Document yrO4ywYx2GZNYeN1bpRDavZkn

FILE NAME Industrial Hygiene Foundation IHF DATE 1982 DOC IHF112 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Industrial Hygiene Digest - 1982 Issues - Covers TOCS & Abstracts _ en ee - January1982 ; ee _ Volume 46 No. i ALBISTTERRAACTTUSRLITERATUREE ENVIRONMENTAL fo Lo ty ee ven SS OOO AND ~ eo Es OCCUPATIONAL Set. 0. HEALTH - SAFETY NEWS + FOUNDATION HEALTH INDUSTRIAL 5231 CENTRE AVENUE INC wey PITTSBURGH PA 15232 pe come INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F. Brislin M.L.S. ' Abstractor Jean L Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens January 1982 Volume 46. No. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS This Issue Contains Abstracts 82x News Items 2.06 6 6 ee ee ee ee Coming Events 2 2 6 6 6 8 ee we ee ee Legal Developments ' - 6 1 1 ee ee ee Books and Pamphlets . 2. 6 1. ee ee ee Industrial Medicine 2... 6 ew ee ee ee Skin Diseases and Burns 1. we eee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee te ee Chemical Hazards Fn Industrial Dusts and Inhalants ee ee ee Physical Hazards Radiation Fa Environmental Problems . 2. 6 4 ee ee ww ee ee ee we ge ee ee ee Industrial Hygiene Preventive Engineering . 1. 1 ee Wu ew ee tw eee ee ee Occupational Health Management 6. 6 6 we ee ee ee ee ee Safety Accident Prevention ee Analytical Methods Miscellaneous . 2. 1/6 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee Index wee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee Addresses of Journals Abstracted 1. . 4% 8 2. 6 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee 1 3 4 6 7 9 9 15 19 19 20 22 24 25 26 27 29 FEATURES An Ultrastructural Reevaluation of Induced Pathology in the Kidney In Vivo Measurement of Liver and Kidney Cadmium in Workers Exposed to This Metal Its Significance with Respect to Cadmium in Blood and Urine Respiratory Cancer Among Copper Smelter Workers Statistics Recent Mortality Neurological Problems Arising in a Plant Manufacturing aryl Phosphates Survey of Industrial Workers for Antibodies to Toluene Diisocyanate The Uncertain Consequences of Formaldehyde Toxicity A Model for Aerosol Deposition in the Human Tracheobronchial Region Retinal Injury Due to Industrial Laser Burns : Abst -- 32/82 Abst -- 35/82 Abst -~ 39/82 Abst -= 41/82 Abst w- 43/82 Abst -- 47/82 Abst ~~ 51/82 Abst -- 72/82 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS 51/82 A Model for Aerosol Deposition 2 Human Tracheobronchial Region Y.-S. and H.-C. Yeh Am Ind Hyg J. Nov. 1981. 30 refs 42 in the Cheng 771-776 An aerosol deposition model in the human tracheobronchial tree based on impaction and sedimentation is proposed Using this model , a mean deposition radius of conducting airways can be obtained from in vivo T deposition data or from physical dimensions of human lung casts Agreement was found between the model and deposition data for three normal healthy subjects in the literature Contributions of sedimentation to T deposition is estimated to be 42-78 at 250 sec average inspiration flow rate and decreased to 8-29 at 750 cm average inspiration flow rate Mean deposition radii are estimated to be 0.33 to 0.43 cm and correlate with pulmonary functional residual , capacities . --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 82x Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Occupational Health in the Production of Artificial Fibres Belgirate Italy 16-20 September 1980. A. Cavalleri ed G. Ital Med Lav 3 47-167 -May 1981 This entire issue is devoted to the papers given at the Symposium They appear under the e following headings Epidemiology of CS2 Poisoning Neurotoxicity of CS2 Poisoning Toxicology of CS2 Poisoning Toxicology of Other Fibers Exposure Monitoring The papers are printed in English Further information may be obtained by writing Fondazione Clinica del Lavoro Via Severino Boezio 2627100 Pavia Italy JFB 53/82 Manifestations of Cellular Immunity in the Rat After Prolonged Asbestos Inhalation II Alveolar Macrophage Splenic Lymphocyte Proliferation K. Miller and E. Kagan Environ Res 26 182-194 Oct. 1981. 43 refs The present study has shown that alveolar macrophages from asbestos rats dusted macrophages can induce the proliferation of autologous splenic lymphocytes dusted lympho- cytes as well as the proliferation of syngeneic lymphocytes from control nonexposed rats control lymphocytes Significant lymphoproliferation did not occur when alveolar macrophages from control rats control macrophages were cocultured with control or dusted splenic lymphocytes for similar periods of time 72 or 96 hrs The activation of control lymphocytes by dusted macrophages was similar in some respects to the lymphoproliferative response evoked by sodium periodate control macrophages since both these reactions peaked January 1982 at 72 hr and were abolished by treatment of the macrophages with the reducing agent cysteine This periodate response produced by dusted macrophages appears to result from aldehydelike modifications on the macrophage cell membrane Cysteine treatment did not however affect dusted peaked the blastogenic response induced by . macrophages on dusted lymphocytes whic1 at 96 hr Since the in vitro addition of crocidolite to cell cultures did not trigger lymphoproliferation these collective findings suggest the expression of asbestos antigen determinants on the surface of dusted macrophages The authors conclude that the proliferative reactions induced in splenic lymphocytes by dusted macrophages were a consequence of two different phenomena a periodate effect noted in control lymphocytes and an effect produced by a putative asbestos macrophage observed in dusted lymphocytes --Authors abstract reprinted antigen by permission 54/82 A Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Pleural Thickening Related to Asbestos Exposures S. Ohyagi et al Jpn J. Ind Health 23 Japanese 366-376 July 1981. 26 refs Using miniature films for mass tuberculosis examination of inhabitants a comparison was made of the prevalence of pleural thickening between urban and rural districts in Japan The classification of pleural thickening mostly . followed the criteria of Askergren and Szamosi Age adjusted prevalences for male adults were 2.7 Ys city and 5.3 Yk city in urban districts and 0.7 Hokuriku district in rural districts In addition these inhabitants workers of factory in the urban district to the survey of a ship building were examined Age adjusted prevalence in this case was 7.3 On the other hand the prevalence for female adults in the were 0.2 Ys city and 0.4 Yk city urban districts and 0.09 in the rural districts The prevalence of pleural thickening showed a sharp increase after 60 years of age in male adults but not in female adults It was confirmed that pleural calcification was a better diagnostic feature for distinguishing the difference of prevalence by areas --Authors abstract in English 55/82 Coagulation of Human Plasma by Asbestos Fibers J. Hamilton et al Environ Res 26 119-124 Oct. 1981. 19 refs Negatively and positively charged asbestos fibers shorten the partial thromboplastin time of human plasma indicating coagulation of the plasma A sample containing short < m in length chrysotile fibers is ineffective Only the negatively charged amphiboles crocidolite and amosite are able to activate factor XII Hageman factor This particular effect of the amphiboles is enhanced by molecular- INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST weight kininogen and leads to --Authors abstract by permission kinin formation reprinted 56/82 Mortality of Flax Workers P.C. Elwood et al Lancet 2 747-748 Oct. 3 1981 4 refs In 1962 2528 flax workers 856 men 1672 women aged over 35 years were examined in Northern Ireland The authors have traced 97 of this population up to the end of 1977 The standardised mortality ratios SMRs based on age and sex specific death rates for Northern Ireland were 78 and 80 for male and female workers respectively 95 confidence limits 68-88 and 70-90 The SMRs for workers in the dusty preparing stages were 83 65-101 for men and 89 72-106 for women Workers in the less dusty processes had marginally lower SMRs 75 64-86 in men and 74 61-87 in women Taken together these Jow SMRs although due in part to the healthy worker effect do not suggest an increased mortality risk from work in the flax industry The effect of byssinosis on mortality is more difficult to assess because cigarette smoking was found to be confounded with byssinosis --Condensed from text 82x Survey of Air Contaminants From Welding U. Ulfvarson Scan J. Work Environ Health 7 28 p 1981. Suppl 2 25 refs ' During the period 1974 to 1976 a total of almost 500 welding stations were investigated at some 70 industrial undertakings and at 21 track sections of the Swedish State Railways These sites exhibited several different processes and materials and a variety of production conditions Concentrations of air contaminants were measured in the breathing zone of the welders and at the work site In this report results from several earlier publications are summarized and compared over the whole investigation Due to the extent of the investigation the concentration ranges found for air contaminants in various processes may be considered representative mean values of dust concentrations The highest were found with MIG welding on aluminum and metal welding on steel about 10 mg workday The lowest mean values during a were found with TIG welding on aluminum and stainless steel about 1-2 mg mduring a workday About 5 mas a daily average is the figure that emerged stainless steel and for MAG metal welding welding on steel on The exposure during the actual welding while the are is passing defined as the immission index was considerably greater several hundred milligrams per cubic meter The differences that appear to exist among the welding methods may in some cases be almost entirely due to differences in the time Factor welding In the study of the shielded of aluminum and the welding of are January 1982 stainless steel it could not be shown that the size of the welding current affects the dust content in the breathing zone nor the contents of ozone or nitrogen oxides Alternating current gave a lower dust concentration than direct current In the shielded arc welding of nonalloy steel there was a significant relationship between high amperage and high fact dust that content in the breathing zone The the relationship could not be detected in several field studies may be due to the great variations that occur in both observed and unobserved production parameters Statis- tical comparisons were made between dust contents in the breathing zone average of welders using and not The effect of using local local exhaust ventilation exhaust ventilation on the dust content was not so good in the gas- shielded arc processes The best result was found in a study of the MAC welding of steel in which the local exhaust ventilation had a definite effect reducing the average dust contents to 65 of what they were without . local exhaust ventilation In a study of the metal welding of steel local exhaust ventilation reduced the average dust contents to 42 of what they were without ventilation It was established local exhaust that the oxides of nitrogen are markedly reduced in metal welding Local exhaust ventilation did not have any measurable effect on ozone exposure A comparison between the field measurements and laboratory results with local exhaust ventilation suggested that in practice the exhaust nozzles are not used in the best possible way Copies of this Supplement be obtained from Ms. M.-B. Vaariskoski Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment may & Health Haartmaninkatu , 00290 Helsinki 29 Finland for 30 Finnish Marks per copy --Condensed from Summary 58/82 Pneumoconiosis Among Workers After Leaving Dusty Occupations K. Suda and Y. Yamazak Jpn J. Ind Health 23 475-484 Sept. 1981. 17 refs Japanese In Japan there were about 12,000 workers awarded compensations for total disability due to pneumoconiosis in December 1977. The number of new cases showed an increase year by year especially from the year 1971 onward The purpose of this study was to interpret more accurately characteristics and factors of the incidence of pneumoconiosis Questionnaires were mailed to 3,400 cases awarded compensations for total disability due to pneumoconiosis out of which 2,9991 were completed and returned The results were as follows 1 of the 2,991 cases 47 were certified at some time after having left dusty occupations Percentage of the cases by succeeding periods of year certified showed an increase - 17 from September 1955 Lo March 1960 52 from April 1960 to March 1978 52 from April 1960 to March 1978 69 from April 1978 to June of the period after the 1979. 2 The length separation from dusty 16 February 1982 ~~ Volume No. ' fos MS LITERATURE 20. | Se ee OO ABSTRACTS wc... 5 ENVIRONMENTAL AND ' os moe oe OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND , LL SAFETY NEWS oo , INDUSTRIAL HEALTH 5231 CENTRE AVENUE : FOUNDATION INC PITTSBURGH PA 15232 3 gor smpamen ury Ser ee e INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F. Brislin M.L.S. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens February 1982 Volume 46 No. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS This Issue Contains Abstracts 230 News Items . 1 0 0 1 ee ee ee ee ee ee Coming Events se ee Legal Developments 6 6 ee eet ee hee ee ee ee Books and Pamphlets '. ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee Industrial Medicine . 6 6 1 6 ve ew ew ee ew ee ee Skin Diseases and Burns . 1. 6 e+ 6 8 ee ee eee ew ee ee Chemical Hazards Fe Industrial Dusts and Inhalants . . ee ee ee ee ee ee Physical Hazards a Environmental Problems 5 2 6 6 8 ee ere ee he ee He es Industrial Hygiene Occupational Health Preventive Management Engineering 6 1 + + 5 6 vee 8 Safety Accident Prevention ee ee ee Analytical Methods Miscellaneous ' 6 6 6 6 6 ee Index a 1 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee we ee ee ees Addresses of Journals Abstracted 2. 1. 6 6 ee ee ee ee ee FEATURES Mortality Among Rubber Workers IV General Mortality Patterns Lung Cancer Among Welders Epidemiological Study of Workers Engaged the Manufacture of Chromium Compounds Respiratory Cancer in a Cohort of Nickel Sinter Plant Workers Acute Behavioural Effects of Styrene Exposure A Further Analysis Some Observations on Workers Exposed to Methylene Chloride Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Fibers Resulting from Use of Asbestos Gloves + Attenuation of Hearing Protectors and the NRR Factors Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst 1 4 6 6 8 : 12 13 18 . 21 22 22 . 24 . 25 26 . 28 , 30 135/82 136/82 159/82 160/82 168/82 177/82 194/82 199/82 February 1982 Volume 46 Number2 Industrial Health Foundation Inc. 5231 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15232 INDUSTRIAL HYGILNI DIGEST 82x Use of Personal Sampling Devices During Inspection Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA Fed Reg 47 6530 February 12 1982 Action This interpretation of 29 CFR 1903.7 clarifies the existing regulation concerning sampling of employec exposures during in- spection and investigation of workplaccs subject to the Occupational act of 1970. Specifically Safety and Health the interpretation makes clear that the term employ other reasonable investigative techniques includes the attachment of personal sampling devices to employees in In addition order to monitor their exposures in this same issue of Federal Register OSHA is proposing and inviting public comment on an amendment to 1903.7 which would adopt this interpretation as a legislative rule See Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Docket No. 300 in Abstract 82x below This interpretation is effective February 12 1982 --Summary 82x Use of Personal Sampling Devices During Inspection Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA Fed Reg 47 5634 February 12 1982 Action Notice of proposed rulemaking ITY this issue of Federal 82x above OSHA Registe revises 29 CFR 1903.7 by adding an interpretative note to make clear that the term employ other reasonable investigative techniques as used in this regulation includes but is not limited to the attachment of personal sampling devices to employees in order to monitor their exposures In this document Osha proposes to amend 1903.7 by issuing a legislative rule to expressly authorize its compliance officers to use personal sampling devices and to attach such devices to employees during the conduct of workplace inspections The proposed rule would remove any questions concerning the agency's authority to use personal sampling devices as an aid in its workplace inspection Comments on the issues raised by the use of personal sampling devices must be postmarked by April 13 1982 --Summary 82x Voluntary Programs Would Safety Lnforcement Alert p 7 1982 Revamp Job January 27 The Occupational Safety and Health Adminis- tration has outlined six voluntary prograns that would allow employers and employees to police worksite safety conditions By fostering such cooperative efforts OSHA hopes to cut down on agency inspections of relatively safe worksites The agency would focus its enforcement efforts on the most hazardous companies First of the six proposed programs PRAIS Positive Results Achieved in Safe Employment employers is aimed at These firms small to sized must be in hazard industries have good safety records and operate safety programs The PRAISE Program would cover only safety problems and not health dangers Run primarily by the em- ployer PRAISE would also involve an OSHA Resource Liaison to aid in abating hazards Safety complaints by employees would be referred to the company's internal complaint system that would allow for worker anonymity A worker however could still register a formal complaint with OSHA The agency would also continue to investigate fatalities and serious accidents The other proposed pro- grams are The STAR Sharing the account- ability for Regulation Workplace Program geared for general industry firms with experienced management committees and good safety records Project Build similar to STAR but designed for the construction industry ..Operation Try an experimental program designed to explore cooperative methods other than the management committee The PRIME Positive Results Through Intensive MaManagement nagement Ifforts Initiative a management program for employers with sophisticated health and safety systems who have low injury rates compared to their industry --Condensed from text 82x Even Low Exposures Asbestos May Result in Health Problems Researcher Says Occup Safety & Health Reporter 11 695-696 January 28 1982 Exposure to even relatively low concentrations of asbestos may cause adverse health effects a Jan. 19 field hearing by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce Trans- portation subject to and Tourism was told Persons such exposures can include employees DUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST king adjacent to primary asbestos exposure asbestos workers families and students esacshools with friable asbestos according to vin C. Holstein of the Environmental Mt. Sinai School of iences Laboratory dicine New York N.Y. Holstein cited a levels of udy of workers exposed to varied of X- a prevalence bestos which indicated abnormalities consistent with asbestosis y en in cases of low concentration exposure J. Selikoff director of the labo- ving told the hearing that due to such tno dirnygs the Occupational Safety and Health ministration should reduce its asbestos andard to a level of 0.1 fiber per cubic ntimeter of air as proposed in 1980 by a sk force of OSHA and National Institute for cupational Safety and Health researchers e current OSHA standard is two fibers per bic centimeter of air There is no known fe level of exposure to asbestos but it is derstood that risk decreases with decreasing tensity of exposure Selikoff stated --Text reprinted 82x Asbestos Pipe Producers owing No Excess Mortality from b Safety & Health Report 12 1, 1982 Cite Study Asbestos 12 January e C Pipe .tention to 10 conclude Producers Association has called a study by two British scientists that the evidence from animal occupational exposure and pideermiimoelnotgsy is beginning to point strongly from any association between asbestos way ibers and an excess mortality from gastrontestinal tumors The study relied on two which confirmed the nimal experiments of asbestos gut tumors in a sence scale study in rats monitored for their hole lifespan The pipe producers also oted that U.S. studies now under way did not etect any adverse effects on the test animals rom asbestos in the diet a preliminary onclusion drawn by Environmental Protection The two British researchers also gency oncluded that among heavily exposed prkers no excess of gastrointestinal cancers as been found --Text reprinted 82x OSHA Improves Complaint Procedures o Focus Most Inspections on Alleged NVeiwoslatiUo.Sn.s ikely to Result in Physical Harm of Labor p 1-2 February 1 1982 ept of Labor's Occupational Safety hned DHeepaalrtthmeAndtministration has improved instruc-instruc- on the handling of ions to its inspectors alleging workplace safety and omplaints revised instructions ealth violations The re effective February 1 OSHA will continue act on every employee complaint however o to cover 3 million with only 1,200 inspectors OSHA needs to concentrate its workplaces February 1982 limited resources on answering first those complaints of employees who face most immediate risk of injury or the greatest illness Thorne G. Auchter who During the first half heads OSHA said of its existence OSHA substantially responded to all employee However sub- complaints with inspections found that this practice sequent experience of led to a large backlog of complaints many which did not deal with serious hazards This backlog also diverted OSHA resources from inspecting workplaces with truly serious hazards In 1979 OSHA revised its policy of to an employee complaint allowing response variety of alleged workplace hazards to take a forms ranging from a full OSHA inspection to a written response to the complaint by an Although this complaint program has employer successful budgetary limita- been generally field staff request for tions an agency additional response time to properly handle and the Oct. 1 implement- employee complaints target in- ation of a new agency plan to in the most hazardous industries spections OSHA's have prompted me to revise again complaint policy This improved complaint policy will ensure that OSHA inspections will reach the most hazardous workplaces and amount of protection for provide the greatest He said that employees Auchter added review OSHA's complaint policy had undergone from both by and incorporated suggestions labor and management groups --Condensed from text 119/82 Films Withdrawn by OSHA Last Are Made Available Through CIO Safety & Health Reporter 11 695 January 28 1982 Year Occup To insure that two controversial Occupational Safety and Health Administration films on job safety and health are actually released to the public the AFL Industrial Union announced that the films are being Department offered to public television stations as a series Last March Assistant Labor part Thorne G. Auchter suspended distri- Secretary Worker to Worker bution of the two films and Can't Take No More along with other OSHA information material on the ground that they no longer represented agency * policy Auchter said that he believed that proper government public information products should be as neutral in content tone and as is consistent with the subject approach matter While the films were withdrawn by offices they continued to be OSHA regional An available through various film producers OSHA spokesman told BNA Jan. 26 that the last fall did once again make the films agency from its national available to the public office in cannot be offices Washington but that they still obtained from the agency's regional The Public Interest Video Network PIVN now is offering the films to public INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST relationship could be discerned between the fall in workers ventilatory capacity and the con- centration of airborne dust or microbes to which they were exposed Bronchodilators could reverse the fall in FEV1 --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 185/82 Immunological Responses to Inhaled Organic Dusts and Chemicals G.W. Cambridge Ann Occup Hyg 24 4 363-366 1981 . 51 refs Evidence for immunological and other mechanisms involved in the asthmatic response to inhaled organic dusts or chemicals is reviewed with particular reference to the seven classes of agents listed by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council U.K. as giving rise to occupational asthma --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 186/82 The Etiology of Byssinosis - Comparison of Prostaglandin F2a Synthesis by Alveolar Macrophages Glanded and Stimulated with Extracts from Glandless Cotton Cultivars L. Ziprin et al Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 42 876-879 December 1981. 10 refs Alveolar macrophages produce prostaglandin Fa | when exposed to extracts of cotton bract Bract extracts from glandless cotton cultivars are not as effective stimulators of prostaglandin production as bract extracts from glanded cotton cultivars This result is consonant witha previously published observation that bract extracts from some glandless cultivars do not , cause high levels of histamine release from whole blood --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 187/82 Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Cotton Bract on Isolated Mast Cells A Bioassay for Byssinosis Hyg Assoc M.H. Elissalde et al Am Ind J. 42 893-896 December 1981 34 refs , Mast cell degranulation with its release of histamine and other bioreactive compounds has been strongly implicated in the acute symptoms noted in mill workers following inspiration of cotton or flax textile dusts This paper describes a method for the isolation and stimulation of these cells and methods for the quantitation of their degranulation --Authors abstract reprinted by permission February 1982 188/82 A Studoyf Heart and Blood of Rodents Inhaling Diesel Engine Exhaust Particulates D.G. Penney et al Environ Res 26 453-462 December 1981. 16 refs The in vivo effects of inhalation of diesel engine exhaust DEE were evaluated in 128 rats and 146 guinea pigs They were exposed in special chambers to three different dose levels of DEE particulates 250 750 and 1500 m for 20 day and 5.5 week Rats were sacrificed after 13 16.7 25.7 42 52 and 78 weeks ficed exposure while guinea pigs were after 6 13 17 26 42 52 and sacri78 weeks exposure Each group of each species was compared to its own matched control group Morphometric analysis of the heart revealed no significant alterations mass which could be assigned to inhalation of DEE at any dosage level or duration of exposure in either species This included an assessment of the relative wet weights of the right combined ventricles ventricle left combined atria ventricle and ratio of right to left ventricle weights Likewise hematology was not changed in either species at any dosage level or duration of exposure by inhalation of DEE --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 189/82 Diesel Fume - A Note from the BOHS Hygiene Standards Committee British Occupational Hygiene Society committee on Diesel Fume Ann Occup Hyg 24 3 263-265 1981. 2 refs The Committee of the British Occupational Hygiene Society has tried to formulate standards for acceptable pollution of working environ- ments by the exhaust products of powered vehicles They had in mind the need to dis- tinguish between possibility that the the nuisance exhausts created and the may constitute long hazards At the outset it recognized that the terms of reference it accepted posel problems which were difficult if not insoluble since diesel fumes are not only complex chemicalalnyd physically but their nature varies widely according to the mode of operation of the engine --Condensed from text 190/82 Mesothelioma in a Factory Using Amosite and Chrysotile Asbestos E.D. Acheson et al Lancet 2 1403-1405 December 19/26 1981 19 refs Five deaths have been certified as due to mesothelioma 4 pleural and 1 peritoneal in mer who worked at a London factory where insulation board has been manufactured since 1946 from a mixture of amosite and chrysotile asbestos It seems reasonable to relate 4 of these cases to work at the factory predominantly in use Amosite has been the fibre and seems likely to be the cause of the tumours --Summary reprinted by permission 19 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST 191/82 Exercise Performance and Functional Impairment J. Pearle in Asbestos Workers Chest 80 701-705 December 1981. 