Document wg313zmv4dbgy9J9Q2eEgrnV3

VA Vol. I FOUNDATION FACTS Augusx, 1959 Th( ntwx>ltt*r li Uau*d monthly to mreb*r compxni.* and trad* aoUtionj afflilottd with Air Hycfcnt Foundation. lu purpoao la to report Foundation nawa and activiciaa. Air Hvrian* Foundation la a partnership of - Industry and acianea orcantxad to protact tha health of tha IS million .workman In htavy Induatry. t0 4 A A. oi-2 This is Am o+f "Foundation Facts," a monthly naw3 letter to mecherg^or Air Hygiene Foundation reporting news o? the organization. Please relay the letter to otl^er interested officials in your organization. Suggestions are welcome. Annual Meeting Set for Nov. 14-15 The annual meeting of Air Hygieh'e Foundation expanded to two days this year, will be hold at Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh, on Not. 14-15. This has been a one-day session in the past but the wealth of information available forces an expan sion this year. The program, while bristling with important medical and engineering data, will also cater to management* s interest in industrial health. Besides the medical and engineering aspects of the subject, there will be a symposium on absen teeism, a report on legal developments during the year, and a forum on what industrial health naans to industrial and public relations. Please call tha meeting to the attention of your company associates and plan now to attend. More details later. - New Trustees Named Andrew Fletcher, Tice President, St. Joseph Lead Company, was elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Air Hygiene Foundation at the Trustees* Spring meeting. J Dewey Dorsett of tha Association of Casualty and Surety Executives was elected to the Board, replacing Henry Sayer, now with the New York State Insurance Fund." R. E. Zimmerman, Vice President, U. S. Steel Corporation, was named a trustee, replacing H. A. Schultz, resigned. C. E. Rdlston Heads New Membership Committee C. E. Ralston, Safety Director, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, has been appointed Chairman of the Foundation's Membership Committee, replacing H. T. Herr,Jr., President, J. S. McCormick Company, resigned. Mr. Ralston has selected the following cccmittee to assist in interesting companies in affiliating with the Foundation: F. H. Atwood, Harbison-Walker Refractories Co., Pittsburgh; Alex D. Bailey, Commonwealth Edison Co., Chicago; Earl F. Blank, Jones & Laughiin Steel Corp., Pitts burgh; Dr. A. G. Cranch, Union Carbide Co., New York; Y/alter H. Emerson, Homer Laughiin China Co., Newell, W. Va.; F. C. Frary, Aluminum Co. of America, New Kensington, Pa.; E. V. Gent, American Zinc Institute, New York; C. F. Goodwin, U. S. Potters Association, East Liverpool, Ohio; Harry B. Lindsay, Grinding Wheel Manufacturers Association, Worcester, Mass.; R. T. Pring, Utah Copper Co., Salt Lake City; end J. T. Ryan, Mine Safety Appliances Co., Pittsburgh. New Information Circular Issued The Foundation has just issued a new Information Circular (No. 5) which is available to members. It- lists officers, committees, members and services. 0 234-9 m HYOICNK ifOUNOATtON moo rtrrn avcnuc ^ITTBagNOH. fA. J* Air itygiene Foundation of America, Inc., 4400 Fifth. Avenue, Pittsburgh., Pa. August 9, 1939. REFERENCES TO RECENT LITERATURE ON INDUSTRIAL DISEASES (A) News Items 573 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS FORM NEW ASSOCIATION. A. C. Carruthers. Safety Eng. 73, 33-4 (July 1939). A nev/ organization, The American Industrial Hygiene Association, was organized at the Cleveland meeting of the American Conference on Occupational Diseases and Industrial Hygiene, Juno 5-8, 1939. The purposes of the new group are to effect a permanent organization of industrial hygienists and to constitute a clearing house of information on the progress which'is being made in the field of indus trial hygiene. A tentative constitution for the Association was passed and the following officers elected: President, 'll. P. Yant; President-elect, \7. A. Cook; and Secretary-Treasurer, G. C.Harrold. The board of directors includes many eminent authorities in the field. Three classes of membership .will bo establish-- . ed: senior members, associate members and members. It is planned to establish local chapters in important cities to hold meetings and to promote the subject generally. Further information may be obtained from the Secretary, Gordon C. Earrold, Industrial Hygiene laboratories, 7900 Jos. Campau A.ve., Detroit, Michigan. 574 DR. CLARENCE 0. SAPPINGTON RECEIVES KNUD5SN AWARD. The annual Knudsen Award for the most outstanding contribution to industrial medicine in the last year was awarded to Dr. Sappington at the Cleveland meeting of the American Association of Industrial Physicians and Surgeons. The presenta tion - the first of its kind - was made to Dr. Sappington for his authorship of the book "Medicolegal Phases of Occupational Diseases," reviewed in our July Abstract Bulletin. 575 AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE DRAFTS FIRST STANDARDS TO LIMIT TOXIC DUSTS AND GASES. Industrial Standardization, 10, 187-8 (July 1939). The newly organized Committee met on June 30, 1939, and made drafts of four standards on toxic gases. The four standards cover carbon monoxide, benzene, lydrogen sulphide and carbon disulphide and they ore now in the process of adop tion by the Association membership. At their meeting the Committee discussed standards for silica dusts, lead in all forms, and hydrocarbon compounds, and it is probable that the work will be extended to cover these materials in the near future. The adoption of these rules will for the first time make available nation ally approved and generally accepted standards defining the allowable limits of toxic dusts and gases. Publications of the four now codes will be noted, as they appear, in these Abstracts. 