haahb State*. "Skto Itnrto to toa Unfaan ad Cl-- Waal nd Thrnd" to /atoutrdM MadWte*. Yte XII, Na. I (ICnah* IMA). 99* 10*144. GENERAL HEALTH SUbart. Makar f,, MX.. "Flbnyte 1-------r " to /adaniM MadUtoa, VaL XL l*n I (Jaaaarr, ISO), fl 4-S. aa baadltof *1 Fttad* tontoaa aar Abanaat ad Dr. SUbatt'a artWla akad aba*a nptan to /adatnUd Mfjdaa* iMfatt^- Valr VC Na. t (rtb--rn IMI), p. I. `Itnlniaa Mkb Dan-Stay FUtar ImpnSIt" to 7an* ad #/ U da--ton MaMUad duaataka*. Val. CXV1L Na. 11 (Stytaatoar 1L IMS), p. m. Dnartptias ad aak ptoaad to rladn Inn W Iha* ta ranaaa f*U Iran ato nintoj 1 Offan radlad to bay lam V. C. Ha--d. FjL bdnoial HrfUaa faplin (. MTfaaaar|p ad T ............................ al FBi Mu MilaHik " fat ft ten il ad toa IWda Umi bdnarlal laalto totbm Map It, IMS,* 4 ptpa CapIn atadUUa aa npant to DlrkWa ad lal--MM IppU-- BX Dap*, ad Haahb. Tba innarfpt mtladni **tW |ab ad toa todnwlM bp^nm k to toan an fwwin ban toay aw an afl nanar ad aiatartaW fitly, ablm to|*ry to tap aarbar. la toa aan ad Ftoaryiaa. toa daapn b aat raai bn laiaMatry, Tba ftUaatof paten afM *M ba dliaantd tin toay t*a bted, mi partakWatfp adit tppHaadw ad glan tbar, paapUa aia adton dttdrtbla to praaan tpMaat lalUap baton. 4. Fimim aaabtep lad a daflp ibira vtto nap "Hnidi iatard Var KfMfM to St/tty SapWaartete' Fat LXXXXT. ft*. 1 (JMp. ISO), pp. IMF. ndatttea to toa nwtM to MFteSal* AW CaMUbMn" to faOdbp mi m-*-f Up Mntpan-t (Patton. ISO), pp. 044. FIBERGLAS IN SURGERT Laatean Stend tm MJD^ Captain UC, ^Bayahto Caaaa. Piadipato ad a lidlipiin TVndtd Cana SarM*M Spnpa." to MwaW */ Sarptry. Tal. CXTL Na. t (Aapato. ISO), pp. U1414. Dr. Liabit aappnte ton to to* iwfiitan ad afl laitoiil pw toai b to ba aaad to tba na atf an. a ttopl* ad ted ~tbnpte" toraaA ni^t b* toaarpanaad ton toa pn madb. a* n plaaad to |rpatd padn paw aad pw drato Alla*, ton "Ian** pnpi awl* nan rwd* Up rantend bp rntpaipaflk 1 tndna. Capt. Xdvnd Wm MX. ttohad toa-- Any. lidU Opipat Tbraad -- A Caida to to* W SpafM* to Mad-- Matpkad, TaL LTDL Na. (Apr*. ISO), pp. dT4L itpan w an ad a ttrnd ad Ftoarton pa n lirtw. Edward f, MX. "A Sad* fntoral S--rM to Sarpary. fyanafapy nd Clptteat. VO. LXIX (N11 win. ISM), pp. 4S44SS. dantepnaW ad a ndlaptfn Sbnw tona totted to auptel fp F Ctptate. Madkal Carpa, HalfI Suta* Amy, "layabto Ctw A* a Faam td taltty to Sti^til Optmitw** to laSttte a/ tot laMw Catftp* a/ Sarytete. YaL XXY1L Na. I (Iwanyw ISO), pp. M4L Ktptn w aaa ad a and al Flbtrpte pan n a iraan Ibraad to tarpUtl tpaapn. Vriln Dr. LrvWwi "LCka plan, ablab to toa bate aaaatkatet ad In tanpaMtea, tow (Fllnpln) torrad b tte* bHy, pbyWttllT. tad bWUpttUy laart, ptt aalib# i*m-- .