Oil Mists Research Articles

Mutagenic/carcinogenic hazards in a cold-rolling steel plant exposed to mineral oils: environmental monitoring phase.

A survey was carried out in a cold-rolling steel plant exposed to mineral oils to study the mutagenic/carcinogenic hazards, following a coupled environmental/biological monitoring. The present paper deals only with the environmental phase by determining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and applying a mutagenicity test (Ames test), and includes the following steps: (a) work process and environment study; (b) sampling and analysing mineral oils before and after use (PAH determination and mutagenicity analysis); (c) sampling and analysing oil mist (TWA determination, PAH determination and mutagenicity analysis). The results showed that: (1) both unused and used (recycled) mineral oils contained only trace amounts of PAH and were not mutagenic; (2) the TWA concentrations of oil mists were lower than the TLV (less than 5 mg/m3); (3) oil mists contained only trace amounts of PAH and were not mutagenic. The authors suggest that these results could be due to the moderate temperature of the oil during the work process and that there is a relationship between low PAH content and absence of mutagenicity in the oils and air samples.

Cancer risks in the optical manufacturing industry.

A mortality odds ratio (MOR) study has been conducted to explore the cancer risks of exposures experienced in the production of optical lenses and metal spectacle frames. Male death certificates were obtained from a Massachusetts town where a large optical industry is located. Craftsmen, foremen, and operatives of non-optical industries, such as woollen textile workers and workers in the optical company with short-term or no exposure, were chosen as reference workers their incomes were similar to those of the exposed workers. Cardiovascular disease (total 714) is chosen as the reference disease to explore cancers (total 232). An excess risk of total cancers observed = 70, expected = 48) has formed among lens workers. The excess may be accounted for mainly by the excess risk of gastrointestinal cancers; the standardised MORs (sMOR) for medium and long-term exposure were 2.2 and 2.5. The excess was especially evident for colorectal cancers; the sMORs for medium and long-term exposures were 3.2 and 2.6. Excess risks of gastrointestinal cancers (sMOR = 2.9) and colorectal cancers (sMOR = 3.4) were found among metal frame workers with long-term (employed for more than 29 years) exposure, but the number of exposed cases was small (9 and 6 respectively). These results suggest that exposure to abrasives or cutting oil mists or both, possibly by ingestion, might increase the risk of gastrointestinal (especially colorectal) cancers among lens and metal spectacle frame manufacturers.

Some characteristics of liquid-to-metal discharges involving a charged “low risk” oil

Liquids possessing electrical conductivities greater than about 10 pS m −1 may be classified as “low risk” as regards hazardous levels of charge accumulation when loaded into grounded containers. The same liquids, when loaded into insulating containers, may give rise to liquid-to-metal discharges that are incendive either to vapor or to finely-dispersed oil mist in the vapor space. Using both theoretical and experimental approaches some characteristics of these discharges are evaluated in terms of measurable parameters; empirical ignition test data are employed to help establish safety criteria. When identifying “bad actors” in terms of tendency to static ignition it is recommended that both the liquid vapor pressure and the incidence of high negative charging levels be considered. In the present study, a negatively charged test oil produced energetic positive brush discharges accompanied by surface streamers. Positively charged oil yielded negative brush discharges which did not penetrate to the surface or produce surface streamers. The negative brushes carried an order-of-magnitude lower charge and were shown to be non-incendive during empirical ignition tests. Ignition of paraffin vapor by negative oil discharge occurred for surface potentials above 25 kV. High flash-point oil mists were ignited at surface potentials of about 60 kV, this being limited principally by the representative mist droplet diameter and the mist concentration in the discharge region.

Oil Mists and Lung Disease

Oil Mists and Lung Disease

Pattern and model makers, proportionate mortality 1972-1978.

A proportionate mortality study of deceased white male workers in the pattern and model making trades was conducted. Death certificates were obtained for 1257 death benefit-eligible members of the Pattern Makers' League of North America who had died in the years 1972-1978, and age-adjusted proportionate mortality was calculated using 1975 United States white male death rates. For the entire nationwide union, statistically significant excess proportions of deaths were observed due to colon cancer (proportionate mortality ratio, PMR = 167) and to brain tumors (PMR = 211). A statistically significant excess proportion of deaths due to colon cancer (PMR = 163) and to leukemia (PMR = 200) were observed among the members of the predominantly wood shop locals. Nonsignificant excess proportions of cancer deaths occurred at a number of other anatomical sites. Predominant occupational exposures included wood and plastic dusts and epoxy resins in wood shops and cutting oil mists and solvent vapors in the metal shops. These results suggest the need for better work practices in this industry while more definitive studies are completed.

