Industrial Poisoning From Fumes, Gases and Poisons of Manufacturing Processes

Part I.—Description of the Industries and Processes Attended

with risk of poisoning: incidence of such poisoning

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY 1 Sulphuric acid industry (sulphur dioxide): use of sulphuric acid 4 Its effects on health 9 Hydrochloric acid, saltcake and soda industry 14 Their effects on health 20 Use of sulphate and sulphide of soda 22 Ultramarine 22 Sulphonal 22 Diethyl sulphate 23 Chlorine, chloride of lime and chlorates 23 Their effect on health 26 Other chlorine compounds and their use as well as bromine, iodine and fluorine 29 Chlorides of phosphorus 30 Chlorides of sulphur 31 Zinc chloride 32 Rock salt 32 Organic chlorine compounds 32 Carbon oxychloride (phosgene) 32 Carbon chlorine compounds (aliphatic) 33 Methyl chloride 33 Methylene chloride 34 Carbon tetrachloride 34 Ethyl chloride 34 Monochloracetic acid 34 Chloral 34 Chloroform 34 Chloride of nitrogen 35 Cyanogen chloride 35 Chlorobenzene 35 Benzo trichloride, benzyl chloride 35 Nitro- and dinitro-chlorobenzene 35 Iodine and iodine compounds 36 Bromine and bromine compounds 36 Methyl iodide and methyl bromide 36 Fluorine compounds 37 Hydrofluoric and silicofluoric acids 38 Manufacture and uses of nitric acid 39 Its effect on health 40 Nitric and nitrous salts and compounds 44 Barium nitrate 44 Ammonium nitrate 44 Lead nitrate 44 Mercurous and mercuric nitrate 44 Silver nitrate 45 Sodium nitrite 45 Amyl nitrite 45 Manufacture of explosives and their effects 45 Fulminate of mercury 46 Nitro-glycerin 46 Dynamite 47 Gun cotton 48 Collodion cotton, smokeless powder 48 Manufacture of phosphorus and lucifer matches and their effects 49 Other uses of phosphorus and compounds of phosphorus 52 Phosphor-bronze 52 Sulphide of phosphorus 52 Phosphoretted hydrogen 52 Superphosphate and artificial manure 53 Basic slag 54 Chromium compounds and their uses 55 Sodium and potassium bichromate 55 Lead chromate and chrome colours 55 Their effect on health 56 Manganese compounds and their effects 58 Mineral oil industry and the use of petroleum and benzine 59 Chemical cleaning 61 Their effect on health 61 Recovery and use of sulphur 64 Its effect on health 65 Sulphuretted hydrogen and its effect 65 Preparation and use of carbon bisulphide in vulcanising, &c. 68 Its effect on health 69 Preparation of illuminating gas 71 Its effect on health 74 Coke ovens and risk from them 77 Other kinds of power and illuminating gas 80 Producer gas 80 Blast furnace gas 82 Water gas 82 Dowson and Mond gas 82 Suction gas 83 Acetylene (calcium carbide) 85 Their effect on health 87 Ammonia and ammonium compounds 90 Use of ammonia and its effects 92 Cyanogen compounds 93 Use of cyanide, and their effects 95 Coal tar and tar products 96 Their effects on health 101 Artificial organic dye stuffs (coal tar colours) 107 Their effects on health 112 RECOVERY AND USE OF METALS 120 Lead poisoning in general 120 Lead, silver and zinc smelting 122 Spelter works 125 Lead poisoning in lead smelting and spelter works 126 White lead and other use of lead colours 131 Lead poisoning in the manufacture and use of white lead and lead paints 132 Manufacture of electric accumulators 134 The ceramic industry 135 Coarse ware pottery 136 Manufacture of stove tiles 137 Stoneware and porcelain 138 Lead poisoning in letterpress printing 138 Lead poisoning in filecutting, polishing precious stones, musical instrument making, &c. 140 Mercury (poisoning in its recovery and use) 141 Mercurial poisoning in water-gilding, coating mirrors, in felt hat making, &c. 142 Arsenic (poisoning in its recovery and in use of arsenic and arsenic compounds) 143 Recovery of arsenic and white arsenic 143 Poisoning by arseniuretted hydrogen gas 145 Antimony 146 Extraction of iron 146 Ferro-silicon 149 Zinc 151 Copper, brass (brassfounders’ ague) 151 Metal pickling 152 OTHER INDUSTRIES 153 Treatment of stone and earths; lime burning, glass 153 Treatment of animal products 154 Preparation of vegetable foodstuffs 154 Poisonous woods 154 Textile industry 156

