Industrial Hygiene - Survey of Men in Dusty Areas

This undated company report, with no author or company named in the text, described a review of the examination results and chest x-rays of 708 men working in asbestos dust in the Mill and the Bag Sorting and Cleaning Departments. The group included millwrights, electricians, and Quality Control and Fibre Development employees. The x-ray films were graded in steps from negative to early asbestosis. Only 4 men had negative x-rays, and all 4 had four years' exposure or less. A further 170 had "Hil +" readings. 475 men (67%) showed very early non-specific fibrosis. 52 showed advanced non-specific fibrosis, which the report called a "pre-asbestotic group". 7 showed early asbestosis, and all 7 had at least 20 years' exposure. The report stated that these 7 men had not been told of the diagnosis. It noted that the fibrosis could also be caused by respiratory infections or other material in the air. The author reported that x-ray changes increased with years of exposure and counted 59 probable compensation claims. The author concluded that early transfers and good dust control could prevent asbestosis.

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From J-M's medical library

This copy comes from the Johns-Manville medical library. It was among the papers J-M kept in its medical library without an index entry.