Effect of oil mists on the irritancy of sulfur dioxide. II. Motor Oil

This study examines the effect of sub-micrometer aerosols of motor oil on the irritant potency of sulfur dioxide. The increase in pulmonary flow resistance in guinea pigs was used as the bioassay of irritant response. When administered simultaneously, both unused and used motor oil protected against the irritant response to sulfur dioxide. This protective effect was lost when the oils had been previously reacted with sulfur dioxide. The additives used in the motor oil provided an equivalent protection when dissolved in a mineral oil which alone did not protect. Pre-exposure to motor oil did not provide protection. Sulfur dioxide and motor oil given together as a pre-exposure provided protection against further exposure to sulfur dioxide.

Respiratory response of guinea pigs to oil mists.

Respiratory function was measured in guinea pigs exposed for one hour to submicrometer oil mists. Five oils were used: medicinal grade mineral oil, laboratory grade paraffin oil, light lubricating oil, unused motor oil and used motor oil. The last three oils were also studied after having been reacted with sulfur dioxide. No alterations were produced by exposure to any of the oils at concentrations of 10 or 40 mg/m3. At concentrations above 200 mg/m3 both the reacted and unreacted light lubricating oil caused a decrease in compliance which remained throughout the post-exposure period. Although the average flow-resistance of the group was increased by the unreacted unused motor oil and by the reacted used motor oil, the variation in response was too great to make this response statistically significant. The fact that reaction of the oils with sulfur dioxide did not increase irritant action indicates that the reaction products with sulfur dioxide are not acutely irritant.

Effect of oil mists on the irritancy of sulfur dioxide. I. Mineral oils and light lubricating oil

The increase in pulmonary flow resistance in unanesthetized guinea pigs was used to assess the effect of sub-micrometer oil aerosols on the response to sulfur dioxide. At a concentration of about 10 mg/m3 neither a medicinal grade mineral oil nor a light lubricating oil altered the response when given simultaneously with 1 or 10 ppm sulfur dioxide. The naphthenic medicinal oil at 100 mg/m3 failed to protect against 50 ppm sulfur dioxide when administerd simultaneously. A 30-minute pre-exposure, however, conferred complete protection. A paraffinic laboratory grade mineral oil conferred protection when given simultaneously but was less effective when the pre-exposure protocol was used.

Further Analysis of Cancer Mortality Patterns Among Workers Exposed to Cutting Oil Mists<xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1">2</xref>

Workers exposed to cutting oil mists at a single U.S. plant were followed to determine if they experienced unusual death rates for specific cancer sites, which would be indicative of a carcinogenic potential for some or all of the oils used. The study group consisted of 2,485 white males who were employed between 1938 and 1967 and had 5 or more years' employment in jobs exposing them to varying levels of cutting oil mists anytime prior to 1968; 1.137 of these men were engaged in a wide range of metal machining processes that entailed longterm heavy exposure to the mists. Cause-specific mortality patterns among the workers during 1938–67 were compared to death rates in the total U.S. white male population. The usual deficits were seen in mortality for most major disease categories, although total cancer deaths were very close to expectation. Analysis of mortality for each of 15 cancer site categories showed no significant differences between observed and expected deaths for almost all comparisons. However, a twofold risk of cancers of the stomach and large Intestine (combined) was seen after 20 years of follow-up In the subgroup of men with 5 or more years' exposure to cutting oil mists prior to 1938. Deaths from nonmalignant respiratory disease were significantly less than expected. These results suggested that occupational exposure to soluble and nonsoluble cutting oil mists during various metal machining processes does not pose a health hazard in terms of respiratory cancer and fatal nonmalignant respiratory disease but may be associated with certain forms of gastrointestinal cancer.

Conference explores occupational cancer

Vinyl chloride is not a rare isolated incident of a chemical causing cancer among the workers exposed to it. Paper after paper presented at a New York Academy of Sciences Conference on Occupational Carcinogenesis late last month related worker exposure to a particular substance to an increased incidence of various types of cancer. Examples cited included development of respiratory cancers among hard rock miners exposed to an asbestoslike material, a high incidence of cancer among personnel who administer anesthesia and a high incidence of birth defects among their children, lung cancer among benzoyl chloride and coke oven workers, skin cancers among workers exposed to cutting oil mists, and leukemia among workers exposed to benzene. In recent years, Dr. Andrew Fairchild of the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health told the conference, cancer has replaced communicable and infectious diseases as the leading cause of death in industrial nations. And the World Health Organization ...