Part Ii.—Pathology and Treatment of Industrial Poisoning

INDUSTRIAL POISONS IN GENERAL 157 Channels of absorption, classification, susceptibility, immunity 158 Fate of poisons in the body—absorption, cumulative action, excretion 162 General remarks on treatment 163 INDUSTRIAL POISONS IN PARTICULAR 169 Group: mineral acids, halogens, inorganic halogen compounds, alkalis 169 Hydrochloric acid 170 Hydrofluoric and silico-fluoric acids 171 Sulphur dioxide and sulphuric acid 171 Nitrous fumes, nitric acid 172 Chlorine, bromine, iodine 173 Chlorides of phosphorus, sulphur and zinc 174 Ammonia 175 Alkalis 176 Group: Metals and metal-compounds 176 Lead and its compounds 177 Zinc and its alloys 182 Mercury and its compounds 183 Manganese and its compounds 184 Chromium and its compounds 185 Nickel salts (nickel carbonyl) 186 Copper 188 Silver and its compounds 188 Group: Arsenic, Phosphorus 189 Arsenic and its oxides 189 Phosphorus 190 Phosphoretted hydrogen 191 Group: Sulphuretted hydrogen, carbon bisulphide, and cyanogen (nerve poisons) 192 Sulphuretted hydrogen 192 Carbon bisulphide 193 Cyanogen compounds 195 Group: Arseniuretted hydrogen and carbonic oxide (blood poisons) 197 Group: Hydrocarbons of the aliphatic and aromatic series and their halogen and hydroxyl substitution products 202 Sub-group: Hydrocarbons of mineral oils and their distillation products (benzine, paraffin, &c.) 202 Sub-group: Hydrocarbons of the aromatic series 204 Benzene and its homologues 204 Naphthalene 208 Sub-group: Halogen substitution products of the aliphatic series (narcotic poisons) 208 Sub-group: Halogen substitution products of the benzene series 209 Sub-group: Hydroxyl substitution products of the fatty series 210 Group: Nitro- and amido-derivatives of the aliphatic and aromatic series 211 Sub-group: Nitro-derivatives of the aliphatic series 212 Sub-group: Nitro- and amido-derivatives of the aromatic series 212 Turpentine, pyridene, alkaloids, nicotine, poisonous woods 215

Part Iii.—Preventive Measures Against Industrial Poisoning

GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES 217 International action, notification of poisoning, schedules of poisons 218 Special preventive measures for workers—selection, periodical medical examination, co-operation of workers, &c. 226 Rescue appliances 230 Washing accommodation and baths 237 Removal of dust and fumes by exhaust ventilation 242 PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES 256 Sulphuric acid industry 256 Hydrochloric acid and soda industries 257 Chlorine, bleaching powder, chlorine compounds 259 Manufacture of nitric acid and explosives 260 Artificial manures, basic slag 261 Chromium and its compounds 265 Petroleum, benzine 267 Phosphorus, lucifer matches 268 Bisulphide of carbon 271 Illuminating gas, tar production 275 Gas power plant 276 Acetylene gas installations 278 Ammonia 279 Cyanogen, cyanogen compounds 280 Coal tar, tar products 280 Organic dye-stuffs, coal tar colours 285 Recovery and use of metals 288 Iron 289 Lead 292 Lead smelting 299 Electric accumulators 305 White lead and lead colours 310 Letterpress printing 316 Ceramic industry 319 File cutting 321 Other uses of lead 322 Zinc smelting 323 Brass casting, metal pickling 325 Recovery and use of mercury 326 Arsenic and its compounds 328 Gold and silver 329 PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN OTHER TRADES 329 Manufacture and use of varnishes 330 Production of vegetable foods 332 Wood working 335 Paper manufacture 336 Textile industries 336

Appendix 339

INDEX 355

INTRODUCTION

The attempt to systematise from the scientific standpoint the mass of material that has been collected about poisons is a very heavy task, even for the toxicologist who desires to treat his subject comprehensively. How much greater is the difficulty of writing a systematic book on industrial poisoning keeping practical application in the forefront!

Technical considerations which are decisive in the causation and prevention of industrial poisoning are here of especial moment, and must naturally influence classification of the subject-matter when the object is to assist those concerned in factory hygiene.

Bearing this in mind, I have divided the subject into three parts. The arrangement of the first, which gives as complete a statement as possible of the occurrence of industrial poisoning, into industries and processes was determined on technical grounds. The second, which amplifies the first, attempts to summarise the pathology or symptoms of the various forms of poisoning. The references to the literature of the particular subjects—as exhaustive as I could make them—will lighten further study. To these two parts, following on knowledge of causation and symptoms, the third, in which preventive measures are outlined, is linked.

The apparent drawback in use of the book is that one form of poisoning has often to be referred to in three places. But, I hope, this is more than counterbalanced by the completeness of the scheme which results from the subdivision of the subject.

The pathology of industrial poisoning necessitates frequent repetition when describing the branches of industry giving rise to the intoxication, as one and the same form can occur in the most varied processes. The numerous instances of actual cases of poisoning quoted must therefore be regarded as conforming to the same pathological type. Similarly, preventive measures require separate systematic treatment in order to avoid constant repetition which would otherwise obscure the general survey. Quite a number of means of prevention apply equally to several industries in which the same cause is at work. The success attained by thus simplifying the issues is the greater because such common measures are the easier to carry through and to supervise.

The method therefore has been adopted only after serious reflection and has been directed mainly by practical considerations.

Recent cases which have either been reported or come to the knowledge of the author have been given, with particulars as exact as possible. Cases dating back some time have been omitted intentionally so as to exclude everything which did not correspond with the present conditions of industry and trade. Historical facts only receive consideration in so far as they are fundamentally important and necessary for the sake of completeness.

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