02350 References to Recent Literature - 2 (3) Papers on Dust, Dust Diseases and General Industrial Hygiene 576 AEJUilSTRATION OF LAJ7S FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES. Theo. C. Y/aters. Am. J. Pub. Health., 29, 723-37 (July 1939). Occupational disease compensation lav/s are the result cf a definite economic need to afford injured employees adequate compensation for Injuries they have sustained during the course of their employment. Industrialists today accept the obliga tion imposed upon industry to provide compensation whother arising out of acci dental or occupational disease means; the additional cost does not appear to have placed an unjust burden upon industry. It is to bo hoped that employers as a group will cooperate in the administration of occupational disease laws, inasmuch as there are bound to be difficulties arise in the administration of comparatively new statutes containing inherent defects. Two phases of the administrative provi sions are discussed: provisions for the creation of medical Boards and provisions for the establishment of Bureaus of Industrial Hygiene. The first are nonpartisan agencies to determine physical disability and the second have the duties of main-1 tainlng a reporting system, establishing rules and codes, and of maintaining an industrial Inspection service. Commenting on the latter, it is stated that the cost of prevention is but a gmat J part of potential liability imposed' by law for compensation. 577 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE CODES. J. R. Allen. Am. J. Pub. Health, 29 , 748-51 (July 1939). Unlike safety codes, industrial hygiene codes contain provisions not always obvious or understandable by the average layman and their formulation and enforce ment are much more difficult. The experience of the foundry industry in develop ing its excellent code for control of occupational diseases is described. The advantage of codes made by and applying- to one industry are that they are based on experience, they are specific for that industry, they have better cooperation from manufacturers of equipment, and they can be easily amended or changed if found inadequate. State codes when included in laws enacted by legislatures are difficult to change when found inadequate nnd also cover too many conditions to be properly applicable to specific industries. State codes when formulated by supervising bodies can bo more readily changed and function with greater effi ciency. It is proposed that separate industries or trades formulate their own codes as the best means for controlling occupational disease and for reducing compensation costs. 578 ANTERA-SILICOSIS AND BRONCHIAL CARCINOMA. Y.TTH QUIESCENT TUBERCULOSIS. J. E. Love lock. Brit. Hod. J., pp. 8-11 (July 1, 1939). (British). The increasing incidence of bronchial carcinoma is a recognized fact and recent statistical surveys suggest that the increase is real and not merely an apparent one duo to improved facilities for observation and more accurate diagnosis. On the other hand many authorities consider that the matter is still undetermined. A case is presented of a coal minor who died of anthra-silicosis and bronchial carcinoma. Full post-mortem findings are given. The coroner certified tho case as a combination of carcinoma and silicosis due to occupation. Compensation hasto.dato been refused because of a lack of legal status between the two but a final decision has not yet been reached. Tho greatest drawback to medical recog nition is the difficulty of diagnosis during life. The clinical, pathological, radiological and mcdico-legal phases of the condition are discussed and it is noted that the question of silicosis and carcinoma needs further research and study. 02.3 si. lie" ..* -anrm* References to Recent Literature - 3 579 A REVIEW OF SILICOSIS AND DUST TESTING IN ONTARIO. G. C. Richards. Canadian Min. J., 60, 121-6 (March 1939). (Canadian). The incidence of silicosis has been greatly reduced since dust control and proper ventilation have been given consideration. From 1926 to 1936 the average numberof cases allowed (compensation) was 36 per year. Tho average of the 5 year period preceding 1937 was IB per year. Tho average period of development of tho cases changed from 10-11 years in the first period to 18 years during the latter, pro bably duo to tho result of preventive methods in reducing dust concentrations. Mine employers and employees have become more dust conscious and this fact to gether with the results of research on the problem have greatly reduced the hazard of silicosis in Ontario mines. 500 SILICOSIS AND TUBERCULOSIS. M. Conrozier and J. llagnin. Industrial Medicine, 8_, 28.7-9. (July 1939). This article is a continuation of the previous paper (see Abstract No. 261, April 1939), a translation by Dr. E. R. Eayhurst of the original article by tho French authors. It discusses further tho arguments of tho two French schools of thought on the question of silicosis as a soparate disease entity. The authors adhere to_ the belief that silicosis can exist in the absence of tuberculosis, a conclusion that has been accepted in all other parts of the world for many years. 