Professional paper

Damage to the lung caused by glass wool

B. Bezjak ; Bolnica za zarazne bolesti, Zagreb

Abstract

A brief review of physical properties, production and use of fiberglass and glass wool is presented. Occupational health hazards due to fiberglass and glass wool are described, and mechanical irritation as the main cause of these hazards is specially pointed out. Skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract are commonly affected presenting signs of inflammation and marked irritation. A rare case of lung damage by glass wool, being the second in the literature, is presented. During the repair of an incubator the worker inhaled glass wool. Severe cough lasting a few minutes followed inhalation. Three weeks later signs of right lower lobe consolidation developed, accompanied by a marked enlargement of the right hilar glands. The diagnosis of acute bacterial infection of the lung was established. The patient responded very well to penicilin, streptomycin and sulfamethazine treatment. The true nature of the disease was recognized only in the convalescent stage when the history of glass wool inhalation was obtained. The inhaled glass wool had been coughed out a few days before chemotherapy was applied, and this seemed to produce complete recovery. The mechanism of the action of glass wool is discussed

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

184495

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/184495

Publication date:

14.12.1956.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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