Document v6Bk5gMQr1n2vwNXJn3bDNxmR

FILE NAME: Asbestos Mining (ASMI) DATE: 1944 DOC#: ASMI009 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Published Abstracts from the Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 28 JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL IYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY [mi. 2<s> ^ severe cases than in the mild cases. These differences are statistically significant. The author finds that amongst the mild cases low plasma chloride concentra tions were more frequent when vomiting had occurred than when there was no vomiting, and more frequent when the patients suffered from cramp than when there was no cramp. But the reviewer finds that these differences between the sub-groups of mild cases were not statistically significant. Of the personal factors related to collapse the most important appear to be loss of acclimatization (following two to seven days' absence from work) disturbance of health, and unacclimatization. Em phasis is laid on the importance of deficient salt intake. In the deeper levels of these mines, 7,000 to 8,000 ft., dry bulb temperatures reach 115 to 120F., and wet bulb temperatures as high as 97F. are reported. Col Asbestosis and pulmonary tuberculosis. R. Dts- mmtles, L. Rousseau, M. Giroux and P. Richard Laval med., vol. 8, p. 217 (March, 1943). ` Asbestosis is an occupational disease of the lungs due to inhalation of asbestos dust. It is characterized hr the transformation of normal lung tissue into fibroia tissue. Symptoms appear usually five to seven years after the beginning of the exposure. The presence ef asbestos bodies in the sputum is a proof for the existence of pulmonary asbestosis. Both asbestosis and tubercu losis were seen in 8 workers exposed to asbestos dust for five to twenty years. Three of these cases are described, in whom the asbestosis was masked by tu berculosis and where the history and the presence of the asbestos bodies permitted the diagnosis.-^. Re- Tuberc. ' " lapse is liable to occur when the wet bulb temperature exceeds 90F., and especially when it is above 93F The engineer should keep the wet bulb below the latter level. The benefits of air-conditioning are demon strated by a striking fall in the incidence of collapse at Champion Reef .Mine.-- T. Bedford. ^Asbestosis and pulmonary tuberculosis. R . 2) t,s . meules and M. Giroux. Laval med., sol 8 i 227 (March, 1943). ' ` The case history of a forty-four year old man is given who had worked for twenty years in an asbestos m-ll After ten years he had developed productive T oxic necrosis of thf, liver from trinitrotoluene. Walter L. Palmer, Gerald S. McShane and William H. Lipman. J. A. M .A ., vol. 123, no. 16, pb. 1025-1027 (Dec. 18, 1943). In three cases of apparent trinitrotoluene poisoning with recovery, the evidence suggests that the toxic necrosis of the liver was severe in one, moderate in the second, and slight to moderate in the third. A residual pigmentation and inflammation of the skin of the ankles was noted in the third patient in addition to the jaundice, anilism and gastrointestinal symptoms characteristic of trinitrotoluene intoxication.--Authors' summary. cough which increased gradually. Only a short time prior to his admission to the hospital the patient started to run fever and had pains in his chest. The diagnosis of ulcero-fibrous tuberculosis and asbestosis was made. Tubercle bacilli and asbestos bodies wem found in the sputum. The autopsy confirmed the clinical diagnosis. Besides the ulcero-fibrous tubercu losis, diffuse peribronchial and perialveolar sclerovii with numerous asbestos bodies was seen, Radiologi cally and pathologically it could not be decided whether the tuberculosis preceded or followed the asbestosis. However, it is believed that the first symptoms of asbestosis appeared ten years before the symptoms of tuberculosis. Am. Rev. I'uoerc, Co-incidence of primary carcinoma of the longs and pulmonary asbestosis. F. Bomburger. Am. J. Path., vol 19, no. 5, pp. 797-807 (Sept., 1943). In the medical literature there are now at least 19 known cases of asbestosis associated with primary pul monary carcinoma. In 4137 autopsies at the pathol ogy laboratory at Yale University School of Medicine, there were 45 cases of pulmonary carcinoma in the years from 191S to 1938 Asbestosis was diagnosed 8 times, silicosis 17 times. Pulmonary carcinoma was found in 4 of the 8 cases of asbestosis and twice in the 17 silicotic cases. Despite the high correlation of the foreign body asbestosis in the lungs with primary pulmonary carci noma, this is a small series of cases and the value of these data is limited. Three cases are given in detail. The diagnosis of pulmonary asbestosis was diagnosed according to the following criteria: 1) fibrosis of the lung and 2) presence of asbestosis bodies. --Stephen L Madey. ' *'P ulmonary asbestosis. L. Rousseau. Laval med., vol. 8, p. 233 (March, 1943). The radiological picture of pulmonary asbestosis is not characteristic; it is usually similar to that of tuber culous fibrosis. The diagnosis is, therefore, often made only after asbestos bodies have been found in tie sputum. Asbestos fibers may be seen in the sputa of individuals who do not suffer from asbestosis: asbestos bodies are due to a pathologic tissue reaction. Micro scopical examination of the lungs of patients who ha..-, died from an intercurrent disease may show asbestosis, which had not been found cn X-ray examination. It cannot be decided whether asbestosis favors the devel opment of pulmonary asbestosis. The case history of a forty-two year old man with asbestosis vritlio :i tuberculosis is given. The patient had been worimg in the asbestos industry for eighteen years. For two years the patient had been suffering from increasing cough, expectoration and dyspnea. Roentgenologic 1 examination showed mottling of both lungs. Sputa =fm m * * $ - ^/"-'V`a Te\ iW ] ABSTRACTS 90 ar.d gastric examinations were negative for tubercle bacilli. Asbestos bodies were found in the sputum.