This is supported by the view expressed by Sharp in America that
different kinds of American petroleum have different effects on the
health of the workers, which can be easily credited from the different
chemical composition of crude naphthas. Thus in Western Virginia, where a
natural heavy oil is obtained, asphyxia from the gas is unknown, although
transient attacks of headache and giddiness may occur, whereas in Ohio,
where light oils are obtained, suffocative attacks are not infrequent.
And it is definitely stated that some naphtha products irritate the
respiratory passages, while others affect the central nervous system.[3]
The authors mentioned refer to occurrence of cases of poisoning in the
refining of naphtha from inhalation of the vapour of the light oils
benzine and gasoline. Fatal cases have been recorded in badly ventilated
workrooms in which the products of distillation are collected. Workers
constantly employed in these rooms develop chronic poisoning, which is
reported also in the case of women employed with benzine. Intoxication is
frequently observed, it is stated, among the workmen employed in cleaning
out the railway tank waggons in which the mineral oils and petroleum are
carried.
Foulerton[4] describes severe poisoning in a workman who had climbed into
a petroleum reservoir, and two similar cases from entering naphtha tanks
are given in the Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1908. Two
fatal cases are reported by the Union of Chemical Industry in Germany
in 1905 in connection with naphtha stills. Such accidents are hardly
possible, except when, through insufficient disconnection of the still
from the further system of pipes, irrespirable distillation gases pass
backwards into the opened still where persons are working. Ordinary cocks
and valves, therefore, do not afford sufficient security. Thus, several
workers engaged in repairing a still were rendered unconscious by gases
drawn in from a neighbouring still, and were only brought round after
oxygen inhalation.
Gowers describes a case of chronic poisoning following on frequent
inhalation of gases given off from a petroleum motor, the symptoms
being slurring speech, difficulty of swallowing, and weakness of the
orbicularis and facial muscles. Gowers believed this to be petroleum
gas poisoning (from incomplete combustion), especially as the symptoms
disappeared on giving up the work, only to return on resuming it again.[5]
Girls employed in glove cleaning and rubber factories are described as
having been poisoned by benzine.[6] Poisoning of chauffeurs is described
by several writers.[7]
Recent literature[8] tends to show marked increase in the number of
cases of poisoning from greater demand for benzine as a motive power for
vehicles. Such cases have been observed in automobile factories, and are
attributable to the hydrocarbons of low boiling-point which are present
as impurities in benzine.
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