13 refs ' Eighty shipyard workers with extensive asbestos exposure were evaluated in terms of dyspnea smoking malities static history ray film pulmonary function abnorand exercise performance Pulmonary function abnormalities and roentgenographic pleuropulmonary disease were more frequent in smokers was present in 41 percent Significant dyspnea of the workers and did not correlate with smoking history pulmonary function or exercise performance Despite this high frequency of dyspnea 70 percent of all workers had normal exercise tolerance by history or exercise testing Of the 26 workers with exercise impairment only nine had pulmonary mechanical or gas exchange limitation Two of these workers had asbestosis while the other seven had airways obstruction without asbestosis The prevalence of both asbestosis and asbestos- related exercise impairment in this population was 2.3 percent --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 192/82 Early Lung Asbestos Environ 36 refs Exposure Res 26 Events Following Dose R. Begin et al 392-401 December , 1981 A conscious sheep model recently developed to study sequentially the bronchoalveolar milieu was applied to the investigation of the early lung events following very low dose asbestos exposure UICC Canadian chrysotile fibers were administered in three monthly intratracheal injections of a suspension of 0 controls 1,2,4,8 and 16 mg of asbestos in 50 ml saline Three sheep per dose were repeatedly exposed and all were studied by to the serial same monthly doses pulmonary function PF tests transbronchial lung biopsies LB and bronchoalveolar lavages BAL These low- dose exposures did not change the PF tests routine lung histopathology was not altered except for the observation of occasionel fibers in the alveoli but there was a significantly higher yield in the total BAL cellular due to a marked increase in the macrophage and a small rise in the lymphocyte populations These changes in the BAL cells occurred without significant changes in the biochemical analyses of the BAL supernatant These data establish that very low dose asbestos exposure induces migration of macrophages bronchoalveolar milieu and lymphocytes into the These cells have a major role in the lung defense and have been implicated in the development of asbestos diseases --Authors abstract reprinted by permission February 1982 193/82 Biological Effects of Ingested Amosite Asbestos Taconite Tailings Diatomaceous Earth and Lake Superior Water in Rats A. C. Hilding et al Arch Environ Health 36 298-303 November 1981. 50 refs Because amphibole fibers were found in Lake Superior and in Duluth municipal water this study was initiated to evaluate the carcino- genicity of ingested asbestos Groups of 22-30 Sprague rats were related materials during fed asbestos and their lifetime and were examined at autopsy after spontaneous death Test materials were unfiltered Duluth city tap water municipal water reservoir sediment sus- pension taconite plant tailings amosite asbestos a dose group at 20 rat and a high group diatomaceous earth a at 300 day and control group drank fiber- free well water or filtered city tap water Autopsy studies revealed no significant in the incidence of malignant tumors in increase any experimental group compared with that in the control group --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 194/82 Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Fibers Resulting from Use of Asbestos Gloves B.S. Samimi and A.M. Williams Am Ind Assoc J. 42 870-875 December 1981 Hyg 12 refs To assess the magnitude of fiber erission from asbestos gloves 10 pairs were compared in an isolation chamber during simulation of a ster- ilization procedure 176 air samples were collected Means of time weighted average TWA concentrations ranged from 0.95 to 11.74 fibers 5 cmof air clean gloves emitted significantly more fibers than did brand gloves but fiber emission decreased with increased surface soiling Eighty air samples were collected during simulation of the sterilization procedure in a ventilated room The range of mean TWA concentrations was 0.07-0.99 fiber for breathing zone samples and 0.06-0.60 fiber for area samples Thirteen samples were collected at actual workplaces the range of TWA concentrations was 0.07-2.93 fibers for breathing zone samples and 0.04-0.74 fiber for area samples Five of seven breathing zone samples from workplaces exceeded the proposed TWA concentration limit of 0.1 asbestos fiber Hand contamination also was assessed Four samples collected after touching the worktable ranged from 9953 to 13,108 fibers 5 cm of hand surface area seven samples collected immediately after taking off gloves ranged from 741 to 3860 fibers Available substitutes for asbestos gloves are discussed and adoption of these substitutes is recommended strongly --Authors abstract permis ion permis ion by permission reprinted 20 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST ANALYTICAL METHODS MISCELLANEOUS 1223/82 Cotton Bacterial Endotoxin Assessed I. Helander and by Electron Microscopy K. Lounatmaa Brit J. Ind Med 38 394- 396 November 1981 13 refs . was incubated in nutrient A piece of bale cotton of the broth Electron microscopic inspection and the broth showed negative cotton with long flagella loosely attached to bacteria of endotoxin fibres Large amounts the cotton were visible in liberating from these bacteria the growth medium --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 224/82 Fibres In Situ Identification of Asbestos Collected on Membrane Filters for N.P. Vaughan et al Ann Counting 281-290 1981. 11 Occup Hyg 24 3 refs Methods are described whereby asbestos fibres the standard phase contrast can be counted by and identified on the same membrane membrane technique electron micros- filter by optical or scanning SEM techniques The airborne concen- copy in mixed trations of different asbestos types clouds can therefore be estimated Specific of details are given for three commercial types membrane filter The lower fibre diameter limits for identification by polariasnedd crloigchitdo- microscopy of amosite chrysotile are 0.8 1.5 and 1.25 m lite respectively only to The pleochroism test applicableto fibre di- crocidolite is sensitive down ameters of 0.6 pm --Authors abstract reprinted by permission and Mounting Techniques for the 225/82 Clearing of Asbestos Fibres by the Membrane Galvin Evaluation Method J.M.M. Le Guen S. Filter Ann Occup Hyg 24 3 273-280 1981 11 refs three clearing and mounting This paper describes of fibres by used in the evaluation techniques method and puts forward new the membrane filter membrane filters made of methods for clearing also sets mixed esters of cellulose The paper relative merits out criteria for assessing the and shows of clearing and mounting techniques one of the new that judged by these criteria advantages over the methods offers considerable other methods described --Authors abstract reprinted by permission Material for the Quantitation 226/Q8u2arRtezferienncReespirable Dust by ray al Ann of S. Williams et Diffraction 347-356 1981. 22 refs occup Hyg 24 4 are given for an quartz Two specifications for use by the reference material suitable in international occupational hygiene community February 1982 the quantitation of quartz in respirable dust by the ray diffraction method The specifications are based on results obtained in a detailed investigation of the prforpoemrt1i2es of respirable quartz samples different geological and commercial sources The properties investigated were amorphous surface content crystallinity index preferred orientation and particle size dis- tribution -Authors abstract reprinted by permission 227/82 Determination of Workers.Exposed Workers.Exposed to R. van Doorn et al 36 289-297 November of Thio Compounds in Urine Carbon Disulfide Arch Environ Health December 1981. 32 refs of carbon disulfide excreted into Metabolites detectable by the urine of viscose workers are of a nonselective assay for the application Enhanced determination of thio compounds secretion of thio compounds occurred espe- the end of the workday in exposed cially at of urine samples workers A classification thiazolidine to the degree of exposure gave according to evidence for a relation between exposure carbon disulfide and excretion of thio com- of thio- pounds in urine The presence acid in urine of workers was indicated by TLC UV- viscose and HPLC spectrometry --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 228/82 Determination of Total Arsenic in Generation and Biological Samples by Arsine E.O. Uthus Atomic Absorption Spectrometry December et al Anal Chem 53 2221-2224 1981. 9 refs graphite Arsine generated from dry combusted biological measured by using an atomic samples was eauipped with a absorption spectrophotometer furnace Innovations of the method the introduction of arsine into the included tube via one internal interior of the graphite port only the use of three traps to and purge gas arsine water from the generated remove the generation the use of Erlenmeyer flasks in of arsine EDTA was added to the sample interference from copper mixture to prevent iron and nickel cations With the described in various NBS the arsenic found procedure as follows in ng dry mate- standards was needles rial bovine liver 0.056 pine 10.51 oyster tissue 0.215 orchard leaves 13.17 Sensitivity and absolute detection 0.11 ng and limits IUPAC of the method were 0.14 ng respectively --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 26 To A , Se Ba 7 pe , ; :. . Ps INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL ts rand * . oo ._ Volume 46 No. 4 ., . ct INDUSTRIAL ee INDUSTRIAL . . . INDUSTRIAL . . ra . . ote . vote fs * HYGIENE HYGIENE HYGIENE rar voy . : at , . 2G DIGEST DIGEST * * INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL HYGIEN HYGIENE DIGEST DIGEST + . INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL 7 a4 . . % 4 INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL : _ MT Re ye . so . \ . oa INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL a % + oa 4 at yo . ca & . INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL \ an . . AN A 4. , . wot HYGIENE a * \ Pa oe HYGIENE ; = i mo oe 5 & . . . : sok y , . ; ; : 7 a . , 4 LITERATURE 5 Oe a oeABSTRACTS So se ENVIRONMENTAL AND ore ye a _ OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND _ SAFETY NEWS INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION _ HEALTH 5231 CENTRE AVENUE.. : INC PITTSBURGH PA 15232 . Editor Jane F. Brislin M.L.S. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens April 1982 Volume 46 No. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS This Issue Contains Abstracts 464/842 64/82 News Items se ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee . 6. 0 ee Coming Events . 6 es Legal Developments Books and Pamphlets . Industrial Medicine . ee 6 6 . 6 1. 6 te ee ee ee ee 6 ee ee ee Pe ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ew 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee en es ee ee es Skin Diseases and Burns 20 1 6 8 ee ee ew ee ee ee Chemical Hazards Industrial Dusts and Inhalants ' 6 2 6 ee 8 ee eee ee ee es Physical Hazards wk ee ee ee ee ape ee ek ee ee ees Radiation A Environmental Problems . 6. 6 6 ee ee he ee ee ek es Industrial Hygiene Preventive Engineering Occupational Health Management ' 6 8 6 6 Safety Accident Prevention Analytical Methods Miscellaneous ' 6 6 ' + 6 6 er 2 6 ee es ee te ee eer erie ee ... ee ee et ts Index a Addresses of Journals Abstracted . 6 6 6 6 se ee ee ree ee eee . 1 , 44 . 44 6 . 7 . 10 - 11 . 19 - 22 23 24 . 24 2222 25 2222 . 2222 FEATURES Epidemiologic Study of Refinery and Chemical Plant Workers A Hematology Survey of Workers at a Butadiene Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing Plant Origins of the Standards for Control of Beryllium Disease 1947-1949 Cancer Mortality in a Pigment Plant Utilizing Lead and Zinc Chromates Polychlorinated Biphenyl Exposure in Transformer Maintenance Operations Smoking and Duration of Asbestos Exposure in the Functional and Roentgenographic Abnormalities Production of in Shipyard Workers Mortality Patterns of An Epidemiological Rock and Slag Mineral and Environmental Study Production Workers Permeation of Protective Garment Material by Liquid Benzene and by Tritiated Water Abst 383/82 Abst 387/82 Abst 397/82 Abst No. - 399/82 Abst No. - 427/82 Abst No. - 438/82 Abst 441/82 Abst 463/82 ABSTRACTS ' ENVIRONMENTAL . or AND * OCCUPATIONAL _ . | _ SAFETY NEWS oo March 1982 * _*:. Volum4e6 No. 3_ byte Lo INDUSTRIAL HEALTH .5231 CENTRE AVENUE on, _ % FOUNDATION INC PITTSBURGH PA 15232 | INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F. Brislin MLS Abstractor Jean L Collins A Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens , March 1982 Vol4u 6.m No.e3 oh ag memes perme TABLE OF CONTENTS mn Rte Le This Issue Contains Abstracts 82x News Items . 2. 6 6 6 2 ee 8 eee ee kee ee ee ee Coming Events ' 6 6 Legal Developments Books and Pamphlets Industrial Medicine en =. 6 - - . 6. ee ee ees 6 ee ee ee ee es ee ee ee er es - +e 6 ' ee ee ee ee ee 6 ee ee ew ee ee ee ee ee Skin Diseases and Burns . . 6. 6 6 ee et Oe we we ee ee Chemical Hazards ee eee . os Industrial Dusts and Inhalants . - 6 1 6 8 eh ee ee ee ee Physical Hazards Se ek ee eh ee eee et Radiation a Environmental Problems 2. ce ee 6 eee ee ee ee ee ee ee Industrial Hygiene Preventive Engineering Occupational Health Management 6 6 2 ee Safety Accident Prevention Analytical Methods Miscellaneous s+ 1. + 8 ee + + ee se ee ss ee eee tone es 6 6 toe ee he ee ts Index a Addresses of Journals Abstracted .- . 15 4 5 - 7 8 11 . 1 . 19 . 22 . 23 24 . 25 26 26 27 - 30 33 FEATURES Mortality Patterns Among Workers in Three Texas Oil Refineries Chromium in Welding Fumes Subclinical Effects of Prospective Study Chronic Increased Lead Absorption --A Part IV Evaluation of Heme Synthesis Effects On the Interaction Between Occupational Arsenic Exposure and Smoking and Its Relationship to Lung Cancer Exposure to Plant 1sophorone and Other Organic Solvents in a Screen Printing . Quantitated Effects of Carbon Disulfide and Aging on Coronary Mortality Exposure Elevated Blood Pressure Increased Risk of Lung Cancer in Pesticide Male Agricultural Workers + Pulmonary Reaction to Durum Wheat a Constituent of Grain Dust Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst. Abst 252/82 268/82 271/82 280/82 290/82 292/82 299/82 317/82 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DICEST 311/82 Effects of 28 Days Engine Emissions in Rats Environ Res 27 16-23 16 refs Exposure to Diesel W.E. Pepelko February 1982 Groups of 15 rats each were exposed 20 day 7 week for 28 days to a 1:14 dilution of either raw or irradiated exhaust using a six- cylinder Nissan diesel engine Body weight gains were significantly P < 0.05 reduced during exposure to diesel exhaust with a greater de- crease during exposure to irradiated compared with raw exhaust Arterial blood gases and * standard bicarbonate remained unchanged Arterial blood pH was slightly but significantly P < 0.05 decreased in the animals previously exposed to irradiated exhaust Residual volume RV and wet lung weight were unchanged after exposure to either condition while vital capacity VC and total lung capacity TLC were increased P < 0.05 following exposure to raw exhaust The shape of the deflation PV curves were nearly identical among the three groups It was concluded that 28 days exposure to a 1:14 dilution of diesel exhaust emissions resulted in only minor functional changes in the lungs --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 312/82 Comparative Damage to Alveolar Macrophages After Phagocytosis of Respirable Particles J.O. Hill et al Environ Res 27 95-109 February 1982. 22 refs Backscatter electron and secondary electron imaging were used in a scanning electron microscope study of the in vitro toxic effects of particles ingested by alveolar macrophages Relatively nontoxic aluminosilicate fly ash particles from the Mount St. Helens eruption and from a fired power plant as well as toxic quartz particles from the Westphalia Germany mine deposits were readily taken up by macro- phages The presence of fly ash particles inside the cells was not associated with any changes in surface morphology The presence of intracellular quartz particles on the other hand was correlated with damage to the cell membrane as determined by alterations in surface morphology uptake of trypan blue and release of the cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase The use of backscatter electron imaging is useful in scanning electron microscope studies which attempt to establish cause and effect relation- ships between exposure to respirable particles and the morphological and cytotoxic response --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 313/82 Comparative Effects of Fibrous and Nonfibrous Minerals on Cells and Liposomes C.D. Woodworth et al Environ Res 27 190-205 February 1982. 36 refs The comparative effects of chrysotile asbestos, silica talc kaolinite and montmorillonite on cellular and artificial membranes were examined using three test systems -~ monolayer cultures of * ~ March 1982 tracheal epithelial cells suspensions of sheep erythrocytes RBC and preparations of phospholipid -- cholesterol vesicles four minerals caused perturbations in The each system although to varying degrees Mem- brane alterations induced by chrysotile asbestos and the clay mineral montmorillonite were more striking than those caused by other dusts The results obtained with the three test systems were consistent Electron microscopic observations indicated that the particles were phagocytized by cultured epithelial cells of hamster tracheal origin and developed intimate associations with the RBC plasma membrane discussed with regard These interactions are to possible mechanisms of cellular injury and their relevance to pulmonary disease --Authors abstract reprinted by permission i 314/82 Malignant Alpha Chain Disease Exposure to Asbestos D. Rouhier et Environ Res 27 222-225 February 10 refs and al 1982 One patient with malignant alpha chain disease is reported She was born in France to Spanish parents and had lived all her life in France She had worked for 30 years in the same factory as her brother who developed a pleural mesothelioma due to asbestos tos exposure can induce abnormalities Asbesof the immune response Thus it is likely that her disease was related to chronic exposure to asbestos --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 315/82 A Rare Form of Biological Response to the Exposure to Asbestos Dust Multiple Lung Asbestomas J. Mesic et al Arhiv Hig Rada Toksikol 32 3 279-285 1981 11 refs Yugoslav A case of an unusual biological response to the exposure to asbestos dust in the form of large multiple round homogenous and well- defined opacities in a year old asbestos- cement worker without evidence of rheumatoid arthritis is described A histological examination revealed hyalinized connective tissue with numerous tiny calcifications and connective tissue with lymphocyte infiltrates The authors compare the reaction with the features of Caplan's syndrome --Summary in English 316/832 Ozone Inhibition of Tissue Cholin- esterase in Guinea Pigs T. Gordon et al Arch Environ Health 36 284-288 November 1981. 23 refs This study sought to determine if ozone at levels known to induce bronchial hyperreactivity in guinea pigs would inhibit tissue cholinesterase activity Male Hartley guinea pigs were exposed to filtered air INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST March 1982 position during the design phase based on the amount of resistance that must be added to a given branch Application of this technique indicates it to be both accurate and reliable and significantly reduces the time required to balance a system --Authors abstract reprinted by permission OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT 337/82 Insurance and Confidentiality AOMA Committee on Occupational Medical Practice J. Occup Med 24 89 February 1982 Question Could the Committee provide guidelines regarding the confidentiality of employee diagnoses on insurance forms Committee Reply The members of the Occupational Medical Practice Committee believe that the key issue to be observed in handling processing and disseminating this type of information is informed employee consent This should be obtained in writing In Summary upon written request by the employee information may be provided via discussion or via copies to appropriate individuals who have a need to know while processing confidential insurance information --Condensed from text 338/82 Reporting Asbestosis to OSHA AOMA Committee on Occupational Medical Practice J. Occup Med 24 88-89 February 1982 Question When should a case of asbestosis be reported on the OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration Log 200 as an occupational illness does not Committee Reply A uniform practice exist however the consensus would indicate that employees must show evidence of illness together with definite evidence of parenchymal fibrosis or a documented positive microscopic diagnosis of asbestos bodies in tissue or sputum in order to be considered ill and reportable as having asbestosis --Condensed from text 339/82 Legal G.J. Provost Trends in Occupational Health J. Occup Med 24 115-119 February 1982. 13 refs The author reviews the effects of the Carter and Reagan Administrations on the operations of OSHA and NIOSH He says that with the present probusiness conservative administration workers will turn increasingly to private litigation for relief in cases of work related injury He states that in most cases workers compensation benefits are far too meager He describes third- party litigation citing a few illustrative cases --JFB 340/82 Reciprocal Effects of Health and Labor Force Participation Among Women Evidence from / Two Longitudinal Studies 1. Waldron et al J. Occup Med 24 126-132 February 1982 15 refs ry Longitudinal data were information concerning on women's labor force effects of labor force analyzed to provide the effects of health participation and the participation on women's health The data were from a representative national sample of middle women and a representative sample of women from Alameda County California Significant relationships were observed between reported health and subsequent changes in labor force partici- pation Women more likely to who reported poorer health were leave the labor force and less likely to join the labor force In contrast no significant relationships were observed between labor force participation and subse- quent reported change in latter relationships could be married women in the national health These tested only for sample In conclusion the authors analyses provide substantial evidence that health affects women's labor force participation the healthy worker effect In contrast they did not find evidence that on the average labor force participation has either harmful or beneficial effects on the general health of middle married women in the United States --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 82x Twenty Occupational Hazards 61-193 January 1982 Annual Product Dataguide Occup Hazards 44 An alphabetical list with addresses of firms which manufacture equipment or offer services for industrial safety and health fire protection and security The products and services are given under various subject headings --JFB SAFETY ACCIDENT PREVENTION e 342/82 Protecting Workers Who Clean Up Haz- ardous King Waste Sites R.J. Costello and M.V. Am Ind Hyg Assn J. 43 12-17 January 1982. 15 refs On April 21 1980 an explosion and fire among the 40,000 drums of unlabeled chemical wastes at the former site of Chemical Control Corporation in Elizabeth New Jersey attracted national attention and raised serious concern about the health and safety of workers who would be called upon to clean up the disaster site Evaluation of workers exposure during clean up operations and an assessment of the level of respiratory protection needed were necessary NIOSH conducted 8 days of air monitoring The chemicals of concern were 26 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DICEST organic vapors metals pesticides polychlorinated biphenyls cyanide compounds dioxins TCDD No excessive exposure to and chem- ical substances by inhalation was found How- ever continuous use of respiratory protective equipment and other personal protective devices was necessary because of frequent drum ruptures --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 343/82 Penetration of > um Chrysotile Fibers Through DuPont Tyvek 1422A and Kimberly CPF Fabrics R.W. Weeks Jr. and M.J. McLeod Am Ind Hyg Assn J. 1982. 22 refs 43 84-88 February Aerosols of 4.1 mass median aerodynamic diameter chrysotile fibers were generated and passed through stitched seamed and unstitched unseamed DuPont Tyvek 1422A and Kimberly composite polypropyl^'ne fabric CPF spunbonded fabrics The two unstitched fabrics and the two stitched fabrics were penetrated by amounts of chrysotile which did not allow a statistically significant difference in penetration to be observed Both Tyvek and the CPF allowed approximately a % penetration through the unstitched material and approximately a 30 pene- tration through the stitched material These values not to refer to the suit materials per se the entire garment As such they and should not be entire considered as representative of the suit as worn by personnel --Authors abstract reprinted by permission A 344/82 Involvement to a Safety Training Program L.C. Smith 48-51 January 1982. Natl Safety News 4 refs 125 , Making safety meaningful and relevant to employees can be accomplished by using proven techniques of behavioral psychology These are described as applied to safety manage- ment --Author's abstract 345/82 Plant Fire Protection Utilizes Equipment R.A. Harris Natl 125 52-54 January 1982 Safety Manpower News The burden of how to protect employees and company assets best from fire danger still rests with the employer A detailed examination of one employer's emergency fire plan plus an overview of recent federal regulations dealing with fire protection for industry are presented --Condensed from text 346/82 Working Safely in Confined Spaces Evaluating the Hazards G.L. Morse and R.L. Swift Plant Eng 36 139-142 January 21 1982 ^' In this first of two articles the dangers of confined spaces are reviewed and the testing procedures a worker should follow before entering . March 1982 a space are outlined A subsquent article will discuss procedures to follow while working within the confined space --Condensed from text ANALYTICAL METHODS MISCELLANEOUS 347/82 Characterization of Polycyclic Ketones and Quinones in Diesel Emission Particulates by Gas Chromatography Spectrometry D.R. Choudhury Environ 106 February 1982. Sci Technol 18 refs 16 102- The chemical composition of two neutral mutagenic subfractions of a diesel particulate extract sample was examined by capillary gas chromatography spectrometry Most compounds identified were polar derivatives of three to ring polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons Ketone quinone carboxaldehyde and hydroxy derivatives and their alkyl homologues were characterized Fluorenone and its C4 alkyl homologues were the single largest family of compounds detected Some of the compounds characterized are bacterial mutagens the mutagenicity of others is not known at this time --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 348/82 Anodic Stripping Voltammetry as an Analytical Tool J. Wang Environ Sci Technol 16 109A February 1982 56 refs Heavy metals are one class of contaminants that can produce undesirable effects even if they are present in extremely minute quantities For instance unlike many other pollutants they are not biodegradable and may persist for long time periods Therefore techniques are being devised to measure them at very low concentration levels Anodic stripping voltammetry ASV is a sensitive precise and economical electroanalytical techniqufoer detecting trace metals Conse- quently ASV has become one of the popular approaches to environmental analysis --Condensed from text 349/82 Chemosorption Sampling and Analysis of Formaldehyde in Air K. Andersson et al Scand J. Work Environ Health 7 December 1981. 