581 TEE FREQUENCY OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN MINERS. L. Croizier and E. Martin. Bull. Acad. Med., 120, 42-9 (1938). (French). .... After discussing the evidence for. and against the view that miners are more sus ceptible to pulmonary- tuberculosis than the non-mining population of the same ages, the authors, who are physicians in a mining area in France, state that for their district the mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis of the non-mining popu lation aged over 15 years was 2.4 per thousand and of the mining population 3.2 per thousand. They name as possible causes: insufficient adaptation of rural immigrants to the urban conditions of the mining areas, alcohol and bad hygienic conditions, and the defective conditions in the mines themselves. They advocate a more rigorous medical supervision of miners with systematic x-ray examinations, these examinations to extend to other members of the miners' families who nay be contacts. 582 INDUSTRIAL INCAPACITY AMD MODERN MEDICINE. D. Stewart. Brit. Med. J. pp. 963-7,. (May 13, 1939); 1019-23 (May 20, 1939). (British). -- . " : A plea is made for-greater extension of medical service in industrial, plants, - * _ largo and small. Such services hove proven to be good investments, - .and. not_ . . philanthropic Institutions. The preservation of the health of the worker is as important as tho maintenance of the machine. There is great neod for a more .. thorough knowledge and understanding of industrial health problem^ by physicians so that they may be of maximum benefit to industry. - -- --_1- 583 DISCUSSION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. REPORT OF 1938 CONVENTION. International Assoc. Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. U.S. .Dopt. of Labor, Diva, of Labor Standards, Bulletin No. 24, 204 pp. (1939). Obtainable from Supt. of Documents, Washington, D. C., for 30 cents. This bulletin reports in detail on tho proceedings of tho Convention held In September 1933. Most important among the topics coverod are: the use and de sirability of state funds for compensation; legal foos in compensation awards; effectiveness of safety conferences; compulsory compensation insurance; and other phases of the subject in general. 0 2352.  References to Recent Literature - 4 534 INDUSTRIAL HEALTH SURVEYS. Northwestern University Medical School, Dept, of Industrial Medicine. Bulletin No. 7, 12 pp. (February 1939). Copies obtainable frcn the Department, Evanston, Illinois; for 50 cents. The bulletin discusses health surveys in general, outlines the order of procedure, and gives typical examples of records to be kept. Large plants have in their organisations men sufficiently trained for the work but this is not true in most of the smaller plants. Consultation service is sometimes necessary and advan tageous in supplementing these surveys in the small plants. This bulletin serves .. as a guide to those interested in the subject. 535 ABC's-OF INDUSTRIAL DUST CONTROL. Roy P. Warren. Occup. Hazards and Safety, 1, 8-10 (July 1939). . ~ Larger industrial establishments have for years recognized the value of dust con trol ..but many more smaller plants have not heretofore realized that dust control systems pay for themselvos in worker hoalth and efficiency, in decreased mainten ance costs, in production efficiency and in better finished products. The pur pose of this and succeeding papers by the author is to present the basic princi ples of dust control and suggestions for smaller plants to guide them in install ing efficient and economical dust control systems. Two tables are given illus trating the size of particles encountered in industrial dusts ranging from 0.2 microns .(.tobacco smoke, an.example) to 4000 microns (B3 shot) and.also the veloc ities necessary to collect and transport various materials. It is evident that each job must have proper individual treatment and % thorough, knowledge of air movement and control is- the first essential. An example of plant survey form containing the essential data for a dust survey is included with the paper. 536 THE COMPOSITION OF STOICS AND OF INESLED DUST IN RELATION TO SILICOSIS. A. Shaw. Colliery Guardian, 158, 522-4 (1939). (British). The prevalence of silicosis among workers in tho several nines in England.is discussed in relation to the character of the inhaled dust. Silicosis'cases . among tin miners, gold miners, barite minors, and coal miners of Somerset, North Staffs, and part of the steam coal area of South ..'ales is almost invariably ': associated with long periods of work in rock containing 50-80^ of free silica. .. Tho many cases certified among South Wales anthracite workers exposed .only to coal dust containing no more than 10 free silica are not believed to be silico-.......... sis but rather a bronchitis. 587 TEE EFFECT OF ALUMINUM ON SOLUTION OF MINE DUST. S. R. Rabson. Bull.* -.Inst.' -- Mining & Met. No. 415, 4pp. (1939). (British). The addition of finely divided aluminum powder to mine dusts lowers, the initial... _:I f _ rate of solution in water, but does not materially affect the ultimate solubility ` i_ of tho dusts. It is stated that since this is true, the value of nl\m1 nirm as a.j-- preventive of silicosis is not yet established. ' :. 