JUNE, 1949
INDUSTRIAL TOXICOLOGY FRANKLIN W. CHURCH University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver Colorado
DURING a number of years of experience consnlting Another instance involved hydrogen and antimony in with engineers and especially chemical engineers in all an acid solution. The engineer was aware that arsenic phases of industry a decided lack in basic engineering under these conditions would give arsine, but was comknowledge has become apparent. A few of the engi- pletely unawhre that antimony would give stibine, an neers are aware of the acute toxicity of some compounds equally dangerous compound. The engineers knew but, without exception, none of the engineers realize that blast furnace gases contained carbon monoxidz but the chronic toxicity or cumulative effects of small were completely unaware of the very dangerous iron and amounts of some substances inhaled day after day. other metallic carhonyls. Case after case could be cited Not knowing the chronic effect, of course, the engi- and confirm the appalling lack of knowledge of chronic neers do not recognize the danger until too late. Still toxicity of substances used daily by industry. more serious is the fact that they do not know where to The teaching of elementary industrial toxicology to go for information and help. As most of the engineers all undergraduate engineering students could be done in industry are in a supervisory capacity, the adequate on a seminar basis with perhaps nine subjects as folprotection of employees under their control is of para- lows: Introduction, History and Scope; Dusts; Gases; mount importance. The adequate protection of the Solvents; Metallic Poisons; Interpretation of Apemployees necessitates knowledge of toxic limits, both proved Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (MAC) of chronic and acute, of the substances handled, mays and Hazardous Material in the Air; General Methods of means of testing the air for the particular contaminant, Sampling and Analysis; Engineering Methods of Conand methods of controlling the emission of the contami- trol; Legal Aspects. While the above cannot be connant. m i l e the complete solution of the ahove prob- strued as comprehensive coverage, the material would lems falls within the province of the industrial hygiene give a satisfactory introduction. The ahove program engineer, elementary knowledge of the subject should be could be carried out without any increase in teaching had by all engineers. personnel as guest lecturers can be obtained from such On far too many occasions engineers have said that sources as State Departments of Industrial Hygiene, they never received an inkling of chronic toxicities in private companies, State Compensation Boards, City undergraduate days. Just to cite a few cases, a chemi- and County Departments of Industrial Hygiene, U. S. cal engineer was endeavoring to circumvent the basic Public Health Service, and insurance companies. patents on the manufacture of tet.raethyl lead. The These sources are always more than willing to cooperate engineer was aware of lead toxicity and he looked up the in such a program. symptoms of lead. Unfortunately he consulted a text Further courses should be offered, particularly to which covered only inorganic lead. Therefore he mas chemical engineers, either on a prerequisite or elective unaware of the differences of symptoms that exist be- basis. Industrial exhaust ventilation, encompassing tween organic and inorganic lead poisoning. He did both design and calculations, should be given. Posnot recognize the symptoms as they appeared and the sibly t,his could be incorporated into the study of fluid poisoning had progressed to a very dangerous point flow. Environmental conditions encompassing heat, before he consulted a doctor. In another instance, a light, noise, abnormal pressures, and comfort zones company was making lead acetate. The engineer in should be given. The physiological factors of comfort charge while not aware of organic was aware of in- zones such as are given in the ASHVE Guide could be organic lead poisoning and had made some steps to con- incorporated in t,he study of air conditioning. Hazards trol the lead used in the process. The toxicity of acetic of industries could very well be included in industrial acid, however, was apparently unknown and no precau- chemistry and organic unit processes. Other more adtions were taken to control acetic acid vapors in the air. vanced courses could be instituted as the need arises.
