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a HDDSTMAL HXGIESE SURVEY OF THE KENSI5GT0H PLAIT OF TEZ SBERIXH WILLIAMS COMPAST PARTICIPAHTSj Representing The Sherwin Willie** Company Cleveland, Ohio Mr. G. A. Martin, President Mr. H. I. Hain, Vie# President Mr. E. E. Ware, Executive Research Director Representing The Kensington Plant Representing The Industrial Health Conservancy Laboratories W. s. Stevens, General Superintendent J. Errington, Assistant to General Superintendent C. R. Hess, Medical Director S. L. Winslow, Safety Director R. B. Parsons, Safety Engineer Carey P. McCord, M.D. Willian I. Witheridge, M.S. Ira Wilson, M.D. Willie* Fredrick, D. Sc. Uuril.Hyler, Technician Herbert Walworth, Chen. Eng. Gordon Barrold, PH. D. Lueille Richards, Secretary Marjorie Slater, Secretary Period of Investigation--September' ly-ifiSSV&O'Skjvfcaber 15,-iSS7 REPORT PREPARED BT THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH CONSFRVANCT LABORATORIES 10 Peterboro, Detroit, Michigan 0007-SWP-000030431 N 4011 THIS IS VOLUME III OF A THREE VOLUME REPORT 0007-SWF-000030433 THIS XS A COKTIDDITUX. KEPOHt 007-SWp-000030434 4. Lead la this plant, the foremost practical hazard is to lead poison ing. 'iany varieties of lead compounds are made in this plant, all ultimate ly starting with pig lead. Aa is well known, the group of lead eosyounds included as foremost are white lead, red lead, litharge, lead acetate, leaded -lac, various lead pigments, usually produced as compounds with chromium. Also lead is found in the form of terne plate in the tin can factory, and is manipulated in many fashions in majy departments. Lead chiefly enters the body through the lungs, after the inhalation of lead dust. Lead fumes are less important than lead dust as s source of lead poisoning. Some lead is ingested, being carried into the mouth ly fingers, in connection with consumption of food, smoking, chewing tobacco, etc. Ingested lead is only about l/S as significant as inhaled lead. Inorganic lead compounds do not go through the skin in appreciable quantities. Some organic compounds do, such, for example, as tetraethyl lead used in the manufacture of ethyl gasoline. As elsewhere discussed in greater detail, lead is highly distributed throughout this plaijt. It may be detected in small quantities In offices. Some lead mcy be detected in the outside air in buildings, manipulating lead in large c.uantities. The minimum amount of lead that may causa lead poisoning varies from person to person and for any given person depends in large measure upon his ora individual boc^y economy. There is," however, no such thing as complete tolerance to lead. Ordinari ly it is accepted as a fact that 1.5 milligrams of lead in ten cubic meters of air is sufficient to induce lead poisoning in some workers. This ten cubic meters of air is roughly the quantity of air inhaled by the average workman on an average work day. It is probably true that most workers will not acquire lead poisoning from this low threshold, but instead ?dU require larger amounts before aay evidence of lead poison ing is evinced. In our experience, large numbers of workmen have been exposed to such quantities as eight milligrams of metallic lead per &sy without acquiring lead poisoning. In view of the fact that an occasional worker may respond to vexy trivial amounts, this standard of 1.5 milligrams has been widely accepted as a standard governing protective measures. In the case of Ingested lead, some compounds are much more toxic than others. This depends upon the solubility of the lead. The more readily soluble preparations are conducive to lead poisoning and vice versa. In the case of lead inhalation, less significance is to be attached to solu bilities, as ultimately all'lead compounds are dissolved end all are toxic. The old idea that metallic lead is non-toxic is probably not Justified. At least in the form of fine dust, metallic lead is later oxidized so that the responses of the body are to lead oxide rather than to metallic lead. In this plant, --very extensive use of lead, large numbers of workmen have beam subjected to certain blood tests, suggestive of lead absorption. In addition, large numbers of samples of atmosphere preamably containing lead have been analysed. The results of these procedures make up special eections of this report. Lead in one form or another is used in the following departments of this plant: Tin Can, Pigment Products, Chemical Products, Dry Color, Paint and Varnish and Lacquer. Por the purposes of this report, lead is accepted aa the dominant exposure in..this plant, which fact is well recognized. Much of thejsntire program of Industrial hygiene must necessarily. center about the prevention of