Historical Photos Archives - Free Stock Photos

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Loading Limestone Powder Into a Pushcart

August 3, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Historical Stock Photos: This April 1941 historical photograph was provided by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It depicted a number of industrial workers in Lee County, Alabama who were in the process of loading crushed limestone into pushcarts by using an overhead bucket shovel, which when unloaded, as was the case in this example, a large debris-could ensued, exposing onlookers to irritating airborne particulates. The potential worker health problems associated with crushed limestone, also known as calcium carbonate, includes respiratory hazards when inhaled, and dermatitis due to mechanical abrasion resulting from skin contact. Prolonged exposure may cause lung diseases such as “silicosis”. The men were equipped with inadequate respiratory protection. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Industrial Hygiene Division (IHD) investigated hazards associated with this and other activities involving workplace health hazards.

keywords: health hazards, industrial workers, black and white, old factories, historical photos

Black Men Working in the 1940s

August 3, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

This April 1941 historical photograph was provided by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It depicted a number of African-American workers loading nitrate of soda into cotton bags. Note that the men were equipped with inadequate respiratory protection. One worker in the background was wearing a simple dust mask. The worker in the center was using a bandana as protection, while the others were completely unprotected. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Industrial Hygiene Division (IHD) investigated hazards associated with activities such as metal grinding. The potential worker health problems associated with nitrate of soda dust include both inhalational respiratory pathology, and dermatitic, or skin irritation upon contact. Prolonged exposure may cause anemia, weakness, general depression, headache, mental impairment, methemoglobinemia, and nephritis.

keywords: black and white, nitrate of soda, no protection, respiratory problems, African American workers, 1940s, 1950s, 9463

Black Man in 1950s in a Dry Cleaners

August 3, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Historical Stock Photos: From 1950, this historical photograph was provided by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and depicted an African American worker in a dry cleaning establishment using the chemical “benzol”, another name for “benzene” (C6H6), in order to “spot clean” a garment. Benzene is a proven carcinogen, and very flammable. In the 1950s, the Industrial Hygiene Division (IHD) investigated hazards in dry cleaning environments. New non-flammable cleaners had recently been introduced that created concerns about their toxicity.

As of 2005, there were approximately 36,000 dry cleaning businesses in the U.S. with most employing less than ten people. The focus today is on the perchloroethylene, used as a solvent in 85% of dry cleaning shops. It is carcinogenic in animals and suspected to be so in humans

keywords: dry cleaning, african-american, black, black and white, NIOSH, Benzol, Benzene.

Black Children in 1920s Texas

August 3, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Historical Stock Photos: This historic photograph depicted a gathering that was billed as a Child Health Conference, which was held in a Texas school-house. The youngest in attendance was five years old. The original image was scanned from a glass lantern slide donated by the Minnesota Department of Health, and is contained in a historical collection devoted to observances of Child Health Day in the United States.

keywords: Black children, african american children, black and white, Texas, Child Health Day, Children’s Health Conference

1940s Industrial Worker

August 3, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Historical Stock Photos: This April 1941 historical photograph was provided by the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and it depicted an industrial plant worker as he was cutting tiles, while wearing a filtered respirator and goggles, in order to avoid acute inhalation and ocular injuries, as well as chronic diseases from long-term exposure. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Industrial Hygiene Division (IHD) investigated hazards associated with this and other activities involving workplace health hazards.

keywords: OSHA, goggles, filtered respirator, factory worker, industrial jobs, black and white, b&w, NIOSH

Children in Niger West Africa (1968)

July 20, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Africa Stock Photos: People in Niger, West Africa awaiting a smallpox and measles vaccination.

In 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global eradication of smallpox and recommended that all countries cease vaccination.

Keywords: Africa, Africans, Niger, black and white, children

mallpox Eradication and Measles Control Programs, West Africa, 1968

July 20, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Africa Stock Photos: Vaccination of boys in West Africa while standing in front of a poster announcing Smallpox Eradication and Measles Control Programs. Note the use of jet guns.