588 BUREAU OF HINES MIDGET IMPINGER. H. H. Schxonlc and F. L. Feicht. TJ. S. Bureau .. of Minos, Information Circular No. 7076, 7 pp. (Juno 1939). Previous papers describing the midgot impinger arc out of print and this circular has been written to combine the material and to make it available for distribu tion. The equipment, its design and use are described at length in the circular, and results of a series of tests on certain dusts arc included. The circular contains nothing nev; regarding tho midget impinger that has not been included in the former publications (these Abstracts, Ho. 103 (1937); No. 342 (1938); No. 573 (1938). 023 S3 . References to Recent Literature - 5 539 ON TEE EFFECT OF GRINDING ON THE S0LU3ILITY OF MINERAL SUBSTANCES, AND ON THE TOXIC CHARACTER OF TEE RESULTING DUSTS. H. W. Travers. Chen, tc Ind., 58, 226 (March 11, 1959). (British). A short note by the author remarks about one or tv/o facts that were brought to his attention following a review of the literature on silicosis but which have apparently been unnoticed heretofore. A study by Ray (1923) showed that the solubility of mechanically ground silica v;as markedly higher than that of crystal line silica and the fact may go far to account for the poisonous character of mechanically produced dusts. It is suggested that the microcrystalline material present in tho lung, which is probably silica, is separated from the lung fluids already saturated with mechanically transformed silica. Tho presence of the microcrystalline material may have no connection with the toxic property of the silica. 590. ELEMENTARY MECHANISMS OF MINERAL PNEUMOCONIOSES. ACTION OE PEHMUTITE ON PULMON ARY TISSUE. A. Policard. Bull. hist. appl. phys. tech, microscop., 16, 18-31 (1939). (French). White rats wore exposed to commercial pemutite dust (2000 particles per cc.) 3 hours daily for 7 days. This produced no gross symptoms other than an increase in flow of nasal mucous during the exposure period. Later, however, a histologi cal study of tho lungs revealed tho presence of pemutite in the alveoli and the occurrence of marked peculiar cytologieal reactions to this reagent. These in cluded partial atelectasis, hypertrophy of the alveolar cells, and changes in the cell content of tho intra alveolar exudate. The author suggests that the permutito may exert its characteristic base-exchange reactions within the lung, and that these may be responsible for the disturbances produced by the inhalation of tints mineral. 591 PRELIMINARY NOTE ON PUMICE DUST. A. R. Snith and J. Siegel. Industrial Bulletin, Now York Dept, of Labor, 18, 285. (June 1939). Pumice is a volcanic substance, a glassy cellular lava v/hich has cooled so quick ly that little if any of the minerals have separated out as individual minerals. Most of the world's pumice comes from Lipori, an. Italian possession, and is used as an abrasive in grinding and polishing. Pumice contains little free silica (1 to 5$>) and the effect of breathing its dust comes up for discussion from time to time. Only one reference to pumice exposure was found in the literature. In 1932 almost all of 100 workers in. Lipari exposed tc apparently severe dust con- contrations, v:ore found to havo pneumoconiosis in the various stages. In this country an examination of 30 men engaged in grinding and packing pumice dust,- ro- - vealed that 4 showed increased fibrosis and that 2 had silicosis. Tho past'his- - tories of these two men showed no serious silica exposure other than the pumice- dust, and it is therefore concluded that the pumice was at least a contributing - cause in tho two cases of silicosis. ' 592 A NEtf METHOD OF EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF NATURAL AGENCIES ON THE VENTILATION OE MINES. F. B. Hinsley.. Trans. Instn. Min. Engrs. London 97, 131-51 (April 1939). (British). An extensive and detailed discussion is presented on the effect of natural agen cies on ventilation in mines. Mine workings usually constitute a huge reservoir of heat as evidenced by an almost constant temperature of return air regardless of tho amount of air passing per minuto. Tho greater the airflow the greater is tho energy derived from natural sources. Leakage, especially near the pit bottoms and resistance to flow ciro tho tv/o most important items which prevent greatest utilization of natural ventilation. 02354 itXa ' Refe'rences to Recent Literature - 6 593 AIP. FILTER PI2SUEMAHCE AS AFFECTED BY LOW RATE OF DUST FEED, VARIOUS TYPES OF CARSON, AND DUST.PARTICLE SIZE AND DHISl'TY. F. B. Rov/ley and R. C. Jordan. Keating, Piping & Air Cond., Journal Section, 11, 3SQ-98 (June 1939). A continuation of the researches of tho authors (sco Abstract 73S, 1933). .The tests made were to determine possible improvements in the ASHVE Test Code and not to compare tho different ccnmoreial filters used. In rating a filter, high rates of feed give results comparable to low rates of feed and it is recommended that the more practicable (in testing) higher feeds be used. It was found that lampblack and carbon black, which resemblo soot closely, differ greatly in pro perties even though the dust appears to be of uniform specification and it is recommended that further efforts bo made to standardize on a carbon for the tests. It vras stated that dust density (specific gravity) has an important bear ing on filter capacity ratings. The present coda (50$ lampblack and 50$ ash) penalizes most filters by a too severe test; other products give performances better than actual practice and it is recommended that a standard be made up of `components of the two extremes. 