The china clay industry--lessons for the future of occupational health.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Sheers.
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One hundred and forty-three women with primary breast carcinoma were treated by radical radiotherapy associated with artificial pneumothorax to include the breast and lymphatics en bloc with large opposed fields. Surgery was restricted to local excision or drill biopsy. Most patients received a tumour dose of 5200-5600 cGy in 19-22 fractions over 4 weeks and were followed up for at least 5 years. Local control was achieved in 87% of T1, 52% of T2, 27% of T3 and 23% of T4 tumours. For T2 tumours local control was greater following excision biopsy (75%) than when surgery was more limited (21%). Acute morbidity was mostly minor and self-limiting. The commonest permanent late complication was restriction of shoulder movement in 20 patients. This method although safe and feasible does not offer significant advantages over conventional techniques.
A combined clinical, radiological, pathological, and mineralogical study was undertaken on 62 cases referred to the Medical Research Council Pneumoconiosis Unit by the Cardiff Pneumoconiosis Panel as Cornish china clay workers. Considerable pathological lesions were found in the lungs, both nodular and interstitial fibroses being present. Some men had worked with china stone but others had worked entirely with china clay. Nodular fibrosis appeared to be related to a high quartz content of the dust recovered from the lung, whereas among those with a high content of kaolinite dust in the lungs interstitial fibrosis was observed.
Data from 37 asbestos workers with diffuse pleural fibrosis have been analysed. None had radiological evidence of asbestosis or physiological evidence of airflow obstruction. Forty per cent had breathlessness of MRC grade 3 or higher. Vital capacity was significantly lower in the subjects in the higher grades of breathlessness and in those with greater radiographic pleural abnormality. No relationship was demonstrated between dust exposure and either radiographic abnormality or grade of breathlessness. Diffuse pleural thickening, particularly when extensive and bilateral, causes functional impairment and disability.
In follow-up studies of samples of employees at two of Her Majesty's Dockyards the prevalence of asbestos-related lesions in smokers and ex-smokers was statistically significantly higher than in non-smokers even when differences in age and exposure risk were considered.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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Cell cultures were established from pleural effusions of patients with pleural mesothelioma, and peripheral mononuclear effector cells were tested for cytotoxicity against these cells by means of microcytotoxicity assay. Effector cells were obtained from normal healthy donors and from persons exposed occupationally to asbestos, including apparently healthy persons, patients with benign pleural conditions and patients with malignant mesothelioma. The overall incidence of cytotoxicity was low, and there was no evidence of increased cytotoxicity in mesothelioma patients or other asbestos-exposed donors. It is concluded that little or no tumour-directed cell-mediated immunity is detectable against malignant mesothelioma by microcytotoxicity methods.
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The prevalence of pleural and pulmonary abnormalities attributed to asbestos among 15,000 workers in a naval dockyard has been studied by means of a one-in-ten sample. Ninety-four per cent. of the men in the sample were examined. Of these, 3% had experienced continuous occupational exposure to asbestos and half of the remainder (representing approximately 6,800 men) had been exposed intermittently. The prevalence of pleural fibrosis ranged from 28% in continuously exposed workers to 1.9% in those with least exposure.Most cases of pulmonary fibrosis occurred in laggers and sprayers who had been continuously exposed for between 15 and 20 years. Pulmonary fibrosis was also seen in a variety of intermittently exposed trades, and had been preceded by extensive pleural thickening in some cases. Ten cases of pleural mesothelioma have occurred in the last three years and a large number of men appear to be potentially at risk.
There have been 108 deaths from mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum in Plymouth and the immediate neighborhood as of mid-1978. Ninety-six deaths have been associated with work at the Devonport Dockyard, 53 of which represented men employed at the dockyard in 1966. Occupational mesothelioma rates were similar to those recorded in London asbestos textile workers. Above average rates in this study were observed in laggers, boilermakers, painters, welders and burners, and shipwrights. In addition to mesothelioma in other men with neighborhood exposure at work, cases have occurred in men whose only exposure has been to the environment within the walls of the dockyard, outside ships and workshops where asbestos has been handled. No case has been seen in indoor office workers. There is no evidence of any increase in risk to the population of Plymouth outside the dockyard.