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Hazards of isocyanates
II8 Stimulus
BRITISH
THORACIC‘
AND
‘TUBERCULOSIS
ASSOC’IATTOh
Host
immediate negative)
Mechanisms
_- * - . __
Direct histamine
Reflex bronchial constriction REFERENCES PEPYS, J. (1967).Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London, 2,42. BROSTOFF, J., GREAVES, M. F., & ROITT,I. M. (1969). Lancet, 1, 803.
HAZARDSOF ISOCYANATES ANGUS ROBSON(High Wycombe)
Isocyanates are organic chemicals chiefly used for the production of flexible foams and polyurethane finishes. Their use is expanding very fast. Isocyanates may produce symptoms resembling coryza, bronchitis or asthma and the occupational cause may be overlooked. Onset of symptoms may be delayed for some time after exposure or may be insidious. Clinically the pattern of symptoms may resemble an allergic illness but no good immunological evidence of allergy has been demonstrated. Evidence is presented that workers in contact with isocyanates have a greater fall in the F.E.V. than would be expected and this fall is greater in patients with previous respiratory symptoms, It is suggested that such patients be excluded from contact and that all workers should have in-service checks. CAUSESOF DEATH OF WORKERSEMPLOYEDIN AN ASBESTOS FACTORY M. L. NEWHOUSE(London)
The factory where these men worked was founded in the East End of London in 1913 and was in continuous production for the following 55 years. Its chief products were asbestos textiles and insulation materials. All three types of asbestos, crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile were used. The personnel records of this firm include details of all who have worked in the factory at any time and were the source of the data used in this study. By tracing through the central registers of the Department of Health and Social Security and of the National Health Service it was possible to establish whether a past employee of the factory was alive or dead in May, 1964. The Registrar General supplied the causes of death. The subjects in the study were categorized by the jobs they had held in the factory and by their length of employment. Their mortality was compared with the national figures. No excess was found until at least 16 years had elapsed between first exposure in the factory and death, but among those who were followed for longer periods and who had had jobs with heavy exposure to asbestos dust there was a significant excess of deaths both from lung and other cancers.
BRITISH
THORACIC‘
AND
‘TUBERCULOSIS
ASSOC’IATTOh
Host
immediate negative)
Mechanisms
_- * - . __
Direct histamine
Reflex bronchial constriction REFERENCES PEPYS, J. (1967).Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London, 2,42. BROSTOFF, J., GREAVES, M. F., & ROITT,I. M. (1969). Lancet, 1, 803.
HAZARDSOF ISOCYANATES ANGUS ROBSON(High Wycombe)
Isocyanates are organic chemicals chiefly used for the production of flexible foams and polyurethane finishes. Their use is expanding very fast. Isocyanates may produce symptoms resembling coryza, bronchitis or asthma and the occupational cause may be overlooked. Onset of symptoms may be delayed for some time after exposure or may be insidious. Clinically the pattern of symptoms may resemble an allergic illness but no good immunological evidence of allergy has been demonstrated. Evidence is presented that workers in contact with isocyanates have a greater fall in the F.E.V. than would be expected and this fall is greater in patients with previous respiratory symptoms, It is suggested that such patients be excluded from contact and that all workers should have in-service checks. CAUSESOF DEATH OF WORKERSEMPLOYEDIN AN ASBESTOS FACTORY M. L. NEWHOUSE(London)
The factory where these men worked was founded in the East End of London in 1913 and was in continuous production for the following 55 years. Its chief products were asbestos textiles and insulation materials. All three types of asbestos, crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile were used. The personnel records of this firm include details of all who have worked in the factory at any time and were the source of the data used in this study. By tracing through the central registers of the Department of Health and Social Security and of the National Health Service it was possible to establish whether a past employee of the factory was alive or dead in May, 1964. The Registrar General supplied the causes of death. The subjects in the study were categorized by the jobs they had held in the factory and by their length of employment. Their mortality was compared with the national figures. No excess was found until at least 16 years had elapsed between first exposure in the factory and death, but among those who were followed for longer periods and who had had jobs with heavy exposure to asbestos dust there was a significant excess of deaths both from lung and other cancers.