* mmU. ilmii.p , , . , ^-A iWrfM iIm. .HUM, ita >W tWa -- "* a ,**"> I1.!"! |W. r.i Ite. * I" u M--.I ^4 .kiU wm )w...ilr m *. x4>L*r* "* trail m M> Ura. m hp na. MJI. mi Dniiipj nik _ m. 9. "THhiIm Ira mirar i. `-- - jra. fldNwLf Irait tn. Mk t (tra. IM), p^ ** a rankii.nl ra wt Wh^ii prara la ral ra tera. rarar. Di. UA ra Br. HwwmtfwT wrimi . . wmwm W ii.il , ra, mi ra.ra.ra, I. *. Ara. ra ra*!* ra ra.ra k iwm wm ura ra,<Ha. rara. m ra riHarlaif*.armara ktJ51. m**wm*m- rmariartpa trraa*. raw ra h*ra4a* Mra, aura, rara T!!W*.r*i rar.ar*iraIk,prabkamkrMarraatr*ahbra..rrial4l b.bra ri b, bra, * ... krtwa. 9 iwm mm ruara*raa raa raira rah* mu raw mm rarar ** CUa' b immmk. Tri.XU.iraM (Ira. li, IMi). ra. Wrift l.nh.id mm mi ril ir. II.. * aM a* raara aipa- ~Nra Tpra Iba fUta * AM a fiaarira ri rml Wwmi Ska*" M rarari laaaa Tri. T. Ha * (Mra. IMI). ra. raiiT Ttlmm^m ura al ri Mur a l*ri mrnmrn ' lalra arara.1. 1*1. I. Taraa IfA. * Ihraa Bra, Ura a* D>(v* a n. (ra. / Jmrmrr. ira ra. Ira Tri. UT. ira 1 (Win...........ra- (MR > pwwm Ml al a Ira. HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS j tjto itoaart. Ito Fnaton to toa MaOn an aad (tea ad FOargte,** Inaad aa St/a HaUii Saflate JFa. AS (Ftbnny. ISO), H toa (hnpiiteil Dtean Pri itrlia Sate* pablltoQ at Btrrtibarp by toa Fwnyteala Dtpaitamt td 1 ibn wd ladanry. Me. lap aaattte tea W wd f na nab waal wd In am Shy naard mate nlftlaw ad FIbntoti ptedatn.** MaOvate, B. L, MX^ "Tanlariw to llriia Ikil Ttetea," lawad St/I* frnte* SaBate AT*. I (ISM) to tW fknpirtwl Okaaw F--nrfn Sarin yte ' ~ I by to* Faawplrwla Dpanat ad I 0*. MaBvato raptin 1 "Flbtrpte pwflii tola pate I intea aad to addhWn bn 1 la* baadl(ap pavpaan by aw 1 **Hav Tirbw Bwdto FUate Mnariato* Unad n Ftoar^to Fla (ato F4X1 (May^ ISO), pabhtoad by r `' " ` " Kate*, iabart D Mate, X 9. i*. **tte ad Ften On by toa Amy wd Itevy," to Mtetep fitlatecr. Vatona VO. Na. I (May. IMS). Tnbted FtlMialw N*. HO (Qan H. ftlnntd Mtonte Ptikhi. te. 1ST), pp. 114. 11b la a rpito ad w adtoan ddlmil by 1 Kate* to Nav Yarh Chy W Fabnny IS. ISO. baton a jatet aattea ad toa A Un Sateay ad EtnattW Cniipim wd toa fadtertil MnartaW Divtew al lb* dnatew hiftri ad Mtolf ~i MtuQarpkal Baptoaara. tba artUla ttautea a taw al nwateiartep ............... 01 500 0403