Document 4Qy5RpJN0NB2ook228VdJ8ObG

FILE NAME: Union Carbide (UC) DATE: 1970 Mar 21 DOC#: UC172 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo from Medical Dept. RE Toxicity of Calidria Asbestos jjUVl C 'o INTERNAL C O R R E SP O N D E N C E ~ ---r ? i ' UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION o (Nom) J iv u io o c a tio n Mr. C. E. Metten Chemicals & Plastics 2770 Leonis Blvd, Los Angeles, Calif. 90058 bcc: M. B. VerNooy - TT W. J. Fitzpatrick - LA W. G. Farrell - LA John Meyers - King City "i PA<r AVFKjT., .NP.V jHK. R fc.c trvb.u f.T.V /0j< ICj?. ___ _ ,, o,,u March 21, 1970 orinimiHfiy.rt. Medical Department UCC CALIDHIA KING CITY. CA. tWmrtng ttr tf U S u b iti Toxicity of Calidria Asbestos Asbestos has practically no acute toxicity regardless of its type or form. The harm associated with asbestos is from the fibrogenic properties of the inhaled dust. This usually is seen only after prolonged exposure measured in terms of 15-20 years although cases rarely will occur in less time. Because of the rather unique structure characteristics of Calidria Asbestos, there was concern that it might be unusually fibrogenic and perhaps cause an acute asbestosis. To test this possibility, Calidria Asbestos was injected into rats and rabbits intraperitoneally using a standard long fibre asbestos as a control. The results of this test showed Calidria Asbestos to be slightly more fibrogenic than long fibre asbestos but the difference was not so great as to suggest an unusual degree of hazard. From this I conclude that the same precautions to avoid breathing asbestos dust must be observed whether the dust be from Calidria Asbestos or from a standard long fibre form. Some people believe there is an association between exposure to asbestos dust and the development of lung cancer and mesothelioma. There is no information regarding Calidria Asbestos in this respect as yet. It would be prudent to assume that Calidria Asbestos will behave like other asbestos in this regard. CUD:dp C. U. Dernehl, M. D. Associate Medical Director . UCC 020806