594 RELATIVE AIR DUSTINESS DURESS CYCLE OF OPERATIONS AT MOUNT WEATHER TESTOTG ADIT. J. A. Johnson and W. G. Agnew. U. S. Bur. of Mines, Report of Investigations No. 3453, 7 pp. (June 1939). Inpinger dust counts were taken during an entire cycle of operations at the Mount V/eather testing edit. The counts shov/ed very high concentrations (3>, 300 ' n.p.p.c.f. in these tests) after blasting and it seems reasonable to assume that essentially the sane conditions would prevail in most metal mines during similar operations. Because it is common practice to ventilate several Y/orking places with the sane air, a number of men may bo exposed to tho dust from a blast where blasting is permitted during the shift, unless suitable deans are taken to con trol air circulation. Some natal mines permit blasting only when the shift is going off, which is good practice, but enough tine should be allowed for dust and gas to clear before a new shift resumes. Other tests have shown that the concentration of dust from blasting can be reduced 99 per cent by using com pressed-air v.-ater spray near the face and it is planned to expand the present tests to determine the best means of utilizing this type of spray. 595 MAIN FAN INSTALLATIONS AT METAL MINES. Mine Safety Board, U. S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular No. 7073 , 2 pp. (June 1939). In the interest of safety in motal mining, the Bureau recommends: "That under ground metal mines be equipped with a wn-t ^ foji in a fireproof housing, located preferably at the surface. The fan installation should be designed .to ventilate, the nine adequately throughout n3 to permit prompt reversal of direction of aj^r flow." Many metal mines roly on natural ventilation or on inadequate compressedair supplies, but only mechanical forced draft systems" arc dependable under all conditions. 596 V.KAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY* OF THE COAL-MINE OFFICIAL IN THE PRESENT CHANGE TO Alffi FUTURE OF MECHANIZED MINING? D. Harrington. . U. S. Bureau of Mines, Infor mation Circular No. 7081, 13 pp. (Juno 1939). Mechanization of mines may ultimately reduco accident rates, although the opposite effect is sometimes produced during early periods following introduc tion. The ultimate reduction will follow' the realization on tho part of nine operators that, while old hazards may be eliminated, new olios with different methods of attack are presented by the introduction of machinery into confined, poorly lighted locations. 0235'5` References to Recent Literature - 7 597 THE FLOW OF AIR AND ITS DISTRIBUTION THROUGH DUCTS. PART 6, FAN LAWS AND FAN SELECTION. J. R. Zwickl. Heat. k Vent. 36, 64-6 (July 1939). The three fundamental fan laws are: (1) the pressure produced by the fan varies as tha square of the fan speed, directly as the air density; (2) the flow through q fan vari3 linearly as the fan speed; and (3) the fan horsepower varies as the third power of the fan speed and directly os the density. In the selection of a fan, which must deliver a specified amount of air against a certain static head, it is important to take temperature and pressure into account. The orticlo con tains directions for fan selection from manufacturer* s tables which give the fan speeds necessary to develop a given static suction when handling a specified air volume. 598 INDUSTRIAL IMPAIRMENT OF HEALTH AND POISONING III THE METAL-T/OHEING INDUSTRY. Freitag. Oberflachcntech. 16, 35-6 (1939). (German). The danger of silicosis in men working with sandblasting; poisoning by nitrous gasos in pickling, etching and coloring processes; by chromium salts in chromium plating; lead poisoning in lead welding; carbon monoxide poisoning in oxy-acetylene welding and by toxic gases developed in nitridlng and other hardening pro cesses are discussed at length. 599 ACTION OF VARIOUS MINERAL DUSTS ON CONJUNCTIVE TISSUE SUPPLIED SETH THE AID OF THE CORNEAL BI0LHC20SCOPE. A. Policard and J. Rollet. Compt. rend. soc. biol. 130, 954-7 (1939). (French). Very small amounts of finely powdered minerals were Introduced into rabbit corneas. Quartz, opal, diatomaceous earth, permutitc end cobalt arsenide pro duced a white opaque spot which showed no diminution after 5 weeks. Sahara sand and fuller's earth produced loss marked reactions. Muscovite and sericite pro duced slight reactions that cleared up in 4 weeks. Low-ash coal dust produced no reaction. (C) Pacers on Industrial Poisons, Cancer, Dermatitis, etc. 600 INDUSTRIAL FATIGUE AND THE PHYSIOLOGY OF MAN AT Y.'OHK. D. B. Dill. Industrial Medicine, 8. 315-8 (July 1939). The author's discussion centors around the pJiysiological principles of man at work in the office or mill during which there is a transfer of chemical energy to mechanical energy and heat. Most of the chemical energy supplied to tha body is required to maintain life and the mechanical efficiency of the body is remark ably low, probably about 10$ for a 24 hour period. It has boen found that carbo hydrates oro more efficiently utilized by the body than fats and experiments with animals or human subjects demonstrates that fatigue sets in more rapidly follow ing a lew carbohydrato diet. Glucose is one of the more readily digestible foims of carbohydrate; successful use of It has been had in certain industries. Regard ing heat stroke, heat cramps and prostration. It is now a proven fact that the condition is partly, dependent upon the amount of salt In the diet and the uso of salt tablets in industry is increasing rapidly. It has been suggested that the use of gelatine, by increasing the store of creatine in the body, reduces fatigue and continued work on the latter subject will bo carried out for confirmation. 