Document k9OMBpe9o3bB2w479KdbVD18B

WRG (.00761 ZONOLITE DIVISION W. R. GRACE &. CO. LIBBY, MONTANA SSfflffrr .tgtr%^iMINERS.and: MANUFACTURERS 'OF-VERM[CUUTElPRODU(rrS4k-^fcP*-^-- January 6, 1965 Or. Robert F. Chenowith, M.D. Maryland Casualty Company P. 0. Box 1228 Baltimore 3i Maryland Dear Dr. Chenowith: At the request of our Chicago Office, we are forwarding to you the folIowing data: 1. Copies of chest X-ry reports on our employees which were taken in May and June 1964 2. Spirometer tracings taken at the time of the X-rays 3. Calculations of forced vital capacities and maximum expiratory flow rates, calculated by Dr. Woodrow Nelson of Libby 4. The preliminary reports on Spirometery tests written by Dr. Woodrow Nelson You will note on the X-ray reports we have shown length of employ ment of each employee and the number of months they have been employed in our mill. Generally speaking, the dust exposure is higher in our dry mill than any other part of our operation, and the people who are employed there have a more continuous exposure. Very truly yours ZONOLITE DIVISION W. R. GRACE CO. EDL/jbg E. D. Lovick 151A2A33 -1 ---f wit a. A Aw*H*>v LI TOi jiai vjujl 4i> i^ruruj a In Msy and June of 196i spirometery measurements and studies were carried out on the lLiO men employed at Libby Zonolite. This project was stimulated by the findings by Dr. William Little of pneumoconiotic x-ray changes in certain employees in 1962 (see this report). The project vas combined with re-x-ray of Zonolite employees. The primary purpose of the project was to record an objective measure of respiratory function for present use and future comparison and to note any correlation between x-ray change and pulmonary fmotion on these employees. The measuring device used was the Vitalor 25 A of McKesson Appliance Co., with standard rapid expiration technique. Two or more forced vital capacity (FVC) curves were made an each individual. Che second forced expiratory volumes (FEV1) and the maximum expiratory flow rates (MEFR) were calculated therefrom. Using standards of 'Viormal" on an age-height basis, determined by Korr, Smith, and Callahan in a V.A. - Any cooperative study, FVCt of standard and FE71J of standard for each employee was calculated. X-ray reports of Dr. Little were reviewed, employees with definite pneumoconiotic changes were tabulated and notations made on grade and severity and of any changes in the past two years. History of duration and type of employment was obtained. Preliminary analysis was made of (1) Average FVC< of standard, and FEV15S of standard for the entire group of 1L0 employees. (Standards of Korr et al for the actual age-height as noted above). FVC^and FEVT? of less than 9<H was emsidered probably abnormal and of less than 80 as distinctly abnormal. 15142*34 -fg4-FV&--emMgtflt^of-atandard--In th*-grcrop--vith-non-pneumoocniotio~x-ray----------(110 employees) and In the group with pneumoconiotic x-rays (30 employees). RESILTS* 1. In-the total lliO enployees the average TVCt was 86.9% and the average FEVTS was 852. This appears to be a moderate but distinct decrease in respiratory function. 2. Thirty employees (2l) of the 12*0 had definite-pneumoccniotic changes an x-ray. The spirogram findings in this group (30 employees) .and in the rest of the group without such changes (110 employees) is as follows* A. Hen-pneumoccniotic group (HO employees) FVf!----~90< of standard. FEV1$-------- 88? of standard. Ft. Pneumoccniotic group (30 employees) 1. FVCi------------ 75? of standard. FETli---------- 725L.of. standard. Chly Ij of the 30 men in the pneumoccniotic group had forced vital capacity of above 90i of standard for their height and age. Only 3 of these 30 had forced expiratory volume in one second of above 90?! of standard for their height and age. CONCLUSIONS * Analysis of the data in hand is in a very preliminary stage. No attempt to correlate such factors as duration of employment and other personal factors with individual findings had been made. Of special interest would be a study of employees with normal x-rays and measured abnormal functional findings. c. i1 However, in ay opinion, the respiratory results reported above 0 c 5 ',~i 1 ^C_ are the result of valid work, The measured^dysftnetien in llm ^iliifcaa iiiT irf Aim x-ra^mcTgroup is of such severity that I would conclude that a serious hazard from pneumoconiosis exists to the employees at Libby and it is recommended that this analysis be completed. further studies be carried out to quantitate I Tt is also recommended that/\the irritative properties of the dust unless, of course, inhalation of the eare can be completely avoided. 151A2A35 J. A. Ke 1 1 c y 1. J.'Baenen John Baker Tom Beaulteu W. 0. Fields David Foster James Gidley Donald Hutton Donald Johnson Fred Johnson Fred Koehler Jim Lyle Charles fiercer Harvey Noble , Derward Preston Arnold Smith Donald Smith James Smith Paul Thiem.2n --Fay Tisher Albert Urdahl Edward Wittlake I January 2, I9&5 Normal Chests MONTHS Total 1 Mill Employment Employment 213 205 >57 215 192 118 169 164 30J 152 184 164 153 349 170 157 242 ^ 235 118 245 152 j 1 [ ; ; ! ; : : i 1 ! j `i .i | 33 164 (some mill exposure 146 153 (some mil1 exposure) 46 Clyde Basham A11en Boothman Robert Cohenour Floyd Cole Jack Garrison Orvilie Ha ines Ernie Hami1 ton Louis Hoppe Michael S. McNair LIoyd Miller Richard Rayome Stuart Ris1ey Harold Shrewsberry Elmer Stanley Lionel VanHorn R. C. Watts L. D. Welch Orland Welch Abnormal Chests 191 185 189 181 163 214 189 264 193 1 89 217 156 146 212 166 164 18! 192 150 106 94 171 116 98 2