Document ypgN7e9XLEjVv5zOLmq9mXvY6

July, 19341 HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 231 ery are of interest from the viewpoint of accidents, but need not be discussed in this report which is confined to the determination of health hazards. Plant Hygiene Illumination --While most of the foundries studied have a large window area, thus permitting the use of natural illumination in the vicinity of the windows, the majority require advantageously. The use of bare lamps is to be discouraged from the standpoint of operating economy and on account of the glare, which is annoying to workers. Steel reflectors having a porcelain enamelled reflecting surface are well adapted to foundry work. Special treatment of foundry illumination is almost a necessity, owing to the darkness of the materials used, which absorb a great deal of Fig. 2.--Standard Light Field Fig. 3--Modified Dark Field some system of artificial lighting. It is recognized that an adequate supply of natural light is desirable and it could be more generally used by providing a systematic method of cleaning of windows. It was noticed that in some instances, where the windows were not cleaned for a long period, the glass had become rustpitted and almost opaque, resulting in the transmission of very little light. Artificial light is not always used light, and on account of the smoke, steam and dust in the air, through which the light must penetrate. A large volume of light is required and can be secured by large lamps or clusters of smaller units, hung low enough and equipped with reflectors and diffusing globes which direct the light downward in order to distribute properly the light on the work. Where bench work or machine mold ing is done, the general illumination 1 July, 1934} HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 233 Because of the hot dry sand and the mechanical means o' o ndling castings subjected to the Bnaaing out opera tions, clouds of fine silica dust are set up which penetrate the entire foundry atmosphere, thus exposing practically every worker to the dust. In found ries where heavy castings are shaken out by means of suspending the mold with a crane and applying a vibrator hammer, fewer workmen would be exposed to the dust if the operations were carried out in a separate room or, preferably, outside the foundry proper. In the case of small castings, the shaking out operation can be done over a grate attached to an exhaust or in a separate room. Where the mold ing is done on the foundry floor and a sand cutter is used for sand condi tioning, the shaking out operation should be begun preferably at the end of the working period, thus ex posing the least number of foundry workers to the resulting dust. Suf ficient time would elapse for the dust to settle before the beginning of the next working day. Cores are now effectively removed from castings by washing with high pressure streams of water inside a cabinet or outdoors. This operation eliminates the dust hazard due to hand removing and cleaning. 3. Cleaning operations.--Casting cleaning by means of chipping, grind ing, and Kind blasting is sometimes carried on in a separate department, but it is common practice to conduct these operations in the foundry proper at almost any convenient location that has the advantage of the least amount of handling. Proper hoods and exhausts for entrapping dust arising from grinding wheels, and mechanical maintenance of a good type of sand blast cabinet, together with the use of an efficient type of respirator by operators, will greatly aid in safeguarding the workers. Hakmtulness or Silica Dtjst The hazard of silica dust with special reference to the lungs has long been appreciated. It has been firmly estab lished that the inhalation of this dust results in a fibrosis of the lungs, which disease is known as "silicosis,'' and its presence, for some reason yet illdefined, results in extraordinary pre disposition to pulmonary tuberculosis. It should be borne in mind that sili cosis develops very slowly, taking from five to fifteen and even twenty to twenty-five years to become estab lished. This rate of progress is in fluenced mainly by the dosage of silica which the lungs receive and this dosage, in turn, depends upon three variables: the amount of silica in the dust, the quantity and particle size of dust in the air, and the extent of exposure. Individual idiosyncrasy might be included as a fourth variable. However, little is known of the varia tions in susceptibility in those exposed to dust. In an investigation of granite cut ting plants (7), conducted by the United States Public Health Service, most of the workers were found to be exposed to an average of about 60,000,000 particles of dust of less than 10 microns in greatest diameter, per cubic foot of air. The dust con tained about 70 per cent, silica, of which about 35 per cent, was in the form of quartz or free silica. Under such conditions, there was an almost universal occurrence of silicosis among so P o- o cr g * * C3 Q. ft zr Sar. 23 cr *0 3 g co co 13 2. p 5* St D * 2O?. 0Xi*O*o^ *"3 2rl. S. - 5OQ* H O g-P aa gniai ggg _ S-- S: 3 E S' i; g 3 f IEEfftt3r: 5-1 t g s i fir U!i*B SSf 3E rgSE H's s<g E?