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f fi f / <'A Dinsion of Occupational Health Fall 1965 ___________ ___ Pennsylvania Department or Health Voi. 3, Ho* U Malignancies in Asbestos Workers - A Preliminary Eeport - Within recent years and months there has been a considerable aaiat or material in the literate# which indicates that aebeatosis is directly related to the incidence of malignant tumors and cancer is early as eight years ago a Pennsylvania pathologist reported that be had seen at autopsies nary canoer esses in persons vh also sufrered frco asbesteals, The pathologist is on the staff or a hospital wbioh receives most or the patients y t*m a nearby town where a large asbestos plant le located* Shis plant makes 4 asbestos textiles and also brake linings and clutch facing*. The rinding* of * x. \*1 the pathologist have created conceHTIa the asbestos Indus try and it was Felt appropriate For our health department to review the problem* To obtain as complete a story as possible the record rooms or six hospitals which draw their oases particularly from the area or the asbestos, plant were searched for cases where asbes tools was considered during the period between 1956 and 1561, Seventy-fire hospital records coded a* sabesteals were located* / these were people who either were diagnosed on adnissioa, on x-rays, or at autopsy to have ashestosis or asbestos!* was mentioned in the differential diagnosis* Ni After obtaining the 75 records, an attempt was made to locate these former patients* A large number were no longer alive and their survivors bad to be contacted. For these 75 an occupational and smoking history was obtained from their survivors and/or from plant management* Seven either had not worked at this particular asbestos plant or the diagnosis had been rejected. 'Sis left 66 asbestos workers who had worked in one particular plant* Further study of these records shoved that 21 among that not only had evidence of asbestos!* but also were suffering from canoer. Twelve of these had lung cancer ami nine had various other growths such as bladder cancer, leukgnla, ec, foe sacking history of the 12 lung cancer eases revealed that five'Had never smoked which Is sore or less foe same distribution of smokers versus non-smoker* as is the general population* Of foe nine cases with other malignancies, two sever smoked and three, were cigar smoker* only* i Another intereating feature was that among the other cancers, not the lung cancers, there was one case of a aaltenant mesothelioma* Another Interesting finding was that of the 21 oases with cancer 13 worked in the textile department of foe plant and four worked in brake line manufacture* .foe department where one man worked remains unknown end the rest worked at various other Jobs* PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT WY-03541 MORO0O487 i* WV-03541 -2 - Tro of the 11 lung cancer cases and one of the lymphoblast-wa ease* had vorfced In the asbestos plant for a total of only six months which is * p***J#r *^5rAA_ exDOSura. and one wonders how much this short exposure may h*T con-ributea. bignteeo of these 21 cases had started work in the plant prior to 19U0 and 12 had started work prior to 1920. OX the 21 eases of cancer U were born before 1900 and only one was bom after 1910 Microwave Ovens - Personnel of our Region HI (Keadville) have recently completed a study of the hazards associated with exposures to microwave radiation in connection with operation of microwave ovens* These ovens are popular in food-service establisbaents ia general and are gaining popularity for self-Serrt.ce facilities- in factory and college cafeterias, in super-highway rest stations, and in recreational centers such as bowling lanes* The principal hasayd-.Qf_expp6ure tojpicrow&ve radiation is the biologieal effecTresulting from the heating of body tissues* This study was concem&d VIt* the zc&TtctfjigMo microwaveradiation leakage free oven units now Installed in the Region 111 area and it evaluating the hazards or potential hasards which were present, tf detectable radiation was found at any location on the units except around the periphery of the door and in the area of the door front* Measurements made at varying distances from the ovens indicated diminishing levels with no detectable radiation intensities at a distance greater than about one meter fren the oven* However, the radiation released free 79% of the units was somewhat in . excess of that considered safe for indefinitely prolonged exposure aid 2$% re- > leased radiation in excess of the criteria considered potentially hazardous* ' Although the intensities found are not related to exposure time, the findings of the study indicate that a potential