Occupational diseases : a guide to their recognition. Rewritten and enlarged edition. W. M. Gafafer, editor.

  • United States. Public Health Service. Division of Occupational Health
Date:
[1964]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Occupational diseases : a guide to their recognition. Rewritten and enlarged edition. W. M. Gafafer, editor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    work environments; and those responsible for the administration of work- men’s compensation should gain information helpful in the settling of claims. The book is an outgrowth of the pamphlet, Occupation Hazards and Diag- nostic Signs—see preface—which for many years has enjoyed great popu- larity and proved to be a useful reference source, as well as a teaching aid, in clinical medicine in general and occupational diseases in particular. Contents The current work entailed the development of three major categories of hazard: chemical, physical, and biologic. Numerous publications, and the files of the Division of Occupational Health, served as reference sources. The special diagnostic tests suggested under the various chemical hazards are intended as an aid to the reader with the hope that they will stimulate the use of more detailed textbook material dealing with the test or disease in question. Recommended threshold limit values are included if they have been published. It must be kept in mind, however, that these values are only suggested guidelines subject to change as evidenced by their annual publication. Occupations associated with different environmental agents appear in vari- ous sections under the heading Potential Occupational Exposures. The word potential is used because it is not to be assumed that the mere presence of an injurious agent will lead to an occupational disease or disability. Much depends upon such factors as severity and duration of exposure, indi- vidual susceptibility, and the health protection practices adopted by manage- ment. Occupation information was derived principally from material made available by the Bureau of Labor Standards, U. S. Department of Labor; the records of the Division of Occupational Health; and the following books: The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology and The Merck Index of Chemicals and Drugs. When similar activities were performed in the same or different industries efforts were made to use the same name for the occupation. In general, the term worker includes both maker and user. Basic material appears in the sections on Means of Contact of Toxic Agents and Mode of Action of Toxic Substances. Because of their importance in occupational health, separate sections have been prepared on skin irritants and sensitizers, pneumoconioses, and pesticides. Plastics and synthetic resins are also given separately not only because this method facilitates pres- entation but because of the relatively numerous chemicals and hazards involved in their production. Plant and wood hazards appear separately. A section is included which lists sources of consultation on matters per- taining to industrial hygiene and occupational health. A list of general references useful to those interested in occupational health comprises a section. Specific references are subjoined to various sections, ‘subsections and the different chemical hazards. It is hoped that the reader
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