Document 0LVngMv8X6qYm3dMrpeYZwKk

ATI-193 October 17, 1955 MINUTES CF THE A-3HTOS TETIiE IUSTITUTE Am HTGIEHE CCililTTEE tiEETING September 7, 1955 171 ATTENDANCE HERE: D. R. Holies J. U, v.'ober i;, C, Sit. ub H, ii, Jackson The Air Hygiene Committee was meet please' to have as its guests representatives of the Quebec lining Association - Dr, Paul Cartier, Hr. Ivan Sabourin and iir. Maurice La Chance. _ Mr. Sabouzin, general counsel for the Q.A,u,A. told of the history and function of that association. Tine Quebec Asbestos (lining Association has been operating for approximately 20 years, and its membership represents approximately 65Dof the world supply of asbestos fibre. As an industry association, it functions quite similarly to the Asbestos Textile Institute, Considerable attention is given the health problems of the industry. There are two medical clinics; one at Asbestos, the other at Thetford, both fully staffed and with complete hospital facilities. Pre-employment and periodic health examinations arc provided far all workers. Safety engineering services have been provided by the Association to its members for a number of years, iiore recently, an industrial hygiene engineer has been added to its staff. As a result of the industry emphasis on health, safety and dust control for the past ten years, thera are practically no new cases of asbestosis other than those with twenty or more years exposure, hr. Sabourin stated that the present major health problems of the industry pertained to the relation ship of heart difficulties and cancer to asbestos exposure. Dr. Paul Cartier told of the operation of the Thetford Clinic. Established in 19U5, the Clinic provides health services to the Thetford people. Pre-employment and periodic annual examinations include an X-ray and elcctrocardiagram, as well as the other usual examination features. Commenting on the occurrence of asbestosis, ur. Cartier indicated that after ten years exposure, about 5CfI would have some histological evidence of asbestosis (minimal tissue changes not sufficient to be observed on the X-ray), 1(7,7 would have some radiological evidence and 2% might have some clinical evidence of disability from asbestosis. In reference to the pulmonary cancer experience in the industry, Dr. Cartier stated that in the ten years of the clinic's operation, there have been fifteen cases of cancer observed, dine of these on autopsy shoued some histological evidence of asbestosis. In si::, houover, there was no evidence of asbestosis. This experi ence would indicate a very much lower attack rate than that reported from the British experience of 13L. - GARLOCK INC. 00058-009025 ATI-193 Minutes of Air Hygiene Cc--.ittee October 17, 1955 Autopsy study is made of every cc:.,-aii=r.al disease claim case, and as many others as possible. Dr, Cartier stated t.-.at this was of utmost importance not only in determining the extent of liaoility, but also in increasing the knowledge of the disease process. The clinic has net done any work with intend.ttent, positive pressure breathing, although some use of cortisone is being made. The experience to date, however, has been insufficient to justify any conclusions. Dr, Cartier expressed the opinion that considerable research nust be cone m the fields of cancer and heart to define more dearly the role, if any, played by in halation of asbestos, Mr, Maurice La Chance told of the excellence in dust control in the mines and mills of the Association memoers. Annual dust surveys are made at eleven mines and re ports submitted to each. Tlic standard U. S. bureau of Mines technique is used for surveying with the midget impinger. For fibre evaluation, the definition of the length being three times tue width is applied, ix. La Chance stated that since the program was inaugurated in 19L8, the average dust concentrations have been reduced 50?, In general, the fibre content of the total dust count ranged from l to 12S. In his opinion, the most effective dust collector system to date is the bag type Wheelabrator unit, John Weber reported on the bag dumping unit now in operation in his plant. Fhotographs were shown and John indicated that full detoils may be obtained from tne Wilkra Company, 71 Denton Avenue, Hew Hyde Park, Long Island, H. Y, Although dust counts have not yet been taken, vis'tal observation indicates complete con trol of this usually dusty operation. Tne unit has not been in operation suf ficiently long to estimate the maintenance and operating cost. The shaking cycle is less than one minute per bar,, and John indicated that the bags were shaken considerably cleaner than by the hand method, A general discussion of fibre conditioning agents was held, and it was suggested that the experience of our associate members rai^ht be of value to the tecnmcal committee which is further investigating this problem. We herewith extend an invitation to each associate menber to forward a summary of its experience with fibre conditioning as a means of preventing dust control. H, u. Jackson Chairman Air liygiehe Committee GARLOCK INC. 00058-009026