hazard does exist and measures' to minimize It should be considered. These would includes 1* The construction of ovens should utilize features which prevent the release of microwave radiation* 2* Interlock systems (to permit oven operation only when door is closed) should be design* -to prevest circuargentloa of -their -use* 3. Salts should be adequately labeled to alert owners and operators of the potential hazard of operating units in manner other than prescribed procedure* k* Owners, operators and service personnel should be made aware of the hazard of exposure to microwave radiation* 5+ Tfelts should be monitored periodically to detect leakage or faulty operational devices* , Occupational Health Bills In legislative' Hopper - The Pennsylvania Legislature Is currently considering several items of Proposed legislation dealing with oeo\5>attonal health matters* A Senate bill on radiation would create an advisory Committee on Atomic Energy Development and Radiation Control; empower the Governor to* enter into agreements with the federal govexment for assumption of certain regulatory powers; and would confer certain MOR0OO488 -3- coverB and duties on to Department of Health with respect to control e*d reguietloo of radiation sources, including prevision for licensing and r?f*8**at^* ^T* _ bill ha passed the first and second reading in the Senate with the to-rd reading scheduled for an early date, -- A Senate bill wending the Occupational Dieease Act and providing increased benefits for silieoeis, anthraco-silicosis, asbestos!s is now in the Senate Labor & Industry Conraittee, but a similar House bill ha passed the House and 1 also in toe Senate labor & Industry Committee. -- A House bill which would provide for the elimination of the statute of limitations on the time and circumstance under which disability or death frcra silicosis or anthraco-silicosis and asbesteals must occur in order to be compensable has passed the House and is in the Senate Labor and Industry CesffiUtoe. A similar House bill is still being considered by toe House Wortosen* Conpenaatiorv Conmittee. Conference Proceeding - We regret that toe printer* estimated date of delivery for the Pro= ctedinzs oS the Pen^s.2l.yMi.9..Cvernor*a....finfence on pneumoconiosis CAsthriooSilicosis) was "somewhat over-enthusiastic! However, toe Proceedings are now definitely available from the State Book Store, Room 5k, Kain Capitol Building, Harrisburg 17120. The price 1 SI,58 postpaid, including sales tax, and checks should be payable to Commonwealth_fPennylvania. Coal Tar and Pitch - Whenever coal tar or pitch is heated, smokes, fume and vapors are released into toe air. Approximately 10 percent of these volatiles are polycyclic hydrocarbons. Heavy, or large molecular weight, polycyclic hydrocarbon are known or suspected to be cancer-producing. A problem with exposure to these is that cancers frequently develop many year after exposure to contamination has ceased. > Polycyclic hydrocarbons vary in stability. Some remain in the form in which they are generated, and others combine with each other and form higher molecu lar weight compounds. Because of this varying stability, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ha suggested a threshold Unit value of 0.2 milligram per cubic meter of air for exposure during an eight-hour working day for volatile exponent of coal tar pitch which are soluble in benzene. Benzenesoluble components are those likely to produce cancer. Authorities in the field of tars believe that the volatile components of native asphalt are much safer than toe volatile ccaponenta o^ coal tar. Because of toe stability factor, however, care should be exercised in the handling or processing of either. ft)* best method _f controlling tha health hazard Is t_ prevent contact with the volatile> Ibis cay' Se"accgli8Ke<rBy"^ocsl etoaui'~veBtilatibrv"at "* the point of of the contaminant, by suitable respiratory-projective devices, by suitable protective clothing to prevent contact with the skin and .by a combination these control measures. As with most exposure to industrial contaminants, medical supervision of ea^loyees is an important adjunct to engineering control* Both are essential to the prevention of health hazards. Handle Chemicals Properly A recent tragic accident which occurred in Pennsylvania, although not strictly within toe bounds of occupational health, points up the hazard of improper handling of chemical. As a result, one person died and another received slight acid burns over an extensive portion of his body. MOR<m489 -u- ' The exterior of a stone building was being renovated by cleaning of it* lower portion with bydronoorie acid and bT nSbUstiag.it the upper areas. A person esjloyed