Petrochemical workers

Claims for acute hydrogen sulfide exposure that occurred over a 5-year period (1969-1973) in Alberta, Canada, primarily among petrochemical workers, were reviewed by Burnett et al. (1977). Acute effects noted included coma, disequilibrium, and respiratory insufficiency with pulmonary edema. Of 221 cases, there were 14 deaths. A follow-up study of 250 workers claims for hydrogen sulfide exposure from 1979 to 1983 in Alberta, Canada, found 7 fatalities that usually involved the central nervous and respiratory systems hepatic congestion and cardiac petechiae were also noted (Arnold et al. 1985). The difference in fatality rate (6% down to 2.8%) was attributed to improved first aid training and an increased awareness of the dangers of hydrogen sulfide. 

Austin, S.G Schnatter, A.R. (1983a) A cohort mortality study of petrochemical workers. J. occup. Med., 25, 304-312... 

A study of petrochemical workers exposed to a mixture of benzene (2.13), toluene (2.73), and xylene (3.15), each below its TLV (and total VOCs below all three individual TLVs) produced hepatotoxic effects. No reason for the observed effect was offered, but it was concluded that exposure to low level aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures can cause liver damage. 43 ... 

A cohort mortality study of petrochemical workers in Texas found an increased incidence of malignant brain tumors in workers who worked in a plant that used numerous lipophilic and hydrophilic chemicals and manufactured 43 refined chemicals, four major classifications of resins, four industrial gases, and a mixture of straight chain hydrocarbons J62l The cause of the observed cancers was not determined. 

Cluster 8 Brain Cancer Cluster—Petrochemical Workers... 

A brain cancer cluster was documented among petrochemical workers 11 The raw materials and chemicals manufactured in the plant included a broad range of lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds, among them... 

The three cancer clusters just discussed are interesting to analyze. Two different sets of chemical mixtures (in electronics workers and petrochemical workers) induced brain cancers in those exposed, whereas in one instance (the second electronics worker group) only the children of those exposed developed brain cancer. These studies show that different mixtures of chemicals can induce the same cancer types and that different mechanisms are at work in the development of the same cancer type. In all three clusters, none of the individual chemicals that the workers were exposed to is known to be causative for brain cancer. 

Waxweiler RJ, Alexander V, Leffingwell S, et al. Mortality from brain tumor and other causes in a cohort of petrochemical workers. J Natl Cancer Inst 1983 70(1) 75—81. 

Budroni M, Sechi O, Cesaraccio R, Pirino D, Fadda A, Grottin S, Flore MV, Sale P, Satta G, Cossu A, Tanda F, Cocco PL. Cancer incidence among petrochemical workers in the Porto Torres industrial area, 1990-2006. Med Lav 2010 101 189-198. 

Infante PF, Huff J. Cancer incidence among petrochemical workers in the Porto Torres industrial area. La Medicina del lavoro 2011 102 (4) 382-383. 

Identifying potential health hazards requires knowledge of processes and the materials used. For example, it is safe to assume that petrochemical workers will probably be exposed to one or more of a variety of organic vapors, that sandblasters risk overexposure to respirable dusts (crystalline silica, etc.), and that radiation is a potential hazard affecting workers in nuclear power plants. 

Cluster 1 Childhood Leukemia 468 Cluster 2 Prostate Cancer 468 Clusters 3-6 Testicular Cancer 469 Cluster 7 Brain Cancer Cluster—Electronic Workers 469 Cluster 8 Brain Cancer Cluster—Petrochemical Workers 470 Cluster 9 Brain Cancers in Offspring of Electronic Workers 470 Cluster 10 Kidney Cancer Cluster 471 Cluster 11 Colorectal Cancer Cluster 471 Cluster 12 Multiple Cancer Cluster 471 Cluster 13 Lung Cancer Cluster 472 Cluster 14 Childhood Leukemia 472 Cluster 15 Multiple Cancer Clusters 473 Cluster 16 Toxic Waste Disposal Site-Related Clusters 474... 

The three cancer clusters just discussed are interesting to analyze. Two different sets of chemical mixtures (in electronics workers and petrochemical workers) induced brain cancers in those exposed, while in one instance (the second electronics... 

At some threshold level, believed to average around 300-350 ppm, the oxidative enzymes become overwhelmed. Many personal safety gas detectors, such as those used by utility, sewage and petrochemical workers, are set to alarm at as low as 5 to 10 ppm and to go into high alarm at 15 ppm. 

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