Epidemiological-environmental study of lead acid battery workers: III. Chronic effects of sulfuric acid on the respiratory system and teeth.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gamble J ; Hancock J ; Jones, William G. ; Meckstroth RL
• Description:
  The chronic effects of sulfuric-acid (7664939) on teeth and the respiratory system of workers in lead (7439921) acid battery factories were examined. Workers exposed to sulfuric-acid mist were given questionnaires. Chest radiograms were taken and teeth were examined for evidence of etching or erosion. Respiratory symptoms such as cough, phlegm, dyspnea, and wheezing showed no significant differences between factories or by amount of sulfuric-acid exposure. Teeth etching and erosion showed a very strong association with acid exposure. Etching developed in 4 months with an average daily exposure of 0.23 milligram per cubic meter. High sulfuric- acid exposure groups had reduced forced vital capacity. Mean pulmonary function was not related to average exposure. Those with respiratory symptoms tended to have reduced pulmonary function. There was no excess of industrial bronchitis in the sulfuric-acid exposed workers. The authors conclude that sulfuric-acid at low concentrations does not irritate the upper respiratory tract. The sulfuric-acid may cause dental changes, even when it is at a concentration below what is considered the recommended standard. (Part 3 of 3) [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Irritants Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Radiography Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Surveys And Questionnaires
• Keywords:
  Biological-effects Dental-disorders Employee-exposure Health-standards Industrial-chemicals Medical-surveys NIOSH-Author Occupational-respiratory-disease Quantitative-analysis Radiographic-analysis Respiratory-irritants

  More +
• ISSN:
  0013-9351
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  30-52
• Volume:
  35
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00142638
• Citation:
  Environ Res 1984 Oct; 35(1):30-52
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1) ; Sulfuric acid (CAS RN 7664-93-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1985
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Research
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0698681941d3724142d7d9770c29a63ab07969fd8113fd0f311a2a723fe6a28e0e345f88e612f45368a253049a64e4baa9929047b401dd50d541f15cb0c36d44
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184780/cdc_184780_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.28 MB ]