Manufacturing exposure to coolant-lubricants. A preliminary report.

A high speed automated machining process on gray iron has been functioning over a period of 70 months with a variety of coolant-lubricant-additives used. The author followed 118 employees for variable lengths of time, with 12 having a 70-month exposure period. To date, no significant chest x-ray, pulmonary function, lung cytology, or liver function abnormalities have been discovered. Any respiratory symptomatology seems to be related to either smoking or preexisting respiratory pathology. This is the initial report of an on-going surveillance program.