32 refs 282-289 A method based on trapping formaldehyde on a dinitrophenylhydrazine porous polymer Amberlite XAD was evaluated for air sampling in occupational environments The aldehyde is converted to its dinitro- phenylhydrazone fluence of some on the adsorbent organic compounds The inwhich often occur together with formaldehyde - furfural phenol and furfuryl alcohol - was studied The results show that the method allows the 27 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST urines containing 1-20 ppb of DCB had a relative standard deviation of 4.6 The mean extraction recovery over this concentration range was 68 Spectrophotometric scanning of the solution containing the color reaction product from urine concentrations as low as 1-2 ppb yielded spectra with distinguishable characteristic maxima Such spectra potentially minimize the positive detection of DCB --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 354/82 Improvement in the Atomic Absorption Determination of Lead in Blood I. Karai et al J. Appl Toxicol 1 295-296 December 1981. 4 refs A simple precise and accurate analysis for lead in blood and tissue was developed using spectro- photometry after extraction with HC1 H3PO4 KI and methyl isobutyl ketone The results were similar to those obtained by anodic stripping voltammetry The method is simple requires only four reagents does not need pH adjustment for lead extraction saves time and is suitable for analyzing a large number of specimens --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 355/82 Determination of Vinyl Acetate in Air by Gas Chromatography K.S. Sidhu J. Appl Toxicol 1 300-302 December 1981. 17 refs A gas chromatographic analysis for vinyl acetate is presented Vinyl acetate was sampled by adsorbing on activated carbon It was desorbed with carbon disulfide with a mean efficiency of 83.0 The analytical column was packed with 10 free fatty acid phase on washed Chromosorb Gas chromatographic identification was also conducted on another column packed with 0.4 Carbowax on Carbopack A. Analysis was performed on a chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector The precision coefficient of variation for the analytical procedure using a free fatty acid phase column was 4.0 Based on a 10 litre air sample the calculated limit of detection by this procedure was 0.1 parts per million --Author's abstract reprinted by permission March 1982 356/82 A Technique to Prepare Asbestos Air Samples for Light and Electron Microscopy T.W.S. Pang and A.E. Robinson Brit J. Ind Med 38 389-396 November 1981. 13 refs The direct transfer technique used in preparing waterborne asbestos for analysis by transmission electron microscopy is also suitable for preparing airborne asbestos collected on polycarbonate filters for light microscopy scanning and transmission elec- tron microscopy same fibre may be The same examined area and even by the three the microscopic methods and individual fibres identified by optical and electron techniques and by ray microanalysis --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 357/82 Wet Ashing of Organic Matter for the Determination of Antimony S. Bajo and U. Suter Anal 27 refs Chem 54 49-51 January 1982 The wet ashing of organic matter for Sb deter- mination was investigated by using a radio- active tracer technique + HC104 mixtures leads to Wet the ashing with HNO3 formation of insoluble Sb compounds All the Sb remains in solution when an HNO3 + HC104 + H2SO4 mixture is used The influence of the ashing vessel glass and Teflon and the oxidation state of Sb were also studied --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 29 . en . . + rn Sa Te ce ee oy wo . fo4 . oo ke : * INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL . * heey 4 * INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL wy Boy wt : os . HYGIENE tig aot ae HYGIENE HYGIENE HYGIENE HYGIENE HYGIENE HYGIENE DIGEST DIGEST tte ae ~ eavh ee : : oo, . . i4 DIGEST 5 egy a : en ABSTRACTS ENVIRONMENTAL Ne s or : a : ae ue AND Mee OE a . Se . : | . : . ao ; he Loe ec OCCUPATIONAL ca = ee HEALTH |AND - SAFETYNEWS INDUSTRIALHEALTH FOUNDATION INC _ 5231 CENTRE AVENUE =~ + PITTSBURGH PA 15232 3 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST April 1982 431/82 Nonrespiratory Metabolic Function and Morphology of Lung Following Exposure to Polybrominated Biphenyls in Rats K.M. McCormack et al J. Toxicol Environ Health 9 27-39 January 1982. 47 refs Exposure to polybrominated biphenyls PBBS resulted in increased activity of microsomal arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufindeethylase in rat lung Clearance of hydroxytryptamine HT and angiotensin I by perfused lungs was decreased by PBBs However PBBs had no effect on the activity of expoxide hydrolase monoamine oxidase or angiotensin enzyme in lung The only histopathologic change detected in lungs from treated rats was an increase in alveolar type 11 cell lamellar bodies Selective accumulation of certain PBB congeners by lung was not observed in this investigation --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 432/82 Changes in Serum Hexachlorocyclohexane Residues in Malaria Spraymen After Short Occupational Exposure S.K. Gupta et al Arch Environ Health 37 41-44 February 1982. 15 refs The use of organochlorine insecticides for public health programs is indisputably necessary in developing countries Thus there is a need to evaluate human response to these chemicals under local field conditions The effects of a short- term wk exposure to hexachlorocyclohexane has been evaluated and compared in malaria spraymen with and without any previous occupational exposure to this insecticide by measuring the pre- and exposure serum hexachlorocyclohexane concentration A significant increase in orig- inal serum hexachlorocyclohexane concentration was observed in subjects on their first occupa- tional exposure 5X compared to those with previous exposure approximately the wk regardless of 3X All workers reached same serum levels within 16 their history of previous exposure --Authors abstract 433/83 Acute and Subacute Symptoms Among Workers in the Printing Industry J. Baelum et al Brit J. Ind Med 39 70-75 . February 1982. 10 refs The and study population comprised 52 52 controls Each person was male printers interviewed about job history general health and work- related symptoms Symptoms from eyes and airways neurological recorded A of the sense symptoms and lung function of smell were general symptoms were test and a measurement also carried out The printers had significantly more eye airway and neurological symptoms than the controls the main complaints being irritation of eyes nose throat and a reduced sense of taste The neurological symptoms were disorders of vision vertigo feeling of intoxication and headache Furthermore abdominal pain and flatulence occurred more often among the printers The symptoms showed no relation to logical and age or job seniority general symptoms were but neuro- related to shift work No difference in lung was found between the two groups function The printers had a slightly lower threshold of smell than the controls Although the total load due to organic solvents and dust in the air was far below legal limits the number and magnitude of symptoms experienced by the printers exceeded what is supposed when norms for workroom exposure are set It is suggested that either the irritative effects of solvents are under- estimated or the assumption of when great numbers of solvents not hold true A reduction of additive effects are found does the number of solvents by eliminating the most toxic solvents or by using dyes without solvents is suggested --Authors abstract reprinted by permission INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS 434/82 Prevalence and Incidence of Benign Asbestos Pleural Effusion in a Working Population G.R. Epler et al J. Am Med Assn 247 617-622 February 5 1982 24 refs Benign asbestos effusion was defined by 1 exposure to asbestos 2 confirmation by roentgenograms or thoracenteses 3 disease related to pleural effusion no other and 4 no malignant tumor within three years There were 34 benign effusions among 1,135 exposed workers compared with no otherwise unexplained effusions among 717 control subjects Preva- lence was dose related with 7.0 3.7 and 0.2 effusions with severe III indirect II and peripheral I exposure respectively The latency period was shorter than for other asbestos disorders Benign effusion was the most common asbestos abnormality during the first 20 years after exposure Incidence studies showed 9.2 effusions per 1,000 person for level III exposure for level II and 0.7 for level 1. Most 3.9 effusions were small 28.0 recurred and 66 were asymptomatic There was one mesothelioma six years after effusion Asbestos exposure should be carefully searched for in patients with idiopathic pleural effusion --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 435/82 Development of Radiological and Clinical Evidence of Parenchymal Fibrosis in Men with malignant Asbestos Pleural Lesions G.H.G. McMillan and C.E. Rossiter Brit J. Ind Med 39 54-59 February 1982. 16 refs After assessment of radiographs taken in 1966 201 men employed at HM Dockyard Devonport were judged to have pleural abnormalities due to exposure to asbestos but to be free from small opacities ILO C 1971 category 1/1 or more mesothelioma or bronchial carcinoma 19 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST By 1976 32 of these men had died of the survivors 155 were examined to determine the attack rates of parenchymal fibrosis or malignant disease or both In 1976 16 10.3 of the survivors had radiographs showing small opacities of category 1/1 or more When ad- ditional clinical criteria had to be satisfied before a diagnosis of parenchymal fibrosis was made the attack rate in the survivors was 4.5 These attack rates were substantially higher than those observed in a sample of men with no initial pleural abnormality but were unrelated to age smoking habit occupation duration of exposure to asbestos or type of pleural ab- normality disease was The too number of cases of small to allow any malignant reliable conclusions --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 436/82 Comparison of Independent Randomised Reading of Radiographs with Direct Progression Scoring for Assessing Change in AsbestosRelated Pulmonary and Pleural Lesions G.H.G. McMillan et al Brit J. Ind Med 39 60-61 February 1982. 3 refs Direct scoring of progression of pleural and parenchymal lesions was compared with change assessed by independent readings to the ILO classification among 155 men from HM Dockyard Devonport followed for 10 years For pleural calcification the two methods agreed closely whereas direct scoring yielded relatively too little progression of small opacities and too much progression of pleural thickening The choice of method for assessing progression should depend on objectives --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 437/82 Concentrations and Characteristics of Amphibole Fibres in the Lungs of Workers Exposed to Crocidolite in the British Gasmask Factories and Elsewhere During the Second World War A. Morgan and A. Holmes Brit 1982. J. Ind Med 16 refs 39 62-69 February . Concentrations and length distributions of uncoated and coated amphibole fibres in the lungs of 27 workers at the Leyland Nottingham and Blackburn mask factories were measured after death with the light microscope using the membrane filter technique Measurements were also made on a worker exposed to crocidolite at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment Porton and on three miners from the Wittenoom mine in Western Australia where the crocidolite used in the manufacture of military respirators is reputed to have originated In selected cases fibre concentrations and dimensions were also measured with the electron microscope All but two subjects died with a mesothelial tumour Fibre concentrations ranged from 7 x 104 LO almost 109 fibres dry weight There appeared to be no relation between latent period and fibre concentration The significance of the April 1982 wide range of fibre concentrations which was associated with the development of mesothelial tumours is discussed and also the relation between the relative frequency and dimensions of uncoated and coated fibres --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 438/82 Smoking and Duration of Asbestos Exposure in the Production of Functional and Roentgenographic Abnormalities in Shipyard Workers J.L. Pearle J. Occup Med 11 refs 24 37-40 January 1982 . : Functional and roentgenographic abnormalities in 131 asbestos shipyard workers were assessed in terms of duration of asbestos exposure and smoking history to determine the relative contributions of these factors Both exposure and smoking contributed to the frequency of In contrast abnormalities in FEV and FVC airways obstruction FEV1 < 70 was unrelated to exposure but correlated closely with smoking Abnormalities in were minimally associated with asbestos DLCO ex- posure but were strongly related to smoking history suggesting that diffusion impairment in these workers is more likely to be related to smoking and emphysema than to interstitial disease Significant roentgenographic pleural abnormalities were associated with both duration of exposure and smoking stitial disease did not correlate Interwith exposure and was only mildly associated with smoking Smoking contributes to many of the functional and roentgenographic abnormalities in asbestos- exposed workers --Authors's abstract reprinted by permission 439/82 blers J. Ind 6 refs Mortalitoyf Female Cas Mask Assem- B.K. Wignall and A.J. Fox Brit Med 39 34-38 February 1982 : A year follow study of the mortality of 500 women employed in manufacturing gas masks during the second world war showed a pro- nounced excess of deaths from mesothelioma and lung ject cancer only to Although these women were short periods of exposure sub- greater excesses were found for those exposed for between one and five years than for those exposed for under one year latter group however five cancer and four deaths from Even in the deaths from lung mesothelioma were recorded compared with 1.5 deaths and 0.1 deaths expected p = 0.02 An excess of deaths from cancer of the ovary was also found and this appeared to be related to exposure to asbestos . --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 20 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST By 1976 32 of these men had died survivors 155 were examined to Of the determine the attack rates of parenchymal fibrosis or malig- nant disease or both In 1976 16 10.3 of the survivors had radiographs showing small opacities of category 1/1 or more When ad- ditional clinical criteria had to be satisfied before a diagnosis of parenchymal fibrosis was made the attack rate in the survivors was 4.5 These attack rates were substantially higher than those observed in a sample of men with no initial pleural abnormality but were unrelated to age smoking habit occupation duration of exposure to asbestos or type of pleural ab- normality disease was The too number of cases of small to allow any malignant reliable conclusions --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 436/82 Comparison of Independent Randomised Reading of Radiographs with Direct Progression Scoring for Assessing Change in AsbestosRelated Pulmonary and Pleural Lesions G.H.G. McMillan et al Brit J. Ind Med 39 60-61 February 1982. 3 refs Direct scoring of progression of pleural and parenchymal assessed by lesions was compared independent readings with change to the ILO classification among 155 men from HM Dockyard : Devonport followed for 10 years For pleural calcification the two methods agreed closely whereas direct scoring yielded rela- tively too little progression of small opacities and Loo much progression of pleural thickening The choice of method for assessing progression should depend on objectives --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 437/82 Concentrations and Characteristics of Amphibole Fibres in the Lungs ofWorkers Exposed to Crocidolite in the British Cas- mask Factories and Elsewhere During the Second World War Brit J. Ind Med A. Morgan and A. Holmes 39 62-69 February 1982. 16 refs Concentrations and length distributions of uncoated and coated amphibole fibres in the lungs of 27 workers at the Leyland Nottingham and Blackburn mask factories were measured after death with the light microscope using the membrane filter technique Measurements were also made on a worker exposed to crocidolite at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment Porton mine in and on three miners from the Wittenoom Western Australia where the crocidolite used in the manufacture of military respirators is reputed to have originated In ' selected cases fibre concentrations and also measured with the electron dimensions were microscope All but two subjects died with a mesothelial tumour Fibre concentrations ranged from 7 x 104 to almost 109 fibres dry weight There appeared to be no relation between latent period and fibre concentration The significance of the April 1982 + wide range of fibre concentrations which was associated with the development of mesothelial tumours is discussed and also the relation between the relative frequency and dimensions of uncoated and coated fibres --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 438/82 Smoking and Duration of Asbestos Exposure in the Production of Functional and Roentgenographic Abnormalities in Shipyard Workers J.L. Pearle J. Occup Med 24 37-40 January 1982 11 refs Functional and roentgenographic abnormalities in 131 asbestos shipyard workers were assessed in terms of duration of asbestos exposure relative and smoking history to contributions of these determine factors the Both exposure and smoking contributed to the frequency of abnormalities in FEV1 and FVC In contrast airways obstruction FEV1 < 70 was unrelated to exposure but correlated closely with smoking Abnormalities in DLCO were minimally associated with asbestos ex- posure but were strongly related to smoking history suggesting that diffusion impairment in these workers is more likely to be related to smoking and emphysema than to interstitial disease Significant roentgenographic pleural abnormalities were associated with both duration of exposure and smoking Inter- stitial disease did not correlate with exposure and was only mildly associated with smoking Smoking contributes to many of the functional and roentgenographic abnormalities in asbestos- exposed workers --Authors's abstract reprinted by permission 439/82 blers J. Ind 6 refs Mortality of Female Gas Mask AssemB.K. Wignall and A. Fox Brit Med 39 34-38 February 1982 A year 500 women follow study of the mortality of employed in manufacturing gas masks during the second nounced excess of world war showed a prodeaths from mesothelioma and lung cancer Although these women were sub- ject only to short periods of exposure greater excesses were found for those exposed for between one and five years than for those exposed for under one year latter group however five cancer and four deaths from Even in the deaths from lung mesothelioma were recorded compared with 1.5 deaths and 0.1 deaths deaths expected p from cancer = 0.02 An of the ovary excess of was also found and this appeared to be related to exposure to asbestos --Authors abstreet reprinted by permission 20 May 1982 + ys, Volume No. 5 . LITERATURE ENVIRONMENTAL : AND oe ee + , OCCUPATIONAL os) HEALTH AND INC. INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION HEALTH _ 5231 CENTRE AVENUE ae PITTSBURGH PA 15232 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F Brislin M.LS. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens May 1982 Volume 46 No. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS This Issue Contains Abstracts 569/82 News Items 6 6 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee he ee ee ee kk ek Coming Events . 2... Legal Developments 6 ee 6 6 ee ee 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee Lobe ee ve ee Books and Pamphlets . 2 6. 1 ew ee ew ee ee ee kk kk kh Industrial Medicine 2. 2... ee kk kk Skin Diseases and Burns 2. 6 6 6 ke eee fe ke ke ke kk kk kg nk ee , Chemical Hazards Industrial Dusts kk and Inhalants . 6 0 wee ee tk kh ee ek et kk kk Radiation aS Environmental Problems 6. 0 1 ee ee ee ee kk Industrial Hygiene Preventive Engineering Safety Accident Prevention Miscellaneous ee 2.6. es eee ee ee ee th kk ke ee et Analytical Methods Miscellaneous 6. 6. ee ee ee ke ee Index a Addresses of Journals Abstracted 6. 6 6 ee ee ee ke ee ke ke kk kn kn ng 1 4 4 6 9 13 13 17 18 18 20 22 23 25 27 FEATURES Genetic Risks and Environmental Surveillance Epidemiological Aspects of Monitoring Industrial Populations for Environmental Mutagens . . Cancer Morbidity Among Woodworkers in the U.S. Automotive Industry Chronic Respiratory Disease Among Workers in a Pulp Mill Preemployment Routine Back Ray films Disulfiram Treatment of Three Patients with Nickel Dermatitis 5 Blood as a Matrix for Biological Monitoring . Lung Cancer Risk from Formaldehyde Pulmonary Fibrosis in an Aluminum Arc Welder Abst - No. 491/82 Abst - No. 495/82 Abst - No. 496/82 Abst - No. 504/82 Abst - No. 508/82 Abst - No. 514/82 Abst - No. 521/82 Abst -- No. 534/82 o INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST May 1982 529/82 Primary Standard Analysis at the Picogram Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 8 refs for Perfluoroisobutylene Level P. Menichelli 43 286-289 April 1982 Perfluoroisobutylene is a highly toxic compound which is evolved from the decompostion of the fluorocarbon used in the condensation reflow soldering process Accurate analysis for this material has been hampered secure reliable standards by the inability to This paper describes the use of a wafer permeation device as a primary standard The percent error for the permeation rates was calculated from the linear regression analyses of the weight lost versus time data and was 1.1 for a 113 min device and 2.3 for a 62 min device The relative standard deviation for generating and analyzing standards prepared from these permeation devices was found to range from 0.4 at the 40 parts per billion ppb level to 7.3 at the 1 ppb level --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 530/82 Benzidine Content in the Urine of Rats . After Administration of Benzidine Dyes V.M. Zhdan and L.N. Pylev Gig Trud Prof. Zabol 1 32-35 1982. 7 refs Russian A total of 17 dyes manufactured in USSR and 10 Polish dyes without benzidine admixture were given to rats Benzidine was orally and determined intraperitoneally in 72 h urine by thin layer chromatography and low temperature fluorescent spectral analysis Benzidine was found in experiments with 19 dyes in amounts from 0.1 to 6.7 --Authors abstract in English 531/82 Changes in of Workers Engaged the Cardiovascular in the Manufacture System of Toluene Diisocyanate Z.V. Sharonova et al Gig Trud Prof. Zabol 1 16-19 1982 6 refs Russian Based on the examination of 240 workers engaged in two processes of isocyanate manufacture the authors conclude that toluene diisocyanate TDI contributes to the development of cardiovascular pathology In persons working in relatively adverse conditions cardiovascular disturbances increased arterial pressure and changes in the end portion of the ventricular ECG complex are | revealed The incidence of these shifts grows with the length of work in contact with TDI --Authors abstract in English 17 INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS 532/82 Asbestos Pulmonary in Japan 1. Ebihara J. Science 1-11 March 1982 Pt 2 10 refs Disorders Lab 58 Asbestosis and other exposure is known to with abnormalities of evidence of asbestos be frequently associated the pleura Pleural plaque may be the only detectable radiograph- ical evidence of past asbestos exposure and those with such radiographical evidence belong to the high group of malignant tumors of respiratory organs or malignant mesotheliomas Compared with European and American countries problems of asbestos health hazards in Japan have not yet been clarified The in- vestigation of the occurrence and extent of asbestos pulmonary disorders in Japan was recently undertaken by means of examining many chest radiographs taken for the purpose of health checks of old persons in Japanese main metropolitan areas Before the investi- gation a diagnostic standard for pleural plaque on the anterior chest radio- graph was set up The present paper describes the diagnostic standard and the findings of this study --Author's abstract reprinted 533/82 Acute Exposure to Cotton Dust Case of Mill Fever D.L. Holness et al J. Am Med Assn 247 1602-1603 March 19 1982 7 refs This report documents the effects of an acute exposure to cotton dust The authors believe it is important to document these effects especially in that they occurred in a perfectly healthy nonsmoking subject whose exposures were on an intermittent basis They do noL know whether such a subject would have progression to classic byssinosis should the exposures be continued or more frequent They suggest that further study is necessary to investigate the association between mill fever and byssinosis especially to ascertain whether there is any predictive value in knowing whether a subject reacts to cotton dust at an early stage They think that any person who has occasion to be exposed to high levels of grade cotton dust may be at risk of experiencing the like symptoms of mill fever and airway obstruction and should thus use respiratory protection to try to prevent this occurrence --Condensed from text 534/82 Pulmonary Fibrosis in an Aluminum Arc Welder 372-374 V. Vallyathan et al March 1982. 21 refs Chest 81 Pulmonary fibrosis consequentto the inhalation of vaporized aluminum in an arc welder is described Analytical studies on the lung tissues are recorded --Authors abstract reprinted by permission oo LITERATURE _ ABSTRACTS vee ENVIRONMENTAL a * OCCUPATIONAL oo HEALTH AND oe SAFETY NEWS| June 1982 . Volume 46 No.6 INDUSTRIAL HEALTH FOUNDATION INC 5231 CENTRE AVENUE | _*.._ PITTSBURGH PA 15232_ _ INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F. Brislin M.L.S. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens June 1982 Volume 46 No. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS This Issue Contains Abstracts 684/82 News Items 2. 6 2 ee ee ew ee ee ee th eh ht kk Coming Events . 6. 2. 6 ew ke Legal Developments ' 6 6. ee Books and Pamphlets . 6... 6 ee te eee ee a ee ee ee ee eee ee ee et ee et ee Industrial Medicine 6 6 Skin Diseases and Burns eee eee 1. eee ew ek et ee kt ee et te Chemical Hazards Ce Industrial Dusts and Inhalants Physical Hazards . 6 1 ee we Radiation eee ee ew .. 1.4 eee ee ee we ee ee ewe et hw hh ee eee et ee he wh hh eh es Environmental Problems . 1... ee pet ee ve eves reese Industrial Hygiene Preventive Engineering .......5+ Occupational Health Management . 1... 6 es ee ee ep ht Safety Accident Prevention 1.0.00 0. ee ee ew ee ee we te ee 4 es Analytical Methods Miscellaneous .. 1 1 es ne ee te te ee Index Ce ee Addresses of Journals Abstracted ek . . 1... 2 ee ek wt ee ' FEATURES . i 5 . 6 . 7 9 12 12 . 18 . 21 . 22 . 23 23 . 25 25 26 . 