601 TOESING CAPACITY AND DIET. E. H. Christonsen. . Skand. Arch. Physiol. SI, 160-71 (1939). (Scandinavian). The capacity for sevorc exercise in well-trained subjects is two to three times as great sifter a carbohydrate-rich diet (90$ of the calorics derived from the carbohydrates) than after a fat-rich diet (5$ of the calories derived from carbo- hydrates);3500-5000 calorics were given daily in each case. The protein content of the diot was snail. The diminished capacity for exorcise on a fat diet is attributed tc the low blood-sugar level and tha kotonaenia. 023SiB *$efarences to Recent Literature - 8 602 "DANGEROUS GASES IN DISTILLATION AND REFINING PROCESSES. E. LeQ. Herbert. J. Inst. Petroleum, 25, 523-46 (June 1939). (British). In distillation processes tho most dangerous gas encountered is hydrogen sulphide, although the hydrocarbon petroleum gases are also present in considerable concen trations. The physidogical effects of both types aro reviewed together with methods of protection against each. Hydrocarbon vapors such as gasoline can be significant physiologically at slightly lower concentrations than the lover limit of inflammability (1.455 by volume). In refining processes a number of gases are encountered, depending upon the method of treatment used. Sulphur dioxide is almost universally present in all plants as are -chlorine, ammonia and a few organ ic sulphur compounds. In the solvent-extraction processes still further vapors are met with, including furfural, phenol, chlorcx, nitro-benzene, benzene, ace tone, methyl ethyl ketone, cresol and propane. Tho effects of these vapors are reviewed and concentrations that aro dangerous are given, but no mention is made of the magnitude of the concentrations that are likely to be encountered within the plants. A number of tables in the paper lists tho properties of each gas, toxicities at various concentrations, limits of inflammability, and methods of protection against each. ' 603 THE DETECTION OF GAS DT THE FIELD AND REFINERY nr IRAN. Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., ' J. In3t. Petroleum, 25_, 356-3 (June 1939). (British). The detection of inflaicnablo gases, since 1938, has been done with two similar commercial detectors based on the temperature increaso of a platinum wire as the air is passed over it. Regarding hydrogen sulphide it is the practice to assume that when all inflammable gases have been washed out of a tank it can also be considered that no appreciable amount of hydrogen sulphide is present and its detection is then omitted. When hydrogen sulphide tests ore made, one of two methods is followed: the first measures the extent of blackening of a mercury salt on granulated pumice in c glass tube; the other, the"darkness of a stain on a paper impregnated with lead acetate. Both methods are capable of measuring dangerous concentrations with certainty. For- sulphur dioxide determination the method of drawing air through paper impregnated with a starch iodine solution is used. The methods used on other gases are not included. 604 THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TOXlC GASES AND VAPORS. T. McClurkin. J. Inst. Petroleum, 25, 332-91 (Juno 1939). (British). In the first part of the paper tho physiological effects of gases and vapors which are likely to bo mot with in tho petroleum industry are considered. The second part deals with a group of other toxic gases. All are reviews taken from the literature. Those gases covered in part one arc: hydrogen sulphide, sul phur dioxido, chlorine, carbon monoxide, petroleum spirit and benzine, acetone, benzene, mercaptan vapors, furfuraldohydo and. phenol. Part two gases are: hydro gen cyanide, carbon disulphide, aniline and organic halogons. A brief description is given of each. ^ 1 _ 605 THE DETECTION OF TOXIC GASES IN INDUSTRY. R.' B. Vallender. J. Inst. Petroleum, 25, 392-403 (June 1939). (British). Numerous cases of poisonings are cited to show the need for the determination of potentially hazardous concentrations of gases in industry. The methods, to be - practical, should bo simple, rapid and sensitive to low concentrations. Host nothods fall into ono of three classes: (1) physical or physico-chemical methods, (2) adaptations of ordinary chemical methods and (3) colorimetric or ncphelonotric methods. Rapid methods based on the third class are probably the most practical and useful in these types of analyses, and a number of simple tests aro described. 02357 ` Inferences to Recent Literature - 9 . 606 .PROTECTION AGAINST DANGEROUS GASES IN TEE OPERATION OF CRACKING PLANTS. E.J.U. Tait. J. Inst. Petroleum, 255, 347-55.(June 1939). (British). Precautionary rules for the prevention of gassing accidents are discussed briefly The typos of gas mask protection and locations;\iiero their uso is essential are described. Special attention should bo given to entering locations where hydro carbon gases .may accumulate, as in pump-houses, trenches, sumps, etc. Many acci dents occur among men accustomed to their work and who have become careless fol lowing low-accident periods so that continual safety instruction is essential. 607 TOXIC ORGANIC SOLVENTS. ' K. Tomlinson. Paint Manufacture, 140-2 (1939). (British). All solvents other than water are regarded as toxic to some degree, and to treat a solvent casually and carelessly is inviting disaster even if it has been used .with safety for several years. Transient and cumulative poisoning arc discussed briefly. The aromatic hydrocarbons and the chlorinated hydrocarbons are tho most toxic of ordinary solvents. 