Morbidity among persons employed in styrene production, polymerization and processing plants.

BASF has been producing styrene and polystyrene since 1931. An investigation of morbidity was undertaken for 84 workers employed in the styrene plant and exposed for 1--36 years and 93 workers employed in the polystyrene plant and exposed for 1--38 years. In all groups the concentration of styrene in the atmosphere was measured at various points of the workplace. All workers underwent a thorough physical examination and also extensive laboratory tests, including the determination of urinary mandelic acid. The absenteeism and accident rates were also taken into consideration in both plants. Blood samples were also taken and mandelic acid tests made on a small group of 16 persons employed in polyester processing plants not attached to the BASF.

Mutagenicity study of workers employed in the styrene and polystyrene processing and manufacturing industry.

Mutagenicity studies were undertaken on lymphocytes from the following groups of persons exposed to styrene or polystyrene: one group from a styrene manufacturing plant, one from a polystyrene plant, and three from plants processing unsaturated polyester resins with different manufacturing methods. For all the groups the concentration of styrene in the atmosphere of the workplace was measured at various points and the amount of urinary mandelic acid was determined. In each case 100 metaphases were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations. The results were compared with reference groups.

Survey of mortality among employees engaged in the manufacture of styrene and polystyrene at the BASF Ludwigshafen works.

A mortality survey of 1,960 employees currently or previously exposed to styrene at work has shown that the observed number of deaths from cancer or other causes is no higher than the number expected in the German population or in a group of BASF employees. Analyses of deaths occurring after a minimum period of five years in groups exposed for different durations (5 years, 10 years, 15 years, more than 15 years) indicated no increase in mortality with exposure time. This latter observation also applied to malignant tumors; therefore it may be inferred that prolonged exposure to styrene is not a cancer hazard.

Mutagenicity of vinyl chloride. External chromosome studies on persons with and without VC illness, and on VC exposed animals.

Chromosome analysis was undertaken on lymphocyte cultures taken from (1) six workers with estimated exposure to VC and four workers with monitored exposure to VC (employed in the BASF); (2) 20 workers showing symptoms of VC illness with unknown exposure and one angiosarcoma case, due to VC exposure (not employed in the BASF); and, (3) on bone marrow cells of Chinese hamsters after inhalation of 2,500 ppm or 5,000 ppm, or after intraperitoneal injections of 300 mg/kg or 600 mg/kg. The proband groups showing symptoms of VC illness, the only living angiosarcoma case, and the animal test show a significant increase in the rate of aberrations in comparison to the control group.

[Occupational vitiligo caused by para-tertiary-butylphenol, a trias of vitiligo, hepatosis and struma]. / Berufsbedingte Vitiligo durch para-tertiär-Butylphenol, eine Trias von Vitiligo, Hepatose und Struma

In the period between 1956-1974 twelve cases of occupational vitiligo due to para-tertiary butylphenol were observed. In addition another 12 cases of vitiligo of other etiology occurred. Occupational vitiligo cannot be distinguished from ordinary vitiligo. 21 patients had, aside from their leukodermia a normal thyroid function, and 18 patients showed symptoms of chronic liver damage. The trias of vitiligo, hepatic disease and struma euthyreotica was noticeable. Autoimmunisation tests were positive in cases of vitiligo of unknown etiology. The localization of vitiligo may be compared to viscero-cutaneous reflexes.

[Women in the chemical industry. Occupational medicine problems]. / Die Frau in der chemischen Industrie. Arbeitsmedizinische Probleme.

Report on women working in the chemical industry. Attention is drawn to the occupational medicine problems: sex-specific physical differences, occupational protection for women, rate of sickness -- absences, accidents, problems regarding health, double amount of stress -- part-time employment, health awareness of the working women, precautional and rehabilitation measures, and measures beneficial to health.

Chromosome investigations on workers exposed to styrene/polystyrene.

Chromosomes investigations were undertaken on 12 employees with three to 34 years possible exposure to styrene in order to determine if there was a possibility of chromosome impairment. The data did not reveal any significant differences between persons exposed to styrene and members of the control group. The concentrations of styrene at the workplace were far below the MAC value and also the mandelic acid content of the urine was far below the norm.

Analysis of chromosomes of workers exposed to acrylonitrile.

Examination of 18 workers who had been exposed to acrylonitrile for 15.3 years on average and 18 workers who had not been exposed to acrylonitrile showed no difference in the incidence of chromosome aberrations; for each person concerned 100 metaphases were evaluated.

Occupational health experience with organic additives.