-" o-S ST O , M-O' fctr :: :: -. .. ; : * : : o. ; ::::::: :: : . Z-' . . o' . !!!!:!! ;; Er < ................................................................................... r* *5 million million parti- particle* el4t 9 3 2.5 9.4 14 5 20 3 13 0 12 2 11.8 22 6 4.8 59 5 5.4 65 8 10.0 11 9 20 3 95 80 51 0 SS 00 C7> S^5 "* C> V o a Oi S ik 3 " * o o. a It! *4 S a> * o ceftoftt*. A Mm rr -J D a.? | ic-.f 'S f$| *g ?! 5;? * $1 * f-jj' 3 ? 5 t** "S v t>* SB t a^ mpaillritoin cle* 15.7 31 2 7.8 So -- S Ok ^ -- C: C7 *-* -- 2C 8 tk. 5 ks oo oo bo co oS Oi ik o CO c* m 8 >0 cn CO ot jls* jj ot ** K rs 1 io * B |lsi 3mi 'S Cn a.? & _? i-- ^ t| 3 in\00 ilk ca -4 W 0) -11 t O" '."] 3N3I0AH TVIHlSflCINI 30 IVNHHOf 3HJL D ust C ounts by Plants and Processes Grey iron foundries 92Z 1 * I s oo d d "s s -9 c0*$ 4c Cu Qc **3* *- e Cst) c e * d <d oi cd 3 h eCa 2 ;5 g 3 3 I .5 II ts -S "HO3 ,-> c E -S " -2 O 'EV.'S4>.'EV. *S E E 6 ' sF BD . TLcs-as .2 | 2 g .5 -S 1 1 1 2 -2 J* 1. Coremaking: a. H and.............................................................................. b. Machine......................................................................... 2. Corerubbing............................................................................... 3. M olding: a. Hand bench.................................................................. b. Hand floor.................................................................... c. Machine and hand bench........................................... 1. Sandalingers......................................................... 2. Jar and squeeze................................................... 3. Bumper................................................................. d. R oll-over....................................................................... "S *2 Sjs BD 3Z eS . >> o 1 e b'S *K M 5 U3 E<AJ } i 00 BD sj * 8 if> 00 ,, ^ -w CO 00 00 3 i 1 i" cM -- Ok u*5 & ift <r> 9 go ^ to gd * iO ^ og CO *r 2 "8 C tz PLANT Qt i 00 ift cs id 00 1 56. ! - t> id .5 * EI a "i ! < w W N oo gj i- d po iE * g CO a> iq ed d ob Ia a i t- CO CO eo ^ r* & o 239 July, 19S4\ HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY July, 1984] HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 241 in the foundrymen's work which operates to produce a high incidence of respiratory affections among them. What few statistics there are on the incidence of disabling sicknesses and of the incidence of physical impair ments among these workers, support respiratory disease mortality of foundiymen. In the following paragraphs, we shall discuss the main findings of these investigations: Combined group mortality experi ence.--1929-1980 (10).--Table V was compiled from the report entitled years 50 and over 40-49 30-39 20-29 Under 20 Not given Doubtful Doubtful Positive Doubtful Doubtful TABLE II Age Groups GEET IEOH TEEL 1 > | i z 1 1 t MALLEABLE JBON MOM-rEBBOUE METAL sS ! ss 1 i 11 6 13 6 i 3 i 0 2 0 0 0 14 7 29 11 3 9 0 1 0 1 1 0 7 6 22 7 0 12 3 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 13 3 2 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 00 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 0 0 3 0 4 0 0 0 Total examined .. 32 20 78 27 6 29 7 2 9 1 1 3 TABLE III Years op Exposure GREY IRON BTEEL MALLEABLE IRON NON-VERROU* METAL Doubtful Doubtful Positive Doubtful Doubtful years 15 and over 10-15 5-10 Under 5 Not given m | M 1 ? Zz 2; 4) 1 c1 Z 5 I c z 19 9 18 12 2 8 1 2 i 1 i 2 5 3 13 5 1 7 2 0 i 0 0 1 5 7 29 8 1 7 3 0 2 0 0 0 3 1 18 2 2 7 1 0 3 0 0 0 00 00 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Total examined . 32 20 78 27 6 29 7 2 9 1 1 3 the findings of the mortality inves tigations. Three recent mortality investiga tions, made by American life insurance companies, and a report of the Reg istrar General of England and Wales show clearly how unfavorable is the "Combined Group Mortality Experi ence 1922-1930" published by the Committee on Group Mortality In vestigations, July 17, 1931. The Committee analyzed the mortality records of employees of industrial concerns insured under Group Life 242 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [x, no. 4 Insurance contracts written by six large American and Canadian insur ance companies. All employees of a particular company, regardless of oc cupation, are classified under but one industry. It is more than twice that for workers in any of the industries selected for comparison. More than one-third of all the deaths among foundry workers were caused by some respiratory disease, whereas but little more than TABLE IV Bt Occupation amsT 1 eon RIB. MALLEABLE IEOH MOw-rsBBOue METAL l lt 1 3 *-0 1 f 1 e 1 2 ja t| 1 Doubtful sr 1 z 1 1 3 2 9 f 1 5Molding................................................. 7 5Coremaking......................................... 2 3 3 52 5 0 1 2 1 l 1 40 20 1 1 00 1 Pouring metal.................................... 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chipping ............................................. 0 0 2 5 1 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 Sand blasting...................................... 