608 TOXICITT 07 MOTOR FUELS AND EXHAUST GASES. G. Castrovilli. Rass. med. ind., 10, 1-16 (1939). (Italian). A review of benzine, carbon monoxide and naphtha poisoning from the exhaust gases of motor vehicles is followed by an analysis, in tabular form, of exhaust gases obtained by the use of methane and naphtha in wood-gas-and-gasoline-driven en gines. A list of the symptoms indicating poisoning from naphtha and wood-gasdriven engines is given. The toxicity of natural methane was found to be much less than that of the others mentioned. 609 CARBON MONOXIDE HI UNDERGROUND ATMOSPHERES. THE ROLE 07 BACTERIA IN ITS ELTMTNATION. G. Yf. Jones and G. S. Scott. Ind. Eng. Chem., 31, 775-8 (1939). It has been found that certain types of microorganisms.-present in anthracite waters will readily consume hydrogen and carbon monoxide from gaseous mixtures. In laboratory experiments, a sample containing 4.1>S hydrogen and 11.&fa carbon monoxide was entirely depleted of the former in 10 days and of the latter in 50 days. A blank containing bacteriocidal solution had no effect even after 50 days. Hydrogen is oxidized to water and carbon monoxide to the dioxide; no methane is formed. It is concluded that it is n~t safe to assume that fires have been extinguished in sealed firo areas because of an absence of carbon monoxide in those areas. 610 , EFFECTS ON ANIMALS OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SULPHUR DIOXIDE. F. R. Woodon,' - Albert Hartzell and Carl Sotterstrom. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 10 , 281-523 (April-Juno 1959). Despite the prevalence of sulphur dioxide as an atmospheric contaminant, indus trially and otherwise, there is a lack of positive experimental work on its action on human beings over a wide rongo of concentrations. The present paperdescribes on extensivo series of experiments, probably the most important recent work on the subject. Hundreds of white mice and guinea pigs were used in the tests, and the effects of the gas on invertebrates (grasshoppers and cockroaches) were also determined. In general, the resistance to the gas was greater than expected and signs of distress were less. No significant mortality or signs of ` distress occurred emong healthy animals at concentrations of 33 p.p.m. or below. Gross appearance post mortem of theso animals did not differ greatly from those of control animals. Abovo this concentration changes begin to appear, notably: tho cornea becomes opaque, the stomach becomes distended and congestion of the viscera more definite. However, the fact that guinea pigs withstood 150 p.p.m. for considerable periods of time when expbsed for only eight hours per day suggests tint no direct toxic effects result to industrial workers exposed 02353- References to Recent Literature - 10 occasionally to concentrations of this magnitude. Excellent discussions are given of the probable action of the gas, taken not only from the results of these tests but also from the literature. 611 THE SELENIUM. PROBLEM AND ITS RELATION TO PUBLIC HEALTH. Q. A. Maaville.. Am. J. Pub. Health, 29, 709-18 (July 1939). The paper is a review of the literature of some 79 items on selenium and its toxicity in the body. It deals largely with the action of the substance when ingested with foods but considerable knowledge of its action regardless of mode . of. entry may be gained from the material presented. The element is present in the soils in certain areas in the West and in Mexico and is no doubt the toxic factor in the condition known as "alkali disease", prominent in affected areas. ' Selenium is present in all plants and foods grown in selcniferous soils and while the public health aspect of the problem is limited to those affected areas it - should not be overlooked that most of the world's wheat is grown in seleniferous soils and also that the use of selenium in all food sprays is Increasing. Indus trially selenium exposure may occur in industries extracting and processing ores containing the substance or in industries using selenium compounds as basic mater ials for manufacturing purposes. It may be absorbed by inhalation, through the skin or by ingestion depending upon the state of the compound. Authorities are cautious in stating its toxicity but it is certain that repeated absorptions of small amounts have a narked detrimental effect on the body. 612 LEAD HAZARD AT SOLDERING BENCHES. Thee. Hatch. Industrial Bulletin, New York ' Dopt. of Labor, IS, 284 (June 1939). The lend hazard, during miscellaneous soldering operations on small tanks and the like by men engaged full time on this work, is two-fold: _Jl) lead oxide fume may be given off during soldering and (2) lead dust and cuttings ere released by filing, grinding and sanding. While most cf the latter dust may be particles too - coarse to be breathed, those particles if not properly handled will bo "ground " underfoot, etc., and the dangerous dust disseminated into the room. An exhaust system is described for a ventilated soldering bench. The top of the bench is an open grille through which the filings fall to a hopper and pan below. An ex haust below the grille removes all srery fine dust. An exhaust is placed over the soldering-iron stove to remove lead fumes. A raised floor grid in front of the table minimizes the grinding of lead underfoot. 