Asbestos has been used since prehistoric times and there is archaeological evidence from Finland of pottery containing asbestos fibers dating from 2500 BC (Mcculloch, 1986). Where asbestos fibers were mixed with clay to form stronger ceramic utensils and pots (Benarde, 1990), the ancient Greeks used it to make lamp wicks and other fireproof items. However, the romans wove asbestos fibers into fabrics to make towels, nets and even head coverings for women (Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia, 1995, p.10). The substance was known as "asbestos", meaning inextinguishable or unquenchable. Though, asbestos had been around for thousands of years, mass use of the product became popular in the 1800s (Mcculloch, 1986). It was made up of non-flammable fibers and was very sturdy. Also, it was used in homes, businesses, and schools. Asbestos is a dangerous fiber, because its fibers become airborne and can be inhaled or swallowed (Lu & Kacew, 2009). Over time, it can cause both chronic lung conditions and fatal forms of asbestos cancer. (Benarde, 1990; Mcculloch, 1986).
In the early 1900s to the 1980s during this period doctors in Europe discovered that workers were suffering from the respiratory diseases (Benarde, 1990), for the reason that they worked in heavily polluted asbestos containing atmospheres, excessive numbers of them became the cases of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, because either way the workers were exposed directly or indirectly in virtually any occupation, even those who worked in offices (Benarde, 1990; Mcculloch, 1986). Furthermore, employees who worked for asbestos ship building, construction, mining, and other factories whose products used asbestos were also getting ill (Mcculloch, 1986). This happened beca...
... middle of paper ...
...s to avoid fiber dust to be given off in the air (Karches, 1990). Furthermore, monitoring the health of workers in order to detect the earliest signs of disorders which was caused or aggravated by exposure of asbestos dust, this was required by doing a comprehensive medical examination with particular emphasis on the respiratory system at the initiation of employment and at the termination of employment (Karches).
Mcculloch (1986) “concluded that if the duct levels found in the industry were reduced then the length of the before the appearance of disease would be lengthened. Therefore, the perfection of the means of dust control could lead to the elimination of the risk in the industry” (p. 39). The asbestos manufactures were clearly confronted with the requirement of attaining conditions in the industry in order to ensure that much less duct in the atmosphere.
Minai, Omar A., Joshua Benditt and Fernando J. Martinez. (2008, Februrary 18). Natural History Of Emphysema. doi:10.1513/pats.200802-018ET
The James Hardie Industries is a an industrial building materials company, head office in Ireland, manufactory and developing materials, technologies and processes for the production of building materials. For a great deal of the twentieth century, James Hardie was the leading producer of asbestos cement sheet and other building products, which used asbestos as a support material in Australia. However working with James Hardies’ products containing asbestos caused people to develop asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. As James Hardie was one of the companies involved in the mining of asb...
Every year, almost 1,500 people who have worked in the nation’s coalmines die from black lung disease. That’s equivalent to the Titanic sinking every year, with no ships coming to the rescue. While that disaster which took place so long ago continues to fascinate the nation, black lung victims die an agonizing death in isolated rural communities, away from the spotlight of publicity.
As the Industrial Revolution began, many factories were constructed and along with that, bad air to the environment. Pollution came about and filled up the entire sky with black smoke, as shown on document seven. While the factories produced not only materials but also pollution many people, especially factory workers, got sick and eventually died. Many factory workers got sick due to the enclosed areas that they worked in. Not only that many of the workers were surrounded by massive and dangerous
Workplace screening for predisposition to illness was championed during the 1930’s, as it became clear that some workers exposed to toxins on the job became ill while others did not. Such screening is an increasingly frequent though highly controversial practice in industry today. Screening prior to employment can help individuals avoid jobs that could be hazardous to their health. But testing workers for genetic susceptibility after they become ill could be a way for employers to avoid responsibility for workers’ safety and compensation claims, shifting the blame to “genetically predisposed” workers while ignoring workplace hazards.
A new book highlights the effects Mr. Fluffy, a form of loose asbestos insulation, has in the Australian capital of Canberra. The insulation was used extensively in the area by a sole contractor in the 1960s and 1970s and was later found to contain asbestos, a group of silicate minerals linked to the development of mesothelioma and other health concerns.
Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. Although, it is a challenging cancer to treat more ways and treatments are being presented and studied daily. Lung cancer is a deadly disease that presents many problems in a person’s life. There are ways to decrease your chance of developing cancer, but there are too many environmental factors that play a role in cancer to be sure you can positively prevent it.
