47 present in the intestines which break down and absorb vitamins in the
intestines.
Fungal infections: Daily exposure to antibiotic dust can lead to fungal
infections of the skin and nails. Additionally, women workers may develop vaginal yeast infections following exposure to antibiotics.
Nitroglycerin: commonly used in dynamite, is also the basis of several
medicines for heart patients. Nitrates act on the blood vessels of the body and their effects are felt in several ways. Almost everyone exposed to nitro dust
experiences a severe pounding headache which is caused by the relaxation of the blood vessels within the skull. Nitrates dilate the blood vessels and make
blood pressure fall. As a result, dizziness and even fainting may occur.
Tranquilizers: can be habituating and additive. In combination with alcohol,
they may cause a person to lose consciousness and in high doses, can lead to coma and death. Workers producing tranquilizers are at risk of these
adverse effects and have found that they pass out over a beer after work. There is a real danger of accidents, both in the plant and on the way home,
when workers become drowsy as a result of exposure to tranquilizers and barbiturates.
4.7 Petroleum Products
The petroleum industry presents a number of unique hazards both in terms of extractionproduction and in the finished products.
Lubricating Oils: Certain oils particularly the highly aromatic oils are irritant
when applied to the skin for a period of a few hours. Many will, on repeated contact, remove natural fats from the skin, leaving it dry and susceptible to
cracking, dermatitis and subsequent infection. Accidental contact with eyes may cause transient irritation but no lasting effects. Effects are more
pronounced with low viscosity oils. Inhalation of oil mists and vapours may cause irritation of the eyes, nose and
throat. Should sufficient oil be inhaled it will lead to a form of pneumonia.
48 Most formulations contain chemical additives of variable composition. The
toxic properties of such formulations depend on the toxicity of the base oils and additives. For many additives there are inadequate data on acute and
chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity and the effects on reproduction or the immune system.
Gasoline: is a skin irritant and prolonged exposure may produce blistering.
Repeated exposure de-fats the skin, leading to dermatitis. Accidental contact with the eyes causes severe irritation but this is generally short-lived.
Inhalation of vapour may cause unconsciousness; prolonged inhalation of high concentrations may prove fatal due to central nervous system
depression. Gasolines contain additives which can include tetraethyl lead which is neurotoxic, and brominated compounds which are mutagenic; these
are being replaced by alcohols e.g. methanol and ethers e.g. methyl t-butyl ether - MTBE in lead-free gasoline. Excessive exposure to methanol
produces blindness; recent evidence on MTBE suggests that high concentrations in the atmosphere may be teratogenic.
Gas oils, fuel oils: These are similar in character to middle distillates or to
heavy lubricating oils but they may contain catalytically cracked or other materials which tend to be carcinogenic when applied regularly to mouse skin,
i.e. they may carry a carcinogenic risk.
Aromatic extracts: These contain high concentrations of carcinogenic
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and many have been shown to be carcinogenic through skin contact. Their toxicity is otherwise similar to that of
lubricating oils.
Benzene: Direct contact produces de-fatting of the skin and dermatitis on
repeated exposure. Exposure leads to central nervous system depression - headache, nausea and then unconsciousness. Repeated exposure to 50 ppm
or above damages blood and blood forming tissues, producing in some individuals, a complete failure to form new blood cells of all types a fatal
condition. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations cause a type of leukaemia cancer of the blood and damage to chromosomes the bodies
which carry genetic material in dividing cells.
49
4.8 Mining