1 2 9 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 Tumbler operators ...................... 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 Sand conditioning............................. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sand cutter..................................... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Sand mixing........................................ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Annealing............................................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 Melter (electric furnace)................ 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Poke out............................................... 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Shake-out............................................. 1 2 7 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grinding (awing or atand)............. 3 0 5 2 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Steel treating .................................. 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Flame cutter....................................... 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Machine repairer............................... 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Foundry laborer................................. 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Cleaning mill operator.................... 0 0 0 0 0 Craneman............................................. 0 1 0 2 1 000 10 01 0 00 00 40 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 Welding................................................. 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cleaning room laborer.................... 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cupola tender.................................... 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Enameller............................................ 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Painter.................................................. 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Not given............................................ 14 6 38 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Total examined.............................. 32 20 78 27 6 29 7 2 9 1 1 3 The death rate for respiratory diseases (including all forms of tuber culosis and influenza) for iron and steel foundry workers, is shown to be about two and one-third times that for workers in all industries combined. one-fifth of the deaths of workers in other industries were due to these caufes. Table VI is also based upon the Combined Group Mortality Experi ence. It presents death rates by ages July, 1984] HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 243 for influenza, tuberculosis (all forms), for foundry workers for each of the and other diseases of the respiratory respiratory diseases throughout the TABLE V Deaths from Respiratory Diseases* per 1,000 Life Years Exposed (Combined Group Mortality Experience 1922-1630); All Ages INDUSTRY UR THAIS nmiD DEATH BATS put 1,000 ru cent RSSPIRATOET mm or TOTAL DHATH0 Steel and iron foundries.......................................... 8beet metal products (stamping and pressing)...... Light metal products (tools, hardware, etc.)......... Heavy machinery and other heavy metal products. Bituminous coal mining--underground.................. All industries........................................................... 450,012 206,196 1,070,598 620,024 153,407 20,353,369 3.39 1.42 1.65 1.53 1.54 1.45 33.9 23.0 22.7 22.1 15.5 20.9 * Influenza and tuberculosis (all forms) are included. TABLE VI Deaths from Respiratory Diseases* per 1,000 Life Years Exposed (Combined Group Mortality Experience 1922-1930) (A) Steel and iron foundry employees--450,012 years of life exposed. (B) All industries-- 20,353,360 years of life exposed 1 * 3 4` 6 * * 10 11 II 13 CENTRAL AGE TOTAL RHSPIRATORT DISEASES* A B AfB IHTLUENIA AB TUBERCULOSIS (ALL rORMS) AB OTHER RESPIRATORY DISEASES PSRCSHT. RMFIRA- TORT DISEASE DEATHS OP TOTAL DEATHS Per A B A B cent A/B 18 1.12 0.76 147 0 14 0.04 0.19 0.45 0.79 0.26 34.8 32.8 106 23 1.67 0.83 201 0.06 0.04 0.48 0.51 1.14 0.27 44.0 32.6 135 28 2.09 0.86 243 0 08 0.04 0.57 0.48 1 45 0.34 48.7 30.8 158 33 2.57 0.97 265 0.11 0.06 0.91 0.45 1.55 0.45 51.7 29.3 177 38 3 25 1.24 262 0.16 0.08 0.87 0.51 2.22 0.65 47.3 27.8 170 43 3.53 1.52 232 0.29 0.10 0 89 0.57 2.35 0.86 40.6 24.7 164 48 4.31 1.91 226 0.21 0.12 1.00 0.64 3.10 1.16 35.8 21.8 164 53 5.08 2.31 220 0.19 0.15 1.36 0.65 3.52 1.50 33.0 18.1 182 58 5.73 2.98 192 0.38 0.22 1.19 0.66 4.15 2.11 26.5 16.1 164 63 7 64 4.09 187 0.47 0.30 1.01 0.80 6.16 2.99 21.9 13.7 159 68 9.60 5 40 178 0.56 0.42 1.55 0.81 7.48 4.17 18.2 12.4 147 73 11.51 7.84 147 0.68 0.78 1.02 0.75 9.81 6.31 14.5 12.2 119 78 and over 15.10 12.40 122 0.79 1.19 0.79 0.77 13.51 10.44 12.7 11.5 110 All ages 3.39 1.45 234 0.18 0.10 0.83 0.54 2.38 0.82 33.9 20.9 162 * Includes tuberculosis (all forms) and influenza. system, as well as for this group of causes as a whole. The striking fact brought out by this table is the uniformly high death