Sampling and determination by ultraviolet absorption of oil mists and solvent vapors.

Oil mist can be efficiently collected on filter paper or by an electrostatic precipitator. Samples containing 0.05 mg of oil can be accurately determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Gross amounts of sample contaminants, such as soil, water, and pipe scale, can be tolerated without appreciable loss in accuracy. Petroleum distillate vapor is efficiently collected on silica gel or in a midget bubbler containing chloroform. Maximum collection efficiency is achieved at sampling rates not exceeding 100 cc/min. Samples containing as little as 0.5 mg in 10 ml of chloroform or ethanol may be determined by spectrophotometry. With both oil and petroleum distillate determinations, it is necessary to obtain a sample of the particular product in question in order to construct a standard spectrophotometric curve.

Friction machine for studying the lubricating power of oil mists : M. D. Bezborod'ko and I. I. Solomenko, Ind. Lab., 30 (5) (May 1964) 773–774. (Transl. Zavod. Lab., 30 (5) (1964) 616–617 by Instrument Society of America, Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Friction machine for studying the lubricating power of oil mists : M. D. Bezborod'ko and I. I. Solomenko, Ind. Lab., 30 (5) (May 1964) 773–774. (Transl. Zavod. Lab., 30 (5) (1964) 616–617 by Instrument Society of America, Pittsburgh, Pa.)

729. Inhalation of oil mists: Wagner, W. D., Wright, P. G. & Stokinger, H. E. (1964). Inhalation toxicology of oil mists. I. Chronic effects of white mineral oil. Amer. ind. Hyg. Ass. J.25, 158

729. Inhalation of oil mists: Wagner, W. D., Wright, P. G. & Stokinger, H. E. (1964). Inhalation toxicology of oil mists. I. Chronic effects of white mineral oil. Amer. ind. Hyg. Ass. J.25, 158

Low-Voltage Electrostatic Precipitators to Collect Oil Mists from Roofing Felt Asphalt Saturators and Stills

Abstract Severe air pollution problems are caused by the asphalt saturation of roofing felts and by blowing stills which prepare asphalts for use in saturators by removing the light fractions. The pollutant is mainly a small particle size fume of light oil. Eight different methods of removing the fume were investigated. Of these, five were rejected for inadequate efficiency or impracticability. Three, low-voltage electrostatic precipitators, high voltage electrostatic precipitators, and catalytic combustion, were examined for first cost and operating cost. Low-voltage electrostatic precipitators preceded by water sprays were selected as the most economical method. Two relatively successful installations are described.

Antagonistic action of oil mists on air pollutants. Effects on oxidants, ozone and nitrogen dioxide.

While simultaneous exposure to oxidant (O/sub 3/ or NO/sub 2/) and oil mist resulted in moderate intensification of toxicity to mice, a latent period following oil exposure and prior to oxidant exposure reduced acute lethal effects. Maximum protecton was observed after 18 hr, persisting for several days but gone after 8 to 9 days. Effective particle size range was between 0.5 and 1.2 ..mu..m. Minimal effective concentration was approx. 3 ppM for 6 hr or 1 ppM for 17 hr (concentration-times-time relation). Mineral oil was more effective than motor oil. Oil mists did not affect development of O/sub 3/ tolerance. O/sub 3/ concentrations studied were in the 5 to 7 ppM range; NO/sub 2/ concentrations approximated 70 to 90 ppM. It is postulated that oil mists form a surface barrier to O/sub 3/ and NO/sub 2/ while allowing O/sub 2/ and CO/sub 2/ to pass because of their higher partial pressures.

Acute Lipoid Pneumonitis Due to Aspiration of Pressurized Paint Droplets

Lipoid pneumonitis is a well recognized disease entity with characteristic clinical and pathologic findings. Its etiology and pathogenesis, particularly with reference to the aspiration of certain lipid emollients, has been proved and documented.2’ The disease was first observed in man by Laughlin,4 who, in 1925, called attention to this distinctive pneumonic process which he attributed to the aspiration of liquid petrolatum hydrocarbons. The pulmonary lesions in these cases were similar to those he produced by the intratracheal injection of oily substances into the lungs of rabbits. The disease process produced by inhalation of reactive aerosol oil mists or of nebulized industrial oil dispersed by pressure sprays can be included in the sanle category with the lipoid pneumonitis produced by petrolatum aspiration. A case of lipoid pneumonia with abscess formation resulting from the aspiration of a highly reactive drying oil contained in a commercial enamel paint is discussed in this report. The short duration of symptoms, the fulminating clinical course, and the histochemical findings in this case established the presence of another form of lipoid pneumonitis.