Document wr4MD75wreeybOVLB98oJXyGB

J OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 7z>-^p yduAJiy ft ^ 0 , - Z-i" *i* r 3 > ( T=&---^f3 ^ATAI g-y 2. V 2 o ^ ------------------------- -----77<ftfa-tL5^ *-4**- News & Views ~/z>*r - /rrrz^-0 <^ A trc-ster?*^* utz- TZfC^ Division of Occupational Health Fall 196$ _____________ Pennsylvania Department of Health,/ ____________________ Vol. 3, Mo. U^,<l Malignancies In Asbestos Markers - A Preliminary Report - /? Within recent years and months there has been a considerable amount of S material In the literature which Indicates that asbestosis is directly related to the incidence of malignant tisaors and cancer. -------- As early as eight years ago a Pennsylvania pathologist reported that he had seen at autopsies mazy cancer cases in persons who also suffered from asbestosis. The pathologist is on the staff of a hospital which receives most of the patients from a nearby town where a large asbestos plant is located. This plant makes asbestos textiles and also brake linings and clutch facings. The findings of the pathologist have created concern in the asbestos industry and it was felt appropriate for our health department to review the problem. To obtain as complete a story as possible the record rooms of six hospitals which draw their cases particularly from the area of the asbestos plant were searched for cases where asbestosis was considered during the period between 1956 and 1961*. Seventy-five hospital records coded as asbestosis were located. These were people who either were diagnosed on adnisslon, on x-rays, or at autopsy to have asbestosis or asbestosis was mentioned in the differential diagnosis. After obtaining the 75 records, an attempt was made to locate these former patients. A large manber were no longer alive and their survivors had 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. This left 66 asbestos workers who had worked in one particular plant. Further study of these records shoved that 21 among them not only had evidence of asbestosis but also vers suffering from cancer. Twelve of these had lung cancer and nine had various other growths such as bladder cancer, leukemia, etc. The smoking history of the 12 lung cancer eases revealed that five had never smoked which is more or lees the same distribution of smokers versus non-smokers as in the general population. Of the nine cases with other malignancies, two never smoked and three were oigar smokers only. Another interesting feature was that among the other cancers, not the lung cancers, there was one case of a malignant mesothelioma. Another interesting finding was that of the 21 cases with cancer 13 worked in the textile department of the plant and four worked in brake line manufacture. The department where one nan worked remains unknown and the rest worked at various other jobs. plaintiffs exhibit AL-1640 ALCOAOO00010381 -2- Two of the 11 lung cancer cases and one of the lymphoblastoma cases had worked in the asbestos plant for a total of only six months which is a rather short exposure, and.one wonders how much this short exposure may- have contributed. Eighteen of these 21 cases had started work in the plant prior to 19b0 and 12 had started work prior to 1920. Of the. 21 eases of cancer 11 were born before 1900 and only one was born after 1910. Microwave Ovens - f Personnel of . o\u* Region HI (KsadvUle)' have recently completed a study of the haaards aasociated with exppsuree to microwave radiation in connection with operation of microwave ovens. These ovens are popular in food-service establish ments in general and are gaining popularity for self-service facilities in factory and college Cafeterias^ in super-highway rest stations,/and in recreational centers such as bowling lanes. iC' The principal hazard of exposure Hto microwaveridiation is the bio logical effect resulting from the heating of body tissues.: This study was con cerned with the monitoring of microwave radiation leakage from oven units now installed in the Region III area and in evaluating the hazards, or potential haz ards which were present. :} ' : No detectable radiation was found at shy 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 frem the oven. However, the radiation released from 7951 of the units was somewhat in excess' Of that considered safe 'for'indefinitely prolonged exposure and 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 In&udei.J' .t.!;:" 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 designed to prevent circumvention of their use* 3i tbits' should be adequately labeled to alert owners and operators of the potential liasard of operating units in manner other than prescribed procedure* U* Owners, operators and servicepersonnel should be made aware of the hasaxd of ,axp osu. Ir,a to mVior.o w, ave radiaftio(n: i* ' ,)r,-vv.'^..:?, v-;' - * .; 5. Dhits should be monitored periodically to detect leakage or faulty operational devices* ' ,X. a'v-V^V> Occupational Health Bills inMegislative Hopper - The Pennsylvania Legislature is currently consider!ng several- items' of proposed legislation 'dealing withocoupatlonal health matters* A Senate bill on radiation would create an Advisory Committee on Atomie Energy Development, and Radiation Control; empower the Governor to enter into adreeaents with the federal government for assumption of certain regula tVo*1r*}y' , powers; t, - and would confer certain ALCOAOOOOO10382 -3- powers and duties on the Department of Health with respect to contro1 and regulation of radiation sources, Including provision for licensing and registration. This bill has passed the first and second readings in the Senate with the third reading , scheduled for an early date. -- A