613 THE TOXICITY OF OCTYL ALCOHOL. J. Am. Med. Assoc, (queries is Minor Notes) 112, 2353 (June 3, 1939). ' Octyl alcohol lately has come into extensive industrial use. ' Some of the appli cations arc tho following: anti-foaming agent, dehydration of lubricating oils,- - the printing of textiles, manufacture of papor, air conditioning sprays, and other applications. Little is known of its true properties, but its extensive use with no serious consequences leads one to believe that its toxicity is of a lovr order. Tho disagreeable odor may have the effect of a deterrent in its use. 614 TEE EFFECTS OF ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE VAPORS. J, An. Med. Assoc. (Queries t Minor - Notes) 113, 167 (July 8, 1939). " Ethylene dichloride is now classified as of the same order of toxicity as tri- chlorethylene. The symptoms of its toxic action are, in addition to nausea ond vomiting, irritation of nose and eyes, dizziness, ataxia, fatty degeneration of the liver, nephritis and perivascular hemorrhages of tho brain. No chronic symp toms arising from prolonged exposures have been reported. 02359 r-f .'Ht, .iiar ntminw"-' -sj^rrire----. =ej-i >--. - References tc Recent Literature - 11 615TOXICITY OF ETHYLENE ALTO PROPYLENE GLYCOLS. U. Aiazzi Maneini. . Boll. soc. ital. biol. spar. 14, 68-71 (1939). (Italian). Ethylene glycol caused no ill effects in doses of 0.70 to several cc. daily; doses of 10-15 cc. produced oxaluria and 40-50 cc. caused death or severe intoxi cation in rats. Propylene glycol was much less toxic. 616 CARBON DISULFIDE POISONING. S. Sarai. Z. klin Path. Haaatol. _5 , 795 (1936). (Japanese). ' The amounts of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and carbon disulfide in the air of two factories were determined. Symptoms produced by the gases are described. Eight patients 7,1th mental symptoms due to carbon disulfide mostly showed symp toms- of dementia praecox and of manic-depressive insanity. Recovery followed in 10 days to 1-2 months after removal from exposure. One patient showed neuras thenic symptoms for months. The., changes in red and whito blood cells are detailed. 617 PULMONARY INTOKY BY MANGANESE`DUST. K. W. Jotten. Deutsch med. Wschr. 65, 40910 (1939). (German). Of 32 rabbits inhaling manganese dioxide dust for 1 hour every day, nine died within 3 weeks from extensive broncho-pneumonia. Animals which had been exposed. to-manganese showed a higher mortality rate from experimental pneumococcal infec tion than controls. Injection of manganese dioxide particles into the abdominal cavity produced severe haemorrhagic peritonitis. 618 CANCER AS AN ACCIDENTAL INJURY UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT. I. E. Rubcnstein and M. S. Levy. Ind. lied. 8_, 284-6 (July 1939). Despite the fact that nodical, science is not at all certain of the actual cause or causes of cancer, the law, as to whether cancer is an "accidental Injury"under the several 7/crknen's compensation acts, seems well settled. Casos involving cancer may be divided into two classes: (1) where the injury is known to have brought about a cancer, and (2) where injury aggravated and accelerated a pre existing cancer. The essential difference is the existence or not of a cancer prior to occupational injury. Casos of both types -are described in which compen sation has been allowed or denied for either type, depending upon the apparent evidence as to real occupational cause or effect. 619 OCCUPATIONAL MELANOSIS PROM PITCH. H. R. Foerster and L. Schwartz. Arch. Dermat.-and Syphilol., 39, 955-68 (June 1939). The authors have previously reported (Abstract No. 493, 1939) that pitch daroati-' tis and melanosis are true reactions of photosensitization resulting from the local exogenous activity of a specific photosensitizer in pitch, activated by specific spectral bands of light. In this paper, case reports are presented of workers exposed to pitch and tar. Dermatitis and melanosis are inportant_.occupational hazards in coal tar and pitch industries. Most workmen exposed to "thehazard have dermatitis or melanosis (pigmentation) though some may not be affected and variations in susceptibility exist. Histologic studies indicate that "the discolorization due to pitch is true melanosis. Prevention is best accomplished' by personal hygiene, good ventilation, sanitary conditions in plants, night oper ations, rotation of work and selection of employees. Appropriate protective and therapeutic measures include the application of creams and lotions containing physical and chemical blockers of light. 02.3 so References to Recent Literature - 12 620 PROTECTIVE CREAMS IN TEE PREVENTION OF DERMATITIS. G. C. Harrell. Occup. Hazards tt Safety, 1, 18-20 (July 1939). Supplementing the mechanical types of dermatitis protection equipment-gloves, clothing, leggings, shoes--are creams, ointments and chemical mixtures. These substances can also be classod as mechanical forms of protection but they offer the additional factor of a cleansing action; the application on clean hands three tines a day and the resultant washing off of the cream will in itself be an aid in the prevention of dermatoses. The best protection requires the use of a specific type of creea or ointment for each general group of irritants; no single cream is a positive protection for all substances. The types of creams for use with, specific agents aro not given in the paper, probably because of differences in trade names. Creams for certain dermatitis producing, substances used in industry are on the market and their use is recommended in this article. 02361