29 32 Occupational Asthma A Spectrum of Acute Respiratory Disorders Informing Those With a Need to Know Exposure to Toluene Uptake Distribution and Elimination in Man Obstetric Histories of Women Occupationally Exposed to Styrene The Carcinogenic Effect of Aromatic Amines An Epidemiological Study on the Role of Toluidine and Methylene bis Methylaniline in Inducing Bladder Cancer in Man P The Hazards of Cadmium in Man and Animals A Historical Prospective Mortality Study of Workers in Copper and Zinc Refineries Computation of Permissible Noise Exposure Abst Abst Abst Abst No. No. No. No. 597/82 603/82 616/82 618/82 Abst Abst No. No. 623/82 628/82 Abst Abst No. 633/82 658/82 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST a 636/82 Role of Functional Changes in Red Blood Cells in the Pathogenesis of Lead Anemia I.A. Gribova and R.A. Gabulgalimova Gig Trud Prof. Zabol 2 21-24 1982 9 refs Russian Morphology and function of red blood cells were studied in 27 workers of a printing house exposed to lead in concentrations approaching the maximum allowable ones and in 31 subjects of the control group Increased osmotic and acid resistance . and mechanic friability of red blood cells was recorded in the workers exposed to lead as well as decreased lactate dehydrogenase glucose , phosphate and acid phosphatase activity and shortening of the red blood cell span Cytometric parameters and the content of free groups in the red blood cells were unchanged It is shown that hemolysis manifesting in shortened red blood cells span develops during exposure to lead in rather low concentrations These changes are easily compensated for at the expense of increased red blood cell production and do not lead to health distur- bances . --Authors abstract in English 637/82 Variation of Induced Lethality in Estradiol Mice G.R. Hogan J. Toxicol Environ Health 9 353-357 March 1982 13 refs Studies were undertaken to test the female sex hormone -estradiol for its ability to modify lethality in young adult female and male mice exposed to lead acetate Mice were injected with estradiol on d -1 and 0 and immediately after the second injection lead acetate was administered at four subgroup dosages ranging from 75 to 600 kg body weight Control mice were injected with only lead acetate On 4 6 and 8 after Pb the median lethal dosages , LD50s were calculated from the observed mor- tality ratios by a method of moving averages LD50 values were considerably lower for the Pb- and estradiol groups than for the controls Data from these experiments indicate that the estradiol treatments render both female and male mice more vulnerable to the lethal effects of lead acetate --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 638/82 The Effect of Ferrites Dust on the Body and Hygienic Standardization of Its Content in the Air of Workplaces V.A. Prilipko Gig Trud Prof. Zabol 4 23-26 1982. 4 refs Russian Exposure to ferrites dust was found to produce fibrogenous effects on experimental animals as well as to cause chronic poisoning manifested by nucleic and protein metabolism disturbances changes in the liver function and morphologic shifts in the internal organs The toxic action of ferrites dust depends on their physicochemical properties determined by the content of metal June 1982 ions of varying valency On the basis of the results MACs for the ferrites were derived and approved --Author's abstract in English 639/82 Mutagenicity of Metal Salts in the L5178Y Mouse Lymphoma Assay T.J. Oberly et al J. Toxicol Environ Health 9 367-376 March 1982. 22 refs Eleven metals were examined for their potential to induce forward mutations at the thymidine kinase locus in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells The materials tested included AlCl3 CdS04 HgCl2 K2CrO4 K2Cr20 MgCl2 MnCl2 NaAs02 HASO4 NaCl and NO3 Strong positive responses at survivals greater than 10 were observed with CdSO K Weak positive responses Cr04K2Cr207 and MnCl2 yielding 2- to fold increases in mutation frequency above the solvent control at greater than 10 Survival were seen with HgCl2 NaAs02 HASO--and NO3 Negative responses were obtained with MgCl2 NaCl and AlCl3 --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 640/82 Clinical and Experimental Data for Determination of the Fluorosis Osteal Stage D.M. Zislin Gig Trud Prof. 3 39-42 1982. 46 refs Russian Zabol Clinical data are presented showing that before specific manifestation of occupational osteal in all fluorosis polysystemic the examined organs of pathology occurs the cardiovascular hepatobiliary gastric hypophyseo and central nervous systems The phasic . pattern of the disease was shown and its relation to the toxic load as well as its clinical features and manifestations of soft tissue pathology This makes it possible to consider the osteal stage of occupational fluorosis as its initial 1 stage The results are compared with the literature data and the evidence of the toxic agent content in biologic substrates --Author's abstract in English ry INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS 641/82 The Association of Asbestos Pleural Disease and Rounded Atelectasis A. Mintzer and D.W. 457-460 April 1982. Cugell 5 refs Chest 81 Rounded atelectasis also known as folded lung or Blesovsky's syndrome is a clinically innocuous entity Its association with asbestosinduced pleural disease has been known since 1966. This complication of asbestos exposure is being recognized with increasing frequency This unusual form of peripheral lobar collapse has sufficient characteristic radiologic findings to preclude thoracotomy for diagnosis --Author's abstract reprinted by permission INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST 642/82 Translocation the Bronchiolar Wall of Asbestos P.F. Holt Dust Through Environ Res 27 255-260 April 1982. 11 refs Inhaled chrysotile asbestos fibers that settle on the epithelium of the larger brionchioles are removed from the lung by cilia Fibers that reach the pulmonary alveoli may be phagocytized by macrophages which move toward the periphery of the lung by passing through alveolar walls Some of these cells aggregate bronchioles and may then in alveoli near larger penetrate the bronchiolar wall where They are shed in they are elevated the bronchiolar by cilia to the lumen trachea Elimination of chrysotile from alveoli depends on macrophages fibers persist if there are in- sufficient macrophages --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 643/82 Absence of Mutagenic Activity Forms of Asbestos in Liver Epithelial B. Reiss et al Environ Res 27 April 1982. 55 refs of Three Cells 389-397 The amosite crocidolite and chrysotile forms of UICC asbestos were assayed for their ability to induce gene mutations at the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase locus Using adult rat derived ARL and ARL cells in culture no consistent or significant increase occurred in the number of mutants resistant to the purine analog thioguanine after exposure to toxic levels of amosite crocidolite or chrysotile These results support the concept that asbestos is an epigenetic carcinogen that does not alter DNA --Authors abstract reprinted by permission. 644/82 The Effect of Dust on the Health of Workers Engaged in the Manufacture of Asbestos Cement Products E.G. Kurova et al Trud Prof. Zabol 3 17-20 1982. Gig 11 refs Russian The concentration of dust liberated during the manufacture of asbestos cement products exceeds the MAC by several times Mortality due and stomach cancer in workers engaged in manufacture is relatively higher than in to lung this the population of the adjoining city --Authors abstract in English 645/82 Endemic Pleural Disease Associated Exposure to Mixed Fibrous Dust in A.N. Rohl et al Science April 30 1982. 14 refs 216 Turkey 518-520 with Pleural mesothelioma lung cancer pleural calcification and fibrosis and interstitial parenchymal inhabitants fibrosis have been observed among of several villages in central Turkey Earlier reports have stated that environ- mental and lung tissue samples from this area contained the fibrous zeolite mineral erionite and this mineral has generally been assumed to be the agent responsible for these endemic 19 June 1982 pathological conditions in the absence of asbestos outcroppings and usage Several different kinds of asbestos minerals in addition to erionite have now been found in environmental samples taken from the villages where these diseases occur The lung tissues of mesothelioma patients from these villages contain both fibrous zeolites and asbestos minerals --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 646/82 Carcinogenic and Fibrogenic Effects of Zeolites Preliminary Observations Y. Suzuki Environ Res 27 433-445 April 1982. 19 refs Two natural zeolite minerals erionite a fibrous form and mordenite a mixture of fibrous and granular types were injected intraperitoneally into 45 Swiss albino male mice with a single administration of 10 or 30 mg of zeolite suspended in 1 cc of saline solution The erionite was 0.4-24 ...min length 1 ...m average 95 shorter than 8 pm and 0.01 ...min width 0.1 pm average 94.4 smaller than 1 m The granular mordenite was 0.33-5.7 pm in the long axis and 0.27-1.67 m in the short axis The fibrous mordenite was 0.4-6 ...m in length and 0.05-0.67 ...m in width Thirteen untreated mice and five mice treated with 10 mg chrysotile Calidria 90 . shorter than 1 pm were used as controls Six of ten mice treated with 10 mg of erionite developed malignant peritoneal tumors between 8 and 22 months after the single administration The neoplasms in four of the six animals were consistent with malignant mesothelioma Two of four chrysotile controls also developed malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas between 9 and 16 months A fibrogenic effect was noted in both the erionite- and mordenite- treated mice the effect being more pronounced in the former Fibrotic lesions induced by these mineral fibers commonly presented in the primary site of these induced peritoneal tumors Findings suggest that the carcinogenic and fibrogenic effects of the fibrous erionite are similar to those of asbestos --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 647/82 Effect of Some Characteristics of Coal - Seams on the Morbidity of Miners E.S. Vasilenko and A.S. Slutsker Gig Trud Prof. 12-15 1982. 4 refs Russian Zabol 2 Pneumoconiois incidence in miners of 93 mines of the Voroshilovgrad region during 5 years is analyzed Correlation was established between the disease incidence and features of the dust formation and qualitative characteristics of coal dust i.e. specific dust release wetness of coal and its genetic maturity Data on the distinct influence of of coal on pneumoconiosis the genetic maturity incidence were obtained Anthracite represents the latest stage of the coal substance metamorphosis the INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST sample can yield both the formaldehyde and total aliphatic aldehyde contents of a sampled atmosphere they devised a combined method with improved techniques that streamlined laboratory analysis by maximizing procedural overlap --Authors abstract reprinted by permission M88 680/82 Industrial Trials with the Vickers Rapid Asbestos Fibre Counter A.D. Jones and R.W. Gale Ann Occup Hyg 25 39-51 . 1982. 9 refs The Vickers M88 rapid asbestos fibre counter was assessed by several laboratories each using a prototype of the instrument and with membrane filter samples provided from a variety of industrial situations The M88 evaluations of fibre density showed a very good correlation with visual counts for textile samples excluding weaving and some rejected samples and good correlation for brake lining dust samples although with a markedly different ca. x 1/4 calibration factor --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 681/82 Visibility of Fine Fibres of Asbestos During Routine Electron Microscopical Analysis A.P. Middleton Ann Occup Hyg 25 5362 1982 8 refs Most analyses for asbestos in samples from the occupational environment are carried out using techniques based upon either scanning SEM or transmission TEM electron microscopy The mode of image formation and resolution obtainable differ between SEM and TEM and the present study was undertaken in order to provide some indica- . tion of the two the comparability of observations made by techniques with particular reference to the visibility of fine micrometre fibres The results indicate that in general at a given magnification TEM than when finer using fibres are SEM When visible when using using SEM fibre visbility is improved by the use of higher magnifications by the use of slower raster speeds and by the use of gold rather than carbon for specimen coating The use of photomicrographs leads to improved fibre visibility in both SEM and TEM images The study suggests that comparable results can probably be obtained from the two techniques although fibres < 0.1 mm dia may be close to the limit of visibility in the SEM In order to facilitate laboratory comparison of results it would seem appropriate for standard samples to be available so that optimum conditions can be determined for the observation of fine fibres --Author's abstracted reprinted by permission June 1982 682/82 Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Dimethyl Formamide Methylene Bisphenyl Isocyanate and Methylene Bisphenyl Amine in Air Samples K. Lipski Ann Occup Hyg 25 1-4 1982 15 refs The application of performance liquid chromatography on a silica gel phase has resulted in a method for analysis of dimethyl formamide DMF methylene bisphenyl isocyanate - MDI and methylene bisphenyl amine MDA in air samples The above mixture was used in . the production of polyurethane fibres For sampling purposes silica gel coated with diethylamine was used Since isocyanate is highly reactive it must be rapidly converted into a stable derivative This was achieved by reaction with diethylamine After desorp- tion of the mixture compounds are separated by performance liquid chromatography Spectrophotometric detection was used for quantitative determination of the mixture components --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 683/82 Charcoal Sampling and Gas Chromato- graphic Determination of dimethylformamide in Air Samples From a Polyurethane Plant V. Rimatori and G. Carelli Scand J. Work Environ Health 8 20-23 March 1982. 12 refs A charcoal sampling method and a gas chromato- graphic determination of dimethylformamide dimethylformamide in the air of a plant producing polyurethane lumps is described The collection efficiency was checked by drawing standard dimethylformamide air mixtures through the sampling tube at 0.1 min and detecting the organic vapors spectrophotometrically at 215.4 nm At 1,000 msamplings could be carried out for 190 min with negligible dimethylformamide losses lower than % The analysis formamide was performed by gas of dimethyl- ~ chromatography on Porapack Q and Tenax OC after extraction with 2 ml of acetone mg of charcoal with a mean recovery of 90 SD % in the range of 0.05 0.5mg of dimethylformamide mg of charcoal The relative standard deviation of the entire procedure was 3.5 Because of the good adsorbing efficiency of the charcoal short sampling could be carried out at a relatively high dimethylformamide concentra- tion Stationary and personal in mean values ranging between sampling 1.26 and resulted 1.60 mThe method is particularly suitable in instances where other pollutants are present and therefore it can be used also for other work areas as well -Authors abstract reprinted by permission 27 July1982 Volume46 No.7 ; + INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL Me HYGIENE HYGIENE HYGIENE HYGIENE aoa DIGEST DIGEST . DIGEST . tate . : toy oa fr 4 mo Mey a yet Meas me ae se + . Me LITERATURE ~ ABSTRACTS enENVIRONMENTAL Sone OCCUPATIONAL > HEALTHAND SAFETYNEWS FOUNDATION INDUSTRIAL HEALTH IINC NC - 34 PENN CIRCLE WEST . PITTSBURGHPITTSBURGH PA 15206 . ... Editor Jane F Brislin MLS July 1982 Abstractor Jan Jan L Collins BA Volume 46 No. 7 Production Joy H. Henning Ola Owens 4 , ... ; 3 4 | i TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 This Issue Contains Abstracts 789/82 News Items - +. + ete Coming Events se ee ee Legal Developments . - ++ Books and Pamphlets . - 6 6 Industrial Medicine 6 ee Skin Diseases and Burns ' - ferent a ete e+ rr trees ee ee ee ee HR et te tr 6 ee ee te tr the a hh a ee a ee a) Chemical Hazards a Fr Physical Industrial Dusts Hazards and Inhalants 2 ee re tere ee ee rs eh Se ee Radiation eee ee te ee eS ee a ee RR HS ee Environmental Problems - 6 ee ee te ht Industrial Hygiene Preventive Engineering # . ee eee rr tte rs Occupational Health Management . Safety Accident Prevention . 2s 2 eee +e rs ee ee ert he ee ee eee Analytical Methods Miscellaneous - 6 6 ee RR pet ht eens Index Addresses Cee ee of Journals Abstracted 6. ce eee ee ee ee ER ee os i 5 6 8 9 12 13 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 28 30 FEATURES Work Stress and Health Four Major Conclusions . Health of Unemployed Middle Men in Great Britain ae 7 Tobacco Smoke Health Hazards to the Smoking and the Workplace co Involuntary Smoker Dermatological Findings in Capacitor Manufacturing Workers Exposed to Dielectric Fluids Containing Polychlorinated ~ Biphenyls PCBs Blood Lead Life on the Length of Dependence of Apparent -- Previous Lead Exposure in Humans -- Elemental Mercury Exposure Peripheral Neurotoxicity Premature Delivery and Organochlorine Organochlorine Compounds Polychlorinated -Biphenyls and Some Organochlorine Insectides A Survey of Subjects Ten Years After Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin -- Exposure . . Abst Abst No. No. 711/82 712/82 Abst No. 715/82 Abst No. 723/82 Abst Abst NO No. 728/82 732/82 Abst No. 739/82 Abst No. 741/82 uy eu & Hh We Fiem Oe T inser it men mesitoe eaemmns Neen Semn vane unmieat ireniae renter a July 1982 Volume 46 Number 7 Industrial Health Foundation 34 Penn Circle West Inc. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15206 : INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST NEWS ITEMS 82x National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Appendix BTest Methods Revisions and Addition Environmental Protection Agency EPA Fed Reg 47 24703-24716 June 8 1982 Action Final rule Revisions to Methods 101 and 102 Determination of Particulate and Gaseous Mercury Emissions from Alkali Plants Streams and Determination of . Particulate and Gaseous Mercury Emissions from Alkali Hydrogen Streams respec- tively and a new Method 111 Determination of Particulate and Gaseous Mercury Emissions from Sewage Sludge Incinerators were proposed in the Federal Register on October 15 1980 45 FR 68514 This action promulgates the revisions and the new method redesignated as Method 101A The intended effect is to require all chlor- alkali plants and sewage sludge treatment plants specified to conduct emissions tests under Sub- parts A and E of 40 CFR Part 61 to hereafter see effective date listed below use these new and revised methods for determining compliance In addition amendments to Subparts A and E to include new Method 101A are made Effective date June 8 1982 --Summary Biphenyls 82x Studies on Polychlorinated Paints to be Conducted in Fiscal 1982 Occup Safety & Health Reporter 11 1075-1076 May 27 1982 the Field research projects on exposure to poly- chlorinated biphenyls and paints and will be conducted by the National coatings Institute for Occupational Safety 1982 the Institute and Health during announced May 18. fiscal to the According notice the study on PCBs will examine reproductive histories of women exposed to the substancien the workplace Some 800 responses are expected to be collected NIOSH indicated The second project will be a of case control study painters and workers in the allied trades The purpose of the study will be to determine if there are adverse health effects from exposure Lo paints coatings and associated substances the Institute stated Researchers will study some 1,000 construction and maintenance painters in the allied trades according to the notice Six weeks before beginning work on each study NIOSH will publish a separate notice in the Federal Register giving more detailed information on the project the announcement said --Condensed from text 82x Asbestos Friable Containing Materials in Schools Identification and Notification Notification Environmental Protection 1E9P 82A Fed Reg 47 23360-23369 May Ag2e7ncy Action Final rule EPA issues this rule to reduce risks to human health from exposure to containing materials in school The rule requires public and buildings and private elementary secondary schools in the United States to identify friable containing building materials maintain records and notify employees of the location of the friable materials which contain asbestos provide the employees with instructions on reducing exposures to asbestos and notify the School's teacher association of the inspection results School districts are encouraged to consult with EPA Regional Asbestos Coordinators when complying with the rule and where containing materials are found to consult with EPA regarding corrective actions A school that has already inspected sampled and analyzed the friable containing material according to the procedures in this regulation need with the only comply recordkeeping and notification provisions of the rule Schools that determined that they contain no friable containing materials prior to the effective date of this rule need only certify these results and retain the certification statement in their files Schools need not repeat sampling and analysis under any circumstances Dates This rule became effective June 28 1982 Local education agencies must comply with all portions of this rule by May 27 1983 --Summary 82x Asbestos Data Regulatory Experience Experience to Guide OSHA Review Official Tells Occup Safety & Health Reporter Symposium 12 5-6 June 3 1982 The Occupational Safety and Health Administra- tion will reexamine prior regulatory decisions concerning asbestos in light of the body of scientific developing knowledge and technological advancement and its 10 years of enforcement experience OSHA Deputy Health Standards Director John Martonik told the World on Asbestos May 25. In its Symposium review Martonik said OSHA will continue to require U.S. industry to fulfill its legal safety and health responsibilities It will do so however based on the best available data USTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST in the most effective way while pro- ing the most adequate protection to workers said To do this OSHA will have to make icy and scientific judgments when uncertainty sts Martonik continued Once the magnitude the problem is identified and the areas of certainty are defined OSHA will make its cisions based on policy considerations One ea of the review will require extrapolations of sk at low levels of exposure Martonik said _ing that relatively little is known about the gnitude of risk at the current exposure limit two fibers per cubic centimeter Another sue likely to spur debate is the conversion of posure levels measured in some studies by rtain sampling methods to levels found in other udies using different sampling methods and asurements he projected Martonik said the ency cent is aware of and will review very carefully studies that show a prevalance of asbes- sis or an excess mortality from lung cancer long workers exposed for a working lifetime at e two fiber limit It will also consider wever the following issues The influence of her type on risk for asbestosis lung cancer id mesothelioma The shape of the response irve with attention to type of operation and ype of exposure Sampling and analysis Medical urveillance methods --Condensed from text . 82x TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory roposed Actions on Synthetic Fuels and elated Substances Environmental Protection gency EPA Fed Reg 47 25198-25203 une 10 1982 ction Notice The EPA has completed a review if twenty synthetic fuels and related substances urrently listed on the TSCA Chemical Substances Aventory Two problems were identified First PA believes that twelve substances had not left The research and development stage during the Inventory reporting period and were therefore ineligible for inclusion on the Inventory EPA proposes to remove these ineligible substances from the Inventory Second four of the twenty substances though eligible for the Inventory were erroneously incorporated under the petroleum derived substances LPA will a new Inventory entry for each of these names of establish tour substances The remaining four substances were found to be both properly reported and identified on the Inventory no action correctly will be taken on these four substances 14e Agency solicits public comments on its intent to emove the twelve incligible substances Comments should be received by August 9 1982 --burnary 690 Asbestos Selikoff Calls for Wider Calis for Safeguards Debated 12 Meaning Control Adequacy Data Occup Safety & Health Reporter 33-34 33-34 Jun 16 1962 A ban on the ast oe! asbestos will not be re- quested 31 bropei control or^ exposure 35 achieved in the wine spectrum of workplaces wher July 1982 libers are found according to living J. Salixoft director of the Environmental Sciences laboratory of the Mount Sinai School of Yedicine Selikoft made his remarks May 25 during the opening session of the World Symposium on Asbestos a three meeting sponsored by the governments of Canada and Quebec and the Commission of the European Communities Industry has done what it can to lirit exposure in asbestos mines and mills but now must expand its efforts to control it in workplaces where asbestos products are used Selikoff told the symposium The remaining disease problems he warned will be found among construction workers and others who work where there are virtually no controls respirators or instruction Selikoff the asbestos industry to begin a surveillance and notification program of exposed workers Noting that cessation of cigarette smoking has been found to contribute to a reversal of disease risk in previously exposed workers he argued that companies have the responsibility to inform workers of past exposure and warn them of the effects of smoking In addition he said virtually no exposed workers are under surveillance asserting that periodic medical examinations could make early cures possible Epidemiologists have not made progress in helping society control the risks of asbestos exposure since the basic data ! were reported 20 years ago according to John Corbett McDonald head of the McGill University ; Institute of Occupational Health and Safety : Conclusions still must be reached concerning a response relationship and variations between the effects of different asbestos fiber types he told the session Noting that only four cohorts of workers have been studied using individual L exposure estimates - Quebec miners and millers New Jersey factory pensioners New Orleans cement workers and South Carolina textile workers McDonald contended that it would still be very rash to say that we know what the dose- response relationship is for mesothelioma the i cancer of the pleural lining of the lung linked almost exclusively to asbestos exposure Sub- stantial differences have been found he said : between the effects of amosite and crocidolite asbestos and the more widely used chrysotile type While he has seen no evidence of cro- + Lidolite use without a hazard it is probably possible to use chrysotile safely in such : products as brake linings McDonald maintained He speculated that health effects depend perhaps on the size and type of fiber Remaining un- ; certainties also were stressed by John Higginson until recently the director of the International International Agency for Research on Cancer and Hans Weill professor of medicine at lulane University Weill maintained that diagnosis of asbestos- related disease continues to be a problem after nearly a century He argued that four of the Six indicators used to detect asbestos disease are specific and commonly found in both patients with the diseast and those without it The medical researcher characterized diag- nosis as a ties based question of weighing on the total pictur the probabiliinclucing exposure He reported that a forthcoming a INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST document prepared by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the College of American Pathologists will recommend that when available both lung fibrosis and a demonstrated finding of fibers in the lung are needed for adequate diagnosis from tissue samples