A Health Survey of Petroleum Asphalt Workers

Abstract

Because there is very little information on the subject and because petroleum asphalt has been suspected of being hazardous to man, a survey was made of the health of 462 asphalt workers in 25 oil refineries and was compared to that of 379 controls. Each worker had been engaged in asphalt work for at least five years, the average being 15.1 years. A physical examination, include ing a detailed medical and occupational history, was done on each subject. No significant differences in health were found between the two groups. Additional information concerning the health of their workers was obtained from paving companies, roofing manufacturers, and interstate truck operators who drive over asphalt highways. The health of these groups also gave no evidence that petroleum asphalt constituted a health hazard.