Document 3eLgDOx9Jx9M6DJXzw5gma0eD

PLAINTIFFS ij EXHIBIT i m.ot? DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATIOH, AMU WEI.FARE * *.- CDC, mosn Minutes of Occupational Exposures to Asbestos Dust From Brake Linings Meeting July 21, 1973 Attendees See' Attached Proceedings Dr. John F. Finklea, Director of MlOSii, welcomed the attendees, lie stated that the purposes of the meeting were (1) to consider preliminary data on asbestos c:nosure cramp brake lining workers and (2) to discus/a future course of action based-on this preliminary information. i.-r. Finklea then turned the meeting over to L-r. Irving Selikeff of Mount Sinai for presentation of some of ills work on this problem. Dr. S*likoff described the background for ov.r currant crnco.rr.. The health effects of asbestos are well known. However, the health linnard associated with asbestos in brake lining1; until recently has recei.-ci little attention, It vas thought that the intense heat generated ire:; braking modified the asbestos and that brake lining dust contained insignificant amounts of asbestos fiber:;., hr. Mar.cuso in l?-*.3 did describe asbestos-related health .effects in the manuf ecturii;;: of asbestos for brake lining* but -loparently this esusc! little concern. In 1973, a case of mesothelioma was reported in a brake repair worker. This stimulated a re-exaninntion of the problem. It. Selikoff consulted with !!r. Meyers of HAM, `tr. Ccfalo of LVI and the Ford Motar Company and the grmm at '-t. Sinai initiated a study to determine if brake lining workers were exposed to significant levels of asbur.toa. Dr.-ynSelikof * introduced Dr. Lang or of Sinai who reviewed the ccnnositiSn of brake linings and the breakdown products though: to occur from Iftsat - generated during braking. Previous r.tudteu did t demonstrate asbestos fibers in the amounts or prevalence ns indie-.t.-d by the current studies at >It. Sinai Ho-.-ever, recent studies at Mt. Sin..: demonstrated typical chrysotile asbc.itcc fibers along with a vide range of other forma of crystalline a.-.d fibrous materials. Me empanels-id that the composition of brake lining* my differ, for cwtriola, brake liniays in the U.S. and Croat Britain and product.* here in the d.S, my have undergone many changes over the yearn. Thin is particularly important since recant data show that of the new car*market ii'nadr: up o; these imports. Further renenreh is needed to charnotarise the anh<- ;c.s PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT wv- bisaqa 1+ 2 content of -past end present dust exposures. It should be recognized also that iftiC' health effects of other materials In brake dust have ::ot been studied. * Dr. Rnhl fron lit. Sinnl reported on studies of asbestos dust expo sure `in automobile repair shops in Mew York City. Penh exposures fron 5-8 minutes duration were measured. Fiber counts, using the OSIiA method, were from to 31/nl at 3-5 feet from brake drums cleaned with conorcsneJ air. At 5-10- feet, counts ranged fron 2 to 4 ni; at l'-20 feet 1.4 to 4.8/nl. Drums cleaned with a brush generated less airborne asbestos, 1.3-3.6 fibers/nl in the operators breathing tone. Eighty to 99% of the fibers as observed by electron microscopy were lens than 1.4 microns in length, indicating e ouch higher exposure to asbestos fibers than indicated by optical nicroscopy. Workers engaged in grinding operations to renew brake linings were exposed to 2-7 oncicallv visible flbers/nl. Those bevelling linings had high exposures ranging fro.'. 3272 flbers/nl. Dr. Ceorge l'right pointed out that earlier studies showed that 1 to 3% of brake dust is fibrous asbestos. Dr. Lorincr of !!t. Sinai reported on neiienl examination of .*3 brake repair workers with 11-40 years of exposure. A substantial number, were reported to have .'I-ray and ventilatory function abn.iraalltias. Further studies need to be done in this area before env conconlusio.-.:; ,,n health* effects car. be draw, however, it was pointed out tii.it at least our of r.csothclifiS2 hsvc boon vjc*.*-* mobile repair workers and this lends urgency to the problem. Dr. Flnklea asked for coesaents end recommendations for. addressing the problem. :ir. Meyers suggested that several practical control measures are feasible nev. Indeed, these measures have bpen . instituted in severe! shops. His union alerted its members via its newsletter and envelope*-, posters to alert workers to the problem. iif. Meyers emphasized t.iat the employers with whom he worked were nest cooperative. Employers wuvu encouraged to use vacuum cleaning of brake drums and, where necessary. Basks to reduce cxnosurc. Ills union has made arrnngoncr.ts for continued medical ifeilnation of its Bcnhers. He .enphaeised the importance of union risirpscntntiveA having access co workplaces for observation of sen! t ary^prac tie as . : l)r. Ceorge Wright, an industrial consultant, crschasiscd that nanufaeturers have a responsibility to ascertain what iiapnens to their products after being sold to others. Tills problem .rcnr escair a diffi cult prohlcs for the nanufaeturer and for their induntrinl cunt nurs. Dr. Wright stressed belief time the asbestos industry would ccoicr.tte In every possible way, hr. Wright wan not totally surprised by the fiber counts- reported and expressed the belief tint one night eubse puritly encounter the full npeetrun of asbestos-related distune among grin :cr>i. Dr. - Wright expressed concern that conditions night be worse and .