1972). Brit. J. industr. Med., 29,[394][395][396][397][398][399][400][401][402][403][404][405][406] Mortality of gasworkers-final report of a prospective study. The mortality experience of selected groups of gasworkers employed by four area Gas Boards and observed over a period of eight years was described by us in a report in 1965. The present paper adds a further four years' data to those previously collected for men having regular exposure in coal carbonizing plants and for men having exposure only to by-products of the gas-making process. Tothesewehave addeddata relating to men employed by four additional area Gas Boards who have been observed over periods of seven to eight years.

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SUMMARY A clinical and radiological survey of 34 men who were pneumatic drillers employed by the North East Gas Board, was carried out to determine the prevalence of osteoarthrosis. Mild osteoarthrosis of the elbows was found in 2 subjects only. Two drillers had radiological evidence of generalized osteoarthrosis elsewhere, and minor degenerative changes were present in the hands of 15 cases. Our findings do not support the view that pneumatic drillers are particularly prone to develop osteoarthrosis.The concept that primary osteoarthrosis represents a 'wear and tear' process in the joints has recently been revived. Radin et al. (1973) postulated that repetitive impulse loading on joints leads to degenerative changes. As one piece of evidence they suggested that users of pneumatic drills are prone to develop osteoarthrosis in the elbows and shoulders, as these joints absorb pounding when drilling, while their fingers and wrists, which are only vibrated, are unaffected.We report here the results of a survey carried out to determine the prevalence of osteoarthrosis in a group of pneumatic drillers. MethodThirty-four unselected pneumatic drillers employed as 'road-pickers' by the North-East Gas Board in Leeds and Hull took part in the survey. All were men! The mean age was 39*9 years (range 22-58 years) and the mean duration of employment as drillers was 10-3 years (range 1-25 years). A full clinical examination was made with particular reference to the length of employment as a driller and type of instrument used. Tnquiries were made into the presence of rheumatic symptoms, history suggestive of Raynaud's phenomenon, previous injuries, and family history of rheumatic disease. In the examination a detailed evaluation was made of the hands, elbows, shoulders, and cervical spine for swelling, tenderness, limitation of movement, and deformity. X-rays were taken of the hands, elbows, and shoulders, and a lateral view of the cervical spine ResultsFifteen of the 34 subjects had symptoms. 2, aged 45 and 54, had Raynaud's phenomenon. 4 gave a history of elbow pain, which was mild in 2. The other 2 had recently received treatment for tennis elbow. 8 had mild stiffness or cramp in the fingers. 2 complained of shoulder pain, of whom one had recently had a 'frozen shoulder'.Excepting the 2 subjects with Raynaud's phenomenon, there was no correlation of symptoms with age. Physical findings were unremarkable save for the two with signs of tennis elbow. RadiologyEvidence of mild osteoarthrosis in the hands was present in 17 subjects, confined in the majority to one or two joints. In 2 others, aged 55 and 58, more generalized osteoarthrosis was present. In one of these the brunt of the degenerative changes had fallen on the metacarpophalangeal joints. One subject had mild bilateral osteoarthrosis affecting the radiocarpal joints. 5 had signs of old fractures of the phalanges.Radiological changes of mild osteoarthrosis were present in two elbow joints. One man aged 34 years had an osteophyte from the lower border of the left radi...

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