Senate bill amending the Occupational Disease l Act and providing increased benefits for silicosis* anthraco-ailicosia, and asbestosis is now in the Senate Labor & Industry Coranittee, but a similar House / bill has passed the House and is also in the Senate Labor & Industry Committee. -- / A House bill which would provide for the elimination of the statute of limitations on the time and circumstances under which disability or death from silicosis or / anthraco-silicosis and asbestosis must occur in order to be compensable has passed / the House and is in the Senate Labor and Industry Committee. A similar House h-ni / is still being considered by the House Workmen's Compensation Committee. _( Conference Proceedings - We regret that the printer's estimated date of delivery for the Pro ceedings of the Pennsylvania Governor's Conference on Pneumoconiosis (AnthracoSilicosis) was somewhat over-enthusiastic 1 However* the Proceedings are now definitely available from the State Book Store* Room 5U, Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg 17120. The price is $1.58 postpaid* including sales tax* and checks should be payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Coal Tar and Pitch - Whenever coal tar or pitch is heated, smokes* fumes and vapors are released into the air. Approximately 10 percent of these volatiles are polycyclic hydrocarbons. Heavy, or large molecular weight, polycyclic hydrocarbons are known or suspected to be cancer-producing. A problem with exposure to these is that cancers frequently develop many years 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 has suggested a threshold limit value of 0.2 milligram per cubic meter of air for exposure during an eight-hour working day for volatile components 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 the volatile components of coal tar. Because of the stability factor* however* care should be exercised in the handling or processing of either. The best method of controlling the health hazard is to prevent contact with the volatiles. This may be accomplished by local exhaust ventilation at the point of origin of the contaminant* by suitable respiratory protective devices* by suitable protective clothing to prevent contact with the skin and by a combination of these control measures. As with most exposure to industrial contaminants* medical supervision of employees 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 the bounds of occupational health* points up the hazard of Improper handling of chemicals. As a result* one person died and another received slight acid burns over an extensive portion of hie body. ALCOAOOOOO10383 "If ' . ; / yv:- 'J The exterior of a stone building;was being renovated by cleaning of Its lower portion with hydrofluoric acid and by sandblasting of the upper areas. A person employed in the building obtained a quantity of the acid solution from the cleaning crew for hane use. Apparently neither the crew nor the Individual was aware of the action of hydrofluoric acid on glass, and the liquid was placed in a glass container which was left in ;a hallway to be picked up after work* The container was near, a doorway to One of the offices* About ten minutes before quitting time a menfcer of the buildlng aecurity force and a female.employee were standingi at[ the doorway apprarimately three feet from the glass container of hydrofluoric, add when it' burst, spraying acid and evolved gases on thea* The security officer received add burns on his back and an the backs of his legs which, were toward the container, and the woman who was facing the container received such injuries as to cause her death appropriately one hour later* i' -- It is a well-established chemical, factthat the action of hydrofluoric acid on glass evolves gas as a by-product* Thus the coinbined etching action of the acid on the glass container and the increased pressure produced by the gas build-up caused the container to burst with; the regrettable results above stated* Manganese as a Toxic Metal - The Division, initiated a manganese surveillance project with the report of two cases pf manganese poisoning in the manufacture of railroad track frog switches in one company, and the possibility of a third case in another establishment* Some of the primary loca^ns of exposure to manganese are: 1, steel plants - pouring of the metal and ^crushing and . sizing of the ferro-manganese metal} , 2, welding - the use of manganese-coated electrodes; 3, manufacture of manganese carbonyl - evolvement ofmanganesevapors; and li., . scrap yards - the cutting (burning) of metal containing manganese* I,' I >- :."1' :.V', . ., .... Alttough no additional frank cases of clinical manganese toxicity have been demonstrated, to date, high values of manganese in urines have been found* " ; '-"'u - ^ .rX--^ This study is continuing and the locations of the positive results are being 'kept under strict surveiilahcb*, jM'U' ^ - .m> Occupational Health for Nurses1 - ,. .. , ..lt -t. u . A full-tlae, five-day course in oceupational health for registered professional nurses in industry will be offered beginning Monday, November 6, 1965 by the Department of Environmental Medicine of New Tork University Medical Center, in cooperation with the American Association of Industrial Nurses* The course is United to mines with experience of five years or 'less in occupational health* The programwillbe under the direction of Dr* David H* Goldstein, professor ofenriroosental medicine* 'Sara P* Nhgner, R.N., will serve as coordi nator for the nurse faculty* This is the tenth consecutive year that the course has been given* ! -V'H y;:. v V. 