Weill also have With contended that linked pleural no definitive mortality data plaques to mesothelioma some rare exceptions he said no functional consequences can be expected from benign plaques Higginson discussing science's limited under- standing of the variables of cancer causation in general predicted that research in the next decade into the mechanisms of carcinogenic action will aid regulators in determining what alter- native preventive measures should be taken Better comprehension of which factors initiate , the formation of tumors and which promote or deter their growth may help scientists determine an operational threshold the conditions under which no effect can be found he urged . --Condensed from text 82x Proposed Revocation of Advisory and Repetitive Standards Occupational Safety and Health Administration Labor Fed Reg 47 23477-23482 May 28 1982 Action Proposed Revocation The Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA proposes to revoke nearly two hundred provisions of the General Industry Safety and Health Standards Part 1910 in which the word should or other advisory language is used instead of the mandatory shall OSHA has determined that these provisions are unenforceable and proposes that they be deleted from Part 1910. Also proposed for revocation is one advisory paragraph which was improperly adopted as a mandatory provision by OSHA It is also proposed to delete three sections where in whose requirements are repeated elsePart 1910. In addition OSHA is pro- posing to amend 1910.6 to clarify that only mandatory provisions of standards incorporated by reference are adopted as OSHA standards The removal of advisory and from the standards will repetitive provisions | facilitate OSHA's en- forcement responsibilities regarding these provisions and the clarity of also assist employers by improving the standards Dates All comments on this notice should be received by July 27 1982 --Summary 82x Asbestos Scientist Sees Future Pos- sibility of Screening Workers for Resistance Occup Safety & June 10 1982 Health Reporter , 12 35 Recent advances the possibility in the field of immunology raise that blood tests can be used to determine how susceptible an exposed worker will be to asbestos disease according to Elliot Kagan an associate professor of pathology at Georgetown University The researcher told a May 27 session of the World Symposium on Asbestos that scientists now possess the technology to apply techniques of immunological measurement to July 1982 a humans in practical situations Research in the next five years he reported may produce the definition of precise susceptibility markers in the cell functions of workers that would allow the use of screening and carly disease detection as preventive measures Kagan said early reports that an association between asbestos disease and certain deficiencies in resistance mechanisms had not withstood the test of time but added that they were not performed with the superior tech- nology now available Sophisticated assays of immunological funtion in use today he continued make it possible to examine different groups of exposed workers and compare the susceptibility of those showing disease symptoms to the resistance of those could be showing no effects Because accomplished by means of the the assays non- invasive procedure of taking blood tests Kagan suggested that they may be preferable to other scanning techniques such as rays that present hazards in themselves Taking issue with Kagan's approach was Herbert Otto director of the pathology department at the Municipal Hospital in Dortmund West Germany He stated that if immunological susceptibility contributed to an asbestos death lymphatic evidence in a he would expect postmortem He to find has not observed arty such signs however he added In any case he said he believed scientists must look at the agent of disease to prevent it not at its host --Text reprinted 82x Polychlorinated Biphenyls Manufacture Processing Distribution and Use in Closed and Controlled Waste Manu- facturing Processes Environmental Pro- tection Agency EPA Fed 24976-24984 June 8 1982 Reg 47 Action Proposed rule On April 13 1981 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an order requiring the Environmental Protection Agency EPA to undertake a rulemaking for certain chemical manufacturing processes that generate PCBs in low concentrations In response to the court's order EPA is proposing to exclude . the production of PCBs in closed and controlled waste manufacturing processes from the provisions of section e of the Toxic Substances Control Act TSCA 15 U.S.C. 2605 Section e prohibits the manufacture processing distri- bution in commerce and use of polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs Dates An informal hearing if requested will be held on August 6 1982 in Washington D.C. The exact time and location of the hearing will be available through the In- dustry Assistance calling toll free Office which can be reached by 800-424-9065 or in Washington D.C. by calling 554-1404 Comments on this proposed informal 1982 rule and requests to participate in the hearing must be submitted by July 23 -Summary NDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST 47/82 Exposure to Asbestos and .R Becklake New Eng J. Med 482 June 17 1982. 19 refs Human 306 Disease 1480- hat is the clinical importance of the issues aised by the review by Craighead and Mossman see Abstract 748/82 Perhaps the most im- ortant is that health risks in relation to xposure to asbestos vary according to ental factors Some of these factors environ- such as xposure dose particle size and fiber type are nown but there are undoubtedly others are not et recognized Host characteristics probably lso influence the response to exposure Thus n considering the individual patient with a isease known to be related to asbestos exposure he wise clinician should avoid regarding any articular exposure as too short too remote or t too low a level even if environmental counts ere in o have compliance with the present accounted for the disease regulations Assessment of he importance of particular environmental xposures is often outside the clinician's experise it should be referred to appropriate onsultants in industrial hygiene engineering r physics In lung cancer the statistical robability that a given case is attributable to sbestos exposure may be estimated from exposure- esponse data which for practical purposes can robably be assumed to be linear provided that he data available are applicable to the industry which the subject was employed Finally the npredictable clinical course of these diseases emands vigilance by the clinician with respect o past exposures and the most powerful indi- ator remains the careful ccupational history complete and precise --Condensed from text 48/82 The Pathogenesis of Associated iseases J.E. Craighead and B.T. Mossman ew Eng J. Med 306 1446-1455 June 17 1982 26 refs his review he adverse summarizes effects of our current asbestos on knowledge of health and rovides a echanisms perspective on the pathogenetic of the diseases associated with ex- osure Since there are several different ineralogic types ttempt to assess ith one type can of asbestos the authors the extent to which findings be applied to another De- ailed analyses of the issues addressed in this aper have been published elsewhere --Condensed from text 49/82 Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Pulmonary unction in Asymptomatic Asbestos Workers With ormal Chest Radiograms S.K. Hall and J.H. issik Am Ind Hyg Assn J. une 1982. 29 refs 43 381-386 comprehensive health screening program consising of standardized health and occupational istory questionnaire blood chemistry profile Complete blood count urinalysis chest radioraph and pulmonary function testing was orga- ized for the Asbestos Workers Union Local Number July 1982 ] in able St. Louis Missouri on a voluntary basis The program was availto all the workers in the Union One hundred and thirty male caucasian workers or 44 of the membership vol- unteered to participate and all the data were used in this study All blood chemistry profiles and urinalysis results were within normal limits Twenty of the asbestos pulmonary abnormalities as workers well as had radiologic severe pul- monary funtion impairment The remaining workers were divided into subgroups based 113 on the number of years of exposure to asbestos and their smoking history Although asymptomatic workers with more than 20 years exposure to asbestos had significantly decreased pulmonary functions compared to those with less than 20 years ex- posure When smokers and nonsmokers were com- pared an additive effect asbestosis was observed between smoking This study also and dis- covered that significant functions occur early in decreases in the exposure pulmonary to asbestos --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 750/82 Analysis of Cores of Ferruginous Bodies from Former Asbestos Workers R.F. Dodson et al Environ Res 28 171-178 June 1982 18 refs The coating was removed from 442 isolated ferruginous bodies which had been collected from tissues of occupationally exposed individuals The core material was determined to be amosite asbestos consistent with that used in their previous industrial setting While length has been reported to play a determining role regarding which fibers become coated the process used in this study allowed characterization of other distinguishing traits of the cores These included surface irregularities consisting of etching fractures fraying and complexities involving multifibers or fibrillar composition The majority of the uncoated fibers were short in length but they also had much smoother surface features with fewer coated fibers irregularities than the --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 751/82 J. Am Asbestos Ceiling Med Assn 247 Panels R.H. 2716 May 21 Wheater 1982 Question A kitchen designed to serve several hundred people at each meal has a suspended asbestos ceiling that was installed ten years ago It is not a part of any ventilation system No cases of asbestosis have been found in kitchen workers arises since installation but the question Should the asbestos ceiling panels be replaced with asbestos material Answer What is the existing level of airborne filters produced from the panels Can these panels be removed in a competent manner without producing undue contamination to the environs the workmen involved and the future inhabitants There is no assurance or safety in the notion that no cases of asbestosis have developed in the kitchen workers during the last ten years a INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Asbestosis is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages and the latency period for this disease Depending on can the be much longer than ten years level of exposure it may take 15 to 20 years to develop or it may progress from first exposure to death within ten years There have even been instances among asbestos insulation sprayers where the disease developed within three years inasmuch as most kitchen workers are apt to be transient there is some question as to how one could assess their total exposure If you can be assured that the job of removal clean and disposal can in a safe approved manner then by be conducted all means replace the present panels with a safe substitute --Condensed from text : 752/82 Cancer Morbidity Among Polishers . B. Jarvholm et al Brit J. Ind Med 39 196-197 May 1982. 8 refs The mortality pattern among 86 men was determined to investigate the possible hazards of polishing steel The men had polished steel with polishing paste for at least five years The polishing pastes had contained tallow beeswax carnauba wax alundum carborundum ferric oxide and chalk A total of 18 men had died compared with 13.3 expected Four had died of stomanch cancer compared with 0.44 expected p < 0.005 The mortality for other causes of death was not increased The study does not permit any definite conclusion but indicates a possible cancer hazard among polishers --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 753/82 The Mortality Experience of Upstate New York Talc Workers W.T. Stille and I.R. Tabershaw J. Occup Med 24 480-484 June 1982. 10 refs Deaths for a year period 1948 to 1978 were analyzed in a historical prospective cohort study of 655 white male talc workers Death rates from all causes from cancer of the respiratory system and from nonmalignant respiratory disease were not significantly different from those of the U.S. white male population However signifi- cant differences for these causes of death were found among workers who had previous occupational histories An analysis of the latency periods of the observed lung cancer suggests that exposure to an etiologic agent during previous work experience may play a role in the development of lung cancer --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 754/82 Halogenated Hydrocarbon Environmental Pollution The Special Case of Halogenated Anesthetics J.R. Marier Environ Res 28 212-239 June 1982. 73 refs For several years there has been concern about the adverse environmental consequences accruing from the use of chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds although information regarding effects on humans has been relatively sparse However i July 1982 there are several similarities between chlori- nated hydrocarbon pollutants e.g. DDT or PCBs etc. and modern halogenated hydrocarbon anesthetics the similarities include their respective chemical structure their bioaccumu- lation in adipose tissue and their dependence on the liver for metabolic transformation and partial excretion Moreover several halogenated hydrocarbon anesthetics have been in widespread clinical use during the past three decades and this has led to a substantial accumulation of knowledge bearing on the toxicological cause effect aspects in humans Aside from the likeli- hood that the various halogenated hydrocarbon compounds in the human environment may have similar metabolic effects there is also the real possibility that diverse exposures to a very variety of these compounds might lead to cross- sensitization phenomena among susceptible humans Studies on the physiological effects of halogenated anesthetics are described --Author's introduction 755/82 Effects of Large 0.9 ...mSulfuric Acid Aerosols on Horvath et June 1982. Human Pulmonary Function S.M. al Environ 22 refs Res 28 123-130 The effects of sulfuric acid particle concentration volume and ambient temperatures on pulmonary function of young male nonsmokers were examined Subjects n = 11 thrice repeated a sequence of min exercise ventilation approximately 30 liters and man sitting rest Pre- and postexposure pulmonary function tests forced vital capacity maneuvers lung volumes maximum voluntary ventilation Raw TGV and helium FVC were measured During the exposure and at 2 min after cessation of each exercise period forced vital capacity tests air and oxygen were performed Each subject was exposed in random order to filtered air or 233 418 or 939 mparticulate sulfuric acid Mass median diameter MMD was 0.90-0.93 pm and geometric SD was 1.66-1.73 No major changes in pulmonary function related to sulfate were ob- served in to show a these subjects The only measurement significant interaction across time post and sulfate concentration was FEV 1.0 which was significantly decreased with exposure to 939 gsulfate The magnitude of the decrease was not considered to be of physio-. logical significance These results indicate that even with the added stress of the increased depth and volume of exercise ventilation ex- posure to as much as 1 mg of 1 ...m sulfuric acid aerosol for 2 hr has little if any effect on standard tests of lung function -Authors abstract reprinted by permission INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST July 1982 the authors have modified a technique described by Geilmann elements are and by Geilmann and Neeb The ultimately determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry --Condensed from text 784/82 Sodium Biphenyl Method for Determination of Covalently Bound Fluorine in Organic Compounds and Biological Materials P. Venkateswarlu Anal Chem 54 1132-1137 June 1982. 21 refs Sodium biphenyl reagent is used to cleave the covalent fluorine bonds in organic compounds The fluoride ions so released extracted into a small volume of water and determined spectro- photometrically or with the fluoride ion electrode Procedures for micro and macro analyses , have been developed Recoveries of 0.03-500 #g of fluorine from organic compounds are quantitative These methods are simpler more rapid and more economical than the previously published sodium biphenyl methods for the determination of fluorine in organic compounds The present method for determination of organic fluorine in biological materials has been validated by recovery studies and by corroborative results of analyses based on a an oxygen bomb technique and b an approach involving radioanalytical techniques whereby the difficulties uncertainties and inaccuracies of chemical deter- mination of organic method are avoided fluorine in a reference --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 785/82 Determination of Trace Elements in 13 Organic Solvents by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis F.S. Jacobs et al Anal Chem 54 1240-1243 June 1982. 18 refs The data reported in evaluating the solvents are used here should assist the analysts solvent blank when organic in extraction or separation of materials subjected to trace element analysis Care and judgment need to be exercised using these data it should be emphasized that the values apply only to the individual bottles analyzed It is likely that different lots of a given solvent would show different trace element contents but the data should provide estimations of the reagent blank On the other hand the values obtained in this study agree well with those reported by Russian and Rumanian workers in spite of differences in solvent manufacture --Authors conclusion 786/82 Analysis of B. Glyseth et al 191-195 May 1982 Fibres in Human Lung Tissue Brit J. Ind Med 39 : 10 refs Standard UICC crocidolite fibres and fibres extracted from occupationally exposed human lung tissue have been analysed by scanning electron microscopy after different preparation procedures A significant fibre loss has been shown due to the adhesion of fibres to the beakers Fibres are also discarded during the washing and ex- traction of the lung tissue samples The re- covery was found to be 30 to 40 both for UICC standard specimens and for lung tissue samples --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 787/82 Quality Testing for Asbestos Analysis with Synthetic Bulk Samples J.S. Webber et al Am Ind Hyg Assn J. 43 427-431 June 1982. 7 refs containing bulk samples which are routinely synthesized in the laboratory from known masses of readily available materials are part of an internal quality testing program Quantitative analysis of asbestos in these samples by a laboratory's standard pro- cedure yields precision and accuracy of that procedure Permanent microscope preparations of these samples are used specifically to assess polarized microscopic PLM anal- yses Archives of these samples become references for field samples and allow determination of term precision and accuracy liability of a step PLM method is The redetermined by the above method --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 788/82 Determination of Chrysotile Asbestos Building Materials by ray Diffractometry H.W. Dunn and J.H. Stewart Jr. Anal Chem 1122-1125 June 1982. 17 refs in 54 An ray diffractometry technique using an internal standard has been developed for the quantitative measurement of the chrysotile asbestos content of a wide variety of construction materials This technique is simple and cost effective compared with the usual need for combined ray powder diffraction patterns and optical or transmission electron microscopy to determine the asbestos content of materials The diffractometry method is designed to differ- entiate between construction materials which are not asbestos contaminated and those which require costly special handling to ensure employee safety The asbestos concentration range between 0.5 and 5.0 was initially investigated to meet the 1.0 National now been asbestos Emission extended Environmental Protection Agency Standards regulation and has to determine as much as 50 chrysotile --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 26 CS a . . August 1982 Volume 46 No. 8 nn on mo LITERATURE ABSTRACTS ENVIRONMENTAL a a OCCUPATIONAOLCCUPATIONAL INDUSTRIAL HEALTH FOUNDATION INC -. CIRCLE HEALTH . . , PITTSBURGH 15206 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F. Brislin M.L.S. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens August 1982 Volume 46 No. 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS This Issue Contains Abstracts 890/82 News Items . 6 1 ee eee et ee es we Coming Events 6 6 eee eee te ek et tt Legal Developments Books and Pamphlets . . 1... 2 '... 2 ke ee ewes CP et et te Industrial Medicine ee e ote Skin Diseases and Burns 1. 1 ee ee ee ee te a . Chemical Hazards Se ee ke ek Industrial Dusts and Inhalants 2... ee ee ke eh ta Physical Hazards . ww eee ee ee ee ee ete a . Radiation a Environmental Problems 6 6 1 4 ee tee ee ee te et Industrial Hygiene Occupational Health Preventive Management Engineering .......-2. 1... 1.0... ee pee en 044 eae Safety Accident Prevention ......62....6-224.. Analytical Methods Miscellaneous . 2... 1. 0 eee pte ag Index Sn Addresses of Journals Abstracted ..........8. eeu FEATURES 1 . 7 8 . 9 . 10 11 . 13 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 22 23 . 222222 . 24 . 222222 - 28 Normality and Reliability in the Clinical Assessment of Backache Allergic Contact Dermitis from Diazo Paper Free Erthrocyte Protoporphyrin Zinc Protoporphyrin and Blood Lead in Newly Reexposed Smelter Workers A Prospective Study Increase in Urinary Porphyrin Excretion in Workers Exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyls Coalworkers Pneumoconiosis in Britain Today and Tomorrow : How to Control Noise at Its Source Outdoor Air Quality Relationships A Critical Review Job Medical Records -- Who Can See Them Abst No. Abst No. 818/82 827/82 Abst 833/82 Abst Abst Abst Abst Abst No. No. No. 840/82 846/82 854/82 859/82 874/82 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST 82x Few Firms Use Genetic Screening Chem & Eng News 60 19 June 28 1982 Congress Office of Technology Assessment surveyed the Fortune 500 firms and 50 largest U.S. utilities to determine how may use or plan to use genetic screening of their employees to determine which ones might be most susceptible to related diseases Of the 366 firms that replied to the survey only six said that they currently conduct such tests but another 59 companies said they were considering using such tests sometime within the next five years The survey was requested by Rep Albert Gore Jr. chairman of the House Science Committee's Oversight & Investigation Subcommittee who at hearings on the report expressed concern about the test's potential to harm as well as to help If we learn to predict which individuals are most likely to be harmed by exposure to certain substances it has potential to serve as a marvelous tool to protect the health of workers or as a terrible vehicle for invidious dis- crimination Gore said --Text reprinted 82x Chemical Information Rules Manufacturers Reporting Preliminary Assessment Information Environmental Protection Agency Fed Reg 47 26992-27018 June 22 1982 Action Final rule Summary This final Preliminary Assessment Information rule requires chemical manufacturers including certain producers and importers to submit information on approximately 250 chemicals The information sought from manufacturers includes data on the quantities of chemicals manufactured the e amounts directed to certain the potential exposures and classes of uses environmental and , releases associated with the manufacturer's own and his immediate customers processing of the chemicals The information collected under this rule will answer a critical need for basic data that can be used in setting priorities for testing chemicals and for assessing risks associated with chemicals Effective date This regulation becomes --Summary effective on July 22 1982 82x Asbestos DOL Study Estimates 200,00 Deaths from Asbestos Cancer by 1999 Occup Safety & Health Reporter 12 84 June 24 1982 Some 8,200 to 9,700 excess deaths from asbestos- associated cancer will occur each year for the next 20 years totaling over 200,000 deaths by the end of the century according to a Labor Department study released June 18. The study Disability Compensation for Associated Diseases in the U.S. was prepared by Irving J. Selikoff director of the Environmental Sciences Laboratory of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a team of medical scientists and economists and took almost four years to prepare DOL said It was completed in November 1981 and was then reviewed by the department which contracted for it in 1978. According to the report there are August 1982 approximately 8,200 excess deaths per year among workers who were exposed to asbestos during the 1940s and 1950s when the risks of asbestos exposure were not fully understood The study identified lung cancer and meso- thelioma as the two major asbestos cancers Because asbestos lung cancer progresses even after exposure is terminated and the latency period before initial clinical problems emerge averages between 15 and 40 years DOL estimates that deaths from asbestos exposure will not reach a peak until 1990 when it said an expected 9,700 excess deaths may occur According to the department this figure represents approximately 2 percent of the total cancer deaths in this country in any given year falling within the consensus of current estimates ranging from 1 to 3 percent The DOL include mortality projections also did asbestos cancer deaths not that may be expected to appear among family contacts of asbestos workers among consumers exposed to asbestos products and from environmental exposure or exposure while in the U.S. military DOL stated that it is too early to predict the number of deaths that will result from more recent exposures but said asbestos diseases among workers exposed in the past two decades will appear between 1980 and 2010 or later Examining the relationship between asbestos cancer and smoking the study found that the risk of lung cancer among asbestos workers who smoke is 50 times greater than among smokers not exposed to asbestos and five times that of other smokers Asbestos exposure times the risk of increased by four to five lung cancer in heavily exposed smoking workers according to the report but no synergistic relationship was noted between other cancers such as meso- thelioma and smoking habits among workers An examination also was made of worker compensation benefits and other income sources available to the survivors of approximately 1,150 asbestos insulation workers who died of asbestos ciated diseases between 1967 and 1975. Some 1,000 of these workers died from cancer primarily lung cancer and mesothelioma The study found that the average period of dis- ability before death from an asbestos ciated disease was 20.5 months Length of disability however varied significantly depending on the specific disease Workers who died from mesothelioma showed the shortest average length of disability before death at less than one year followed by workers with lung cancer who averaged half years and three years for workers who died of asbestosis The average age at death from asbestos diseases was found to be 61.8 years While the study found that three out of 10 workers or their survivors applied for compensation disability benefits and that nearly all who did eventually received some form of compensation it also concluded that almost half of the claims were initially contested by insurers primarily over whether the illness was related thirds of the claims took more than a year to resolve INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST the report said Only 15 percent of all as- disabled workers received