IB the building obtained a quantity of the aeld af1^" rJc`L?ie cleaning crew for home use. Apparently neither the crew nor the inditaoual was aware f the action t Hydrofluoric acid a glass, and the liquid was placed ia & glass container which was lrt in a fcalivay to fee picked up after work* toe container was near a doorway to one of the offices* About ten minutes before quitting tin a aeriber of the building security force and a fenale employee were standing at the doorway approximately three feet from the glass' container of hydrofluoric acid when it burst, spraying acid and evolved gases on toes* toe security officer received acid bums on his back and on toe backs of his legs which were toward toe container, and the woman who was facing toe container received such injuries as to cause her death approximate2? one hour later. It is a uell-e9tablished chemical fact that toe action of hydrofluoric acid on glass evolves gas as a by-product* Thus the combined etching action of the acid on the glass container and the increased pressure produced by the gaa build-up caused the container to burst with toe regrettable results above stated* Manganese as a Toxic fetal - toe division initiated a manganese surveillance project with the report, of two cases of manganese poisoning in toe manufacture of railroad track frog switches is one company, and the possibility of a third case in another establishment* Some of toe primary locations of exposure to manganese are? 1, steel plants - pouring of the metal and crushing and siting of the ferro-manganeae metal; 2, welding - the use of manganese-coated electrodes; 3, manufacture of manganese carbonyl - evolvesent of manganese vapors; and uT'scrap yards - toe cutting (burning) of raetil containing manganese* 1 Although no additional frank cases of clinical manganese toxicity have been dez&onstrated to date, high values of manganese in urines have been found* tois study is continuing and toe locations of the positive results are feeing kept under strict surveillance* Occupational Health for Hurt** - A full-time, five-day course in occupational health for registered professional nurses In industry will be offered VfHc Monday, Jtovaafeer B,19&S by the Xtepartsent of hpironaental Medicine of few fork University Kedlcal Center, in cooperation with the American Association of Industrial Kuraas. toe course is Halted to nurses with experience of five years or less in occupational health* .. toe pregra* will fee under the direction of Hr* Eavid K* Goldstein, professor of exirironaental medicing* Sara P. Wagner, &*#*, will serve as coordi nator for the nurse faculty* This is toe tenth consecutive year that the course has been given* Instruction will consist of lectures and conferences given by toe combined medical and nursing faculty cf toe Medical Center* Subjects to be covered during toe week includes occupational health nursing as viewed by management, toe physician and toe curse; environmental hazards; safety; mental health. Individual and group behavior in an industrial setting; counselling and interview techniques; nursing in industry (malpractice and worJcaea*s compensation); rehabilitation$ arid retirement and the problems of older workers* M0R03049O 5 Tuition wiU be $75* Course #484* Applications should be seat to the Office of the Recorder, New York Waiveraity Post^-Graduate Medical School, 550 First Avenue, Sew fork, N.Y. 10016* Personnel Changes -- When Gerald Ke*erski, Industrial Hygienist I, Region'VII (Philadelphia), resigned recently it was found that the current civil service list for this position included the names of six females and one male! And why nett After appropriate interviews Hiss Patricia Bradley has teen appointed Industrial Hygienist I in Region VII. In this capacity she will he the first of the fairer sax to hold such a position in this division since tforld War H days. We wish her well. -- Other appointments to Industrial Hygienist I positions include: Jane# Woodring and Korean Brown, Region III and George Toechlck, Region XI* Barry lewis end Joseph Flanagan are new Radiation Health Physicist# I and IX in the Central Office and Joel lubenau is Radiation Health Physicist III in Philadelphia. Mrs. Josephine Brinley is a Nurse II in the Employee Health Service. Notes from our Regional Offices - Officials of a plant producing pigment-vinyl dispersions and phonograph record compounds recently requested our services to evaluate employees' exposure to various contsainants. Of particular interest was the exposure during inter mittent manufacture (5-day run every two months) of a lead molybdete-vinyl dis persion. the company had isolated the manufacturing area, installed local ex haust ventilation on the roller mill and