Document 15Z00OwQ0Dwzkw0GVxQOREr2d

f 'rh > 'I July 28, 1955 C-cZ/77 1 e -\V 1 I welcome your letter on the related topic* or pulmonary function and asbestos. As you taow, we ere actively working with Dr. Keeld of Chambers Work* os a practical pulmonary function testing program and w* have also been studying the health of the pipe eoverers. . At this tiae Z should like to eee Chamber* Works used as the site for a pilot study in "routine" pulmonary function testing, - and with the experience gained there we will be able to sake a recommendations, for the use of Du Pont plants in general. The asbestos situation in Du Pont Is a difficult one to assess due to the relatively small number of people exposed and tbe difficulty of Peteraining the exposure either in terms of the type of material Involved, the duration of the exposure, or its intensity, 1 am keeping informed on the. various studies now going ahead on the health effects of asbestos, but no results are expected from these for several years. What is needsd to bring the Du Pont study to a meaningful conclusion is a detailed study of personnel records to define at least the length of exposure. It is very doubtful that dust concentration data can be obtained for past exposures, and even for current closures it presents some technical difficulties due to the long thin fibers being mueh more difficult to count than the usual dust particles. Ve have carried out the studies to date on our own funds but Z think a contribution from the operating depart* sents should now be requested. Your Interest in these topics encourages me to hope for a very fruitful eerles of Joint studies between Easkell Laboratory, Sidney Pell's group, and the plants. I am enclosing, as a matter of Interest, a memorandum prepared in late 1964 as a Justification for a pulmonary function testing program. The arguments used then are at least as valid today. * GJS/dyb Enclosure * ORIGINAL SI6NC9 rr o. j. *vo** 0. J. Stepps, H.a.,B.S. Chief, Physiology Section . <j? !|J5 DUP 0900521 12053? SC-DP-01320