rates working period of life. Foundrymen have a rate for influenza lower than that for all workers combined only at central age 73, their rate for tubercu 244 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [xvi, no. 4 losis is lower only at central ages 18 and 23, while their rate for other diseases of the respiratory system is markedly in excess at all ages. Comparing the crude death rates for all ages combined, it is found that the influenza death rate for foundrymen exceeds the average by about 80 per cent, while their rate for tuberculosis is 54 per cent in excess. Most out- is largely responsible for the high rate reported in this investigation for other diseases of the respirator^ Bystem. Evidence of the excessive mortality among foundrymen will be found in the graphic presentation of the data em bodied in columns 2 and 3 of Table VI. This is crudely presented in the graph shown in Fig. 4. Joint occupation Study--1928 (11).-- Fig. 4.--All Respiratory Diseases Deaths per thousand life years exposed. Intercompany group mortality experience 1922-1930. Employees of steel and iron foundries 450,012 years. All occupations 20,353,369 years. standing is the high rate for other respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bron chitis, etc.) where the foundrymen's rate was nearly three times that for all workers combined. Unfortu nately, deaths from pneumonia were not separately distinguished. Other studies have indicated that this disease is the leading cause of death among foundrymen. Undoubtedly this cause This study covers persons insured in twelve large life insurance companies under Ordinary plans ($1,000 or more) during the years 1915-1926. As a measure of the effect of employment on the mortality rate, the ratio of actual to expected deaths was used. The number of deaths which would be expected to occur from respiratory diseases among the group of persons July, 1934} HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 245 engaged in each foundry occupation, assuming that they experienced the same death rate as Standard lives, was computed. The number of expected deaths thus calculated was then com pared with the number which actually occurred. Iron and steel molders, founders, and casters, constitute the largest foundry group represented in the investigation. In fact, this is the only group reported upon which of itself had a sufficient number of deaths to give significant results. It is worthy of mention first that more deaths were recorded from pneumonia among these workers than from any other cause. Where there might have been expected twelve deaths from this cause, there were actually 38, giving a ratio of actual to expected deaths of 315 per cent. Twenty-four deaths were recorded for respiratory tubercu losis where 13 might have been ex pected, giving a ratio of 179 per cent., while the ratio for influenza was 216 per cent., based on 23 actual as com pared with 11 expected deaths. A similar situation was found for mold ers, founders and casters of brass and bronze, except that the ratios in general were higher than for iron molders and deaths from tuberculosis were more numerous than from pneu monia. The number of deaths, how ever, were few. There were seven deaths from tuberculosis where 1.3 was expected; five from pneumonia where 1.1 was expected, and four deaths from influenza where one was expected. All the other foundry occupations showed high ratios of actual to ex pected deaths for each of the respira tory causes. Few deaths were re corded for each class, but taken together the results are significant. Causes of death by occupation (12).-- The occupational mortality of adult white male Industrial policyholders of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company who died during the years 1922-1924 is reported upon in this investigation. Since the number of living policyholders in each occupation class was not known, death rates could not be calculated. The method of analysis employed was to compare the proportion of deaths due to any one cause in any one specified occupation group, with the proportion due to the same cause among all occupied white males. Here again we find that pneumonia was the leading cause of death among foundry workers, a condition not true of any of the other 71 occupations included in the analysis. Deaths from pneumonia accounted for 15.9 per cent, of the deaths from all causes, while deaths from tuberculosis ac counted for 14.6 per cent. The com bined group of respiratory diseases was responsible for slightly more than one-third of all the deaths of foundrymen, compared with slightly less than one-fourth of the deaths of all occupied workers. When differences in the age com position of the two groups were taken into account, it was determined that the proportion of deaths from pneu monia was 120 per cent, higher for foundrymen than for occupied males generally. In the same way, the proportion of deaths from influenza was found to be 82 per cent, higher, that for tuberculosis of the respiratory system 5 per cent, higher, and that for other respiratory diseases, 17 per cent, higher. Report of the registrar-general of England and Wales--1921 (13).