Document 1gZy8R7qv7ZKGYDnO1do7D37a

= PLAINTIFF'S i EXHIBIT I CT-23 FOUM 1 17 B- S2 f. ACTION MEMO Subjtct [-) See attactied foe Your APPROVAL For Your COMMENT Advise COMPLETION Date CONTACT Me About This -- PerQ Our Your CONVERSATION For DISCUSSION Prepare ESTIMATE For Your FILE For FOLLOW-UP Record Please HANDLE For Your INFORMATION INVESTIGATE And Report ii READ Per Your Q Destroy REQUEST Q Return Advise STATUS TO ' - fa /?' /<r ,n / tIATt AhA;- /s.mr RETURN BV // FORWARD TO - tic fC " A T/ A rd~ ?t *-<->j ' *-T ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- jet /<?J u ' - - I January 15, 1953 ASBESTOS AST) HUMAN HEALTH INTRODUCTION Asbestos, known since antiquity-, has wide-spread and iin.portant applications In our modern industrial society. Kith the 20th century buergconing of the uses of asbestos has come recognition of the need to cope with occupational hazards associated with excessive inhalation of asbestos dust. This statement summarizes tile essential uses of asbestos, trie known facts about heultih problems associated with occupational exposure to asbestos dust, and the'research bating conducted to identify end reduce these health risks. `. AN ESSENTIAL PRODUCT Asbestos has many essential functions in construction,, in industry and in transportation. Over the years fireproof asbestos has saved? thousands of lives and much valuable property. For safety, fire prevention and otfher reasons, products containing asbestos are used in schools, houses, theaters,, 'ships, office and other public buildings, furnaces, boilers end firefighting equipment. The brakes on auto mobiles, trucks, buses and trains are dependable because ash-e-stos is a major component of brake linings. ' ` ViTlAT IS ASBESTOS ? Asbestos (from the Greek "unquenchcdn) is the name giveari a family of mineral fibers comprised of three major types -- chrvso t i le , croc f fTm'I j te and amos i to - each of which differs from the other; physically and chemica.1 ly. Studies of the relationship between asbestos and health are complicated by -.this diversity. Chrysotile is a white magnesium silicate, can be attacdk&id by acids, has a positive electrical charge, is flexible and not easily pulverized. Cre. cidoli te is a blue ferrous sodium, silicate,.is acid-resistant, has a negative iclectricdl charge, and is less flexible than chrysotile. Amosito is a ferrous magnesditr.n silicate with a negative electrical charge, is brittle and easily pulverized. In the United States, cnrysotile, arnosite and crocidoliit<? are all used, but chrysotile is by far the most common, accounting for about 90 per cent of the asbestos consumed in this country. . NO RISK SHONN FOR GENERAL PCSLTC In studies of asbestos exposure and human health, rese.arch has not shewn evidence of any risk to the general public from the use of finished risoestos products. There is no scientiiic evidence that anyone has ever contracted any disease from exposure to the wearing or weathering of brake linings, floor tile, rooTing or other products containing asbestos . more . . 2 The lungs of vjorkers known to have repeated exposure to the inhalation of asbestos fiber over aperiod of months or years contain nyriiads of small microscopic sized structures composed of a fiber coated with layers of protein and iron pigment. The fiber within the coating, under the circumstances, is assumed to be asbestos and the snail unit therefore is called an "asbestos body." Theere bodies are found in the lungs of those who are occupationally exposed to asbestos fibers, regardless of whether or not there is any coexisting evidence of asber.r-nsfi5. Therefore, the bodies, as such, are not an indication of disease but rather only Q.ff previous exposure to asbestos fibers. Recently, by utilizing special techniques, it has been, shown that the lungs of persons from the general population rather frequently contaila a very scant number of sini sir. all bodies composed of a fiber coated with protein and iron pigment. In these instances, it cannot be assumed that the fib21- of these bothies is "asbestos," since other fibrous materials are kncin to develop a similar appearance within the lungs. For the present, the terra "ferruginous" or iron-coated body- is more appropriate. The finding of ferruginous bodies in such small number.-s in no way indicates that disease caused by asbestos fiber coexists and the presence of such bodies docs not, in any way, justify a diagnosis of asbestos-caused din-uasc. If it is ultimately shown that these small bodies are in fact protein covered aisbestos fibers their wide dispersion in the population would not be too surprising in view of the many opportunity from baby powder to building construction, for a small numb ter of asbestos fibers to exist from time to time in the air that the general public Ibreathes. The presence of these few fiber bodies in the lungs of the majority' of the [population is not associated with specific lung disease but simply reflects the chance inhalation of fibrous material. The complete implications of largo numbers of ferruginous cxO'dies within the lungs await further research. ' KN011N AND SUSPECTED OCCUPATIONAL RISKS For workers who handle asbestos fibers in nines, mills., factories, and some building and insulation trades, the industry shares with deertors, public health officials and others involved in industrial medicine a concresrn about possible health effects from excessive on-the-jcb exposure to asbestos dustn. ASBESTOSES; The industry long ago recognized the risk: iof a particular lung disease called asbestosis among some workers and took steps to safeguard employees. This nonmalignant disease is brought on