Document ykwK5VXMBKowmLGdqD32L3252

of Th* City Umvtrsicy of Now Voiic INSOLATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM Inrinc J. Svtlkoff, M.D., rrecram tMractM VoL 7 No 2 Summer 197S Identification System for Adhesives-Solvents Inadequate change and bbower facilities can lead to extensive amounts of asbestos and other dusts being brought home to contaminate workers' households. Here, the only change facilities on this construction site is an open trailer. Asbestos Disease Can Spread to Workers' Families A widening speerrum of asbestos disease has been found by Dr. Henry Anderson and other scientists of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In a study just completed of 326 family con tacts of former asbestos factory work ers. it has been found that 35% had X-ray abnormalities characteristic of asbestos exposure. These data were presented by Dr. Anderson on March 24th to the Conference on Occupa tional Carcinogenesis held at the New York Academy of Sciences. The family members potentially af fected included all in the household; it was not simply the wife of the worker, who would shake dust from her hus band's clothes before washing them. Affected were children, brothers, and sisters, as well as wives. It would ap pear that the dust had been present throughout the household, brought home on the clothes of the factory workers. The workers were employed at a fac tory that manufactured amosite insula tion material, often for use in Naval ships, but also widely used in power plants and industrial insulation. It oper ated from 1941 through 1954. Many of the workers whose families later devel oped signs of asbestos exposure were employed for relatively short periods of time. The dust exposures to the family members, however, could have been longer. Asbestos, once in the house, is difficult to remove, and exposures could continue long after cessation of the husband's or father's employment. In other studies by Mount Sinai re search workers, asbestos dust has been found still present in households of continued on page 4 It is now possible to report that prog ress is being made on the development of an identification system for hazard ous materials, including adhesive ce ment, sealants, and similar products used in applying insulation materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has an advisory com mittee which has developed the basic principles of an identification system. This committee, under the direction of Roy Resnick, has met with Roy Steinfurth. Administrator of the Insulators' Health Hazards Program, and Duncan A. Holaday, of the Mount Sinai School ofMedicine, to review the special prob lems associated with the use of adhe sives in the insulation industry. Hazards Identified The OS HA committee has decided on the bask principles of an identifica tion system which will be applkable to a variety of industrial products. Signal words, such as "Danger." "Cau tion," and "Warning" will be used to show degree of hazard. The principal types of hazards will be identified by words such as "Flammable" or "Health Hazard" and statements list ing additional information needed for protection will also be required. Some identification of the principal component will also be given. Particu larly hazardous substances, such as wood alcohol, benzene, xylene, and toluene will be required to be named if they compose more than stated percen tages of the product. Altogether, this could mean that labels on industrial products would be as informative as those now required on products in tended for household use. This would indeed be an improve ment over the present situation. Cur- eontinued on page J UCTC 17206 Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports Vol. 7 No. 2 Summer 1975 from the Insulatioh Industry Hygiene Research Program Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Pti.D.. Published at the Environmental Science* Ljhorjior\ timnui. Sclikott. M.D . Director). Mount Smut School ot Medicine of the Citv UmvcrMtv of New York. N Y 10029 Advisory Council of IIHRP trying J. Selikoff. M.D.. Program Director and Chairman E. Cuylcr Hammond. Sc.D.. Vice President. American Cancer Society. New York. N.Y. Andrew Haas, Genera) President. International Association of Heat and Frost insulators and As bestos Workers, Washington. D.C. PURPOSES OF THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM 1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insu lation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption. Self-Contained Supplied-Air Respirator Available The removal of old asbestos- last year and manufactured by the 3-M containing material continues to be a Occupational Health and Safely Pro major source of exposure to insulation ducts Division, will operate for over workers. While rip-out is only done oc four hours and provide protection in the casionally. the dust concentrations dur dustiest of environments during re ing this procedure can be so high that moval of asbestos material. The res special respiratory protection must be pirator weighs only 10 pounds. There is used. Often, asbestos fiber concentra no resistance to breathing, no conden tions exceed 100 fibers per milliliter. 