--Con 246 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [nt, no. 4 firmation of American insurance ex perience is afforded by this compre hensive analysis of English population statistics covering the occupational mortality of males in England and Wales during the years 1921-1923. Three classes of foundry workers were reported upon--metal molders, iron foundry fumacemen and laborers, and brass foundry fumacemen and laborers. Standardized death rates (ages 20-65) were given for each of the important causes of death. The foundrymen's mortality is shown to exceed that for all occupied and retired males for each of the respiratory diseases. So far as re spiratory tuberculosis is concerned, the excess was slight in two of the classes, being but 7 per cent, in excess for metal molders, and 1 per cent for iron foundry fumacemen and laborers. The rate for brass foundry fumacemen and laborers, however, was more than twice that for all occupied and retired males. Brass foundry workers, curi ously enough, also had the highest death rates for each of the other respiratory diseases. Their death rate for bronchitis exceeded the average by 99 per cent., that for influenza by 121 per cent., and that for pneumonia by 149 per cent. Iron foundry workers had the next highest death rates for each disease. Their excess mortality ranged from 79 per cent, for influenza to 127 per cent, for pneumonia. Metal molders had the lowest rate for each class except for tuberculosis. Their rates for non-tuberculous respir atory diseases exceeded the average by from 41 per cent, for influenza, to 72 per cent, for bronchitis. As a protection to the employer as well as the employees, it seems advis able to select not only workers who are skilled and competent, but also those who are physically fit for the work. This can only be accomplished through a physical examination, which should include an X-ray examination when indicated. In view of the serious results frequently following long ex posures in dusty atmospheres, all such men should be repeatedly re-examined so that if evidence of disease develops it can promptly be checked. The Lead Hazard in Foundries Studied Three of the foundries studied, J, K, and O, have brass foundries for the casting of bearing metal. Air samples taken at the breathing level of the workmen and analyzed for lead showed the concentrations given in Table VII. Toxicity of lead.--A relatively small number of studies have been published concerning the quantitative aspects of lead poisoning. Legge and Goadby have stated as their belief that 2 mg. of lead was the lowest dose which, in haled by a worker each day, would in the course of a year set up chronic lead poisoning. Teleky, a distinguished German industrial hygienist, is re ported by Oliver as believing that a little more than a milligram per day is toxic. A recent investigation of lead poisoning in a storage battery plant by Russell et al. (14) indicates that the limit of safety under the conditions encountered in the study is an atmos pheric concentration of lead dust or fumes of less than 1.5 mg. per 10 cubic meters of air. For the purpose of such a study as the present, it is necessary to set rather arbitrarily some standard for the July, 1934] HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 247 minimal toxic dose, and it is presum ably fair to assume I mg. per day as the minimal toxic dose. It is assumed that a man working ten hours inhales 10 cubic metere of air. All of this air wouldnot reach the alveoli of the lungs, but this air would be drawn into the body and some of the dust or fumes drawn with it might be swallowed if not inhaled. Men exposed to lead should be examined at monthly intervals. An important part of the physical exami nation is an examination of the blood. Most of the recent research workers regard the blood and the blood forming Lead may cause the early development of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or chronic nephritis (kidney disease), as well as other degenerative changes which bear no apparent rela tion to lead poisoning. There are four signs which most frequently appear during the early stage of the disease: (a) the ashen color of the skin, (b) the lead line on the gums, (c) Btippling of the red blood cells, and (d) mild secondary anemia or other evidence of rapid peripheral destruc tion of blood, such as increased quan tity of blood pigment in the plasma or of hematoporphyrin in the urine. TABLE VII CUBIC PEET OP Aim SAMPLED MILLIGRAMS OF LEAD PER cubic poor or AIR MILLIGRAMS Or LEAD PER CUBIC METER or AIR LEAD INTAKE IK MILLIGRAMS IN 10-HOUR DAT OH BAKU OP WORK- MAM RREATHXMQ 10 CUBIC METERS or AIE Plant J .................................................. Plant K.................................................. Plant 0................................................... 