after inhalation of cxccssLtuc concentrations of asbestos dust over a period of many years. Asbestosis is one of the lung diseases called pnounoccniioscb. Others a.re silicosis, from silica (stone) dust; talcosis from talc; air.tf iracosi s, from coal dust. These are considered industrial health risks against which <Eihc various industries have instituted protective measures. nor c - 3- For years, the asbestos industry has taken protective treasures to reduce excessive exposures to asbestos dust and the risk of asbestosis among; its workers. BRONCHOGENIC (Lung) CANCER: Ine industry is aware oif some medical studies that have reported an association between excessive exposure to asbestos dust and an increase, risk of a certain type of lung cancer (bronchogenic). Evert though the number of these cases among asbestos industry workers is only a small fraction of the total employed, the industry considers the problem a serious one. It has become the subject of con siderable scientific research through statistical, clinical and pathological studies of exposed workers; through experimental studies with laboratory animals; and through studies of the physical and chemical nature of asbestos and associated minerals. Recent studies have suggested that the trace metals often feund with asbestos dust (nickel, cobalt and chrome) should be examined more closely. In 1967, results of a study of deaths occurring among a group of insulation workers indicated that occupational exposure to asbestos greatly increased the risk of lung cancer but only among cigarette smokers. Although the- number of deaths involved was small, the study showed no cases of lung cancer among insulation workers who v.-crc non-smokers. MESOTHELIOMA: Also under study is a rare disease called mesothelioma, a tumor the chest and abdominal cavity which is different from bronctiogenic lung cancer. Recently, investigators have associated a frequency of cases of mesothelioma with exposure to asbestos in ttriain geographic locations. This was originally reported from South African areas where only crocidolite asbestos is produced. of Mesothelioma has been reported so infrequently that there are no accurate figures on its occurrence in the U. S, as a whole. In Britain, only two cases are currently being reported fer every thousand cases of lung cancer. The search' for the cause of such a rare disease is difficult, particularly ^incc medical people themselves do not agree on its diagnosis and recognition. The asbestos industry, through research grants, is seeking more knowledge about mer.othelioma. INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ARP PREVENTIVE MED I Cl NET. `Today, thp asbestos industry has invested millions of dollars in equipment and techniques to prevent the inhalation of asbestos dust by worriers in the mining and mill ing of asbestos and in the manufacture of asbestos-containing; products, Johns-Manvilie continually strives to eliminate dust exposure in the mines tnd plants which it operates. Processing areas and machinery are equipped with, dust-collecting devices. Atmospheric dust levels are regularly monitored. Filters a tad ventilators have been installed. Individual respirators are used where indicated^ Employees are given physical examinations, including chest x-rays, on a scheduled basis. A program of consultation with asbestos fabricators and applicators is carried on to provide a thorough understanding of potential risks and ttt encourage general adherence to sound industrial hygiene practices. Studies in asbe stos-us i rg industries in England and the;- LT. S. indicate that where . dust control measures have been taken, the risks of lung diseases have been reduced. more . 4 ASBESTOS ART HEALTH RESEAR Eli -- :-t Scientific research to identify and reduce, the health risk from .asbestos dust exposure is being conducted in many places throughout the world. The asbestos incusC: both sponsors such research"and cooperates in vork being, done by government agencies and private medical investigators. Johns-Manvilie has extended full cooperation to the IT- S. Public Health Service in its study of asbestos processing plants. In addition, thn company provides funds, asbestos materials, equipment and information, as che individual situation may require., for research of such organizations as: The Industrial ILy-giene Foundation of America, The Asbestosis Research Council (headquartered in Great Britain) , The Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health in. Montreal, The Environmental Health Center at He. Sinai Hospital and others. Johns-Manvillc also conducts studies on technical, ' H aspects cf asbestos in its cvn Research and Engineering Center at Manvillc, New Jersey. Among the subjects scientists are now exploring are: the specific identification and health signifance of fiber-like (ferruginous) bodies found in lung tissues; the health of asbestos mining, processing and fabricating workers compared with the general population; the relationship between cigarette smoking and cancer among asbestos insulation workers; the accurate identification of particles found in the air over a major industrial city; and the development and evaluation of the most effective industrial hygiene practices for use in the asbestos industry. ;.h In cooperation and in conjunction with other agencies, the asbestos industry v/ill continue to seek new information about the biological effects of asbestos fiber and to develop ways of assuring maximum possible protection from occupational hazards, for its employees in asbestos mines, mills and plants and amoirg fabricators and applicators of this essential material. 'fi I .