& -- . -3- 0* exposures higher among one soallcr businesses. Ur. Wright cautioned that thd;: 'influence of fiber size should bn considered nud t.ut any extrapolation to the General nopulntion be made vitlx caution, lie urged that any subsequent Investigations. utilise the UICC classification and the Inclusion of negative controls. Ur. Wrighc cautioned against ovurinterpreting the occurrence of four mesothelioma cases. llr. Samuels of IUD urged that IIIOSH: -- llotlfy fhe Department of Labor about this problem; -- !Iake minutes of this meeting available to nubile along with a suitable press release; -- llotify other involved unions; -- Institute an anproprlate national aannling program; -- Institute a program of surveillance and intervention. Other unions Involved include: -- United Auto Workers -- Teamstors * -- American Toderation of Government Employees --- Allied Industrial Workers -- Laborers International # International Association of' !!achlnists -- American Postal Workers Union' United Rubber V.'orkers S''--- Amalgamated Transit Union "S': *-- Transport Workers Union of America <-- United Transportation Union *!r. Samuels of IUD urged that everyone be Informed of cxlstinj, easily applicable control measures. *Ir. .teyers surgestid any release uii control technology be built upon their asbestos safety bullet In, Hr. Angelo Ccfalo of LUt discussed the need to infon: affected locals and union members In.an orderly fashion, :ir. Cefalo ntntad t.tat !  - *U* i -4- * the needed!, research progran should be planned and funded. lie offered his assistance In obtaining any needed support for thin program. Dr. Mancuso of the University of Pittsburgh at the request of the International Association of Machinists conducted a pilot .study of dcat.t records and Identified in 1173 a nesotheliona case (proven by aitspay) of a garage Mechanic and another case of pleural sxcsothullcvui in a nlllrlght x/ho vas blox-ring out asbestos, friction-tync clutche. x.*ich compressed air at a paper connany. Dr. Ka-.-.cuso felt the nature of c>.c death records was such chat other eases of nosothcllorta nay exl3t but are unrecognized. Uc spoke of the 'need to use this opportunity ty develop an effective Industrial nodical surveillance ay3ter.. Herb Northrop of Ford ashed that any alert bulletin place this problem In perspective -- pointing out other recognlzad exnosurca to asbestos. John Decent of DPSCI presented orclir-.inary data iron a KIOSK study shoving oca!: exposures of un to 5 fibers/r.l during brake unm bloving. He also shoved peak lead levels of approximately 4.5 Eg/113 during bloving operations. KIOSK electronnicroscopic studies of brake dm dust also shoved a nreioninincu of snail asbestos fibers with nose fibers-being less chan 1 cieroweter in length. At a plant rcr.cvi.u-. lined brake sheen, exposures of 2*) fibers/ml (during grinding) and pc:ks of up to 10 fibers/ni during *atyins of a drun ccnt-ininr, cl- lining.-: vere -observed. * Dr. Ucaver of API offered to conrxunicate with gasoline stations and he supported further studies of the problem and oanhaslsed the need to use appropriate controls of UXCC file reading techniques. Ed Alpaugh of International Harvester UrRcd preparation of u Joint release. Paul Toth of Ford offered to help with suggestions or. control technology and in disseminating information from KIOSK on thin natter to appropriate Ford .'totor Conpany dealer relations personnel. iaKw Koran of EFA pointed out that else brakes release more asbestgSSinto the general environment than shoe brakes, lie stated that the fan expressway roadside study could look ec asbestos levels along a gradichV nvav from the estpreuax/ay. Dr. Selikoff pointed out that braking. Itself, nay be important and that roadside studios should consider the effect of braking. Dr. `faneuso x.*s asked tn ensment on tho needed hcxlth studies, lie suggested an enldoaiology study of the mortaliev exnoricnce of a cohort of unionized vorkern and their families. He cunhasiscd need for oxtrenr care in the cxnerlncaeal design. Ho thought such a study uiinuld look for other cancers and /lccunational respiratory- diseases an well us as'bestos-rclatud disorders. } 5 It ws3 emphasised chat workers were ecnoncd to metals, plastic dusts (body*-aijops), solvents and t::ic gases like cirbon monoxide. ur, '.tancuso rccomcnded clinical studies. In the sn:.ic ponulatJon of workers. He especially requested evaluation of so-called ''nuisance dusts" vhich he data* nay be more harnful titan rov realised. He txinhnsizc-.l uead to look at workers who left the industry as well as those tdto arc still employed . Ttr. Toth stressed-4 the need to ascertain the role of tobacco smoking In any studies. Others agreed with hltt. It. 'laneuao took exception to the undue emphasis on the smoking aspects, to the exclusion of proper recognition of the nagnitude of . inherent* health risks due to the ehealcala.ln dusts of the working environment. Dr. Sellkoff suggested seven areas for urgent study: -- Analysis of brake materials utilised since 1?4Q using literature survey and laboratory analysis (EPA/HI^SIi). -- . Broad based national industrial hygiene survey to assess exposures for various occupational tasks ('linsij/ISIIA). -- Epidemiologic studies of mortality experience af exposed workers from several sources (IIIOSU). lie suggests this * receive the highest priority. -- Further clinical studies of 1;T)0 vorkers including suitable controls ('II051I). -- Autopsy survey of lung aslestcs burden of ecnosed vorkers In# auto maintenance Industry (XlCSii) . / -- -Industrial hygiene measures 'to better control exposure (Joint effort of uulous, industry and rHOCH). -- Education of workers to hazard and to use control measures (dol/:3csk) . *y Dr. Selfig&ff suggested that there be no delay in getting this program undervay*~ Dr- Joe 'Jagoner of !H0S1! generally supported the discussed research program. Ea emphasized need for careful characterisation of exposur^i to agOTCs - otlier than asbestos and the need to assure that limited research funds arc used in answer some of our major remaining scientific question* about- the cffrets of exposure to relatively low levels of short axbcstos fibers. Uillian Best of HCI offered kin nr, >:ln tar.ee .ind asked wintiier or not a case-control study night be of. some help. I \