24 3 50 0 74.5 0.06 0.02 0.04 2 11 0.71 1 41 21.1 7.1 14 1 system as the anatomical elements earliest affected by lead, and hold that by a microscopical examination of the blood of lead workers, lead absorption may be detected before symptoms develop, and when, therefore, it is possible for actual lead poisoning to be averted. Additional evidence of absorption is the presence of lead in the excreta and the appearance of a lead line in the gums. While neither the presence of lead in the urine and feces, nor the discoloration of the gums demonstrates in itself that there has been any injury to the organism, both signify that lead has been absorbed. Damage to body tissues may become manifest in many different ways. These conditions can only be discovered by careful and frequent medical exam inations of exposed individuals. Certain measures of hygiene are particularly important. Workmen should wear clean clothes while at work, and always keep them quite separate from those worn at other times. This requires two lockers, for if dusty clothes are hung at night where street clothes hang during the day, contamination can hardly be prevented. An excellent arrangement used by many plants consists in build ing locker rooms on either side of the shower room. Men are required to leave work clothing in one locker and pass into the shower room. After 248 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [xri, no. 4 taking a shower they pass along to the next locker room where they dress in street clothes. Smoking or chewing tobacco, if the hands are at all dirty, involves the danger of ingestion of lead; and as food may also be con taminated in the same way, provision should be made for ample washing facilities and for eating in rooms completely removed from the lead hazard. The physician or some representa tive of the company should be given authority to order the transfer of suspicious cases from hazardous posi tions, or to request a period of rest. Upon re-exposure great emphasis must be placed on the necessary precau tions, and the factory physician should be rigorous in his supervision. Heat, Cold and Wet Hazards Molders are exposed to the heat of molten metal when pouring and again to the heat of the partially cooled casting on shaking out the molds. Cranemen and those working at the cupola are exposed to excessive heat from the molten metal, and it is usually the front of the body that is exposed. Here also arises a hazard affecting the eyes due to glare of hot metal and burns from spattering. As the foundry is of a large area with large entrance doors and, neces sarily, has sources of heat unevenly distributed, drafts are set up to which the workmen are exposed. The results of a study of the effects of radiant heat on the skin are reported in Reprint No. 1370 of the U. S. Public Health Service (15). This study dem onstrates the actual skin temperatures resulting from exposure to heat sources. There are few wet hazards, except in certain foundries employing hydraulic pressure in core casting cleaning. Protective clothing should be worn by workers so exposed. Plant Housekeeping Orderliness and cleanliness, in so far as practicable for the type of work, were the rule rather than the exception in the plants studied. The floors were found to be fairly level. Only occasionally were sandy hills and hollows noticed. For cleaning, safety and efficiency, concrete, wooden blocks or granite blocks are preferable, and it is easier to keep them free from excessive dust. It is important to keep the aisles clear and well main tained, and provision should be made for storing equipment and tools not in use. Personal Service Facilities Washing facilities.--Separate and modem washrooms are provided for the employees in most instances. In some the washing facilities are scanty and inadequate. Shower baths pro vided with hot and cold water were found only occasionally. Lockers. The majority of the found ries furnish lockers of some sort, made either of wood or steel. When employees change their street clothing in the work rooms, the want of lockers leads to the continued exposure to dust of street clothing, as well as of food and tobacco, as long as they are in the foundry. Because lockers and locker rooms are not provided, the employees in many cases wear their work clothes from their homes to the foundry and back again, and in this manner carry dust into their homes. July, 1934] HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 249 Water supply and drinking facili ties.--In the foundries studied city water supply was available. A few of the foundries have "bubblers" or fountains. The water is cooled for use in the warm weather. Toilets.--The toilets are all con ' nected with a sewer system and are of a modem type. As a rule, they are adequate in number. Clothing.--Protective clothing and foundry shoes are usually worn by the workers. Respirators. These are provided where necessary and while a few work ers use the old type of helmet, the majority use the newer positive pres sure air masks. The chief criticisms to be made are: 1. Poor mechanical maintenance; either the workman does not receive sufficient air or else the face piece or hood is so worn that it does not fit properly. 2. Use of an improper type of respirator--the use of the ordinary pig snout respirator without positive air supply. 