worker exposures to lead. At the tins of the writing of this report, a number ef worbsen re presenting borderline conditions suggestive of lead poisoning. I r 0007-SWP-000030450 5. Chromium Chromiue, la the fora of the chromate*, oxide* and compounds with lead, provides various widespread exposures In this plant. With respect to Injury to human beings, chromium Is a peculiar substance, yirst. It is so very slowly hydrolysed when In contact with tissue that its action say persist over perof weeks. This 1*' responsible for the well known tern "chroma hole*, which is a burrowing ulcer aore or less jug shaped, with a small opening at the skin surface, but with undermined edges and enlarging area of damage. In the second place, not all of the chroniua compounds are harmful. Certain valences yield toxic bodies while others do not. A third peculiarity resides in the fact that chromium, while able to attack the unbroken skin, is much less apt ao to do than to attack a skin which is chapped, cut, blistered or otherwise broken. Apart from "chrome holes* of the skin, the chief altst of action of chromium is the nasal septa, which it often perforated and irreparably so. This leads to no disability, although septal perforation may lead to disturbing whistling through the nose and asj- pave the way for sinus, and other natal diseases. Chromium rarely leads to generalized disease. Soma persona cay become sensitized to its action so that responses are brought about on the slightest exposure to chromium and at sights other than those in direct contact. It is also true that chrome compounds in the form of dust or vapor reach lung tissues through inhalation end may sat up bronchitis or other inflammatory processes. This is, however, the exception and not the rule. Lately the claim has been made that chromium compounds may lead to cancer of the lung. This is recognized as a remote possibility and in aiy event the action of chromium will not-be more specific than other irrltanta reaching lung tissues. In this plant, chromium finds some application or manipulation in the following departments; Chemical Products, Dry Color, Paint and Varnish and Lacquer. 6. Manganese; Comparatively small quantities of manganes* in a variety of compounds find use in several departments in this plant. Uanganeae leads to a bizarre disease called manganese poisoning, which chiefly has arisen as a result of exposures to manganese oxides. At this time, there is no reason to believe that other compounds of manganese may not be similarly injurious. When the substance enters the body (chiefly through inhalation of dust), the disease state is brought about, in comparatively short time, such as threa months and even less. Naturally, in some measure, this depends upon the concentration of the dust to which exposure is provided. Without any pain or ary quick changes, workers exposed to manganese may be noted to develop periods of axcessive laughter or crying, unassociated with ary adequate cause. At about the samo time, it m^ be observed that their facies become mask-like, immobile, expressionless. At a little later stage these workers, when walking or running, are unable to stop until they run into some object or grasp some projecting structure. They are apt to fall down, particularly whan taking steps backward (retropulsion). They are unable to stop their movements until they fall or bump into some object. During this process, these workers may have their mental faculties unimpaired, but are no less totally disabled. In time they become completely paralyzed in portions of the body, such as the arms and legs and may live long lives of total invalidism without ary prospect of recovery. At- the time cf the writing of-this' item, no suspicion has arisen that manganese poisoning prevails in this plant. The circumstances of the use of these materials seems to preclude aiy practical extensive exposure. 0007-S WP-000030451 7. Tripoli la this plant, tripoll Is commonly referred to as *mixed silicates*. These statements probably are not true. Instead, trploli is a crypto-crystalline.--riety of quarts and is composed to an extent of about 99% of free silica. The mining of this material is limited, so far as known, to two areas in the United States, namely Southern Illinois and the Seneca area is Xissouri, which extends ower into Okiehome. In the latter district, the beautiful rose and cream colored tripolis are found. Trioolis possess peculiar electrostatic properties so that fine materials thrown into the sir glomerate into heavier hells and drop to floor levels. On this account, eases of silicosis from tripoli ere rare, although not unheard of. Since tripoli is in fact quartz, referenea is made to item one, in this series, for discussion of the disease that may be produced by it. In this plant, tripoli is used in the following departments, in limited amounts: Lacquer only. Dust counts hews been made in connection with its use end x-r^s here been made of selected workmen longest exposed. The results obtained fron these procedures are set forth in other sections. 