20 sation of moisture, and face fit is not of times the current standard. particular importance. According to the OSHA Asbestos Standard, employees engaged in the Maintenance Important removal or demolition of pipes, struc The respirator should, however, be tures, or equipment covered or insu checked periodically by personnel lated with asbestos must use type "C" familiar with its operation. Any re continuous flow or pressure-demand placement parts required should be supplied-air respirators. In addition, those of the manufacturer, and their in special coveralls, gloves, and shoe structions for servicing and repair coverings are to be employed to prevent should be followed carefully. contamination of clothing by asbestos Other supplied-air breathing devices fibers. are available in which cylinders of oxy On jobs where externally supplied gen or of compressed air are carried by air from tanks or compressors is availa the worker. Several approved types ble, a variety of hoods may be obtained exist but they are more complicated to for connection to the air source. Often, use and more cumbersome than the however, a supply of breathable air is previously described battery-powered not readily available, or the use of a air filtering unit. Moreover, those using long air hose may give rise to safety compressed air have a maximum use risks. time of only 30 minutes before a new Battery-Powered Unit Available cylinder must be obtained. Those using oxygen have a longer operating time, Additionally, if air is supplied by but require chemical filtering of compressors, provisions must be made exhaled air. to remove oil and water mists and to The half-face dust respirators com insure that carbon monoxide does not monly available on job sites are not get into the system through improper suitable for use during removal of as placement of the air intake. bestos insulation materials. The use of in such circumstances, a battery- such respirators is limited to conditions powered air cleaner and hood have spe in which dust concentrations are less cial utility. One model, available in the than ten times the existing standard. The face piece of a self-contained supplied-iir respirator. It will operate for four hours using a rechargeable battery. A diagram of the battety pack, fan motor, and filter of the respirator. It weighs 10 pounds. UCTC 17207 Conference Held on Occupational Cancer In the recently concluded New York A paper by Dr. Robert Morgan, of Academy of Sciences Conference on the University of Toronto, related Occupational Carcinogenesis, a variety cancer of the larynx with asbestos ex of research studies were presented con posure. This cancer, as lung cancer, is cerning the health of asbestos workers. also strongly related to cigarette smok Of prime importance was the presenta ing. Similar data have been found tion on the presence of asbestos disease among insulation workers, where a in the family members of workers dis threefold increase in laryngeal cancer cussed in the lead article of this issue. has been found in research of Dr. Irving Asbestos -Like Exposure Studied J. Selikoffofthe Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Among other studies were a report Participants at the conference not on the morbidity and mortality among only considered causes of occupational hardrock miners exposed to an asbes- cancer, but some also offered sug tiform mineral. Here, a study by the gestions for medical surveillance National Institute for Occupational and treatment. Several researchers dis Safety and Health investigated the cussed the usefulness of sputum cytol health of underground metal miners ogy, in which ceils coughed up from the with exposure to a fibrous mineral vir lung are screened for indications of tually identical to amosite asbestos, a possible cancer. material used extensively in marine in sulation and also formerly in much pipe More Effective Surgery Possible covering and asbestos block. Studies of former asbestos workers In an analysis of 70 deaths, a and of uranium miners suggest that lung threefold increase in lung cancer was cancer can be detected in its very early found. Additionally, a review of chest stages, offering the hope for more ef X-rays showed pulmonary fibrosis to fective surgery. Needless to say, how be present in the group of workers, even ever, the best prevention for asbestos though the fiber concentrations that cancer is to not breathe the fibers in the were measured in the mine were only first place. 0.24 fibers per milliliter, one-twentieth Finally, a review of the suitability of of the current U.S. Asbestos Standard. the current U.S. Asbestos Standard Fibrous Class Analysis was presented by Dr. William Nichol son of the Insulation Hygiene Research A second report by scientists from Program. In his presentation, he dis NIOSH also is of interest to insulation cussed the factors that limited the cur workers. David L. Bayliss presented rent standard's effectiveness for pro data on deaths among fibrous glass pro tecting asbestos workers and urged that duction workers. No unusual mortality as technology is developed, it be im was found in the large majority of mediately implemented in the asbestos workers. This was to be expected, as industry to reduce asbestos exposure to these workers had been exposed pre the lowest feasible level, as rapidly as dominantly to large diameter fibers possible. which would not be carried into the The conference marked the two hun deeper segments of the lungs. dredth anniversary of the first research However, it was suggested that one paper published on occupational car group of workers, exposed in the past to cinogenesis, that by Percivall Pott on thinner fibers, could have an increased scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps. In risk of respiratory cancer. This is of his opening remarks, the conference special importance as these small co-chairman. Dr. Joseph K. Wagoner diameter fibers are now ofter used in of NIOSH, decried the slow progress in stead of asbestos in high temperature controlling occupational cancers in insulation material. modem industry. Labels Necessary for Hazardous Materials continual jrom pave I rently. many labels give inadequate in formation. or none at all. on what hazards