For many decades, interest in occupational medicine has been focused on the wide variety of organic additives, which includes a large number of substances, for example, dyestuffs, pigments, and auxiliaries for the textile, leather, and paper industries. The reason is that, if the recommended precautions are not observed, there is a risk of exposure to most of these substances during both production and use. Moreover, over the years, some additives have caused concern and aroused suspicion regarding adverse effects on health. In order to deal with health problems in this field, it is important to be aware of how, what, and where occupational diseases or accidents arise. Much knowledge has been gained about these, and it would be an impossible task to give a systematic survey of the data that have accumulated, especially since it is necessary to take account of the problem of exposure to more than one substance. Thus an attempt is made to report on occupational health experience in general, and to demonstrate how an industrial hygienist may approach the many and various problems. Some epidemiological studies on organic additives (auramine, anthraquinone dyestuffs, organic dyes, etc.) are discussed.

Mortality study of persons exposed to dioxin in a trichlorophenol-process accident that occurred in the BASF AG on November 17, 1953.

Twenty-seven years after an accident which occurred in the BASF, Ludwigshafen plan in 1953, a mortality study of persons exposed to dioxin in an uncontrolled reaction during a trichlorophenol process was undertaken. The follow-up was 100% successful and involved 74 persons. Overall mortality (21 deaths) did not differ in this group from the rate expected in three external reference populations or from that observed in two internal comparison groups, where 18-20 deaths were observed. Of the 21 deceased persons, 7 had cancer, compared with 4.1 expected. In addition, two other cases of cancer (one bronchial carcinoma, and one carcinoma of the prostate) are still alive. Three deaths due to stomach cancer, at ages 64, 66, and 69 years, were found, compared with 0.6 expected from regional mortality data. One stomach cancer occurred among 148 individuals in the two comparison cohorts.

Chromosome investigations of workers exposed to cadmium in the manufacturing of cadmium stabilizers and pigments.

Chromosome analyses were undertaken on 14 workers exposed to cadmium and the results were compared with a corresponding control group. All probands have been employed for many years in cadmium pigment and stabilizer production plants (between 6 and 25 years). The results of the clinical investigations were, for the most part, unspecific, although at the same time some parameters were above the normal (transaminase, beta 2-microglobulin deposit in the urine, as well as cadmium in the blood and urine). The chromosome analyses were undertaken on the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood with the aid of the so-called "micromethod." Metaphases, 150 per person, were analyzed. The statistical evaluation was made according to the Fisher-Yates test. The chromosome aberration rate of the group investigated was not higher than that of the control group, inclusive and exclusive of gaps.

Mutagenicity study of workers exposed to alkylene oxides (ethylene oxide/propylene oxide) and derivatives.

Employees of plants where alkylene oxide is manufactured or processed were subjected to mutagenicity studies carried out on lymphocyte cultures in accordance with the methods of Moorhead at al, de Jong and Anders. The employees were divided into four groups, according to their periods of exposure: (1) Long-term exposure for more than 20 years; (2) exposure for less than 20 years; (3) long-term exposure and accident (ethylene oxide inhalation or skin contact); and (4) accident, i.e., brief high exposure to ethylene oxide. Measurement of the concentrations in various sections of the plant yielded values of up to 3 ppm under conditions of normal operation. However, this figure rose briefly to 1900 ppm under plant breakdown hat workers were subjected to higher exposure in the past. One hundred metaphases per person were analyzed for chromosome aberrations. The results are given in Tables 1 through 4. A significant increase in the aberration rate was found only in employees in Group 1. This was confirmed by a control examination carried out one year later. The employees of groups 2, 3 and 4 displayed no significant increases. However, in evaluating these findings, it should be noted that the employees had been in contact with a wide range of substances and products in the course of their occupation, which means that the increased aberrations rate found cannot be attributed unequivocally to exposure to a particular substance.

[The problems of lipid metabolism. Demands for diagnostically improved insight into the function of lipoproteins (author's transl)]. / Zur Problematik des Fettstoffwechsels. Anforderungen an Diagnostik - verbesserter Einblick in die Funktion der Lipoproteine.

In the course of a follow-up of 87 subjects with known hyperlipoproteinemia a new, simplified method was tested for quantification of the individual lipoprotein fractions capable of being performed by every larger laboratory, in contrast to the expensive ultracentrifugation. The LDL/HDL ratio proved to be the conclusive parameter for daily diagnosis in hospital and general practise. This enabled the most important aspects of the lipid metabolic situation of a patient to be recognized immediately.