Acute and chronic toxicities of acrylamide (AAM) are reviewed with special reference to its dose-response relationship from literature concerning the general toxicology and industrial hygiene. Although the total doses of AAM for producing chronic neuropathy in animals showed considerable variation among literature sources, estimated mean concentrations of the compound in the nervous tissues do not seem to differ very much at any stage of the poisoning. Reports of human poisoning, most of them being due to occupational exposure, are referred and symptoms of the poisoning are summarized from these cases.

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A simple passive type sampling device has been developed for personal monitoring of ozone exposure in the workshop of welding. Atmospheric ozone is collected on a filter paper soaked in l, 2-di-(4-pyridyl)-ethylene. Pyridine-4-aldehyde is produced by the ozonolysis reaction. Analysis of the results showed the time-weighted (TWA) exposure concentration of ozone. The relationship showed a good linearity between the pyridine-4-aldehyde produced and the ozone concentration. Coefficient of variation of the data of measurement after exposure was less than 10%, and the range of the data was from 0.05 to above 1.42 ppm hr. Promising results have been obtained in the data of controlled exposures to nitrogen dioxide, and excellent stability for delayed analysis after sampling. According to these results, we believe that the simple sampling device can be used for the evaluation of personal exposure dose for ozone.

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Petroleum benzine is one of the standardized industrial gasolines in Japan and is widely used as a cleaning solvent for precision machines and garments, as a fuel for lighter, etc. So-called benzines have been reported to be toxic to the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, gastro-intestinal system, hematopoietic system and other organs, but many of the reported benzines were not analysed and might have many different components among them. Therefore, toxicity of the petroleum benzine which is standardized as industrial gasoline in Japan has not been made clear enough yet. A case of polyneuropathy was found in a worker who had been using the petroleum benzine. Components of this petroleum benzine were analysed, and the relationship of this agent to his health disorders being affected also by other working conditions was investigated. The case : male, aged 42 (1977). He was engaged in cleaning used gas meters with petroleum benzine. He had burning sensations in his legs 5 months after the beginning of the cleaning work. A month later he began to suffer from general fatigue and tinnitus, his headache became worse. Eleven months after the beginning of the work, muscle weakness and dysesthesia in distal portion of his legs and arms were noticed. By neurological examination, pain, vibration and touch sensations were found to be dominantly impaired in the distal portion of the extremities. Electromyogram revealed neurogenic changes in the extremities. The patient was engaged in cleaning gas meters for about 3.5 hours per day with the petroleum benzine, which was consumed at 360-450 l per month. Concentrations of the petroleum benzine vapor in the workroom were determined by gas liquid chromatography. They were 180-2, 820 mg/m³ (about 50-800 ppm) and n-hexanes in them were 10-180 ppm under the worker's nose. There was no local exhaust ventilator for the worker. His symptoms seemed to become worse with increase of the cleaning work and any other cause for his symptoms was not found. The similar symptoms had been reported by other authors in some cases poisoned by the petroleum benzine or so-called benzines. Therefore, his health disorder was considered to be caused chiefly by the petroleum benzine. It was suspected that in addition to n-hexane, other components in the petroleum benzine might have some neurotoxicity, since concentrations of n-hexane in his workplace were not so high. In Japan, the petroleum benzine is used in large quantities in industry, but it is legally classified into the third grade group of organic solvents and its TLV is not established yet because of a mixed organic solvent. It is considered that the preventive measure must be improved and much warning must be given about the toxicity of the petroleum benzine.

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The evaluation of radiographic findings of pneumoconiosis with massive fibrosis has been done by the size of the large opacities (A, B, C). This procedure, however, was not satisfactory to understand its severity. The severity of pneumoconiosis on the radiogram is detected not only by the size of large opacities but also by the various complications of the pathologic changes of the lung, e.g., fibrotic and emphysematous changes, etc. In this study, the integrated method of scoring the radiographic findings on the basis of the sorts and the development of the pathologic changes was carried out and the correlation between this score evaluation and the pulmonary function was statistically analyzed. 1. The classification and the scoring of the radiographic findings of pneumoconiosis On the radiographic appearance of pneumoconiosis, rounded opacities were classified into 7 (p/p∼r/r) for the type and 11 (0/0∼3/+) for the profusion. As to large opacities, 4 (ax/ax∼M/M) for the coalescence, 10 or more (1×1∼10×10 cm) for the size, 4 (id/id∼wd/wd) for the definition of the border and also 4 (out∼inside) for the position in the lung field. As to pleural thickening, 3 (a∼c) for the width and 2 (1, 2) for the extent. As to diaphragmatic adhesion, 3 (slightly∼far advanced). On the radiographic findings mentioned above, one mark was given to every class. Irregular opacities, emphysematous and hilar changes were classified into 3 (slightly∼far advanced), and three marks were given to every class. 2. The examination of the validity of score evaluation Making use of 4 standard films prepared, 5 chest physicians diagnosed and scored 7 test films of pneumoconiosis by the above method and also ranked them visually on the radiographic severity. These two procedures corresponded well. 3. The correlation between the score evaluation and the pulmonary function 117 ceramic workers with pneumoconiosis have been examined by spirometries, flow volume curve test and subjective symptoms. The correlations between the total scores on the basis of the various radiographic findings and the values of %VC, FEV_1.0%, %FEV_1.0, FEV_1.0/VCpre, %MMF, %V₅₀, %V₂₅, V₂₅/h/pre, Exersise Index and Ventilative Index were statistically significant (p<0.01). Whereas, Po₂ and AaDo₂ were not correlated with the score. The validity of this score evaluation was higher than that of the usual classification [PR₃, PR₄ (A), (B)] on the relation to the pulmonary function. It was suggested especially that the values of %FEV_1.0, FEV_1.0/VCpre and %V₅₀ were useful to demonstrate the severity of pneumoconiosis. Above all, the scoring of emphysematous and fibrotic findings showed high correlation. This indicated that the pulmonary insuffciency of pneumoconiosis was more markedly effected by the extensive lung desolation leading to emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and other complicated lesions than by the size of large opacities or the profusion of rounded opacities. It was concluded that the scoring system of the radiographic findings was very useful for evaluating the radiographic severity of pneumoconiosis.

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