compensation benefits before death according to the study although most received old or disability benefits from Social Security during some part of their illness --Condensed from text 82x Progress in Dust Control Methods Used in Asbestos Industry Ind Hyg News Rep 25 3-4 July 1982 With the many sophisticated dust collection and dust suppression systems now available there are few reasons why an asbestos mine mill or manufacturing plant is operated at fiber levels significantly higher than 2 cc according to William B. Reitze of the Health Safety and Environment Department of Manville Service Corporation Ken Caryl Ranch Denver CO 80217 Speaking at the World Symposium on Asbestos held in Montreal May 25-27 Mr. Reitze described progress in methods of dust control used in the asbestos industry Some observations follow The overall effectiveness of any collection system is dependent on the shrouding used for dust pick at the point source Hood design has been greatly improved over the years At an asbestos fiber.feed charging station for example the bag is opened under negative pressure and even the bag folding and disposal is conducted under negative pressure Totally enclosed automatic bag opening devices have met with varying degrees of success depending on types of bags fed through the machine Many improvements have shipping methods have replaced the been made in packaging and Pressure packed poly bags old jute bags Individual handling of bags was replaced by pelletizing and shrink wrapping of asbestos bags In the case of frequently bumped railroad cars inflatable dunnage reduces bag damage For large users of asbestos fiber that can handle the fiber in bulk special cars have been devised so that the material can be conveyed pneumatically to a mix thereby eliminating the several dust creating steps Another method used to reduce the dust created in shipping and handling is to change the form of the product Asbestos fibers have veen pelletized and blocked a slight amount of moisture is added and a very hard virtually free block is made and special pulpable bags have been designed so that the bag and contents could be introduced into certain processes --Text reprinted 82x Occupational Exposure to Lead Deferral of Effective Date Occupational Safety and Health Administration Fed Reg 47 26557 June 18 1982 Action Notice of deferral of effective date Summary This notice defers the effective date of paragraphs e 3 ii B and E of the lead standard 1910.1025 for the primary and secondary lead smelting industries and the August 1982 battery manufacturing industry until August i 30 1982. The action is necessary to provide E the additional time needed by the Agency to consider the appropriateness of the proposed : administrative stay of these provisions pending the reconsideration of the lead stan- dard The proposed administrative stay appears : in the June 18 1982 Federal Register Dates : The effective date is deferred until August 30 1982 -Summary 82x Carcinogens NTP Panel Approves Cancer Findings for Trichloroethylene Other Substances Occup Safety & Health Reporter June 24 1982 12 89-90 Trichloroethylene and three other chemicals tested by the National Toxicology Program were found to cause cancer in rodents according to draft test reports approved June 16 by a : program advisory panel Four of the six reports reviewed by the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors Technical Reports Review Subcom- mittee showed positive results from year bioassays The draft reports revealed evidence of carcinogenicity for the following Tri- chloroethylene a widely solvent Benzyl acetate a solvent and perfuming agent commonly used in soap and other consumer products Melamine an important chemical intermediate and monomer methylenedianiline dihydrochloride a chemical intermediate Diallyl : ; phthalate a plasticizer cancerous ' tumors in test mice but was not proven to be carcinogenic according to a draft report --Condensed from text 82x RCRA Rewrite Irks Industry Group Chem & Eng News 60 13 July 5 1982 A spokesman for the Chemical Manufacturers Association told the Senate Environmental Pollution Subcommittee that the House Energy & Commerce Committee's version of an amended Resource Conservation & Recovery Act actually could deter the chemical industry from conserving and reusing hazardous waste William P. Moore an environmental specialist for Rohm & Haas said industry is concerned about a section in the bill that would force EPA to regulate the use hazardous wastes reuse and recycling of Moore contends that EPA should govern only practices that might threaten health or the environment and that it should not interfere with other industrial processes Moore also told the Senators that CMA disagrees with provisions that require notifying EPA whenever hazardous wastes are burned as fuel and with the establishment of a federally mandated program of inspections of hazardous waste treatment facilities . --Text reprinted INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST August 1982 816 Rapid Assessment of Sources of Air Water and Land Pollution World Health Organization Available from WHO Publi- cation Centre USA 49 Sheridan Avenue Albany NY 12210 113 P. 1982 Price Sw fr 12.- Wherever there are environmental problems an inventory of the types of pollution and waste sources including their location and emission levels is mandatory Very detailed and precise inventories can be very intensive and involve sophisticated monitoring and data- processing systems and the budgetary and personnel requirements for such programmes are often beyond the scope of many agencies However by using the limited existing infor- mation it is possible to make reasonably accurate emission inventories at a relatively low cost This book describes a procedure for making such inventories By following the procedure described here one of two properly qualified professionals with the help of a few technicians and auxiliary workers should be able to produce in a period of one to three months depending on the size and complexity of the study area a rather complete and reasonably accurate inventory of all pollution and waste sources It should be pointed out however that such inventories do not obviate the need for more detailed studies but provide a first integrated view of the magnitude of the air water and land pollution in the area they also mark the beginning of effective and comprehensive environmental pollution control planning This book is intended primarily for engineers or scientists involved in environmental planning and control However it also discusses how public health managers can use the results of rapid assessment studies in public health programmes aimed at pollution control The rapid assessment procedure presented here has been selected from environmental assessment methodologies developed in the coursoef various UNEP UNIDO and WHO projects and is especially adapted to conditions in developing countries --Condensed from Introduction 82x Noise Exposure Factfolder and Asbestos Exposure Factfolder Dray Publications Available from Dray Publications Inc. Inc. Deer- field MA 01342. 1982 Price 0.35 each Noise and Asbestos Exposures are the first two in a new series of occupational disease folders designed to help control health hazards and aid OSHA compliance These illustrated page industrial hygiene factfolders simplify technical data and provide the basic communications documentation for hazard control programs Each folder informs employees and supervisors of hazard causes methods of monitoring exposures methods of medical examinations and basic engineering controls through an illustrated Training is provided introduction to work procedures and the choice of personal protection. equipment copies and Single copies are 35 cents quantity prices are available Sample from Dray Publications Inc. Route 5 Deerfield MA 01342 --Publisher's release INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE 818/82 Normality cal Assessment of and Reliability in the Backache G. Waddell Cliniet al Brit Med J. 284 1519-1523 May 22 1982 18 refs Backache is common yet its routine medical assessment is imprecise unreliable and poorly interpreted Reproducibility studies on 475 patients improved the reliability of clinical interview and examination in backache while studies of 335 normal subjects defined the limits of normality Assessment of nerve function was found to be reliable but assessment of the back itself had to be considerably modified and examination improved by incorporating actual measurements The validity and clinical utility of the information were analysed to determine the minimum amount of information which should be collected to permit clear diagnosis and management --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 819/82 Anon Med Card Saves Time Saves Lives Natl Safety News 125 32-33 April 1982 What makes the Medical Information Card unique is the single strip of microfilm embedded in the card along with a special magnifying lens that enables rescuers to read it in an emergency The microfilm strip is made from a form that carriers fill out detailing their own medical histories Space is provided on the application form for the position of a baseline EKG the name of the holder's doctor insurance company next of kin and more And the person may also fill out and sign legal authorization for emergency surgery in case such a procedure is needed when the carrier is unconscious and family strip members cannot be contacted rescuers need simply to bend To the read the flexible card in half and hold it near a light source such as match a flashlight The laminated headlight of even a plastic card is durable and will not break even with repeated use It is water For more proof and resistant up to 300 F. information write National Health and Safety Awareness Center Department NSN 333 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago IL 60601 or call 312- 726-6499 --Condensed from text 10 820/82 Contact Lens ~ To Keep Them In or to Keep Them Out On the Job - That is the Question G. Nejmeh Jr. Natl Safety News 125 58-61 June 1982 There has been a quiet change in views of the use of contact lenses in industry Hazards in certain environments led to total prohibition Now however reconsideration of that position is being urged A National Safety Council survey brings the issue into focus and reminds companies to start or update contact lens policies The results of the survey are sum- marized --Author's abstract INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST years and smokers had an average of 24.4 packyears of smoking at the time of death An analysis of 239 cases of CWP showed that the discase was mild in 69 moderate in 22.6 and severe in 17.1 -Condensed from text 848/82 Twenty Lancet The Flax Industry in Northern Years On P.C. Elwood et al 1 1112-1114 May 15 1982. Ireland 26 refs In 1961-62 a 2528 workers survey of respiratory symptoms in in flax mills in Northern Ireland and of dust levels in the mills was conducted The workers were followed up in 1978 because recent developments suggested that an upturn in the industry was likely Flax dust has an acute reversible effect on the respiratory system and byssinosis is a prescribed disease under the Industrial Injuries Act 1965 However the follow study found no evidence of an effect on survival of either exposure to dust or byssinosis The number of applications to compensation panels for assessment and certification of byssinossis has increased greatly in Northern Ireland . Although .certification is independent of any subsequent common law claim by a worker for compensation on the grounds of disablement con- sequent on negligence by his employer it must weigh heavily in such a claim About 50 common law claims have been settled out of court for large sums in Northern Ireland and 950 claims are waiting to be heard The future cost to the industry is estimated to be at least ' 16 million Since byssinosis appears not to cause excess mortality it is unlikely to cause serious longterm morbidity Although workers should be compensated for disablement due to negligence in the absence of unequivocal evidence of disable- ment caused by byssinosis the financial settle- ments being reached in Northern Ireland seem unreasonable --Authors summary reprinted by permission 849/82 Mechanisms of Hypersecretion in Rodent Tracheal Explants After Exposure to Chrysotile Asbestos Studies Using Lectins B.T. Mossman et al Chest 81 235-24S May 1982 Supple- ment 12 refs These observations suggest that hypersecretion positively occurs when a charged component presumably Mg chrysotile interacts with a surface receptor comprised either in whole or part of mannose and glucose Since increased secretion occurs also after exposure of the tracheal epithelium to montmorillonite a clay mineral containing structural aluminum and trace amounts of sodium and magnesium various cations might be involved in triggering of mineral hypersecretion The mechanisms of chrysotile toxicity in a variety mucin secretion and cytoof cell types appear simi- lar but positive not identical In this regard the charge of the fiber is intrinsic to the stimulation of both responses For example chrysotile hemolysis and necrosis of 17 August 1982 epithelial cells are prevented when fibers are either leached with 1 N HCl or coated with serum proteins However whereas interaction of chrysotile with mannose and a D- glucose residues appears important in the induction of hypersecretion binding of fibers to sialic acids ie acetylneuramic N- glycolylneuraminic N diacetylneuraminic and acetyl acetylneuraminic acids is implicated in damage to cellular membranes In these experiments pretreatment of red blood cells before exposure to chrysotile with neuraminidase an enzyme that cleaves sialic acids from the cell surface In glycoproteins the sialic prevents hemolysis acid residue is linked usually to galactose or acetyl hexo- samine this bond is sensitive to neuraminidase --Condensed from text 850/82 Origin of Mutagenicity of Welding Fumes in S. typhimurium R.M. Stern et al | J. Appl Toxicol 2 123-133 June 1982. 71 refs The origin of mutagenicity in S. typhimurium typhimurium in response to exposure to welding fumes a complex mixture of metallic oxides and other inorganic compounds was studied through the quantitative use of the histidine revertant Salmonella microsome test of Ames Dose- response experiments and factorial design studies independently showed the mutagenic activity to be due to the presence of soluble VI A rate of 65 15 revertants per plate per ug was found for all fumes produced by the metal inert gas welding of stainless steel A significantly reduced rate was The found for manual metal arc welding fumes presence of other metals in low oxidation states e.g. Fe II Al results in a significant reduction of the VI accom- panied by a corresponding decrease of the absolute revertant rate per unit fume mass --Authors abstract reprinted by permission PHYSICAL HAZARDS 851/82 The Effect of Cold Exposure on Diffusing Capacity in Patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon R.A. Wise et al 1982. 17 refs Chest 81 695-698 June Pulmonary hypertension is common in progressive systemic sclerosis PSS and the presence of pulmonary Raynaud's phenomenon has been postulated from a variety of evidence In this study the effect of induced Raynaud's phenomenon on carbon monoxide diffusing capacity Dco an indicator of pulmonary capillary blood volume was determined in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon with and without PSS Cold exposure caused an increase in Dco in patients without PSS but no change in patients with PSS The authors concluded that patients with systemic sclerosis have an altered oO ste an Y . oO, + -~ September 1982 Volume46 No. 9 . . an 5 oO . nt . . se *. : : . a wees ait, ' on ot . 2 a LITERATURE ABSTRACTS | . veo . -<7 ; uf i oe: ENVIRONMENTAL re Sos -OCCUPATIONAL cr INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATION " HEALTH 34 PENN CIRCLE WEST FOUNDATION INC PITTSBURGH DA cmmn. INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F Brislin M.L.S. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens September 1982 Volume 46 No. 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS THIS ISSUE CONTAINS ABSTRACTS 82x ~~= 1029/82 NEWS ITEMS .....,4,, a COMING EVENTS ..,.,., a a LEGAL DEVELOPMENT i e BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS 2... 0.4, see ey INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE ......, SKIN DISEASES AND BURNS . , i re CHEMICAL HAZARDS . . , ~ . ow . a INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS eo a PHYSICAL HAZARDS . 4.4, , i RADIATION hae a ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS see | ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE PREVENTIVE a s OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT re . 2... 0. SAFETY ACCIDENT PREVENTION . rar i a ANALYTICAL METHODS MISCELLANEOUS INDEX : ADDRESSES OF JOURNALS ABSTRACTED . re a spe eee FEATURES MORTALITY AMONG WORKERS V. PROCESSING WORKERS NURSING DIRECTIVES FOR NURSING A METHOD OF MONITORING REPRODUCTIVE . REPRODUCTIVE HAZARDS . OUTCOME FOR : WORKPLACE ANIMAL DATA IN HAZARD EVALUATION PATHS AND PITFALLS CARDIOPULMONARY TOXICITY OF TETRACHLOROETHYLENE TETRACHLOROETHYLENE MADE VITREOUS FIBERS HEALTH EFFECTS PRESENT STATUS OF RESEARCH ON INDOOR AIRBORNE ASBESTOS POLLUTION AND THE FLOOR FROM THE CEILING THE EFFECTS OF INDOOR POLLUTION ON ARIZONA CHILDREN Abst Abst 922/82 928/82 Abst Abst Abst 931/82 946/82 962/82 Abst No. 972/82 Abst Abst No. 973/82 No. 1002/82 USTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST 182x MONITORING THE WORKPLACE INTERIONAL EFFORTS FOR STANDARDIZATION Ind . News Report 25 4 August 1982 importance of reaching agreement on an ernational level regarding a Reference or ndard Method for monitoring asbestos fibre centration in the workplace was emphasized Prof. Dr. Klaus Robock Director Asbestos titute for Occupational and Environmental ety and Health Gorlitzer Strabe 1 4040 ss Fed Rep of Germany who spoke at the ld Symposium on Asbestos held May 25-27 in treal Canada Dr. Robock noted that the brane filter method ht microscope makes in phase contrast by it possible to detect res down to 0.25 ...mdiameter and that this hnique is now the generally method to ermine concentrations of respirable fibres workplaces To illustrate how important it to fix certain influential parameters he sented an example showing the influence of ter loading increasing sampling time on counting results from simultaneous sampling h two membrane filter personal dust samplers S at one workplace by measuring six times r 10 minutes versus measuring one time over minutes --Condensed from text ./82x ASBESTOS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS tal Protection Agency 25 July 30 1982 Fed Reg 47 Environ33198- ion Final rule Summary This final e under the authority of section a of Toxic Substances Control Act TSCA 15 ..C 2607 requires reporting to EPA by estos manufacturers importers and pro.sors The information sought includes data the quantities of asbestos used in making ducts employee exposure data and waste posal and pollution control equipment data orted information will be utilized by EPA other Federal agencies in considering the ulation of asbestos Date This regulation .omes effective on August 30 1982 --Summary 82x COVERAGE OF COAL MINE CONSTRUCTION KERS RETURNED FROM OSHA lth & Safety Letter 12 TO MSHA 2 July Occup 22 1982 sident Reagan has signed into law budget islation which among other things includes rovision returning occupational health and ety coverage of coal mine construction kers and sand and gravel employees from OSHA the Mine Safety & Health Administration verage of the workers had been shifted to A last December Under reduced funding OSHA ild have inspected coal construction and sand i gravel operations only once every 74.8 ars according to the United Mine Workers ernational safety division MSHA's effecveness needs to be improved but at least at agency should know the proper way to spect these operations said union president September 1982 Sam Church Jr. Given the labor climate in Washington this remedy is a major victory for the UMWA and these workers --Text reprinted 204 82 LIST OF HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES TO BE COMPILED Chem July 26 1982 & Eng News 60 16 EPA has issued its scheme for compiling a national priorities list of 400 hazardous waste sites eligible for cleanup funds from the 1.6 billion Superfund program Primary responsibility for nominating and scoring sites for inclusion on this list rests with the states which will use EPA's hazard ranking system More than 800 sites are expected to be evaluated including the 115 priority sites listed by the agency last October State submissions are expected at EPA beginning August 13 and the list is expected to reach 400 by the end of the year The agency plans to publish the final proposed list in the Federal Register Sites receiving highest priority for funding will be those for which the states have provided sharing and other assurances and for which enforcement actions are futile --Text reprinted 82x VALUE OF ANIMAL STUDIES IN TING A CARCINOGENIC HAZARD TO MAN News Report 25 4 July 1982 PREDIC- Ind Hyg Despite the fact that the solvents that have produced tumors in animals have been in use for many years in industry there have been no real indications either from anecdotal or from epidemiological data that they have induced cancer in man This was pointed out by Dr. P. Grasso of the British Petroleum Research Center Sudbury Middlesex TW16 7LN H.K. who added this should not however lead one to adopt a complacent attitude toward these solvents At the International Conference on the Safe Use of Solvents held in Brighton England March 23-27 Dr. Grasso made the following observations Interestingly benzene which has been associated with the development of leukemia in man has not produced tumors in experimental animals This exception serves to emphasize that species may differ considerably in the carcinogenic response to chemicals and that interpretation of results from animal studies in terms of human hazard must be carried out with great caution Nevertheless ex- perience gained over the last two or three decades has indicated that the carcinogens which are likely to present a real hazard to man are those which produce the following results a mutagenic activity in a number of systems which include mammalian cells or in vivo tests b carcinogenic activity in more than one species of laboratory animal c tumors in more than one target organ d a wide spectrum of undifferentiated tumor severity to benign and -~ from highly e more than one affected type in a target organ Attention to these points will serve to a STRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST 82x SED er RAY CHANGES FOUND TO ASBESTOS Occup 12 4-5 August 22 IN RAILROAD WORKERS Health & Safety 1982 H has found ray evidence of asbestosis in out of 266 current and former railroad ters in Conrail's shop facility in Reading but suggested that a higher incidence of related diseases might be found in a : representative group of railway workers had been employed in the steam era prior to ) A volunteer population of 266 current former railroad workers underwent chest atgenograms and in addition gave an upational history Seventy cent of the participants were over the age 60 and 80 percent had fewer than 10 years railroad asbestos exposure ray dence of asbestosis was found in only six kers whereas 20 percent of the group had or more ckening : results pleural changes principally While selection factors qualify of this study the findings support 1 exposure and suggest a past and future story of asbestos mortality and morbidity steam railway workers said the ng vestigators Drs Martin Sepulveda and nes A. Merchant Dr. Merchant is currently airman of the Department of Preventive dicine and Environmental Iowa The larger study cent NIOSH investigation ses of diffuse malignant Health University was prompted by a which found four pleural mesothelioma former workers of the Reading facility eural abnormalities were the most common nding and were rkers examined observed in 20 Among workers percent of the with pleural anges pleural thickening with calcification Is more common than or diffuse localized .eural thickening alone Roentgenographic vidence ersons of pneumoconiosis Boilermakers and was found in eight machinists had the ighest population of pleural he proportion of individuals ilms appeared related to age aset of railroad employment abnormalities with abnormal and the years from longer the or the older the nterval from first employment ge group the higher the prevalence rate of leural abnormalities No difference was found n the prevalence rate of ray etween smokers and nonsmokers abnormalities In its report IOSH acknowledged the limitations of the ohort studied and suggested that follow tudies be conducted to reveal the true mag- itude of disease --Condensed from text 82x HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT STORAGE AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES AND EPA ADMINISTERED PERMIT PROGRAMS Environmental Protection Agency Fed Reg 47 32274-32388 July 26 1982 Action Interim final rule with request for comments Summary The Environmental Pro- tection Agency EPA is required by the September 1982 : Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RCRA to issue standards applicable to owners and operators of ties These hazardous standards waste management faciliare to be used in issuing permits for facilities that dispose of hazardous waste treat store Accordingly or EPA is issuing interim final standards applicable to owners and operators of new and existing hazardous waste land disposal facilities and the corresponding procedures for permit appli- cations EPA is also issuing conforming amend- ments to lations some existing hazardous waste reguDates Effective date These interim final regulations become effective on January 26 1983 which is six months from the date of promulgation as RCRA Section 3010 requires Comments must be submitted on or before November 23 , 1982 --Summary 82x CHARGED INDUSTRY DOCTORING OF BENZENE DATA Chem & Eng News 60 30 August 23 1982 The controversy over regulation of benzene as a causing agent continues to boil Earlier this month Rep David Obey lashed out at Shell Oil Co. and the Chemical Manufacturers Association for allegedly pressuring the International Agency for Research of Cancer to water down its quantitative assessment of benzene's carcinogenic properties IARC's scientific panel estimated that from 17 to 170 persons per 1000 would be expected to contract cancer on exposure to 10 to 100 ppm over a working lifetime in its final version prepared by the IARC staff the report eliminated mention of any dangers stemming from exposure to 10 ppm of the chemical implying that the base level was exclusively 100 ppm Obey says the new figures if accepted as part of a standard could endanger workers who might be protected otherwise and threaten to affect adversely the hundreds of individuals currently involved in litigation against the companies they worked for , --Text reprinted 82x A NEW SAMPLING PROCEDURE FOR TOLUENEDIISOCYANATE TDI Ind Hyg News Report 25 1 July 1982 A compromise method for monitoring toluenedi- isocyanate niences of TDI that eliminates impinger sampling and the the inconvecost of high performance liquid chromatography HPLC equipment but retains the simplicity of colorimetric analysis and tube sampling was described at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference in Cincinnati June 6-11 by C. B. Westerhoff and M. Ozkan of Uniroyal Inc. P.O. Box 117 Waterbury CT 06720 The collection medium for the proposed sampling method consists of a jumbo size silica gel tube which is prepared as follows a break both ends of a jumbo silica gel tube tube openings should be at least 5 mm b remove the metal wire and the " glass wool located in the front of the tube to INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST booklet was designed as a technical aid for specification writers mechanics inspectors and designers who work on asbestos projects The film available the booklet are available from on free loan and all OSHA and EPA regional offices Doin It Right also is avail- able for purchase on 16mm film for 137 Order No. A04735 or inch video cassette for 55 Order No. A04736 or for a three rental from The National Archives Trust Fund Board National Audiovisual Center Washington DC 20409 phone 301 763-1896 --Condensed from text . 