-- q r>,. Rev. Tuberc. tion of the cavity wall and surrounding lung tissue showed a content of 0.25 per cent silica.--Jack Bronjenbrenner. Vsstsiosis bodies. M. Giroux. Laval med., vol. 8 230 (March, 1943). P neumoconiosis and working conditions in coal mines. Brit. Med. J., no. 4316, pp. 395-396 (Sept. The "curious bodies" found in the sputum of patients 25, 1943). suffering from pulmonary asbestosis usually measure The Committee on Industrial Pulmonary' Disease 24 to SO m by 12 to 24 n but can be as large as 250 t. has been unable to draw final conclusions on causation They consist of a central fiber of asbestos which is or differences in incidence of pneumoconiosis in the entered by a golden-yellow substance containing iron. South Wales coalfield. Anthracite dust is more dan Rabbits, guinea pigs and one dog were exposed to in gerous than that of bituminous mines. The most halation of asbestos dust. Asbestosis did pot develop important measure in prevention is the reduction of r. the rabbits nor in the dog. The guinea pigs showed, dust breathed by the miners. To this end, the com alter several weeks, macrophages with asbestos fibers mittee advocates a series of procedures which are is their alveoli. Erythrocytes appeared in the alveoli, discussed in this article: (1) maintenance of adequate and hemoglobin derivatives containing iron could be ventilation, (2) use of water to prevent dust dispersion, found on asbestos fibers two to three months after the (3) allaying of dust in roadways and at loading points, beginning of the inhalation of the asbestos dust. (4) reduction of shot-firing to a minimum, with fewest V>hen a suspension of asbestos in olive oil was injected possible men exposed, (5) regulation of ripping proc subcutaneously or into the testicles of guinea pigs no esses, and (6) prevention of chill during spake journeys. asbestos bodies were formed. However, if first one cc. --Jack Bronfenbrenner. of blood was injected and then the asbestos dust through the same needle, asbestos bodies could be found R adium poisoning and its prevention. E. Neilzd. one month later. The presence of asbestos bodies in Z. ges. Schiess-u. SprengstojJ'w., vol. 37, pp. 74-75, the sputum is believed to be a definite sign of pulmonary 94-96, 114-116, 132-135, 155-156 (1942). asbestosis.--A>n. Rev. Tuberc. Various well known examples of radium poisoning are described. On account of its relation to calcium in the htr.vssE disease of the long. W. A. Sodeman and periodic table radium can replace calcium wherever R. L. Pullen. New Orleans Med. & Surg. J., vol. 95, found in the animal organism. From its point of no. 12, pp 558-560 (June, 1943). fixation in the body radium exercises destructive effects A case of bagasse disease of the lung is reported upon the tissues, mainly by virtue of its disintegration together with the findings at biopsy in an involved area products. In small doses the destructive effects are of the lung. The picture appears to be that of an or- frequently not noticed until after long periods of time, uanic pneumoconiosis. It is evident that particles of sometimes as long as ten years. The physiologic riega-sc may enter the alveolar regions and produce this effects of the several disintegration products are de riactnm. The mechanism of the changes, and the scribed, as are the various means of measuring the "aMre of the stimulus set up by the bagasse dust to radioactivity of samples and the several routes by i n duce the cellular reaction, remain obscure.--Jack which radium or its emanations may enter the human Bru `ifer.l-rer.ner. body'. One of these is the breathing of radium emana tions. Charcoal, silica gel and Permutit were tried, lin r r o 'c ir o x necrosis in bilateral symmetrical without marked success, for absorbing these emana O' m e n I'.tE R A T E L E SIO N S O F AN TH R VCOsILICOSIS OF tions. A detailed method is described for examination i no report of case. B. J. McCloskey. Am. J. of urine, blood, etc., for radium emanations. Various ftrj,t rn!., vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 42-45 (July, 1943). diagnostic means and a quantitative method for esti it h- the intention of the author to show that the mating the amount of radium in the body and in cr-ct interpretation of the roentgen appearance of cadavers is described. Various means are given for 'mro-is and cavitation in the conglomerate lesions of preventing radium poisoning as prescribed by the safety - .tt,r id -ihcosis may be very difficult. A case is re precautions of the Association of Chemical Industry in mit h, -honing these lesions, uncomplicated by tu- Germany. A review of the literature is included.-- .'chi-;.- The only known exposure to silica was Chevt. Abstrs. .'cn the man worked as a pick miner in a soft coal ' -r'e or a, period of 12 years and there was no exposure T reatment of lead poisoninc. Conferences on - a period of 44 years before his death. The roent- therapy. .V. Y. Slate J. Med., vol. 43, no. 21, pp. f -'-'io'.ogic appearance of the necrotic areas was that of 2079-2086 (Nov. 1, 1943). '"'ohdatton or pleural thickening. At autopsy each The discussion emphasizes the facts that ingested "..is found to contain thick, black, viscid fluid, lead, especially in small amounts, rarely causes poi a . showed no free silica on examination. Examina soning because of poor absorption, and that the greater 'kisT-jfcT-''