Document 3mDv2oZYO49do94kJ00aYOoa

LETTERS Asbestos Safety Reaffirmed To the Editor: The article titled "Asbestos: Awaiting Trial' " (CW, Sept. 10, p. 32) contains many inac curacies, which have led to erroneous assumptions and false conclusions. Briefly, the facts are these: (1) Asbestos is a uniquely useful product serving the needs of modern man and society, and it is not likely to be replaced by economically feasible synthetic polymers, or anything else, in the foreseeable future. (2) No published reports, even the most speculative, support the general ized statements in your article regard ing health effects of possible exposure to asbestos. (3) There is no basis for the sugges tion that Congress "may act" regard ing asbestos use, for no such proposals are being considered by Congress. We are informed that the congressman quoted as predicting action disclaims any knowledge of health evidence relating to asbestos or of proposals to control its use. (4) No evidence exists to show that asbestos poses health risks for the gen eral public or to show that even 1 % of Americans have "mild chronic asbestosis," much less the 40% figure you give in your article. (5) Regarding your list of "sources of airborne asbestos," there are no data to support the contention in your article that the "man on the street" is exposed to asbestos from these sources, or indeed that these sources contribute asbestos to the ambient air. (6) We know of no data to support your claim of a sixfold increase in socalled "asbestos-related cancer." As you doubtless realize, the proper conduct of our business requires us to keep abreast of scientific developments regarding asbestos, both medical and technical. Is is our opinion that syn thetic polymers are not likely in the CW welcomes expressions of opinion from readers. The only requirements: that they be per tinent, as brief as possible. Address all correspondence to: H. C. E. Johnson, Chemical Week, 330 West 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10036. foreseeable future to completely re place asbestos in the many applications for which it is now used. Any syn thetics would have to prove superior to natural asbestos and be economical ly competitive. As to health aspects, in June of this year the U.S. Surgeon General ap peared before the Senate Public Works Subcommittee on Air and Water Pol lution, with Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine as chairman, to discuss var ious problems relating to air-pollution abatement. Surgeon General William Stewart enumerated a number of sub stances in common use, including plastics and asbestos, about which he said: "The public health hazards that may arise from these aspects of en vironmental contamination have not been adequately documented. In each instance further investigation is needed to determine whether health is indeed threatened and what control measures may be necessary." In these days when all substances in our' air and water and even the food we eat are constantly under scrutiny, as to their effects on the pub lic, the fact that asbestos is among the subjects of investigation is not surpris ing. In fact, we have always supported and will continue to support investiga tions by the U.S. Public Health Service and other research scientists. Roger Hackney Vice-President Johns-Manville Corp. New York To the Editor: In reference to your article, "Asbestos: Awaiting `Trial'" {Sept. 10, p. 32), we know of no scientific evidence supporting the .statement that "40% of all Amer icans have mild, chronic cases of asbestosis." Even in. the asbestos industry, where more is known about exposure levels than among the general population, there is imprecise knowledge about the health effects of exposure to as bestos. With the cooperation of labor and industry, the Division of Occupational Health has under way a long-range, in-depth study to answer this question, as well , as to develop better criteria for the safe handling and manufacture of asbestos. In the meantime, however, the division will continue to promote the application of known control methods so that the workplace can be kept as healthy as possible. Murray C. Brown, M.D, Chief Division of Occupational Health Department of Health, Education & Welfare Public Health Service Washington, D.C. CW is pleased to set the record straight. Some of those interviewed apparently drew unwarranted conclu sions from insufficient and dubious data.--Ed. MEETINGS Assn, of Official Analytical Chemists, annual meeting, Twin Bridges Marriott Motor Hotel, Washington, D.C., Oct. 10-13. ; Technicon international symposium on automation in analytical chemistry, Starler-Hilton Hotel, Nevl York, Oct. 17-19. Drug, Chemical & Allied Trades Assn., annual meeting, Hollywood Beach Hotel, Hollywood, Fla., 0*t. 20-22. Commercial Chemical Development Assn., discussion f packaging, Drake Hotel, Chicago, Oc 26-28. National Assn., qtf Purchasing Agents, Chemical Group, annual fall conference, Continental Plaza {Hotel, Chicago, Oct. 27, Society of Engin ering Science, fourth technical meeting. North Carolina State University, Raleigh Oct. 31-Nov. 2. American Society for Metals, national metal congress anc exposition. McCor-.. mick Place, Chicagoi, Oct. 31-Nov. 3. Parental Drug Assn., annual conven tion, Statler-Hiiton \ Hotel, New York, Nov. 1-4. \ Fertilizer industry, round-table con ference, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C., Nov. 2-4. The Society of the Plastics Industry, 11th plastics film, sheeting and .coated fabrics conference, Waldorf-Astoria Ho tel, New York, Nov. 9-19; conference on cellular plastics in t ansportation, Edgewater Beach Hotel, (phicago, Nov. 15-17. The Frankiin Institute Research Labi oratories, fourth annual symposium on the organic-solid state, Philadelphia, Nov. 14- | General Atomic Division of General Dynamics Corp., an<\ Air Force Office of Scientific Research, fundamentals of gas- surface interactions, 'San Diego, Calif., Dec. 14-16. \ October 8, 1966 CHEMICAL WEEK 7 HWBUI0012685