Document 2R47vq45LMV2d197VzRzzVqR6

v~V t ing system in the fertile Moldavian vict Socialist Republic. This could lend to FMC's purveying a complete suud*U>* canned*tomato operation. Inter national Harvester C<>., f Chicago, h*w applied the Russians with a test col * harvester, and competitor Deere it . of Moline, III., is organizing an ex . ,,jt and seminar in Muscow. ' Russian tests. The Soviets have bought pesticides and herbicides from such American companies as Stauffer Chem ical Co. of Westport, Cwin,, and Rohm & Haas Co. of Philadelphia. FMC's pes ticide Furadan is undergoing Russian testing, with a view to possible sales. The Ford Administration wants to sell the Russians at least 8-million tons of grain a year over live years. But it attaches an important condition: early warning of additional purchases to pre vent disrupting markets at home. The U. S. would also insist that its own grain, needs, and those of such estab asbestos processing industries resulted lished customers as Japan, be covered. in exposure and emission limits. But Officials say they are still talking about millions of pounds of asbestos were obtaining Soviet oil, but a wheat-for- used to insulate pipes and valves in oil barter deal is not foreseen. More ships built during World War II with likely, the U. S. would capitalize on the techniques since abandoned, and as Russians' need for grain as a bargain long as five years ago reports started ing tool to get oil in return sometime in coming from Britain about a growing the future. incidence among former shipyard workers of a fatal asbestos-caused can cer called mesothelioma, which strikes SAFETY & HEALTH the stomach lining and chest cavity. `Next month.* For several years, Scltkoff and the American Cancer Society have been negotiating a study with the A grim cancer legacy Navy to outline the extent of the prob lem. But according to EL Cuylcr Ham from World War ii mond, an ACS director, "They kept say ing they would begin next month .hut nothing would happen." Sorae-of World War ll's 3-mfllton ship But if current theories prove true, yard workers may have a fatal, as this may be one of the most serious bestos-caused cancer, and some angry outbreaks of industrial cancer ever, cancer experts charge that the Navy and fear of widespread publicity seems has sat on this knowledge for nearly to he forcing the Navy's hand. Captain five years. George M. Lawton, director of the The Navy has already made a few Navy's Occupational Environmental cash settlements to former workers Health Div,, told BUSINESS week that who contracted job-related cancer. But he does not yet know the magnitude of no effort has been made to track down the problem, but the Navy will study iL affected workers, and the huge liability, According to Lawton, the Navy has that might result could also affect pri already agreed to award workmen's vate companies. compensation to former workers who The American Cancer Society and Ir contracted long cancer or mesothe ving J. Selikuff. an environmental lioma, but only a handful of awards health scientist ai ML Sinai School of have been made. Increased publicity Medicine, want the Navy to track down could lead to a flood of claims. former shipyard workers and warn Unwanted spotBghI The issue remains a them of their possible plight. The Navy Navy problem for the time lx:ing, but it is "sitting on a time bomb," says Seli- may well hit the Maritime Adminis koff, one of thu nation's top asbestosis tration, which funds construction of " -ts. "They are keeping this as merchant ships, and private ship . as possible, and I can't say that I building companies as well. "I'm not blame them." aware that this issue has been dis Aslteslos has long been recognized as cussed in the context of the Navy situ the cause of asbestosis, a lung ailment, ation," says Edwin M. Hood, president and outbreaks of this disease among of the Shipbuilders Council of America. construction workers and those in the And a spokesman for the Maritime Ad ministration says his agency would probably not be liable for compensa tion claims since it neither owned the shipyards nor the ships built with its funds. Still, the entire shipbuilding in dustry may find itself in the spotlight as word of the mesothelioma and lung cancer hazard spreads. ' It is unlikely that today's dockyard workers are contracting mesothelioma, since shipbuilding practices have changed over the last few years. Se- likoff refuses to announce-results of medical examinations on current work ers, but he says the Navy has substan tially cleaned up the environment for workers exposed to toxic substances. ' Seiikoff says there are sound medical reasons for trying to locate the World War II workers. Even though mesothe lioma is incurable, other asbestos- caused cancers are noL "If you know who is at risk from asbestosis, you can cure many of the lung cancers, and even cancers of the colon," be says. EXECUTIVE SUITE Why irate women . are calling Avon , Earnings may be on the rebound this year at Avon Products, Inc., the world's largest cosmetics company, but scores of female and minority employees arc concerned that they are not sharing the wealth. Specifically, they feel that they have been denied the same promo tions and pay raises offered to Avon's white, male employees. For the first time, however, they ore doing something about it. Many women have quit, while others have or-