A landmark case in asbestosis

Article Abstract:

A historical review is presented of the case of Nellie Kershaw, the first person on record to die of pulmonary asbestosis (a lung disease resulting from heavy exposure to asbestos fibers). The case was described by Kershaw's physician in the 1920s as ''asbestos poisoning'' in his communication with a medical benefits agency (in contrast to other cases where no public notice was made of the linkage with asbestos exposure), and this led to an autopsy, with a full report of the findings. The case is an important milestone in the lengthy history of asbestos workers, called a ''tragedy'' by the authors of this review. Kershaw worked in asbestos factories in England for several years and was employed in the last, Turner Brothers Asbestos Company, when she developed a lung disease. Too ill to work yet only in her early 30s, she applied for National Health Insurance benefits but was denied because the diagnosis of ''asbestos poisoning'' meant the illness was work-related. In such cases, the employer was liable; not surprisingly, Turner Brothers denied liability, and Kershaw died in 1924. The postmortem examination, which was attended by insurance representatives from Turners, led to an inquest. The findings included fibrosis (growth of tough, fibrous tissue) due to inhaled mineral particles, found to be asbestos dust. The case was described by W.E. Cooke in a paper in 1927. In 1934, when asbestosis became classified as an occupational disease for which benefits could be paid, seven claims were settled for $370 each (in 1934 dollars). Whether Kershaw's family received any money is not known. Attempts to acknowledge the hazards of asbestos dust before this case were quelled by interested parties. Their story is briefly told. Had Turners responded more quickly, many lives would have been saved. Their lassitude resulted in a large number of cases by the 1950s that helped clinicians learn much concerning asbestos-related disease. In 1955, the rate of lung cancer among Turner Brothers employees was 10 times that among British citizens in general. Conditions appear to have been corrected since that time. However, the story indicates that simply knowing a scientific fact concerning the cause of a disease is not equivalent to affecting the incidence of that disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Case studies, Laws, regulations and rules, Prevention, History, Physiological aspects, Asbestos dust, Asbestosis, Kershaw, Nellie

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Farm-tractor-related fatalities - Kentucky, 1994

Article Abstract:

The Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (KY FACE) Project studied all deaths related to operating or working on a farm tractor in Kentucky in 1994. There were 28 tractor-related deaths, of which half occurred during summer months. Rollover of the tractor caused 82% of the fatalities, and runover caused 18%. All those who died were males and they ranged in age from 15 to 86 years. Rollovers and runovers caused 62% of deaths in agricultural settings in Kentucky. Ninety-four percent of farms in Kentucky have fewer than 11 employees, which makes them exempt from complying with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirement to install seatbelts and a rollover-protective structure (ROPS) on all tractors. Shortage of funds may limit the ability of small Kentucky farmers to buy this equipment, which costs between $400 and $1,800.

Accidents, Tractors, Farm tractors

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Firearm-Associated Deaths and Hospitalizations- California, 1995-1996

Article Abstract:

Between 1995 and 1996, 8,832 deaths and 13,153 nonfatal injuries resulting in hospitalization in California were caused by firearms. Fifty-five percent were caused by assaults and 41% were self-inflicted. About ninety percent of the victims were male. Firearm-associated injury and death was most common in adolescents and young men. Some of the assaults could have been self defense.

Health aspects, Statistical Data Included, Statistics, Firearms, California

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