8. ?.lnc Sulfate: The raw material from which lithopor.e is made, as operations start in this plant, is zinc sulfate, received from the Coffeyville Plant, in a dry lumpy state, which is conducive to dustiness. Although litbopone with its content of zinc sulfide is rated as non-toxic, its precursor, rinc sulfate, possesses properties conducive to harm the workmen. This is manifest chiefly in the form of perforation of the nasal septum and low,,rade ulceration or at least inflammation of the nasal passages. Fork carried out about ten years ego with sine sulfate by these investigators revealed a fairly high frequency of gastric or duodenal ulcer, which was attributed to the eetlon of zinc sulfate. Therefore, It is regarded as within the realm of poeslbillty that increased frequency of gastro-intestlnal ulcere might arise among sine sulfate workers in the litbopone Industry. Thus far no evidences have arisen, although no real search has been made for this disease. Zinc sulfate, so far as known, is only handled in the lithopone department in this plant. There workers are supplied with respirators and no substantial exposure is known to exist. No less, this matter is discussed in greater detail in another section devoted to the lithopone department. Barium as a constituent of lithopone is elsewhere discussed. 9. Cadalmt Cadmium is found in this plant in two dissimilar sets of circum stances. First, cadmium is removed from the zinc sulfate as e preliminary to the manufacture of lithopone. This cadmium is reduced to the metallic state through recovery processes elsewhere described and discussed.' The second aspect of cadmium present is in connection with Its use as e ^pigment material in the Dry Color Department and tc n -miner extent in Chemical Products and Lacquer Departments./ - Wherever it mey be used, cadmium-is c treeberoufi substance. It is more toxic than lead, but perhaps not ten times as toxia aa lead, as is sometimes claimed. One milligram per day, taken into the bo$y, ia dangerous. Usually tha entry into the body ia made through the portal of the respiratory tract, dust or fume entering In this fashion. However, swallowed cadmium may also lead to poisoning. In any event, the manifesta tions chiefly center about the gastro-intestiaal tract, together with some ' involvement of the kidneys end liver. 0007-SWP-000030452 In view of the dangerous properties of this substance, various tests have been aade, the results of which are elsewhere set forth. 10. Carbon Uaqr varieties of paint coatings contain carbon for black pigment purposes a great variety of naaes, such as lamp blac, bone black, cosmic black, etc., etc. Some of these substances at least are of such physicel properties as to provoke great dustiness when they are handled. This dust is inhaled and later on the workman's attention m^r be drawn to the fact that he is spitting up black tinged sputum. This may persist for seme weeks after the last exposure. TTorkers may become highly concerned and attribute all of their respiratory infirmities to an imagined action of this dust. The facts in the case are somewhat as follows* thile no dust is entirely Innocuous, carbon is one of the least harmful. Its entry into the body leads to the condition known as anthracosis, a minor abnor mality from which all of us suffer. At autopsy every adult will show seme signs of anthracosis. Urban dwellers are prone to present well blackened lungs at every autopsy. Apart from this black pigmentation, carbon produces no noteworthy disease. However, attention has been drawn to the fact that some carbon preparations contain oil and that others have been mixed with silica as an impurity. Under such circumstances, it is possible that these extraneous materials may bring about their own diseases, which no less may be laid at the door of carbon. It is the intent of this discussion to rate carbon dust when inhaled as an innocuous materiel, worthy of little hygienic consideration. 