Document xjLK6LLpmwN7GvnrqRR74oM7b

6k . I- / i i Hygicnu Digest August, lr*60 fhc in*, H, in rvor) i eon* mg. i n\c .no* Krt* gatt.st ury j MinlfBiUtijni of Chronic Carbon Monoxide PoliBBlng. O. J. Gilbert and __ u. H, Glaser, Nuw England J, Med, 261, 1217*1220 (Dee, 10. 1959J. A case report from the Section of Nourology at Yale Unlveraity Illustrates the symptomatology and diaguoitie difficulties of this insidious and controversial disease, A policeman aged SO wai found durlrg his aecond admission to a hospital to have been exposed *.u - cjmmun source# of carbon monoxide, duty In heavy traffic tu\d In a badly ventilated ;uruge where police-car radios were often charged by gasoline-driven generators. After* vksids a third source was a gasolJno-drivon farm tractor with iho exhaust at head UvU. >:ring the fir*; admission the diagnosis was psychomotor seizures and cerebral atrophy, poshly .-elated to an old head injury. Treatment with anti-convulsent drugs which he had had for u years was continued. Ho returned to work improved In health but was re-sdmittod t. months later, iho occupational history was investigated. Chronic carbon monoxide poison* i".g was verified by finding the blood to be 207* saturated with carbon monoxide 30 hours after erasing work. Treatment was stopped. He remained essentially asymptomatic exetpt during the tractor episode. The oymptoms, which bad begun 4 years previously during traffic duty, wsro anorexia, weight loss, a fluctuating organic mental syndrome and recurrent episodes of unconsciousness, each attack preceded by dizziness and ataxia, usually in ths afternoon. Hyperthyroidism, suggested by sweating and fine tremor, was excluded by metabolic teats, the blood iodine being In the hypothyroid range and the radioactive iodine uptake normal. There was transient albuminuria. Serum glutamic oxdUcetlc transaminase was slightly ele vated. Serial electroencephalograms after withdrawal from exposure sbowedprogrossive scaring of focal and paroxysmal abnormalities, correlated with clinical improvement. ' - - Cond, from Bull, Hyg. t *54 Radiometric Extraction Method for Fluoride. Pyrolysle-.on Exchange Separation, \ W. J. Maeck, G. L, Dooman, M. C. Elliott, and J. E. Rein, J Anal. Ghent. 32, 922-925 (July 19401. J j A liquid-liquid extraction technique is used as the oasis for the quantitative deter- mination of fluoride. The sample, after pyrolysis or ion exchange treatment. Is added to a 1 hafnium solution containing hafniunt-181 traces, frioctylphciphlne is added and the extrsetiwn | carried out; the hafnium retained in the aqueous phase is measured. An inverse linear re- , ipynec is established for hafnium extraction vs. fluoride concentration. -- AC Briefs $ I for* lie* led es#i< e a** *gs**,1# ds- 4 V . f :.t s . V7 . > % -m .. .yvt ;:r^ Dynamics of Sulfur Dioxide Inhalation, Absorption. Distribution, and Retention. 07.J. Balchum, et ai. A.M.A, Arch. 2nd. Health 21.T 564*569 (June 19401. Sulfur dioxide Is readily absorbed from the upper and lower respiratory tract even *.iun Inhaled In low concentrations (1 ppm). It can be absorbed by the tracheal mucosa when the latter alone is exposed to a degree sufficient detrimentally to Influence pulmonary function, After absorption from the sites of deposition in the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, it la distri buted to all tissues, including the brain. It can still be detected in the trachea and lungs one *euk after exposure. The physiologic and metabolic effects of the prolonged inhalations of o*.level concentrations of sulfur dioxide are unknown, and experiments are now in progress in ur. attempt to obtain further data on this aspect of the effects of tbe Inhalation of low con- CiKtrationa of aulfur dioxide, -- Authors' summary Thu Role of Roastod Chromite Ore In the Production of Cancer. W. W ^rch. Environmental Health 20-26(July I960). Fractionation by particle size and analyslt of the residue from leeching roasted thrvmite ore Teveal that the smaller particles contain a higher percentage of hoxavalcnt brumium than the larger particles, This increases the acute toxielty of the smaller parti-i*i sice fractions which reach the lung by inhalation. The subcutaneous Injection in mice of 5.4-benzpyrene with the residue resulted in a lower incidence of tumors than when the ben*Pyrtne was injected alone or with very insoluble chromic phosphate. The incidence of tumors 13,