Significance of Safeguards in Prevention of Trinitrotoluol Infection as a Professional Disease

Abstract

1) Results of clinical examinations and Iaboratory tests made in 1955 showed that 25 workers (16 men and 8 women) out of 123 had been affccted by trotil to a greater or lesser extent, whereas in 1952 the number of cases found suspect was 42 (20 men and 19 women) out of a total of 66. In other words, in 1955, though thcrc were almost twice as many workers as in 1952, the number of persons found affected by trotil was smaller by almost a half compared with the year 1952.

2) For the prevention of trinitrotoluol intoxication continucd medical inspeetion of workers is of the greatest importance. The inspeetion should start with medical examination of workcrs beforc they are given employment. An examination regarding the general condition of health should be followed by blood and urine tests (liver tests), as well as by weighing. Workers suffering, or those that suffered, from liver, blood or lung troubles, or from skin diseases, must not be made to work \vhere there is danger of trotil poisoning. The same precautions must be taken in case of vvorkers with a weak constitution, young people up to 19 years of age, and expectant mothers.

3) Regular control-checks should be done evcry month, comprising a thorough clinical examination and laboratory tests, vis., the percentage of haemoglobin in the blood, also of methaemoglobin, the number of erythrocytes and ieterus index, as \vcll as the content of urobilinogen in urine, and that of bilirubin. The basic tests to be carried out are those regarding haemoglobin and ieterus index. Initial injuries done by trotil should not be determined on the basis of one definite positive test but after a careful evaluation of ali clinical and laboratory findings.

4) Provision of hygienic and technical facilities and safeguards should be made obligatory; their application should be enforced and kept under constant and strict supervision in order to ensure the proper funetioning of ventilation plant, the use of personal protcctive cquipmcnt (caps and similar covering for the head), gloves and vvorking clothes, washing of hands and regular taking of buths, ehanging of underclothes when going to bed and every Sunday.

5) Diet as a preventive factor plays a very important role. Albumins, carbohydrates, vegetables and greens are to be recommended; the less fat the better. In addition to skimmilk, workers should be given regularly plenty of skim-milk chcese which is rich in methionine and calcium.