Health and safety implications of alternative energy technologies. III. Fossil energy
This paper reviews both innovative fossil energy sources (tar sands, oil shale, and unconventional natural gas), and more established technologies that are being considered as suppliers of gaseous and liquid fuels (that is, coal gasification and liquefaction). Potential health and safety issues related to the technologies are discussed, although the absence of commercial-scale facilities in the United States restricts the discussion to health effects information derived from related processes. The available epidemiological and carcinogenic studies give cause for concern. The study of the health and environmental impacts of the emerging fossil fuel technologies will be important for quantification of adverse effects and rectification of problems before commitment to large-scale commercialization occurs.
Morbidity and mortality study of shale oil workers in the United States.
The study of the carcinogenic potential of domestic U. S. shale oil has increased significantly in importance because of the present energy problem and resulting research into alternative sources of fuel. With the increased scope of planned oil shale activity on the Colorado Plateau, it is important that an attempt be made to determine the health effects, if any, of occupational exposure to shale oil. This paper briefly reviews some past work of Soviet and British investigators concerning potential health hazards of shale oil. It reviews the results and conclusions of the 1952-1955 dermatological study of oil shale workers by the U. S. Public Health Service, and it discusses in detail the plans of a NIOSH morbidity and mortality study currently under way.
Mule Spinners' Cancer: the Time necessary for its Production
In view of the number of cases of epidermal cancer, especially cancer of the scrotum, which have occurred amongst cotton mule spinners within recent years, constituting this the foremost occupational cancer in our country, it may be opportune to investigate the exact duration of employment in the mule rooms that would seem to be necessary before the disease manifests itself. How long must the individuals be exposed to the action of the cancerinducing influence before the cancerous response is elicited? The Departmental Committee on Mule Spinners' Cancer having found that the “influence” or agent in this case is mineral oil, which Leitch has proved experimentally to have cancer-producing properties, how long does it take to act?