'y V ' ` 5 ,r- Instruction will consist of lectures and conferences given by the combined medical and nursing faculty of the Medical Center* Subjects to be covered during,1 the week include: occupational hudth nursing as viewed by management, the physician and . the nursejenvironnental hasards) safety; mental health, individual and gnrap behavior in an Industrial setting;: counselling and interview techniques; legal aspects of nursing in industry (malpractice and workmen's compensation); rehabilitation; aikl retirement and the problema ,of older workers; 4-'y: y .i: i 4, :y : ALCOA0000010384 5 Tuition will be $75* Course #484* Applications should be sent to the Office of the Recorder, New Tork University Post-Graduate Medical School, $50 First Avenue, New Tork, N.I. 10016. Personnel Changes - When Gerald Kasnerski, Industrial Rygienist 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 not? -- After appropriate interviews Miss Patricia Bradley has been appointed Industrial Rygienist I in Region VII. In this capacity she will be the first of the fairer sex to hold such a position in this division since World War II days. We wish her well. -- Other appointments to Industrial Rygienist I positions include: James Woodring and Norman Brown, Region III and George Tomchick, Region II. Barry Lewis and Joseph Flanagan are new Radiation Health Physicists I and II 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 contaminants. Of particular interest was the exposure during inter mittent manufacture (5-day run every two months) of a lead molybdate-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 Mines 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 exposure to lead dust. In actual practice during our sampling periods, the men 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 3.7 milligrams per cubic meter of air. The threshold limit value is 0.2 mg/m3, based on exposure over an eight-hour working day. Urine lead concentrations ranged from 0.15 to 0.33 mg/liter im mediately after the finish of a five-day run and from 0.07 to 0.13 mg/liter two weeks later with no additional lead exposure. Urine lead concentrations ex ceeding 0.15 mg/liter are usually indicative of excessive lead exposure. As per our recommendations, the company plans to tighten exposure controls, increase the coverage of the local exhaust ventilating system and evaluate employees with blood-lead determinations. **** Another ease 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 twenty such firms surveyed, two have had serious contamination problems and most did not have adequate control measures. Few plant officials knew of the health hazards associated with the use of mercury. In one instance, mercury contamination was detected on the living room rug in the plant owner's residence (0.01 milligram per cubic meter of air). In all cases, appropriate recommendations were made. ALCOAOOOOO10385 ; . ... v . . , :K ',i. - - . ;r , , V'-' \ ' /v vi:;-\ During the put two months, surveys were "conducted to evaluate exposures to organic mercury dust at several seedptreating establishments. Either methyl mercury 2,3-dihydroxy propyl mercaptide; or methyl mercury dlcyandlaalde 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 001 milligram per cubic meter of air), particularly in areas where no control measures are utilised. One of the companies contacted the equipment manufacturer airi, as a result, the manu facturer designed local exhaust ventilating equipment for the machine and for the machines they produce. The ventilation was subsequently installed* ' " ` 'V. ' ....................... ' , i. ; v. * ;* ,yi!' - v.y r4 'v* A report reached a regional offlce that a dairy farmer had received a* severe exposure to an l^batlng gal^whilecleaning and sanitising a ailk storage tank on his turn., Investigation disclosed that the incident occurred when the . farmer, on the advice of a neighbor, put about a gallon each of add.and eodiin hypochlorite solution in thetank before scrubbing it to give what be described as a "good cleaning*!, Chlorine gas wu genwated and dispersed into the air of ' the null milk house and the farmer pxuhAbiy received a significant exposure. He stated that he had difficulty getting his breath for several hours, but did not consult a physician, :--"C ; Acid and sodium hypochlorlte solution are normally used in separate steps in the cleaning and saMtizihgprocedurea for milking equipment and storage tanks on dairy farms. If used as directed, these materials should create no problem. As an extra precauUon, the dadry companie8 that collect milk in the area were asked to warn farmers not to mix acid cleaners' with chlorinated sani tizers, ! 1 V. r .is; " While traveling to the * site ** of a V' atone '>di-,r1- r: illing i operation to conduct a noise survey, the sound pressure level In a 3$6U state car was determined* The overall level ranged fra 68 to, 9$ deolbels depending oh the road conditions and speed. These noise levels are far greater than expected. An octave band analysis! showed mostof the nolae to be concentrated ln the low frequency bands (75 to 300 cycles per second) and; therefore not seriously objectionable. 1:'L w, :r,:' f -- i*.' sTrr?* Bie Division of Occupational Health would like to fill, its vacant for an Occupational Health fhjfsielan at the Harrisburg offices* The position is under Civil Service and the salary range is &2,075 - 116,170, with 3 weeks annual leave and 3 weeks annual sick leave* Same travel la neceasary and a driver's license is required* Vbr details contact Jahlieben, M.D., Director, Division of Oecupational Health, Pennsylvania Departnent of Health, P,0, Box 90, Barrisburg 17120, ., ' x^ -a'; ' ' H*; . `Cr .iM ] ; .J* ' ; ' ALCOAOOOOO10386 i ' \ ,ir. `