11. Asphalt Under this term, there are included, for the purposes of this report, maty substances that are not natural Trinidad asphalt. These include petroleta and coal tar pitches or residues, Cilsonite, Tailings of various sorts, stearins pitch, etc. Chemically, all of these substances represent mixtures, the exact composition of which is little known. Then these substances are in dry state, they present little opportunity for injury from contact. Contrariwise, when they are naturally liquid, or when they have been cut back, or when in liquid state through heating, they are more likely to bring about injury on contact. These substances are sources of skin irritation for some workmen. In contact with the skin, these materials are removed with difficulty. Satisfactory personel hygiene is not easily obtained and in'the absence of a real dermatitis, there may slowly develop a condition characterised by numerous large blackheads (come dones), largely the result of ordinary dirtiness. This stage nay progress to one of furunculosis, characterised by multiple small boils, abscesses, etc. Then such materials are used on roadwork, they are ordinarily heated to high temperatures and the vapors thus arising are highly irritating to the respiratory tract. It is not known that paint manufacture leads to similar operation, but if so this operation should be carried out only in the open or else under hooded conditions. 12. Nitrocellulose The phblie entertains a fair amount of apprehension against the action cf nitrocellulose. This is unwarranted. At least the nitroeelluloses employed in coatings and in their natural state are free from dangerous potentialities. Nitration has not. proceeded-`.o that percentage cordudve to explosibllity. On the other haid, when nit rooellulost is burned., there - zty be produced one or more of a series of the oxides of nitrogen, several of which are exquisitely active in producing -pulmonary*edema and~edemfi of the entire respiratory, tract. After breathing a few breaths of nitrogen oxide containing air, sufficient harm is wrought so that a few hours hence, such as 5-18, enormous edema sets in, occluding the passagesfor air and leading to death of the victim through internal drowning. " 0007-SWP-000030453 The various grades of nitrocellulose used In coating preparations art apt to be received in tba vat a tat a, the wetting be lug brought about by the action of denatured alcohol* la practise, tha danaturant much uaad is wood alcohol, present to tha axtant of 9jl* In tba cutting of nltroealluloaaa lacquer purpoaaa, this coatant of ethyl aloobol and vood alcohol la of no gyeat concern* However, la a few proceases, such aa tha manufacture of lacquer chips, disagreeable work conditions any result fro* evaporation of large quantities of alcohol in closed areas. Dangerous fire hazards may be produced and on occasion conditions favorable to explosion any arise* 13. Beta Saphtbol One large section of this plant la devoted to tbs manufacture of beta napbtbol* This work.is carried out under favorable conditions, and the casual visitor at ones gains as unfavorable ls^resalon of this operatlon* Workers in this department make complaints about the dlsagreeableness of the work, but aa yet no one has bean able to prove that beta napbtbol produces any serious disease* It la irritating to the eyes and *uooos osabranes, *ay lead to laeryaatlon and sneezing, occasionally produces some skin disease; occasionally, cystitis arises la beta aaphthol workers. 14. Paraphenylenedlaaina ' In the case of most dyestuffs, the final product is apt to b* noninjurious, while intermediates asy be quite to the contrary. In tbs ess* of paraphenylanedlaains, both the intermediates and the final product are worthy of respect* In another section la presented discussion of tha manufacture of this dye* It is best known as a dye for hair, fur, feathers, woolen materials, etc* dll diamines are said to posses harmful properties, although considerable differences may exist between the aetlons produced by different members of this group. This dye leads to three different types of aenifeetation, a) asthma, b) edema, e) skin eruptions* It is not unusual for the wearer of a cheap fur, dyed with this material, to develop extensive swellings of the face, lips, ears, etc. fur workers in particular may suffer fro* asthma produced by tha dust from furs dyed with parspbenylenedleains The skin disease created has no special characteristics and resembles many other occupational dermatoses* While no large experience has groan up rela tive to injuries produced to vixtanan in the manufacture of thle dye, it la no less labeled as an outstanding axaapla of dangeroua dyestuffs. 