977/82 ENVIRONMENTAL INDUCED PLEURO- PULMONARY DISEASES IN AN ANATOLIAN VILLAGE AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY M. Artvinli and Y.I. Baris Arch Environ Health June 1982 17 refs 37 177-181 This study valence of was designed to determine the prepleural mesothelioma and other malignancies in the Anatolian village of Tuzkoy where neither asbestos nor any environmental carcinogen has been detected Another village Kizilkoy located 12 km from Tuzkoy was se- lected as a control Three hundred twelve subjects from Tuzkoy who were at least 25 yr of age and 95 subjects from Kizilkoy were studied Analysis of rays of the Tuzkoy group revealed that subjects had calcified pleural plaques 17 pleural thickening 10.5 obscured costophrenic angles 15 and diffuse inter- stitial pulmonary fibrosis 12.1 seven deaths were recorded in Tuzkoy during the previous 3 yr 41 of which resulted from malig- . nant diseases There were no ray abnormalities or deaths resulting from malignancies in the control group Because of the high incidence of mesothelioma and lung cancer which usually results from asbestos exposure the presence of asbestos in Tuzkoy was investigated but none was detected in spite of Tuzkoy's volcanic location Nevertheless zeolite an asbestiform mineral was detected in the stones of buildings and in the village soil as well as in the lung and pleura of the patients during biopsy Thus this mineral was considered to be responsible for the induced pulmonary diseases in Tuzkoy No zeolite was found in the soil and stones of the control village --Authors abstract 978/82 OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA CAUSED BY CEDAR UREA FORMALDEHYDE PARTICLE BOARD D.W. Cockcroft et al 20 refs Chest 82 , 49-53 July 1982 Two carpenters developed asthma and rhinitis related to occupational exposure to a cedar urea formaldehyde CUF particle board One patient developed nasal and chest symptoms and an equivocal early asthmatic response after CUF sawdust exposure but not after spruce or western red cedar sawdust exposure possible late asthmatic response may have been inhibited by beclomethasone treatment The other patient 23 September 1982 developed marked nasal and chest symptoms and a dual asthmatic response after CUF exposure but not after spruce or cedar exposure Both patients siveness developed increased bronchial respon to inhaled histamine which persisted for at least six days in the first patient and which was associated with increased asthmatic symptoms of days to weeks duration in both A previously unexposed asthmatic patient with more markedly hyperreactive bronchi developed no symptoms no change on spirometric testing and no change in histamine response after CUF exposure Specific IgE antibodies directed against formaldehyde serum albumin con- jugate could not be demonstrated using the radioallergosorbent test This investigation documents the occurrence of occupational asthma caused by urea formaldehyde used as a bonding agent in particle boards Absence of a response in a previously unexposed more severe asthmatic patient suggests specific sensitization to some component of the urea formaldehyde resin complex had developed : --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 979/82 SCALING TOXICITY FROM LABORATORY ANIMALS TO PEOPLE AN EXAMPLE WITH NITROGEN DIOXIDE S.A. Book J. Toxicol Environ Health 9 719-725 June 1982. 12 refs Published data on the toxicity of nitrogen dioxide as a model compound from five labo- ratory animal species were utilized to scale the relationship of dose and toxic effect to the air human species A minute volume was used as a metabolic scaling of inspired factor predicting a median lethality during the time of exposure of 174 ppm NO2 for a - exposure for people This work demonstrates a method of predicting effects in people when only data for laboratory animals exist It also shows the value of planning toxicology studies that utilize several animal species so that their data may be applied to forecasting the human condition --Author's sbstract reprinted by permission 980/82 DEPENDENT PULMONARY RESPONSE OF RATS TO OZONE EXPOSURE N.M. Elsayed et al J. .Toxicol Environ Health 9 835-848 June 1982. 31 refs The influence of age on 03 effects in the lung was studied in 8 groups of Sprague rats , 12 and 18 d of age neonatal 24 30 and 45 d of age infant and 60 and 90 d of age adult Lung weight total lung protein and DNA contents and a series of marker enzyme activities in lung tissue were determined After exposure of rats from each group to 0.8 ppm 1568 m03 continuously for 3 d a biphasic effect was noted The biochemical parameters expressed per lung in exposed rats relative to their corresponding controls decreased in the 7- and old groups ' October 1982 _ Volume 46 No. 10 - INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST | LITERATURE a . Re wy a ENVIRONMENTAL _ OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ANDNEWS INDUSTRIALHEALTH FOUNDATION INC 34 PENN CIRCLE WEST PITTSBURGH PA 15206 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F. Brislin M.L.S. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens * October 1982 Volume 46 No. 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS THIS ISSUE CONTAINS ABSTRACTS 1030/82 - 1160/82 ; NEWS ITEMS 2... aye COMING EVENTS 2... ee ee ee eee, tee, a a re LEGAL DEVELOPMENT a BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE ........, ce . .....,4, a SKIN DISEASES AND BURNS . a CHEMICAL HAZARDS . , INDUSTRIAL DUSTS PHYSICAL HAZARDS a AND INHALANTS | a ......,., a oe RADIATION ce eee | a ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS sane i ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE PREVENTIVE a SAFETY ACCIDENT PREVENTION . ANALYTICAL METHODS MISCELLANEOUS INDEX . a 0... ~;, te ee ee a ADDRESSES OF JOURNALS ABSTRACTED a ek 1 5 5 : 7 9 12 12 19 22 23 24 25 27 29 31 33 FEATURES CANCER MORTALITY IN THE BRITISH RUBBER INDUSTRY } PARENTAL OCCUPATIONS AND CANCER IN CHILDREN A CASE CONTROL STUDY AND REVIEW OF THE METHODOLOGIC ISSUES -~ SUPERVISORY CONCERN CAN PREVENT MASS PSYCHOGENIC ILLNESS SOLVENTS CAR PAINTER EXPOSURE TO A MIXTURE OF SERUM ACTIVITIES OF LIVER ENZYMES ORGANIC f soo 1 PROGRESSION OF VINYL CHLORIDE INDUCED HEPATIC FIBROSIS TO ANGIOSARCOMA OF THE LIVER -- CONGENITAL DEFECTS AND MISCARRIAGES AMONG NEW ZEALAND 2,4,5 SPRAYERS } EVALUATION OF RESPIRATORY EFFECTS IN MINERS AND MILLERS EXPOSED TO TALC FREE OF ASBESTOS AND SILICA { Abst No. 1059/82 Abst Abst No. No. 1063/82 1066/82 Abst No. 1093/82 Abst No. 1098/82 Abst No. 1102/82 Abst No. 1108/82 October 1982 Volume 46 Number 10 Industrial Health Foundation Inc. 34 Penn Circle West , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15206 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST NEWS ITEMS 1030 OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD TEMPORARY STAY OF COMPLIANCE DATE Occupational Safety and Health Administration Fed Reg 47 40410-40411 Sept. 14 1982 Action Notice of temporary stay of compliance date Summary This notice temporarily stays the compliance date of paragraphs e 3 ii B and E of the lead standard 1910.1025 for the primary and secondary lead smelting industries and the battery manufacturing industry until November 15 1982. The action is nec- essary to provide the additional time needed by the Agency to consider the appropriateness of the proposed administrative stay of visions pending the reconsideration these proof the lead standard Date The compliance 51910.13 02i5i B and E November 15 1982 date for is stayed until until --Summary 1031 ASBESTOS STANDARDIZATION OF CONTROL STRATEGIES TECHNIQUES IS FOCUS OF ILO DRAFT CODE Occup Safety & Health Reporter 12 394 Oct. 14 1982 An international code intended to promote standardization of asbestos control procedures is being circulated in draft form to member governments of nization The the International draft was written Labor by an Orga- ILO committee following a meeting of asbestos ex- perts in November 1981. When completed most probably in early 1983 the code will be pre- sented to the International Labor Conference for formal approval While many countries already have prescribed occupational exposure limits for airborne asbestos fibers these and other ap- proaches to controlling the hazard need to be standardized internationally according to a preliminary background document issued by the ILO One hazards is effective to reduce way the of combatting concentration * asbestos of its airborne fiber particles at the workplace the ILO said For this purpose many countries have prescribed occupational exposure limits with corresponding test measures However the ILO document said threshold limits vary from country to country and so do methods of mon- itoring The aim of the projected ILO code is to standardize various approaches in both strategy and technique to ensure comparability in the establishment and implementation of basic protection measures --Condensed from text 1032 ASBESTOS FRIABLE CONTAINING MATERIALS IN SCHOOLS IDENTIFICATION AND NOTIFICATION CORRECTION tection Agency Fed Reg Sept. 1 1982 Environmental 47 38535 Pro- Action Rule Correction Summary EPA issued a regulation May 27 1982 requiring the inspection of public and private elementary and secondary schools in the United States to identify friable containing building materials Each local education agency is required to inspect all areas of each school take samples of each distinct type of friable material found and have those samples analyzed for their asbestos content using polarized light microscopy PLM augmented by ray diffraction where necessary This correction clarifies the rule to indicate that EPA will find it acceptable for laboratories analyzing samples under this rule to estimate the amount of asbestos in the bulk samples using methods equivalent to the point counting procedure contained in the Interim Method for Determi- nation of Asbestiform Minerals in Bulk In- sulation Samples published as Appendix A to the rule Effective Date Effective on June 28 1982 --Summary 1033 METHYLENE CHLORIDE MAY Chem & Eng News 60 13 Oct. CAUSE CANCER 4 1982 Methylene chloride has been found to cause cancer in rats and mice according to the National Toxicology Program The preliminary assessment is that the solvent increases liver tumor formation about four times above the rate in untreated controls Although the compound is used mostly as a paint remover and aerosol propellant FDA may have to halt its use under the Delaney rule as a solvent to remove caffeine from coffee This law requires FDA to ban any substance from use in food if it is found to cause cancer in humans or animals The Halo- genated Cleaning Solvents Association already has criticized the preliminary report for allegedly not taking into account the high of spontaneous tumors formed by the tested rate species and because the high doses used ap- parently killed some of treatment --Text reprinted the animals . during - INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST ischemia He had further episodes of chest pains necessitating later symptoms were origin admission to hospital These thought to be psychogenic in --Authors abstract reprinted by permission INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS 1106/82 ROLE OF INFECTIVE IMMUNOLOGICAL AND CHRONIC IRRITATIVE FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT , OF SILICOSIS Brit J. Ind 15 refs G. Chiappino and E.C. Vigliani Med 39 253-258 Aug. 1982 The effect of infective immunological and irritative factors on the onset and development of silicosis after intratracheal inoculation with 50 mg of tridymite was investigated on 220 specific pathogen free SPF female Sprague- Dawley rats Even afte1r2 months the rats always kept in SPF conditions after intratracheal injection of the dust showed mainly granulomas with little tendency to confluence or to fibro- hyalinosis obtained by jected with Chronic infective stimulation was keeping groups of SPF animals intridymite for three six or 12 months in a conventional animal house where they were exposed to the endemic bacterial flora In these animals silicosis developed much more rapidly and produced much more severe confluent lesions than in rats always kept in SPF con- ditions Horseradish peroxidase and ferritin given by intratracheal injection and by inhala- tion were histochemically shown mainly in the e dust granulomas but did not accelerate the development of silicosis Exposure to ozone increased the prevalence of lung infections and thus enhanced the silicosis in conventionally La kept animals without modifying the evolution of silicosis in SPF animals These experiments showed that the presence of bacterial flora and particularly bronchopulmonary infections accel- erated the development of silicosis and led to the suggestion that individuals subject to frequent bronchopulmonary infections are unfit for occupations necessitating exposure to silica dust ' --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1107/82 ON THE DEFENSIVE ACTION OF GLUTAMATE AGAINST THE CYTOTOXICITY AND FIBROGENICITY OF QUARTZ DUST K.I. Morosova et al Ind Med 39 244-252 Aug. 1982. Brit J. 32 refs The cytotoxic action of quartz DQ12 particles on cultures of rat peritoneal macrophages as estimated by the inhibition of the reductase activity is considerably reduced by preincuba- tion with glutamic acid and by adding sodium glutamate 15 ml to the drinking water of the rats donating the macrophages macrophage resistance under the This increase influence of| in. October 1982 glutamate is the most probable cause of the delay in the development of silicotic fibrosis shown in several experiments on rats intratra- cheally injected with quartz and then treated by prolonged administration of glutamate This effect is probably connected with the influence of glutamate on the stability of the macrophage membranes which can in its turn be explained by different mechanisms including the influence on the synthesis and phosphorylation of adenosine nucleotides Such an influence was shown in rats receiving glutamate by the change of the ADP ratio in macrophages but not in erythrocytes The resistance of rat erythrocytes to the haemolytic action of quartz is also not influenced by the action of glutamate neither in vitro nor in vivo Such differences in the influences of glutamate on two types of cells equally susceptible to quartz cytotoxicity but considerably differing in the character of energy metabolism is an indirect proof of the role of the latter in the realisation of the anticyto- toxic and thereby antifibrogenic effect of glutamate --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1108/82 EVALUATION OF RESPIRATORY EFFECTS IN MINERS AND MILLERS EXPOSED TO TALC FREE OF ASBESTOS Brit J. 24 refs AND SILICA D.H. Wegman et al Ind Med 39 233-238 Aug. 1982 Miners and millers of talcore free from asbestos and silica were examined for respi- ratory cluded effects A study of the modified British 116 subjects in- Medical Research Council respiratory symptom questionnaire simple spirometry chest radiography and limited examination of the chest A year follow evaluation was performed on 103 subjects Of the 12 subkects whose chest radiographs showed small round or irregular opacities perfusion 1/0 or greater five had never smoked cigarettes Pulmonary function values at the time of the initial study were less than predicted and the rates of loss of FEV and FVC greater than expected These differences were in part attributed to cigarette smoking but were greater than predicted from that source alone There was evidence of an exposure effect after adjusting for cigarette smoking and the authors conclude that these workers have been affected by their exposures No clear interaction between smoking and exposure could be identified Populations such as this will need to be studied for longer periods to determine what current dust levels are safe --Authors abstract reprinted by permission INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST . 1109/82 FURTHER FOLLOW STUDY FROM AN ASBESTOS CEMENT FACTORY et al Brit J. Ind Aug. 1982. 15 refs Med 39 OF WORKERS H.F. Thomas 273-276 A further follow traced 1970 workers employed at an asbestos cement factory for at least six months between of this period 1936 some and 1977. At the beginning crocidolite was used in the factory but by the end of 1936 chrysotile had become the only type of asbestos in use Only 378 women were employed during the period concerned and of the 30 who had died none had a cause of death that is generally associated with exposure to asbestos The mortality experience of the men was examined separately for all workers all workers alive after 15 or more years after first exposure and a smaller group of workers who were employed in been exposed to crocidolite 1935-6 and may have In none of the three groups was there an appreciably raised standardised mortality ratio SMR for the causes _ of death investigated These were all causes all neoplasmas cancers of the lung and pleura and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract An excess of lung cancers noted in the first follow- up study in 1964 was not found in this study Two pleural mesotheliomas were identified but in both cases the men had worked before 1936 and therefore had at the factory been exposed to crocidolite found No cancers of the larynx were --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1110/82 MALIGNANT IN MESOTHELIOMA IMMIGRANTS RESIDING IN SWEDEN G. Scand J. Work Environ Health 8 June 1982. 12 refs TURKISH Boman et 108-112 al Mesothelioma is population but a rare neoplasm in the general it is strongly associated with previous asbestos exposure The endemic oc- currence of this disease in two villages in central Turkey has raised the question of whether the inhalation of naturally occurring zeolite dust may also be a factor in the development of mesothelioma portion of the During the past few years inhabitants of one of the a large two villages of concern has immigrated to Sweden . This report presents three cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma and the results of a chest radiographic survey among these immigrants Mineralogical analysis of lung tissue specimens from two of the cases revealed the presence of both zeolite and asbestos minerals and therefore suggested a synergistic effect involving both types of minerals The importance of close medical surveillance of this risk population is emphasized as is the possibility that similar cases appear in other countries because of increased migration --Authors abstract by permission reprinted , October 1982 1111/82 APPLICATION OF THE K ASBESTOS SCREENING TEST IN COLORADO SCHOOLS C.A. Baldwin J. 43 et al Am Ind Hyg Assoc 602-604 Aug. 1982. 4 refs The K Asbestos Screening Test was used to analyze 185 samples of material suspected of containing asbestos which were obtained from public schools in Colorado determine if the test could school districts conducting The purpose was to feasibly be used by asbestos detection programs as a screening method to reduce ana- lytical costs Only 13.5 of the samples tested were negative indicating that the samples did not contain asbestos Of the large number 85.5 of positive samples 59 actually con- tained asbestos as determined by polarized light microscopy Because of the low number of samples which were negative there was not a significant reduction of analytical costs Also because of the hazardous nature of the reagents involved in the test the uncertainties in interpretation of the results and waste disposal problems it is not recommended that district personnel this Bulk test be samples used by school collected from schools should be sent directly to a laboratory experienced in identifying asbestos by polarized light microscopy or another acceptable technique --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1112/82 THYMIDINE INCORPORATION BY LUNG FIBROBLASTS AS A LOGICAL ACTIVITY et al Environ 40 refs SENSITIVE ASSAY FOR BIO- OF ASBESTOS I. Lemaire Res 28 399-409 Aug. 1982 Fibroblasts exposed to chrysotile B asbestos displayed an initial growth inhibition compared to controls during the first 24 hr of incubation At 48 hr however there was resumption of cell proliferation as evidenced by elevated thymidine TdR incorporation UICC samples of chrysotile A chrysotile B crocidolite amosite and anthophyllite all altered thymidine incorporation by lung fibroblasts in a dependent manner and to different maximal levels Amphibole asbestos was either equally or less active than chrysotile Silica had the lowest activity Various other particles including latex zymosan titanium dioxide magnetite and Mt. St. Helens volcanic ash had no effect Chemically modified chrysotile samples which retained their fibrous structure were also tested for possible alterations of fibroblast thymidine incorporation The DNA synthesis response of human lung fibro- blasts to asbestos correlates with its in vivo fibrogenic and tumorigenic potential and may prove useful in determining the pathological effects of asbestos --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 20 November 1982 Volume No. 11 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENEDIGEST LITERATURE _ ENVIRONMENTAL . OCCUPATIONAL | HEALTH AND SAFETYNEWS HEALTH FOUNDATION - INDUSTRIAL 34 PENN CIRCLE 2 INC PITTSBURGH PA 15206 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST Editor Jane F. Brislin M.L.S. Abstractor Jean L. Collins B.A. Production Joy H. Henning Ola B. Owens November 1982 Volume 46 No. 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS THIS ISSUE CONTAINS ABSTRACTS 1161 -~ 1287/82 e COMING EVENTS LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS 2. ee ee. eee ee BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE . SKIN DISEASES AND BURNS . . 2. ...,..0, a a a CHEMICAL HAZARDS 2... De ee ee te a INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS . 2.4.0.4, a PHYSICAL HAZARDS .. 1... 1... a. i a a ro. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ......,..048, a INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE PREVENTIVE ENGINEERING 2... OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT ...,.., ., a SAFETY ACCIDENT PREVENTION ' 1 te ee ee ee ANALYTICAL METHODS MISCELLANEOUS INDEX a ...... , Cn eee eee rr ee ee er ADDRESSES OF JOURNALS ABSTRACTED 0 1 ew ee ee ee te soa eo FEATURES RESPIRATORY MORBIDITY AMONG PROCESSING AND MILL WORKERS . SALMONELLA ELECTRODE FOR SCREENING MUTAGENS . PROCEDURES TREATMENTS AND STAFF ROLES IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME EXUDATIVUM LINKED TO THE MANUFACTURE OF PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS . NATIONAL ESTIMATES OF BLOOD LEVELS UNITED STATES 1976-1980 MORTALITY AMONG SILICOSIS IN MINERS RECEIVING WORKMEN'S ONTAR10 1940-1975 COMPENSATION FOR MESOTHELIOMAS AND ASBESTOS TYPE IN ASBESTOS TEXTILE WORKERS A STUDY OF LUNG CONTENTS EFFECTIVE HEARING PROTECTION - A PART PROGRAM . } Abst No. 1182/82 } Abst No. 1189/82 -- Abst 1194/82 Abst } Abst No. No. 1198/82 1206/82 Abst No. 1235/82 ee -- Abst Abst No. 1242/82 1259/82 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST ' 1241 THE NATURE HAZARDS AND ASSESSMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO AIRBORNE ASBESTOS DUST A REVIEW W.H. Walton Ann Occup Hyg 25 117-247 1982. 8 p refs Hygiene measurement parameters for airborne asbestos are discussed from mineralogical and biological standpoints It is concluded that at . present there is no practicable alternative to the membrane filter contrast optical microscope MF method for routine use despite its many limitations but that some features should be including revised the fibre size limits On present evidence fibre counts appear to provide a better index of hazard than respirable mass concentration Considerations of respirability and biological activity together suggest that the counts should be of fibres in the size range than 5-10 pm but less than 100 length greater ...mwidth less than 1.5-2 um no minimum specified aspect ratio greater than 1 to 10 Compared with . present definitions 1 > pm d 3 ...m d 1 this reduces the maximum diameter and increases ratio the minimum aspect The main drawback of the OM method is that fibres thinner than ca. 0.4-0.2 pm depending on the microscope method of mounting the sample and the observer's visual acuity cannot be seen although they contribute substantially to the number to an extent that varies with asbestos variety This makes standardization of the ficult and is the main method reason extremely difwhy different hygiene standards are needed for different asbestos varieties especially between the amphiboles crocidolite and amosite Further thinner studies of the lung deposition of fibres than 0.1-0.2 pm are needed In animal experiments chrysotile has generally been more dam- aging than the amphiboles in contrast to human epidemiological experience This is due to the lesser probably durability of chrysotile when retained in the body over long periods as evidenced by the surprisingly small amounts of chrysotile compared with amphibole found in human lungs at autopsy despite the much greater industrial usage of chrysotile Many non- asbestiform amphiboles rise to elongated dust and other particles minerals give of aspect ratio 1 Discrimination between these and true asbestos particles is extremely difficult in individual cases although overall size dis- tributions differ Recent codes for the OM method indicate that discrimination is not to be attempted but present practice in the U.K. is variable with marked effect Increasing the aspect ratio on counting levels limit to > 1 or preferably 10 would exclude many of the non- asbestiform particles but have relatively little effect on the true asbestos count This supple- ments the biological evidence for the present aspect ratio limit of a change from 1 which was arbitrarily chosen by the ARC in 1958 Another problem for which there is little scientific guidance is the evaluation of clumps and other entities The use of aerodynamic size selectors in sampling together with an upper size limit November 1982 of length 100 pm particles should help to the MF method are for thistle Other technical changes suggested The novel suggestion is made that total fibre length unit volume mmight reflect the per hazard of asbestos exposure better than fibre number concentration and be easier to assess by man or machine --by counting crossing between fibres and a line drawn across the sample --Author's abstract 1242/82 MESOTHELIOMAS AND ASBESTOS TYPE IN ASBESTOS TEXTILE WORKERS A STUDY OF LUNG CONTENTS J.C. Wagner et al Brit Med J. 285 603-606 Aug. Sept 4 1982 14 refs The asbestos contents of the lungs of former employees of an asbestos textile factory were determined at necropsy using a transmission electron microscope Those who had died of mesothelioma of those who were compared with a matched sample had died of other causes The predominant fibre processed in the factory was chrysotile but crocidolite had also been used The lung content was consistent with the known exposure to chrysotile but the crocidolite content was also high being about 300 times that of the general population of the United Kingdom The lungs of those with mesothelioma did not contain more of either chrysotile or crocidolite than the lungs of the controls so no particular type of asbestos could be im- plicated in causing the mesotheliomas The evidence of substantial exposure to crocidolite means that the mesotheliomas that occurred in this factory certainty to could not be the exposure attributed with to chrysotile any --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1243/82 ROLE OF EXERCISE TESTING IN ASSESSING FUNCTIONAL RESPIRATORY IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ASBESTOS EXPOSURE Med 24 685-689 J. Howard et al J. Sept. 1982. 