Industrial Medicine Desk ReferenceIncreased public concern over the control of environmental forces and industrial hazards has led to awareness for the need for improved conditions for all who work. Industry has expanded and developed new p'~ducts and new methods. A great many occupational diseases have accompanied this progress. Too much of the present data and knowledge have been obtained following accidents or sad experience. Thousands of women have died, have become acutely or chronically ill, and still others permanently disabled. Workers themselves have become keenly aware of potential hazards on their jobs, and public interest has developed to a point where articles are appearing on front pages of newspapers, business journals, and medical journals specifically related to occupational medicine. Special studies of chemicals, processes, and practices have been initiated by government agencies and by industry itself. Knowledge of increased liver cancer in vinyl chloride workers, the discovery of kepone, a pesticide produced under poor working conditions causing neurologic damage, the problems with asbestos, and the alarming occupational health problems reported among workers manufacturing "DBCP" (dibromochloropropane), a nematocid that has caused reproductive alterations in men from oligospermia to sterility, are well known. Not only have sterility and fertility become serious grounds for concern but also mutagenesis and teratogenesis, in addition to public anxieties about occupational carcinogens, a cause for worry. |
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accidents acid acute agents alcohol allergic alveoli animals areas asbestos blood body bronchitis burns cadmium cancer carbon monoxide carcinogen cause cells chemical chloracne chloride chlorinated chronic coal colorless compounds concentrations condition containing cyanosis damage decompression sickness dermatitis develop dioxide disease disorders dust dyes dyspnea edema effects electric emphysema environment equipment exposure limit eyes factors fever fibers fibrosis flammable fumes gases headache health hazards heat human hydrocarbons hydrogen hydrogen sulfide industry infection ingestion inhalation injuries involved irritation lead liquid liver lung manufacture materials mercury metal metal fume fever mg/m³ miners mucous membranes NIOSH nitrogen nitrogen oxides noise occupational occur odor oils organic oxide oxygen pain particles pesticides plants plastics pneumoconiosis poisoning produce protective pulmonary pulmonary edema radiation reaction recommended standard resins respiratory tract result risk rubber silica silicosis solvents substances surface symptoms synthetic temperature tissue toxic types usually vapor vibration workers exposed workplace