Document vyk9okKqkJeXd4YKdqv6aMjdZ

JaXTCOlOGV RESEARCH laboratory SO AMI TYCO BY CHARS* DOW CHEMICAL U-S.A. OAT* October 23. 1974 FIL* 'I 7 ' HET K-028126- (3) K-028126 - TOXICOLOGY OF INGESTED ASBESTO>SS A LITERATURE SURVEY reported by: Charles T. Lichy CHECKED BY: k. W. RaZQpy informativ* summary with conclusions casco on tnc samrlc Rcecivco. aooitional information incluoino thc crpccts or RCRCATCO CXROSURC MAY CC RCOUIRCO AS SFKClFie USCS AN FORMULATIONS ARC OCYCLORCD OR IF FROCCSS CMANOCS OCCUR. A survey of the literature that is pertinent to the ingestion of asbestos was made. Asbestos is a ubiquitous mineral appearing everywhere - air, snow, rivers, drinking water, beverages, and drugs. Even control animals in one feeding study had asbestos particles in the several organs examined. Since it must be assumed that during inhalation, some portion of the mater ial must be swallowed, the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer in asbestos workers is pertinent to the ingestion of asbestos. Although the incidence of Gl cancer in asbestos workers is relatively low in relation to the inci dence of lung cancer, studies have consistently shown GI cancer incidences of 2-3 times that expected in the general population. The incidence appears to increase with the duration of exposure and there is a long latent period for development. Feeding asbestos to animals has not increased the incidence of tumors. A study designed to determine the carcinogenicity of various sizes of as bestos and fiberglass particles when applied to the pleura of rats showed a definite relationship between carcinogenicity and size. Fibers < 3 microns in diameter and > 20 microns in length are more carcinogenic than fibers with diameters > 3 microns regardless of length or less than 20 microns in length regardless of diameter. Most fibers found in water or beverages are indivi dual fibers less than 20 microns in length. In 1973 The Advisory Committee on Asbestos Cancer reported to the Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (a division of the World Health Organization). As part of their report they stated that, "such evidence as there is does not indicate any risk from asbestos fibers present in water, food, beverage, or drugs". ST0027615 EJ4. BUir B.E. Buff.rt R.E. Ctrlt'twi L.K. H.L. CatMO B. H.U.r, MD B. HFvttti D. K>1ift,MD C.E. KummI F.C. UM.itt DISTRIBUTION SX. McCwtcfc**A D.D. McColtUtor (2) RJ. R.D. OU* M.E. Pnritt T. Pullifi t. Ri.lfM V.B. R*bintwi R.J. SHavft cm <6) See attached sheet. DOW 01436 ST002875I 1 Condition Industry and/or occupation Symptoms Noise effects on inner ear.... Rsyntud's phenomenon (secondary)........................ Extrinsic allergic alveolitis... Extrinsic asthma or allergic asthma............................... Coalworkers pneumoconio sis ........................................ Asbcstosb- Any industry and/or occupation involvinf exposure to excessive noise. Lumberjacks, chain sawyers, grinders, chipper*, vinyl chlo ride polymerisation industry. Farmer's lung, begstaosis, bird fender's hmg, auberoeia, malt worker's hmg. mushroom work er's hmg, maple bark disease, cheese washer's lung, coffee worker's hmg. fish-meal work er's lung, furrier's lung, sequoioab, wood worker's hmg, miller's lung. Jewelry, alloy and catalyst mak er*; polyurethane, adhesive, paint workers; alloy, catalyst, refinery workers: solderers, plastic, dye. insecticide maker*; foam workers: latex makers: bi ologists: printing industry: nickel plasters: bakers: plastics industry: woodworkers: fur niture makers; detergent formutators. Coal miners. Asbestos industries and utilizer*. Tinnitus--hissing, ringing, bussing, humming, thumping, whistling, or roaring in the ear--msy be constant or intermittent and often accompa nied by hearing loss. Clicking; cracking; or tick ing sounds or abnormal or pathological sounds, originating within the patient's body (by a muscle contraction, etc.) in region of the ear end audible to others as well aa to the patient. Intermittent pallor and sometimes bluish-purplish discoloration (cyanosis) of the skin precipitated by expoeure to cold, without clinical evidence of blockage of the large peripheral vessels and with nutritional lesions (if present at all, limited to the akin). Blanching and numbing when exposed to chilling westher or emotional upsets with proba ble loea of muscular consol and reduction of sensitivity to heat, cold, and pain are main symptoms. Cyanosis and pain are rare. Gangrene and serious complications are very rare i indeed, they occur at JL Difficult or labored breathing (dyspnea); fever; sad oxygen deficiency (hypoxia) during aeute phase lasting several weeks. Cough with aeanty, black, stringy, occasionally bloody sputum; bluish-purpis discoloration of mucous membranes (cyano sis); patchy infiltrates in tht lung can also occur. Sudden onset after exposure to an aQergcn. Sense of tightness in the chest due to spasmodic contrac tion of the bronchi; difficult or labored breathing (dyspnea); wheezing. Symptoms may subside in one hour or leas, continue for several hours, or persist aa sums asthmaticus for many days. End of attack is marked by pronounced coughing with expectoration of thick, tenacious sputum, imme diately followed by a sensation of relief and "clearing" of the air passages. Physical signs consist of prolongation of expiration and the presence V sonorous and sibilant rales through out the chest; normal hut labored respiration; markedly distended chest; bluish-purplish discol oration of skin end mucous membrances (cyano sis). Between attacks breathing may be quiet, but forced expiration will produce sonorous or sibi lant rales. Frequency and severity of attacks may be greatly influenced by secondary factor* (e.g., changes is temperature and humidity); by expo sure to noxious fumes; by fatigue; by endocrine changes (puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause); by emotional stress. Since these secondary feetors msy perpetuate itticki, atten tion should be directed to their control. Black spit increasing in quantity as disease ad vances; jet-black nodules and cavities of the lung; chest becomes barrel-shaped and there may be clubbing of the fingers; right heart failure or tiheo-Tuberculotb may supervene to eause death; disease is visualized by X-ray as fine, discrete pinhead mottling or nodillation or dense cooglomerate shadows resembling angel's wings; eventually large fibrotic masses develop and diffi cult or labored breathing with cough may ensue. Progressive, difficult, or labored breathing (dys pnea); nonproductive cough (little or no spu tum), unless pulmonary TB it present yielding bloodstained sputum; slight pain between shoul ders, under shoulder blades, or sternum; visual ized by X-ray as fine pulmonary fibrosis en meshed with asbestos bodies giving s ground glass appearance; increased susceptibility to lung cancer, pleural plaque* and calcifications are often present in the fibrous tissues and emphyse ma b extensive, but localized to lower and apical parts of the lungs. Excessive nobe Whole body or segmental vibration; vinyl ehinri/u monomer........................... Various agents (usually a fungus or mold and dusty substances).,.,............. . Platinum; isocyanates; chro mium and cobalt; alumi num soldering flux; phthalic anhydride: form aldehyde; gum arabic; N*S0; flour; trimeUitie an hydride; red cedar and other wood dusts; bad!lus-derived exoenzymes .. Coal dust. Asbestos Ug colU&fi ' 7f 7f 7b 7b 73 DOW 01437