Document 50Gz3Zx88JY4ykjrxmaQmjMN8

FILE NAME Quebec Asbestos Mining Association QAMA DATE 1973 May 10 DOC QAMA128 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Memo RE Presentation by Dr. Selikoff QUEBEC ASBESTOS MINING ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION 580 GRANDE EST SUITE 320 May 10th 1973 * TD Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Michael J. Messel Mes el R.S. Coleman ** ca W.W. Oughtred M. Dorais J.R.M. Hutcheson M. Prus CC Mr. Mr. All I.C. Campbell A.H. Bagenstose attendants VC Wekly Weekly Reports FROM Paul Filteau QUEBEC 4 QUE Telephone 529-8169 SUBJECT Dr. Irving Selikoff guest speaker before the Toronto TB and RD Association and the Department of Preventive Medecine University of Toronto - May 2nd and 3rd 1973 At the Medical Sciences Bldg University of Toronto , Dr. I.J. Selikoff delivered on May 2nd at 8:00 p.m. an address address on the Health Hazards of Asbestos and on the next day at 9:30 a.m. a lecture on the Epidemiological Aspects of Asbestos Exposure There was an attendance of some 80 to 90 people for the evening session and a class of around 60 people for the The names of the people related to the Canadian morning lecture asbestos industry who attended these meetings are shown on the attached list Dr. R.W. Morgan Department of Preventive Medicine Toronto acted as chairman Universitoyf As agreed at a special meeting of QAMA directors held on April 19 in Montreal publicity material was distributed at the entrance of the meeting rooms courtesy of the Association The package included a copy of s 1. Asbestos and Your Health blue folder 2. Report and Recommendations of the Advisory Committee following the Lyon Conference JHM 00855 ~ 2 3. A press release on the major conclusions of the above Advisory Committee . ; 4.A news clipping April 30 1973 from the in which Globe and Mail of Dr. J.E. Cowle submits that press reports on diseases resulting from exposure to asbestos have been exaggerated Everyone was given a set and some as in the case of Union representatives and University staff asked for large numbers` of additional copies A Health Hazards of Asbestos In his usual confident going approach Dr. Selikoff Beemingly delivering a well rehearsed or repeated talk first commented on the unique value of the mineral asbestos its increasing production since the Second World War and the large consumption he reviewed early in the U.S.A. occurences of Through a asbestosis series of slides and lung cancer in England South Africa U.S.A. ...... Then flashing tables showing onset groups of U.S. asbestos insulation of exposure in various age workers workers of a textile plant in U.S.A. and an asbestos plant Dr. Selikoff insisted on the number 20 years since onset of exposure as a significant figure for appearance of radiological abnormality It was startling to notice throughout the projecting of these tables however that one table would refer to asbestos insu- lation workers the next to asbestos workers this being repeated several times for the same grouopf workers possibly intended to produce generalizing effect on the spectators by omitting specific references DRM 00856 -3- This was followed by various specific examples showing the hazardous nature of asbestos Attention was thus subtly drawn to the danger of using talcum powder of eating sugar strained through asbestos rice and chewing gum coated with talc drugs baer and liquor filtered through asbestos wearing coats made of asbestos material using papier by children and asbestos paper in the cannon rendering by an orchestra of the 1812 Overture etc. etc. All these instances to impress on the audience the pervasive nature of asbestos and the generalized contamination of the public at large regardless of exposure Finally Dr. Selikoff appealed to the collaboration of Industry Government and Medical Research in an effort to find a solution to the asbestos problem so that society which needs asbestos won't throw the baby out with the bathwater as he concluded Comm froe m tn het Flos or Without diminishing Dr. Selikoff's expertise I. Sabourin pointed out emphatically that a distinction must be made between the experience of the asbestos insulation workers in U.S.A. and and that some the asbestos mine of Dr. Selikoff's and mill workers in Canada claims in his U.S. research studies are not justified by medical data published in Canada Moreover improvement of sized was initiated and plant dust control it was empha- pursued for more than 35 years Dr. Pelmar submitted that the Canadian asbestos exposure was to pure chrysotile whereas insulation workers had been exposed to a mixture of various types of asbestos A union official named Stewart referred in sensational overtones to what he claimed a lack of cooperation on the part of the employer at the Port Union olant rh te ty Wn Ree emer res ideal, M ee p e Li kn ee h aha sne pin watahres eee me see datcdinakcanseehtalvis har . ray * + D T vi E faa rf Te une ee a zal ccmabnaed Oafa lran k? we eu t ts puo ae a nt as aeand --- ast ecke-as. o's oe ~ 4 Dr. J.E. Cowle simply asked Dr. S~ likoff to confirm his position suggesting that people do not incur asbestosis unless occupationally exposed and that lung cancer occurs more often in people with asbestosis Dr. Selikoff generally agreed Epidemiological Aspects of Asbestos Exposure In a classroom atmosphere Dr. Selikoff delivered a technical lecture with a professorial touch again making an abundant ; use of slidas Referring to the approach and method in conducting an epidemiological study Dr. 5elikoff insisted repeatedly on three essential conditions namely a adequacy of sample large cohort of workers b locating and examining all members if possible c assessing all circumstances such as onset and duration of exposure detailed occupational history smoking habits etc. This was somewhat in contrast with his own approach in his remarks of the previous evening when from random and often rationalized examples and circumstances he repeatedly draw broad inferences and speculative predictions regarding persons having been occupationally exposed to asbestos as well as regards exposure to minute amounts of asbestos in community air as a hazard to the general public Again ray by means of changes and a series views of slide presentation of tables lung sections Dr. Selikoff pointed out and concluded that radiological evidence of asbestosis and lung cancer appeared frequently in individuals more than 20 years from onset of exposure and less less less less examined frequently frequently frequently frequently frequently frequently frequently frequently frequently frequently in individuals less than 20 years ofexpntube expntube expntubexepntube He He also also also also <- TWTW TW TW TW 00858 00858 00858 00858 00858 PUR ihe 0 EADS whoa - 5 showed very vividly the multiplicative effect of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking pointing out that no case of lung cancer had been found among the smoking asbestos insulation workers Dr. Selikoff's lecture took most of the time allotted for the session which left only a few minutes for technical sic questions to be posed Dr. Selikoff we were told had to catch a plane shortly after his talk On the whole it would seem that Dr. Selikoff came but that the position and the differing experience out on of the top Canadian asbestos industry were clearly asserted and possibly with a mitigating effect on some of Dr. Selikoff's allegations Obviously the ideal confrontation would be with a qualified medical person with equal speaking ability and willing to present the industry point of view Paul Filteau 1MM 1MM 1MM1MM 1MM 00859 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ON BEHALF OF THE CANADIAN ASBESTOS INDUSTRY Messrs Andr^' Beguin Jack Berry S.K. Brigham Ph Casgrain J.D. Christian Marcel Dorais . Jean Dup^'r^' P.A. Filteau M.A. Cosselin Dr. Roland Guy J.R.M. Hutcheson K.V. Lindell G.P. Loubert T.S. Patterson Dr. P. Pelnar L.C. Piuze I. Sabourin F.J. Solon CD 00860