might be involved or vv hat pre cautions should be followed. Procedure Guides S'aewos The advisory committee has very important additional tasks. These in clude the preparation of use guides and training materials which will describe actions to be taken and procedures to be followed when certain statements ap pear on the labels. For example, how should products labeled "Danger--Extremely Flam mable" be stored and applied? What action is called for when the words "use only with adequate ventilation" appear on the label? The Occupational Safety and Health Act places the responsibility on the employer for protecting his employees, but it is obvious that many small employers need assistance in deciding what protective measures are required for various situations. Workmen will also need instructions on how to trans late labels into protective action. .Vo Serious Objections Expected It is probable that the larger manufac turers will not have serious objections to an identification system: indeed, they now comply with similar regula tions for household products. Small manufacturers may find preparing the Materials Hazards Data Sheets a large task and also may object to disclosure of the composition of their products. As the system will probably not cal! for specific identification of low-hazard compounds but only a statement such as "Petroleum Distillate" or "Alco hols", it seems these objections could be resolved. It is anticipated that the advisory committee report will be completed by continued on page 4 UCTC 17208 Dust Brought Home Can Affect Family T*o asbestos workers cutting block. Relatively little dust is dispersed into the air . . . Asbestos Disease Can Spread to Workers' Families continued from page i of individual worker hygiene and demonstrates the need for adequate changing facilities and showers. Under these former factory workers 20 years no circumstances should dusty clothes after closure of the plant. be brought into the home, even to be put Mesothelioma, a cancer often linked into the washing machine. They should to asbestos exposure, has also been be washed separately, preferably by a found among these family members. commercial industrial laundry service Of 252 deaths so far identified among equipped to handle asbestos contami household contacts of these former nated work clothes. workers, two have been from pleural For family contacts who suspect they mesothelioma. Additionally, two other have been exposed to considerable mesothelioma cases have been iden household contamination, medical sur tified in living members of this group. veillance is in order. The family physi These cases have the following his cian should be told the exposure history tories: so that X-ray and chest examinations A.C.: The 40-sear-old son of a man and subsequent medical problems can w ho v, orked from 1945 through 1948 be closely monitored for possible in the plant, when the son was II symptoms of past asbestos exposure at years old. home. B.P.: The 41-sear-old daughter of This current report by Dr. Anderson the plant's chief engineer. is only the most recent in a series of I.Y.: The 42-year-old daughter of a scientific publications that show family man ss ho had worked in the plant for and environmental asbestos risk. As five years. The family lived near the early as 1960. scientists reported cases plant and the daughter used to bring of mesothelioma in individuals who her father lunch every day. when she had had no prior occupational exposure ssas 10 sears old. to asbestos. L.N.. A 52-sear-old woman who. at Later, mesothelioma cases were re the age of 13. lived in the home of her ported in individuals whose only identi brother-in-law while he worked at fiable asbestos exposure was associated the plant for six months. Prior to with their having lived within one-half that, she lived one-half mile from the mile of an asbestos manufacturing facil plant and played frequently in the ity or in households of asbestos work homes of friends whose fathers ers. Dr. Anderson's findings show that worked in the plant. such problems may turn out to be quite The results of this study dramatize common and that more persons than the need for stringent dust control and suspected may be at risk from asbestos cleanup in situations where asbestos is exposure, and require appropriate sur used. It also heightens the importance veillance. ... but much is falling on theirclothes and shoes and may be carried home. Label Report Available Soon continued from page 3 June 15. 1975. Following this report, proposed regulations would be pre pared. published in the Federal Regis ter. comments received, revised regula tions prepared, and hearings held. After the hearings. Final regulations would be drawn up and promulgated. The full processcould well take a year. However, when the committee re port becomes available, further discus sions will be held between representa tives of the insulators and OS HA. to determine which of the recommenda tions can be implemented without wait ing for regulations to be promulgated. This situation is not limited to pro ducts used by insulators, but is wide spread throughout ihe construction in dustry. Members of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, especially, have need of adequate labeling of the products they use. Progress is being made but much still needs to be done to insure that when regulations are adopted, they will be effective. Here, the Asbestos Workers. Painters, and other affected union members should review the published recommendations to verify that the proposed labeling is adequate for the materials they use and the instructional materials supplied for the use of hazardous materials arc clearly written and understandable. UCTCJ7209