The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-06-26

billion gallons OF gasoline each
month. We must consider not only
its use as a motor fuel and the in
creaSing numbers Of motorists, but
the greatly increased number en-
ployed in its production, distribu-
ton, and marketing, who are thus
exposed to harm from 1t.
Gasoline service stations are in
creaSing at the rate Of one hundred
thousand a year. The war schedule
means a still larger increase in use
Of gasoline and not always under
ideal conditions. Also gasoline is a
much more complicated product
than it was few years ago, as well
as far more volatile, causing us to
breathe it in larger quantities.
When gasoline contains a high
amount Of benzene;it becomes more
toxic, because the body will absorb
II more easily. Most cases Of gaSo-
line poisoning so far reported have
resulted from exposure TO the fumes
during various processes in its
manufacture.
Industrial Hazards
Danger comes from its use in in
dustry as a solvent, in dry cleaning
establishments, as a result Of press
ing while the cloth is still damp.
This causes a hAvier mixture of
gasoline in the air breathed by the
workers.
Many children have been poi
soned by drinking gasoline. Over
SO per cent of the children who
drink gasoline die AS the result;
81 more Of them drink kerosene
buv it is not so severe in its effects.
BY substituting kerosene for gas
oline in industrial applications, the
United States Public Health sur
geons reported that this decreased
diSpensary visits by half and nearly
doubled plant production. While
gasoline was being used, there was
more III health among the workers,
the women became unusually talk
alive, giggled great deal and were
foolish beyond eXplanation-muCh
like an ether jag.
The men workers reacted the
other way; they were very unrea-
sonable, quarrelSome and easily
angered. A foreman in a rubber
plant complained that he had to be
very careful what he said to his
men late in the afternoon, after
they had worked in gasoline fumes,
as they became unreaSonably angry
on slight provOCation.
Some people are much more SuS-
ceptible to gasoline fumes than
others. The presence Of foods and
fats in the stomach delays its alb
Sorption. Just how much gasoline
has TO be in the air TO produce death
on short notice is not yet known.
Warning symptoms
The state Of Massachusetts sets
the maximum allowance in which
people are able to work at enc thou
sand parts OF gasoline to one mil
lion parts of air. Some investigators
consider this too high, and calcu-
late that three hundred to five hun
dred parts is the limit.
One physician foun d nervous
symptoms common in a rubber
plant In a concentration Of ll0-450
parts of gasoline to one million OF
air. The first signs Of intoxiCation
is that the worker becomes drowSy
and dull, and the eXtremitieS be-
come numb Later these victims get
dizzy and lose control Of their mus
cles.
Poor ignition In a gas engine and
poor vaporizing OF gas and air may
cause gasoline vapor in exhaust gas
and thus may become a serious
problem if traffic is held up long
in an enclosed place like a tunnel
Acute poisoning may occur any
time the amount Of gasoline in the
air is too great. The victim will fall
unconscious and may die imme-
diately or in a few hours. or even
after a few days have passed.
Warning signs are dizziness,
headache, blurred vision, sick stom-
ach and ringing in the ears. When
poisoning occurs, the patient should
be removed to the open air and kept
warm. Put him to bed as soon as
possible. Remove his clothing and
give him bath TO rid his system of
gas fumes. This is becoming a more
serious menace all the time. II may
be the cause Of many automobile
accidents.