Document 4QyMp9nLJp7v0mjZ4MEx8RLRx

FILE NAME: US Gypsum (USG) DATE: January 12, 1966 DOC#: USG099 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1966 Letter to Mr Morris from E Maynard re safe handling information for Perf-a-Tape Joint Compounds. I S: 3 o ~o I o <t -7e- !> < i - U hJ Vir YtiA -fe i m Ivc CS0U6 January 12, 1$66 Mr. Morris CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY 2550 - W. 35th Street Chicago, Illinois Dear Mr. Morrisj Per our phone conversation* the information below and the attached Data Sheet for Toxicological and Safe Handling Information should give you what Is required on our Perf-aTape Joint Compounds. The compounds contain mica and asbestos, both of which can be hazardous if inhaled over a long period of time. This dust hazard would necessarily occur only while the compounds are being mixed with water. Such mixing takes only a very small part of the total use time, whether it occurs all at once or intermittently during the working day. A simple duct respirator and protective goggles make adequate protective equipment even if there is not adequate ventilation. Cnee the compound has been mixed with water the dust problem is naturally eliminated. The wet compound is mildly alkaline from ammonia. Some persons may find the odor annoying or irritating, and possibly 3 0 meone with extremely sensitive skin might even suffer some skin irritation from direct contact but such occurrences are very rare. Normal personal cleanliness prevents any.ill ef fects; only the most sensitive people would not find this to be adequate protective action. Obviously, if the ccnpound got in a person's eye, immediate flushing with clear water is Indicated. The only volatiles in the compounds are ammonia and an In dustrial perfume, which la used in trace amounts. The ammonia is not present in an amount that would be hazardous, or even un comfortable, with normal ventilation. As a practical matter, our company makes and sells tens of millions of pounds of these and similar compounds annually. Our manufacturing plant sites are located in widely dispersed parts.of the country and we have one plant in Canada. The com- .pen pnoRO - 2- pounds are used nationwide and In many areas In Canada. Plant personnel work with the dry compounds and their ingredients for several hours every working day; protective goggles and simple dust respirators are considered adequate protection. In field use such protective equipment is seldom used by the workers. Overall, there is very seldom any complaint that th e compounds have caused any physical troubles and in most of these cases the difficulty is found to be sensitivity to some other material not associated with our compounds. _ The above discussion of normal plant and field practices shows that while there may be no formal Threshold Limit Value for our Joint treatment compound^ years of experience have shown that with only single precautions the compounds do not present any demonstrated health hazard. Attachments : EM/J1 cc: B.W. Nles Pile J-2 - General Vdry truly yours, UNITED STATES QYPSTJM CO. E. Maynard C.9G0 900SD