Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-04
EXCESSIVE MORTALITY IN DUST
DUSTY TRADES ADD MANY TO
CONSUMPTION VICTIMS.
Writer in Bureau of Labor Bulletin
Discusses Working Conditions
in Certain Occupations.

THE Mortality From Consumption IN
Dusty Trades is the subject of an article
by Frederick l.. Hoffman in Bulletin NO.
70 Of the bureau of labor. Department
of Commerce and Labor. The writer DIS
cusses the processes and working condi-
tions in occupations where, because OF
dust the employment is injurious TO
health and leads to the development OF
consumption in particular. Much valuable
material from official sources and from in
surance mortality experience is also pre-
scented, showing the excessive mortality In
dusty occupations. Forty-two occupations
are considered divided into four groups,
according as they are subject to exposure
to metallic dust, mineral dust, veget abe
fiber dust, Or animal and mixed fber dust
OF the deaths from all causes among
males fifteen years of age and over IN the
registration area of the United States
14.S per cent were from consumption Ac-
cording to industrial insurance experience
the corresponding proportions were 5oS
per cent for occupations exposed TO me
tallic dust. fB.6 per cent for those exposed
to mineral dust 24.S per cent for these ex-
posed to vegetable fiber dust, and 81 per
cent for those exposed to animal and
mixed fiber dust. The occupation showing
the highest consumption mortality was
grinders. among whom 1872 per cent of al.
deaths were from that disease.
Highest Consumptive Rate.
In each occupation group the highest
Consumption mortality was among persons
from twenty-five to thirty-four years of
age. the proportion of deaths from con-
sumption for that age group being o.
per cent in occupations exposed to metallic
dust. 47.6 per cent in those exposed to
mineral dust, $50 per cent in those ex-
posed to vegetable fiber dust and 53.3 per
cent in those exposed to animal and mixed
fiber dust, as compared with 3l.3 per cent
for males in the registration area.
In conjunction with the induStrial-n-
surance mortality experience, occupational
mortality statistics are presented from
the reports of the United States census,
British official reports and the occupa-
ton mortality statistics of Rhode Is
land, which furnish additional evidence OF
the Neutrality-suspicious. effects of exposure In
the occupations considered. These inJuri-
Gus effects are reflected in the compare
lively small proportion Of persons of adj
vanced years. higher general death
rate ana very high specific death rates
from consumption and other respiratory
diseases.
For Ventilation and Dust Removal.
1t is the opinion of the author that by
intelligent methods OF ventilation and dust
removal the consumption death rate
among wage-earners can be reduced from
20 per LOCO. the rate based on the num-
Der of deaths among gainfully employed
persons ten years of age and over, in the
registration states in 1900, to 1.5 per
,OOO the average rate for 200 small cities,
as shown in the mortality statistics of the
United States census for 1901 to 1905.
Such reduction, the author estimates.
would result in an annual saving of -
23S human lives and would add 1o.4 years
Of life for every death from consumption
avoided by rational conditions of indus
trial life. Such gain would represent a
total of 342. 465 years of additional life
time, and by just SO much the industrial
efficiency of the American nation would
be Increased. Placing the economic value
Of years lifetime at only $500. the total
average economic gain to the nation would
be $3.OSO for every avOidabie death of
wage-earner from consumption. represent
Ing the enormous total of Sos. $4,000 as the
aggregate annual financial value in the
probable saving in years of adult human
life.
With such results clearly within the
range of practical attainment, nothing
within reason should be left undone as
national state and individual or social
duty to prevent that needless. but now
enormous loss Of human life from con-
sumption due to the unfavorable condi-
tons in American industry.