listed specific handling instructions on process sheets. These instructions Included the washing of hands and face before* eating and smoking, the use of a respirator (United States Bureau of 24ir.es ap- * proved for "all dusts"), the daily changes of coveralls and care in pigment, hand ling. The company was quite sure these "elaborate" safeguards would adequately control closure to lead dust. In actual prentice during our sampling periods, the man failed to obey the above instructions and the process speed necessary to produce a quality dispersion precluded slow careful handling. Atmospheric concentrations of lead ranged from 0.7 to 5.7 milligrams par cubic meter of air. The threshold limit value is 0.2 mg/m3, baeed on e^o&ure over an eight-hour working day. Urine lead concentrations ranged frc 0.15 to 0.55 mg/liter im mediately after the finish of a five-day run and from 0.07 to 0.15 ag/liter two weeks later with no additional lead exposure. Urine lead concentrations veeeding 0.15 ag/liter are usually indicative of excesalve leed exposure. As per our recommendations, the company plans to tighten exposure controls, increase the coverage of the local exhaust ventilating system end evaluate employees with blood-lead determinations. ***** Another case of serious mercury contamination in a neon sign-pro ducing plant was found during the month. The contamination was so excessive throughout the building that it was necessary to "aero* the mercury vapor de tector out-of-doors. Of the more than tvea^r such firms surveyed, two have had serious contamination problems and most did not have adequate control measures. Few plant officials knew f the health hazards associated with the use of mercury. a one instance, mercury contamination was detected on the living room rug in the plant owner's residence (O.Ol milligram per cubic mater of sir), Xh all cases, appropriate recommendations were made. ***** MOR000491 -6 . During the past two months, surveys were conducted to evaluate exposures XO organic mercury dust at several seed-treating establishjaente* Either methyl mercury Z ,3-dihydroxy propyl sercaptlde or methyl mercury dioyandiamide is used in the treatment of barley or wheat. Both atmospheric and urine samples were collected. Initial results indicated that employees were receiving excessive exposures to organic mercury (threshold limit value 0*01 milligram per ctaio ester of air), particwlerly in areas where no control measures are utilised* One of the companies contacted the equipment manufacturer and, as a result, the oshu** facturer designed local exhaust ventilating equipment for the machine and for the nschines they produce* The ventilation was subsequently installed* **** * A report reached a regional office that a dairy farmer had received a severe exposure to an irritating gas while cleaning aid sanitising a alii? storage tank on his farm* Investigation disclosed that the Incident occurred when the Xaier, on the advice of a neighbor, put about a gallon each of acid and sodium hypochlorite solution In the tank before scrubbing it to give what he described as a "good cleaning0. Chlorine gas was generated and dispersed into the air of the small milk house and the farmer probably received a significant exposure* He stated that he had difficulty getting his breath for several hours, but did not consult a physician. Acid and sodium hypochlorite solution are normally used in separate steps in the cleaning and sanitizing procedures for silking equipment end storage tanks on dairy farms* If used as directed, these materials should create no problem. As an extra precaution, the dairy companies that collect milk in the area vere asked to vara faraera not to mix acid cleaners with chlorinated sani* tUera. ***** While traveling to the site of a stone drilling operation to conduct a noise surrey, the sound pressure level in a l$6b state car was determined* the overall level ranged from 88 to ?$ decibels depending on the road conditions and speed* Ihese noise levels are far greater than expected. An octave band analysis showed most of the noise to be concentrated in the low frequency bands OS to 300 cycles per second) and therefore not seriously objectionable. The Division of Occupational Health would like to fill its vacancy for an Occupational Health physician at the Harrisburg offices. The position is under Civil Service and the salary range is $12,0?$ - $16,170, with 3 weeks annual leave and 3 weeks annual sick leave* Some travel is necessary and a driver's license is required* For details contact Jen Lisbon, M.D., Director, i&vlalce of Occupational Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health, P.0. Box PO, Barrieburg 1712Q* MOR000492 EC IV ED *65 Atf m. ster.