NIOSH testimony to DOL on possible hazards of arsenic and its inorganic compounds by E. J. Baier, September 20, 1974

Technical Report · Fri Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1974

OSTI ID:6166418

The testimony given before the U.S. Department of Labor Fact Finding Hearing summarized current findings concerning exposures of workers to arsenic and its compounds. Since 1820 the possibility that arsenic might be a carcinogen has been recognized. Several recent studies among smelter workers indicated a mixed report. Some have noted significantly increased lung cancer mortality which was correlated with length of employment and with increasing degrees of inorganic arsenic exposure. Excessive mortality due to tuberculosis, heart disease, and cirrhosis of the liver was also reported. A study of workers in an insecticide facility in England also indicated that inorganic arsenic may be a human carcinogen and corroborated the smelter results as this was the only compound to which both groups of workers were exposed. NIOSH has urged the lowering of the standard for arsenic exposures to at least as low as 0.05 milligrams of arsenic/cubic meter.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6166418
• Report Number(s): PB-91-118992/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
CARCINOGENESIS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRY
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
MORTALITY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NIOSH
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PATHOGENESIS
PERSONNEL
SAFETY STANDARDS
SEMIMETALS
STANDARDS
US DOL
US ORGANIZATIONS