Masks and personal protective equipment were not worn by the factory workers. With no preventative measures taken, workers respiratory tracts were exposed to cotton, flax, and hemp dust. This exposer caused side effects such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, long term respiratory diseases (COPD), and permeant loss of lung functions. These symptoms were later classified as a syndrome called byssinosis before disease were diagnoses. According to the online article, “Long term respiratory health effects in textile workers,” there were two obstructive lung diseases textile workers exhibited, Asthma and COPD. The article states that two hundred and twenty-five newly hired textile workers were studies and found to have increased in asthma like symptoms at a one year follow up. The article continues to explain that there was an increase in incidence of chronic and progressive dyspnea, cough, and sputum production characteristic of COPD seen textile workers on year follow up as well. Another lung problem seen in some textile workers per Dr. Edward Holmes interview in 1818 was Scrofula, known today as
To begin, people can receive certain forms of cancer if they use tobacco products. When discussing health problems of smoking, the author writes, “Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body” (Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting). Scientists have conducted research and have concluded that using a tobacco product damages cells. The damaged cells become mutated and form cancer cells. The author goes on to explain, “Among the 250 known harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 69 can cause cancer” (Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting). These harmful chemicals are catalysts for many types of cancer. Some of these toxins include arsenic, carbon monoxide, and lead. When directly consumed, these chemicals are very pernicious, so it is obvious that they can cause diseases like ...
Lung cancer dates back to 1761 when it was called disease. In 1878 only 1% of the populations were thought to have it. When the 1900s came by that number rose to 15%. There was only 374 case filed by 1912. It wasn’t until 1929 when smoking became a factor in lung cancer. Fritz Lickint was the first person to tell the public about the dangers of smoking that which went into a campaign act to tell worldwide about the dangers of smoking.
The cancer risks also caused by long-established activities such as working in an oil refinery or living near a high voltage power line are not large. Apart from skin cancers due to sunlight, the only substantial and widespread cancer risk known to be caused by an avoidable environmental factor in developed countries is the further increase in lung cancer among smokers caused by indoor radon escaping from the ground or from building materials, although both indoor and outdoor air pollution from fossil fuels may also contribute to the risk in smokers. The risk to non-smokers is relatively trivial in developed countries, but burning fossil fuels indoors without adequate ventilation certainly contributes to the high lung cancer rates even in non-smokers seen in parts of China.
In 1919, there was the first discovery of lung cancer. Dr. George Dock asked his students to come and observe the autopsy of a man with the first sight of what we now know of as a cancerous lung. One of the students who witnessed the autopsy later saw nine soldiers with the same cancerous lungs who had all been heavy smokers during World War I. This was the first connection doctors made between the smoking of tobacco and lung cancer (Meyer 72). Tobacco became a hot commodity once soldiers brought it back from war; however, the discoveries of the health effects of smoking tobacco increased right along with it. In 1939, more research had been performed and it was now scientifically proven that smoking tobacco lead to higher instance of cancer and heart disease. It was not until the late 1950s when the sale of cigarettes became illegal to minors. In the next decade, the Cigarette Smoking Act was placed in full effect (Meyer 72). It was at this point where ever...
For example, factory workers were expected to work 14-16 hour days, six days a week. The dusty, dirty, unlit mills along with few break times made working there a living hell. “Breaker boys suffered from chronic throat trouble and respiratory illnesses that were caused by inhaling coal dust. Above ground machinery, particularly coal crushers, were dangerously loud. If a breaker boy worked long hours around the coal crusher he often suffered from hearing loss (Wagner). Due to the fact that there were no safety laws in place, ear plugs and masks were not used. In fact, no safety equipment was. The dangerous machines with unprotected parts made children susceptible to injury and death. If someone were to get injured, they were immediately fired and not paid compensation for their health care. “If a boy was caught wearing gloves, the boss would beat him. A skin condition that miners termed “Red tips” was brought about by prolonged contact with sulfur from the coal. Breaker boys’ fingers often became cracked, bloody, and swollen from sorting (Wagner)....
During World War I, smoking became hugely popular with soldiers in battlefields of northern Europe and cigarettes became known as ‘soldier’s smoke’. In 1964, the United States Surgeon General Luther Terry announced that smoking caused lung cancer. Shortly after, in 1965, the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act required US Surgeon General’s warning’s on cigarette packs.
A hazard is defined as an activity or object that has the potential to cause harm if contact is made with the person, object or activity (MHS, 1996; Harmse, 2007; HSE, 2006). These hazards in a work place need to be identified and dealt with accordingly to prevent any harm to employees or any individual acquainted to a certain activity or establishment. The key roles and principles of occupational hygiene are Anticipation, Identification, Evaluation and Control (Schoeman and van den Heever, 2014; Harmse, 2008; SAMTRAC, 2012). To practise in accordance to the above principle; a hazard identification and risk assessment needs to be conducted. Anticipation is the foreseeing of the activity