25 refs Occup To evaluate the complaint of exertional dyspnea asbestos shipyard workers pulmonary function tests were performed at rest and during exercise on 90 subjects with pleural plaques The authors divided the subjects into four groups based on resting pulmonary funtion studies Group I subjects eight had a restrictive defect group II subjects 30 had an obstructive defect group III subjects six had an isolated reduction in diffusing capacity and group IV subjects 46 had a normal study Subjects with a restrictive defect demonstrated minor abnormalities during exercise physiologic Subjects with an obstructive defect demonstrated abnormalities consistent with their obstructive defect Subjects in groups III and IV demonstrated an abnormally elevated wasted ventilation fraction which may be an early indicator of interstitial disease due to asbestos exposure The authors exercise testing was a useful tool in the presence of significant excluding functional exercise INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST limitation due to asbestos exposure in the majority of physiologic subjects and also in disclosing some abnormalities in some of the sub- jects in this study --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1244/82 ENGINEERING CONTROL M.W. First and D. Love Am OF ASBESTOS Ind Hyg Assoc J. 43 634-639 Sept. 1982 5 refs * A high asbestos content caulking compound putty tape is manufactured by kneading asbestos fibers into a mixture of mastic materials are associated with receipt Asbestos exposures and storage of bagged asbestos opening and dumping the bags of asbestos into a mechanical conveying system that feeds the putty mixing machines and introducing asbestos into the mixing machines Highly ventilated conveying and mechanized and exhaust transfer systems were designed to eliminate excessive asbestos ex- posures of plant workers and effluent air . filtration systems were employed to avoid emission of fibers to the atmosphere Engineered dust controls for bag conveyors bag breaking station and loose fiber conveyors are described and illustrated Fiber sampling results are in- cluded to indicate the degree of asbestos control that is being obtained in the plant and outside --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1245/82 BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO CHRYSOTILE INGESTION IN GUINEA PIGS K.C. Saxena et al Ind Health 20 19-25 1982. 22 refs A periodic study of biochemical and histopathological changes in the stomach of guinea pigs was carried out at 6 12 and 24 hrs after oral administration of 500 mg of chrysotile dust The gastric juice showed a significant in volume free and total acidity and increase peptic activity A marked reduction in mucin most significantly at 12 hrs also contents of nickel and occurred Significant dissolution a parallel rise in ATPase activity of gastric was also observed Histopathologically mucosa was evident at 12 hrs but re- mucosal injury acidity of gressed by 24 hrs The changes in and dissolution of nickel are gastric juice their role in discussed with reference to gastric ulceration or carcinoma by ingested asbestos --Authors abstract reprinted by permission November 1982 1246/82 CONCLUSIONS OBTAINED FROM MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS OF ASBESTOS WORKERS MADE AT THE CENTRAL DISPENSARY FOR OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES MADRID Seg Trabajo 29 A. Viejo Fontela Med 102-104 July 1982 Spanish A group of 2,267 workers who had been asbestos were examined at the Central exposed to Dispensary for Occupational Diseases in Madrid Seventyeight percent were aged 41 to 65. Sixty were smokers The incidence of permapercent nent disability from asbestosis was 1.26 The incidence of other diseases are tabulated -JFB 1247/82 ASBESTOS IN COLORADO SCHOOLS Baldwin et al Pub Health Rep 97 331 July 1982 18 refs C.A. 325- Based mated on the results of this study it is that as many as 1,124 89 percent estiof the 1,263 public schools in Colorado may have asbestos in friable form and 380 38 percent have asbestos sprayed on ceilings If the may values for the small number potential exposure of schools surveyed are typical of the values that might be found in other schools in the State a serious problem exists that could result in adverse health effects in the future The cost of dealing with containing materials may be high but this should not be an excuse for ignoring the problem Simply identi- these materials is an enormous step in the fying that should be taken in right direction and one the remainder of the public schools in the State and in Colorado's private schools --Condensed from text 1248/82 CLASSIFICATION OF ALTERATIONS PROPOSAL FOR Cocucci Med Lavoro 73 ASBESTOS REVISION C. 147-151 Mar./ April 1982 15 refs Italian A revision of the ILO Classification of Radiography regarding small irregular opacities is proposed In point of fact it has been experimentally shown that due to the physical of rays such as profusion i.e. phenomena surface unity identifies itself number per with type i.e diameter of the opacities of asbestos --Author's abstract in English 1249/82 EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FIBROGENOUS ACTIVITY OF SERPENTINITE DUST CONTAINING CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS V.B. Gurvich et al Gig Trud Prof. Zabol 7 28-31 1982 Russian Experimental study of fibrogenous activity of asbestos showed that dust of rocks containing various serpentinites is fibrogenous Chrysotile was found to cause the most mani- serpentinite fest sclerotic lesions in the lungs of animals -- the least manifest ones antigorite The 20 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST results support recommending that various types of serpentinite be taken into consideration along with asbestos containing fibers dust in while assessing respect to the the pneumoconiosis risk --Authors abstract in English 1250/82 EFFECT OF BCG ON EXPERIMENTAL AS- BESTOSIS S.H. Zaidi et al Ind Health 20 129-137 1982 18 refs Chrysotile inoculated intratracheally into normal and BCG immunised guinea pigs incited a macrophage response and reticulin fibrosis The immunised animals showed a more rapid localisation of pulmonary lesions and ance of the chrysotile fibres leading disappear- to accel- erated focal fibrosis More rapid transport of chrysotile to the lymph nodes of immunised animals suggest was also that BCG observed These findings vaccine can influence the development of pathological lesions of asbes- tosis in guinea pigs by by and more rapidly inducing them earlier --Authors abstract 1251/82 HEALTH EFFECTS OF WOOD DUST - RELEVANCE FOr an occupatIONAL STANDARD L.W. Whitehead Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 43 674-678 Sept. 1982 35 refs Wood dust is coming under increasing scrutiny as an industrial exposure posing greater risk than that of a nuisance dust In light of this increased interest this paper reviews key reports of wood related health effects and summarizes the available information which relates exposure levels to effects Numerous case reports pattern exist of skin reactions and obstrucrespiratory changes of either a various hypersensitivity or irritant nature for woods Reports have also been published of | apparently allergic obstructive respiratory effects including lung function test reductions and reduction of mucociliary clearance Wood dust exposure also appears to be linked to the occurrence of adenocarcinoma of the nasal sinuses Occasional of cancer reports link wood dust to other types but these relationships are much less consistent than the association with nasal cancer Various standards have been proposed for wood dust Most are lower than the nuisance . dust standard currently applicable in the U.S. This review of several key papers on wood dust permits some association of exposure data and effects particularly with suppressed muco- ciliary clearance from which it may be suggested from the available evidence that a standard of 2 mg total suspended wood dust not differentiated by type of wood would protect against observed effects except for extreme allergic hypersensitivity --Author's abstract reprinted by permission November 1982 1252/82 RETENTION OF STAINLESS STEEL MANUAL METAL ARC WELDING FUMES IN RATS P.-L. Kalliomak et al J. Toxicol 223-232 Aug. 1982. Environ Health 13 refs 10 Twenty male Wistar rats were welding fumes The exposure exposed to MMA situation of the study simulated the features of the actual environment as closely as possible The lung retention of the elements of interest present in MMA welding fumes as well as their distri- bution in other organs of the rats were in- vestigated The rats were intermittently exposed to MMA welding fumes maximally for 10 h the fume concentration being 43 m Atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the analyses of Cr and Ni concentrations in the blood whereas instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied in the multielement analysis of organ samples of the rats Exogenous lung iron was determined by means of the magnetic measuring technique The concentration of Cr Ni and exogenous Fe in the lungs and Cr in the blood kidneys and spleen increased linearly with increasing exposure time The retention rates of these elements in the organs examined are and also given According to distribution model of Cr the the lung retention lungs con- stituted the target organ to hexavalent chromates present the soluble in the MMA welding fumes although the Cr present in MMA welding fumes has been proven to be in a water- soluble hexavalent form up to 95 approximately 30 of the total inhaled Cr was soluble in the tissue The distribution pattern of Cr in the organs differs intravenous or from those obtained after single intratracheal injections of alkaline chromates The results show that the magnetic measuring method can be used the retention of welding fumes by the --Authors abstract reprinted to measure lungs by permission 1253/82 MUTAGENICITY OF DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLE EXTRACTS INFLUENCE OF DRIVING CYCLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE C.R. Clark et al Fundam Appl Toxicol 2 153-157 July 1982. 16 refs 3 General Motors and Volkswagen diesel passenger cars 1980 and 1981 model year were operated on a climate controlled chassis dynomometer and the particulate portion of the exhaust was collected on high volume filters Dichloromethane extracts of the exhaust particles soot collected while the cars were operated under simulated highways urban and congested urban driving cycles were assayed for mutagenicity in Salmonella strains TA and 100 Driving pattern did not significantly influence the mutagenic potency of the exhaust particle extracts or estimates of the amount of mutagenicity emitted from the exhaust despite large differences in particle emission rates and extractable fraction of the particles Mutagenicity of extracts of exhaust particles collected while the vehicles were 21 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST on heart rate were noted These results suggest that prospective workers who must utilize respirators should as well as at rest be observed during exercise and that a respirator dead space and inspiratory resistance should not duce a pro- significant heart rate change but should lead to adaptation of the inspiratory ex- piratory time ratio Workers who show atypical responses should be assessed particularly carefully --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1282/82 CONFINED SPACE ENTRY CAN THE DEATHS AND INJURIES BE ELIMINATED S.P. Krivan Prof. Safety 1982. 13 refs 27 15-19 Sept. This paper has been written for the purpose of alerting safety personnel of the need for thorough and consistent confined space entry precautions as well as to emphasize the occurring frequent loss from confined of lives that have been space entry activities The limitations for a paper of reasonable length on this subject precludes further elaboration upon the desired control measures While the key elements have been found the author's experience to be there successful within are no doubt additional considerations that other safety and health professionals have found useful and may wish to share via professional publication for the benefits of all --Author's abstract 1283/82 FIRE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN RACKED STORAGE H.J. Kolodner Prof. 27 13-16 Aug. 1982 HIGH- Safety It is not the intent of this paper to discuss fire prevention fire detection or fire pro- tection of rack warehousing since these are now well documented in existing literature However an area that has not been addressed is overhaul and salvage operations once we are ready to bring of the in the battle infantry and complete our area That is the area of mop concen- tration of this paper --Condensed from text ANALYTICAL METHODS MISCELLANEOUS 1284/82 ANALYSIS OF CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS , IN BULK MATERIALS D.G. Bush and R.A. Schumacher Anal Chem 54 1792-1795 Sept. 1982 16 refs A quantitative method for the analysis of chrysotile asbestos in bulk materials using thermal evolution analysis has been developed The amount of chrysotile in a sample is deter- mined by measuring the evolved water using a DuPont moisture evolution analyzer resulting from dehydration at about 640 The method uses 10-20 mg samples and is quantitative % for chrysotile in materials such as fireproofing . 27 November 1982 insulation and ceiling tile By modification of the DuPont moisture analyzer a temperature program could be applied which yields a qualitatively significant water temperature profile --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1285/82 COMPARISON OF EXTRACTION METHODS FOR DETERMINATIONS OF POLYBROMINATED BIPHENYLS RESIDUES IN Anal Chem ANIMAL TISSUE J. Fawkes et 54 1866-1871 Sept. 1982 al 14 refs Liver and renal adipose tissue from male Fischer rats previously given Firemaster FF daily each work week for 180 days by gavage in corn oil 1 and 10 day and in rat chow averaging 1 day were analyzed by GLC for the major component hexabromobiphenyl HxBB The results from two extraction hexane for both tissues and methods chloroform , 1 M for liver and methylene chloride CH2Cl2 for adipose were compared Total tissue bromine determined by neutron activation analysis NAA was included as an independent method to monitor the extraction methods Hexane extracted tissues gave lower lipid and HxBB recoveries than those from CH2C12 extraction Lipid values were dose related being lower The pattern of variance at the low doses than the high dose was similar for HxBB but coefficient values CV were about three times higher indicating poorer reproducibility for the hexane extraction method The HxBB recoveries from CH2C12 extracts were reproducible and quantitative when compared with total bromine for all dose levels Similarly ratios of the HxBB expressed on basis gave comparable means and liver to adipose lipid weight CV's for the various treatment groups Hexane extraction of HxBB however showed wide CV when compared with total bromine --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1286/82 GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROMETRIC IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE EXTRACT COMPONENTS D.F. Gurka and L.D. Belowski Anal Chem 1819-1824 Sept. 1982. 29 refs 54 The Resource Conservation and Recovery 1976 RCRA and its amendments require Act the of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to institute a Implementa- program to control hazardous waste Implementa- tion of the RCRA will require reliable monitoring tools for the characterization of a broad spectrum of hazardous wastes Accordingly the capability of packed column gas chromatography Fourier transform infrared spectrometry FTIR using the Gas Infrared Fourier Transform Software GIFTS to analyze complex hazardous waste extracts was tested These extracts were also analyzed by gas chromatography spectro- metry GC and the line library search results for both techniques were compared Oo December1982 a . Volume46 No. 12 sete LITERATURE we ~ . ABSTRACTS ENVIRONMENTAL AND OS - OCCUPATIONAL | HEALTH AND SAFETY NEWS yo INDUSTRIAL HEALTH FOUNDATION INC | 34 PENN CIRCLE PITTSBURGH PA 15206 + INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE Editor Jane F. Brislin ML.S. Abstractor gran L. Collins A Production Joy Henning Ola B Owens DIGEST TABLE OF CONTENTS THIS ISSUE CONTAINS ABSTRACTS 1288 11 1387/82 NEWS ITEMS 2. COMING EVENTS eee ee ee eee, an LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS . a BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS 2. 2. 2... ee, INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE 2... eee ee, SKIN DISEASES AND BURNS 2... CHEMICAL HAZARDS .. . . se eee INHALANTS INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND Se ee PHYSICAL HAZARDS . 2... ee. eee RADIATION . F a ee ke eo ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ce ee Cee ee ee ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE PREVENTIVE cee es OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT . 2... | oo... ANALYTICAL SAFETY ACCIDENT PREVENTION . 2... METHODS MISCELLANEOUS . .4. 0.4, 2.4202. ~;, INDEX . tea tee hee ADDRESSES OF JOURNALS ABSTRACTED Se ee FEATURES OCCUPATIONAL MORTALITY STUDIES PRINCIPLEOSF VALIDITY MORTALITY AMONG MALE RUBBER WORKERS IN FINLAND o EVOLUTION OF INDUCED RENAL DYSFUNCTION IN WORKERS REMOVED FROM EXPOSURE CUTANEOUS EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO POLYBROMINATED POLYBROMINATED BIPHENYLS PBBs THE MICHIGAN PBB INCIDENT EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE EFFECTS ON PULMONARY FUNCTION CANCER MORTALITY OF CANADIAN WORKERS EXPOSED TO VCM A THREE YEAR FOLLOW ABSENCE OF RESPIRATORY EFFECTS IN SUBJECTS EXPOSED TO LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF TDI AND MDI A CHROMOSOME STUDY AMONG STAINLESS STEEL WELDERS Abst Abst No. No. 1309/82 1310/82 Abst No. 1321/82 Abst Abst No. 1330/82 1335/82 Abst No. 1345/82 Abst Abst No. 1352/82 1363/82 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST December 1982 diisocyanate were extensively monitored to provide accurate estimates of the limits of exposure of the subjects Current mean levels of FEV1 in this population were higher than those predicted for healthy subjects The year change in FEV did not exceed that expected from aging No acute change in FEV1 could be demonstrated over the course of a Monday either before or after a week vacation No improvement in ventilatory function was observed over the vacation period The presence was related to smoking but was of cough or not related sputum to isocyanate exposure The results indicate that exposure of workers to extremely low levels of isocyanates weighted average concentrations of the order of 0.001 parts per million ppm is not associated with chronic respiratory symptoms or effects on ventilatory capacity The results suggest that isocyanates can be controlled to the point of eliminating effects as measured by these techniques --Authors abstract reprinted by permission ' 1353/82 AUSTRALIAN TDI WORKERS SERA ASSAYED FOR IgE AGAINST A ISOCYANATE SERUM ALBUMIN CONJUGATE C.J.A. Game Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 12 refs 43 759-763 Oct. 1982 Sera of 91 people were assayed for IgE which bound to a isocyanate serum albumin conjugate The sera came from 20 blood donors 70 factory workers and 1 casualty patient Three factory workers had abnormally high . assay values in association with active TDI disease as indicated by asthma or measurement showing chronic airway obstruction One factory worker had an exceptionally high assay value without clinical evidence of TDI disease Hapten inhibition studies are reported they indicate possible heterogeneity of the IgE detected by the assay Brief clinical histories of some cases of TDI disease are given suggesting that TDI disease can include susceptibility to asthma triggered by events other than TDI exposure --Author's abstract reprinted by permission INDUSTRIAL DUSTS AND INHALANTS tumors were found the same time and among the animals treated at in the same way with crocido- lite Intraperitoneal injection of erionite did not produce mesotheliomas while a high incidence of of the peritoneum these tumors was found among the animals treated by intraperitoneal injection of crocidolite The studies are still in progress --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1355/82 OPHTHALMOLOGIC EFFECTS OF MADE MINERAL FIBERS J. Work Environ 1982. 17 refs J. Stockholm et al Health 8 185-190 Scand Sept. The effect made mineral fibers on the human eye was investigated in a sectional study of 15 workers exposed to Rockwool and a matched reference group of 15 people Eye symptoms changes in the cellular and mucous content of the conjunctival fluid break time of the precorneal film the number of microepithelial defects and the number of dead and degenerated cells on the cornea and bulbar conjunctiva were used as measures of effect The number of fibers accumulated in the eye and conventional dust sampling methods were used as measures of dose A significantly higher frequency of eye symptoms related to work conditions p 0.001 was found among exposed workers Similarly the number of microepithelial defects on the medial bulbar conjunctiva increased significantly p = 0.009 after 4 d of exposure Six exposed workers had a pathological increase in the neutrophil count of the conjunctival fluid after 4 d of exposure and an increase was seen in only one worker after a weekend free from exposure Significant correlation was found between microepithelial defects on the medial bulbar conjunctiva and measures of dose p 0.01 The symptoms and cellular changes can be ex- plained by the assumption that made mineral fibers have the same mechanical and reversible on effect the eye as on the skin effect relationship suggests The that described a much lower hygienic standard is needed for made mineral fibers than what has been recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Indus- trial Hygienists --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1354/82 PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMAS IN SPRAGUE- DAWLEY RATS BY ERIONITE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE C. Maltoni et al Environ Res 29 238-244 Oct. 1982. 1 ref Erionite and crocidolite fibers were tested for carcinogenicity by intrapleural and intraperito- neal injection una tantum in 40 Sprague rats per route for each fiber type Pleural mesotheliomas were found in nine of ten animals that died within a year after intrapleural injection with erionite fibres No pleural 1356/82 EFFECTS OF FLY ASH INHALATION ON MURINE IMMUNE FUNCTION CHANGES IN MACRO- MEDIATED ACTIVITIES A. Zarkower et al 1982 Environ 15 refs Res 29 83-89 Oct. Mice were exposed to fly ash particles 2.1 um diameter by inhalation for variable amounts of time at concentrations ranging from 535 to 2221 mThis fine fraction was approximately 32 by weight of the total dust generated The effects of these exposures were assessed on 18 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE DIGEST macrophage functions Phagocytosis of bacterial cells by the alveolar macrophages was depressed in the fly exposed animals as was the ability to enhance cell mitogenesis Fly ash exposure failed to produce a significant change in the cellular immune response delayed- type hypersensitivity reaction to antigenic challenge in the lungs of sensitized animals --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1357/82 EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED MESOTHELIOMA IN WHITE RATS IN RESPONSE TO INTRAPERITONEAL ADMINISTRATION OF AMORPHOUS CROCIDOLITE ASBESTOS PRELIMINARY REPORT K. Kolev Environ Res 29 123-133 Oct. 1982 2 refs The experiment was performed on white rats that were administered intraperitoneally two types of crocidolite asbestos and amorphous The fibrous structure with fiber length between 3 and 5 ranging pm and the amorphous state of the second type were proved by electron micros- copy and infrared spectrophotometry In the group treated with amorphous asbestos at an average interval of 484 days after the adminis- tration eight cases of mesothelioma were ob- served while asbestos only in the group treated with fibrous three cases of mesothelioma were found i.e. the results obtained show a sta- tistically significant difference The fibrous . structure of asbestos as the predominant cause of peritoneal mesothelioma induction is questioned and a new explanation of the fact that asbestos induces amorphous approximately three times as many cases of mesothelioma than fibrous asbestos is considered --Author's abstract reprinted by permission 1358/82 THE PATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PROLONGED ASBESTOS INGESTION IN et al Environ Res RATS 29 E. Bolton 134-150 Oct. 1982 p refs The effects of prolonged ingestion of amosite crocidolite and chrysotile UICC standard ref- erence asbestos samples were of laboratory rats Animals examined in groups were given over 250 mg per week for periods up to 25 months and were monitored for the remainder of their life span Animals were examined for evidence of pathological effects and gastrointestinal mucosal cytokinetic disturbances and tration and dissemination of for signs of pene- fiber There was no excess of malignant tumors in the experimental groups when compared with control animals and no gastrointestinal mucosal abnormalities were found An examination of the cytokinetic status of a subgroup of animals exposed to asbestos * similarly showed no evidence of any adverse effects of prolonged ingestion of amosite as- bestos fiber examination of Detailed electron microscopic various tissue residues for the 19 December 1982 of presence asbestos fibers was also undertaken No penetration and damage to any of the gut tissues was found Although occasional fibers were found in a variety of tissue residues there was no evidence of preferential retention of fibers within any specific tissue and no sign of higher fiber burdens in those animals with tumors It was concluded that there were no significant adverse effects of prolonged asbestos ingestion in healthy laboratory rats The implications of these findings are discussed in the light of other published work --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1359/82 ASBESTOS BRAKE EMISSIONS R.L. Williams and J.L. Muhlbaier Environ Res 29 70-82 Oct. 1982. 14 refs An enclosed testing machine was built to determine the importance from automobile brakes of asbestos emissions Higher emissions re- sulted from disc brakes than from drum brakes due to the smaller surface area contacting the wheel in the former case Median emissions from one disc brake were 3.3 mg particulate 55 airborne 12 sedimentary 34 entrained 0.6 mg stop as hydrocarbons 0.7 mg stop as CO2 and 0.1 mg stop as CO Higher emissions were observed with increases in velocity and deceleration rate The mass median aerodynamic diameter of the emitted particles was 3.1 pm Although the original brake material was about 50 asbestos the emitted particles averaged only 0.29 asbestos Therefore it appears that over 99.9 of the mass of original asbestos fibers was broken down into nonfibrous magnesium silicates In addition asbestos fibers which are on the order of millimeters in length in the brake had a median length of 0.5 pm in the emitted debris Based on the mass emission results and a stopping rate of 1.2 stops it can be estimated that 2.6 g of asbestos is emitted into the air 0.76 km settles to the roadway and 2.2 km is entrained in the wheel brake emissions Although are responsible for a minor fraction of ambient asbestos levels there may be a noticeable increase in asbestos levels near braking areas such as tollbooths --Authors abstract reprinted by permission 1360/82 ASBESTOS FIBRES RELEASED FROM HEAT CURTAINS A TRUE OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD A.M. Loi et al G. 120 May 1982. Ital Med 6 refs Lav 117- The authors point out the possibility bestosis can be detected or suspected that asin workers exposed to asbestos fibres released from heat curtains or clothes in various industrial envi- ronments They report the case of seven workers in a metallurgic plant these workers had been exposed to such a risk and showed from 10 to 23 years later a radiological appearance of inter- stitial fibrosis with a slight or moderate respi- ratory impairment Authors abstract