3. Positive pressure respirators not supplied with clean air. Summary and Conclusions This study has directed attention to the improvements noticed in foundry processes and particularly the progress made in the development of protec tive equipment for foundry use. It de monstrates also that the available pro tective equipment either is not used to advantage or is poorly maintained. Counts of dust particles in the air taken at the breathing levels of the workers are given and indicate a rela tively high dust count in practically eveiy department of the foundry. In only two plants (C and L) of the grey iron foundries and three (R, S, and U) of the malleable foundries were the dust counts found consistently low. The dust concentration in many instances was sufficiently high to justify the assumption that workers so exposed over a period of years might readily develop silicosis. More than 56 per cent, of the samples collected exceeded ten million dust particles and nearly 10 per cent, exceeded one hundred million particles less than ten microns in greatest diameter per cubic foot of air, determined by the standard light field method. The advantages of modifying the illumina tion (dark field method) are discussed and the method described. Both methods were used in this study and it was found that for dusts encountered in foundries the dark field method gave results consistently twice as great as the standard light field pro cedure. Counts determined by the standard light field method only are listed. The report emphasizes the harmful effects on the lungs of exposed workers from inhalation of dust and gives the results of the X-ray findings of groups of workers. Sixty-seven of the two hundred fifteen X-ray films taken were diagnosed as positive for silicosis. While advanced cases of silicosis were not found among those examined, sufficient evidence of the occurrence of the disease is presented. The prevalence of respiratory diseases, as indicated by mortality statistics, is discussed. A section of the report is devoted to a discussion of lead dust and fumes found in a few of the foundries studied. In every instance the lead content of 250 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE [xvi, no. 4 the air breathed by workmen exceeded the limits of safety. Recommenda tions regarding the control of this hazard are suggested. Other possible health hazards, such as heat, cold, dampness, etc., have been briefly discussed. Comments re garding plant housekeeping and per sonal service facilities are made. Recommendations regarding the iso lation of processes, the use of approved equipment, responsibility for main taining and inspecting equipment, the desirability of a program to insure plant cleanliness, and the protection of workers by means of proper clothing and respirators and by initial and periodical physical examinations have been submitted. j~~Tt is believed that this study justifies the conclusion that while foundry work at present may be considered a hazardous occupation, there are avail able well-designed equipment and protective devices which, if used and maintained, will prevent undue ex posure of foundrymen to hazards injurious to health. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. U. S. Public Health Service, Treasury Department, Public Health Bulletin No. 144: Comparative Teats of Instru ments for Determining Atmospheric DuBt. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., January, 1925, p. 41. 2. 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A Study of Silica Dust in Hard Rock Drilling in New York City. This Jour., February, 1929,11, No. 2, p. 69. 9. Lanza, A. J., and Childs, S. B.: Min ers' Consumption, A Study of 433 Cases of the Disease Among Zinc Miners in Southwestern Missouri, with a chapter on roentgen-ray findings in miners' consumption. U. 8. Pub. Health Service Bulletin No. 85, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., January, 1917, p. 32. 10. Committee on Group Mortality Investi gations, E. E. Cammack, Vice Pres ident and Actuary, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Chairman: Com bined Group Mortality Experience 1922-1930, July, 1931. 11. Actuarial Society of America and Asso ciation of Life Insurance Medical Directors, N. Y. Joint Occupation Study--1928, July, 1929. 12. U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bul letin No. 507: Causes of Death by Occupation, Experience of Metropoli tan Life Insurance Company Indus trial Department 1922-1924. Louis I. Dublin and R. J. Vane. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., Feb. 1930. 13. Registrar-General England and Wales, July, 1984] HEALTH HAZARDS IN FOUNDRY INDUSTRY 251 Decennial S'-'j-'ement, 1021: Part II. Occupation Mortality, Fertility, and Infant Mortality. H. M. Sta tionery Office, London, 1927. 14. U. S. Public Health Service, Public Health Bulletin No. 205: Lead Poi soning in a Storage Battery Plant. Government Printing Office, Wash ington, D. C., 1933, p. 55. 15. U. S. Public Health Service, Reprint No. 1370 from Public Health Reports, Vol. 45, No. 18, May 2, 1930, pp. 997-1009: Effect of Radiant Energy on the Skin Temperatures of a Group of Steel Workers. Government Print ing Office, Washington, D. C.