Keywords: Africa, Africans, boys, smallpox eradication

Doctors Preparing to Transport SmallPox Vaccine

July 20, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Africa Stock Photos: Photographed sometime in the early 1970s, during the worldwide smallpox eradication campaign, this image depicted two public health officials and their transport vehicle preparing to journey to neighboring towns in order to administer smallpox vaccinations, and acquire epidemiologic data about the epidemic at that time. This image was captured somewhere in French West Africa.

The Smallpox Vaccine

The smallpox vaccine helps the body develop immunity to smallpox. The vaccine is made from a virus called vaccinia which is a “pox”-type virus related to smallpox. The smallpox vaccine contains the “live” vaccinia virus—not dead virus, like many other vaccines. For that reason, the vaccination site must be cared for carefully to prevent the virus from spreading. Also, the vaccine can have side effects. The vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus and cannot give you smallpox.

Currently, the United States has a big enough stockpile of smallpox vaccine to vaccinate everyone in the United States in the event of a smallpox emergency.

Length of Protection

Smallpox vaccination provides high level immunity for 3 to 5 years and decreasing immunity thereafter. If a person is vaccinated again later, immunity lasts even longer. Historically, the vaccine has been effective in preventing smallpox infection in 95% of those vaccinated. In addition, the vaccine was proven to prevent or substantially lessen infection when given within a few days of exposure. It is important to note, however, that at the time when the smallpox vaccine was used to eradicate the disease, testing was not as advanced or precise as it is today, so there may still be things to learn about the vaccine and its effectiveness and length of protection.

Keywords: Africa, Africans, Smallpox, vaccine

Young African Child with Smallpox

July 20, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Africa Stock Photos: The child depicted in this 1969 photograph was an inhabitant of the former Republic of Upper Volta, West Africa, now known as Burkina Faso. Suffering from smallpox, this child also was battling the secondary infections that had developed on his face amongst the maculopapular smallpox lesions, which had developed.

Signs and Symptoms:

– For the first 7 to 17 days after exposure, the infected person feels fine and is not contagious (cannot spread the disease).

– After 7-17 days, the first symptoms of smallpox appear. These include fever, tiredness, head and body aches, and sometimes vomiting. The fever is usually high, in the range of 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. At this time, people are usually too sick to carry on their normal activities. This stage may last for 2 to 4 days.

– Next, a rash appears first as small red spots on the tongue and in the mouth. A rash then appears on the skin, starting on the face and spreading to the arms and legs and then to the hands and feet. Usually the rash spreads to all parts of the body within 24 hours.

– The rash becomes raised bumps and the bumps become “pustules”, which are raised, usually round and firm to the touch as if there’s a small round object under the skin.

– The pustules begin to form a crust and then scab. By the end of the second week after the rash appears, most of the sores have scabbed over.

– The scabs begin to fall off, leaving scars. Most scabs will have fallen off three weeks after the rash first appears.

Keywords: Africa, Africans, Upper Volta, Burkina Faso, smallpox, child, black and white

Jeep on African Jungle Road in Zaire

July 20, 2011January 9, 2021 Brian

Africa Stock Photos: This 1976 photograph, taken near Yambuku, Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, showed one of the surveillance teams traveling by jeep to investigate surrounding villages for the possible spread of the Ebola virus.

The 1976 Ebola outbreak started in the town of Yambuku, and from there spread to surrounding areas. In Kinshasa, the nation’s capital, an area hospital was sealed off during the outbreak, helping to bring the situation under control. The total number of cases in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, was 318, and had a mortality rate of 88%. The exact origin, locations, and natural habitat (known as the “natural reservoir”) of Ebola virus remain unknown. However, on the basis of available evidence and the nature of similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is zoonotic (animal-borne) and is normally maintained in an animal host that is native to the African continent. A similar host is probably associated with Ebola-Reston which was isolated from infected cynomolgous monkeys that were imported to the United States and Italy from the Philippines. The virus is not known to be native to other continents, such as North America.

Keywords: Africa, Africans, jeep, Jungle road, Zaire, ebola