15. Zlne Oxide Thle well known aubatamee is blamed for more occupational diseases than it la capable of inducing, da uaad la tha paint industry hare, it is almost wholly guiltless and an iaart agent* la olataenta, lotions, it is perhaps the most widely used of ell treatments for St In diseases. High concentrations of lta dusts will at most produce nothing more than a harm less inereeee in tba fibrous tlsatis a of tha lung. Regardless of the concen tration of exposures and lta duration, zinc oxide will never lead to a dusty lung disease, analogous to silicosis. On the other hand, zinc oxide, under certain circumstances, may lead to what le variously known aa zinc chills, spelter chills, brare workers1 chills, zlne ague, metal fuse fever, etc. These aondltloaa which, .Infect, ~ are but one, ere quite genuine and are due to the inhalation of recently produced zlne oxide, mieh aa arlaae in connection with crlvnizing,/brtec founding, zinc founding, zlne smelting, ate. ``Hare the zi.no oxide it ite recently formal state la la a peculiar physical condition known aa its dispersed* phase, la contrast to lta "flaaoulent* state, which is ths stete ' of tha material found la the paint industry. Thus, tha tozle properties of zlne oxide are limited to a few operations which do not include ttm use of different varieties in paint manufacture* I I 0007-SWP-000030454 it S': I 16. lSg. gjtis Iron oxide in great variety of colors, finenesses, chemical forms are found in the plants of this organisation. Some of than represent mixtures with silica, silicates, carbonates, ete. Of pure iron oxide, it ney be said in full sincerity that no proof, exists thet it causes aiy harm to exposed workmen. These substances are commonly dusty. Dust nay be taken into the lungs. Instead of producing a condition similar to silicosis, it produces no condition other than staining of the mucous membranes, impart ing* their color to saliva and sputum. In the legal world, many eeses of dusty lung diseases or alleged dusty lung diseases have been attributed to the action of iron} steel dust has been said to produce a profound bronchitis. None of these claims are known to be justified, or founded on aty substantial evidence. It is true that the human body should not be subjected to long continued exposure to sty dust. It is true that from soiling of the skin, same injury may arise in the way of low-grade skin disease, but it is not true that these substances constitute real hazards in this plant or anywhere else. Here they are chiefly used in the following departments* Paint and Varnish, Chemical Products, Dry Color, Lacquer. 17. Llthooone Lithopone is a mixture of rlnc sulfide and barium sulfate. This present meager discussion does not embrace the methods of manufacture of lithopone, merely the toxic properties of the finished product. These statements, which refer to the ordinary varieties of lithopone, do not contemplate forms such for example as those that might contain lead. Barium sulfate, one component of lithopone, is that used in medicine in making of xrsys of the gastro-intestinal tract, which fact serves to attest its harralessness. Zinc sulfide is equally harmless. The admixture of the two provides a coating material which has served an enormously useful purpose in freeing painters from the earlier, almost universal use of lead. TSxile lithopone is by no meana the only lead-free white pigment, it is outstanding in its contribution to the protection of painters against the action of lead. Further, a useful purpose has besn served through the substitution of this paint or ether non-lead, paint in the painting of the interiors of nurseries, kindergardena, etc., where some danger existed that immature persons might chew up flaked off lead, etc. 18. Tltanox Tltanox is a trade name for titanium dioxide. However, the term is loosely applied to a variety of titanium mixtures or compounds, such as with barium, lithopone, white lead, ete. With respect to titanium dioxide itself and perhaps to other oxides of titanium, there is no proof that this substance is harmful. Lately, one or more papers have been published describing a new dusty lung disease called "titanosis*. In view of,the fict that siaty hundreds of workmen over the country have been grossly exposed tc dusts from titanium over a period, of years, it appears that this.claim of a new dusty lung disease may be unwarranted. At ary rate, those pei-sona most familiar :.ith dust diseases fall to recognize titanium as a contributor lo this class of affections. As.often pointed out in this series Of dis cussions, no dust serves any useful purpose when breatheo by workmen in high concentrations over a long period of time. No less, if a person were re-.uired to breath a dust end given a choice of all mineral dusts, titanium would probably represent the wise choice of intelligent persons. Under experimental conditions, these investigators letely have injectid titanium into animals, along with a great variety of other dusts, including silica, silicates, elsys, carbonates, coal, coke, etc. Of all uust so introduced, the most harmless variety oroved to be titanium dioxide in pure form. 0007-SWP-000030455