Oberon Class Submarine Occupational Hygiene Project Final Report

length of service on a submarine. Suicide rates were higher for the discharged groupthan those in the service, and rapidly approached civilian rates.Comment. The study period was too short to identify long term effects. If only‘healthy workers’ are selected for the submarine service, why do their SMRsapproach the general populations rates?5. Inskip et al, (1997), examined the mortality pattern, with cancer mortalitybeing of special interest in submariners who underwent their training between 1960and 1979 and were followed up to 1989. Overall mortality and cancer mortality wereless than the civilian rates. However there was a higher rate than for civilians for thedigestive system and cirrhosis of the liver. The excess cirrhosis cases were in menwho had left the Navy with 67% having being identified as being associated withalcohol use. There was also a higher rate of deaths from accidents (motor accidents)and violence. After discharge the mortality rate rose to be similar to that of civilians.The study limitations are short follow up period (average 18 years) and too short aperiod of observation for long latency cancers considering the type of exposureexperienced. Two ‘expected’ cancers, lung and leukemia, were low.Comment. The study did not distinguish between diesel-electric and nuclearsubmariners.AerosolsA paper by Riccardi et al (2004) describes the air monitoring for a range of aircontaminants, including aerosols, whilst an Italian ‘Sauro’ class submarine is onactive duty. The ‘Sauro’ class submarines use the Koala air purification system (seeRanieri (2004)) located in 19 locations on the submarine operated for various intervalsdepending on whether the submarine was snorkeling or submerged. Gases (CO, CO 2 ,sulphate compounds, volatile organics compounds (VOCs – referenced to propane),and water vapour) were monitored with a Brüel & Kjær photoacoustic spectrometer,with the probe located in the ceiling of the Control room. Oxygen was measured withan Analox oxymeter. Temperature, humidity and pressure were also recorded. Airparticulates were collected on cellulose filters using high flow pumps in the Controland Torpedo Rooms. Analysis for particulate composition was carried out lateronshore. It would appear the CO 2 concentrations would only drop from 0.74% to0.62% with air purification even though the submarine had such a large number ofKoala units. The CO concentrations changed from nil to 9.4 ppm with the Koalasystem having very little impact. The VOCs ranged from 46 – 66 ppm. The massspectroscopic analysis of the particulate matter showed a large number of elementspresent in very minute quantities.Comment: The results are not presented in a manner that can be compared with otherpublished work. The measured aerosol (particulate) concentrations are not stated. Forinstance, the VOC measurements obtained here cannot be compared with the Gan &Mazurek (~ 2005) paper as different instruments were used and, more importantly,different calibrating gases were used: propane and toluene respectively.32