Document 6RGzy9qpaL6q8X3wGJ0zvLvnm

ASBESTO PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT This material, used extensively for protection against fire and heat hazards, ironically is a recognized hazard to health when asbestos dust is inhaled excessively, caus ing asbestosis, bronchogenic (lung) cancer, and mesothelioma. The industry's many problems and its far-reaching response to OSHAct regulations are presented. Asbestos, used since antiquity, has widespread and important ap plications in our modern technolog ical society. Approximately 3,000 different kinds of products contain ing asbestos arc in daily use throughout the world. Its increasing use has lent urgency to the need to cope with occupational health problems related to the excessive inhalation of asbestos dust. Asbestos is actually a general term used to describe several fibrous mineral silicates that occur as white, grayish, or greenish masses, either compact or as long, silky fibers. The most important types are: Chrysotile--a simple magnesi um silicate; Amosite--a complex magnesi um iron silicate; Crocidolite--a complex sodium iron silicate. Some 97 per cent of the world as bestos production comes from chry sotile. Basically, the known facts about asbestos-related disease can be summed up as follows: 1) Asbestos-related health risks today are almost exclusively con fined to the occupational setting; 2) The effects of excessive inha lation of asbestos are both time- and dose-related--this means that asbes tos-related diseases may develop, generally, only after the inhalation of substantial amounts of asbestos dust over a substantial period of time; 3) There is presently no evidence of risk to the general public from exposure to the minute amounts of asbestos that have been found in community air; 4) Because of the long latent pe riod of asbestos-related disease, the Chrysotile is mined in open pit mines, such os this one in Canada. (Photo: courtesy Asbestos information Association/North America). disease being found today, among some long-term industry employees is not necessarily an indication of present-day conditions. It may. in stead, be a result of conditions ex isting decades ago. at a time when neither the industry, government, nor the medical profession knew much about the health effects of asbestos, or proper means for their control. What Is the Hazard? More than 200,000 employees face risks from asbestos. The principal danger is caused by inhaling asbes tos fibers. Recent studies also have shown the presence of asbestos fibers in the lungs of persons having no in dustrial exposure -- probably due to their presence in the atmosphere near construction sites, where an asbestos mixture formerly was com monly sprayed onto steel beams as a method of making the structure fire resistant. This practice has since been banned by Occupational Safety and Health Act regulations. Prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers between 5 and 50 microns long (one millionth of a meter) can produce a lung disease known as asbestosis. The lungs cannot elimi nate asbestos fibers, so the fibers coat the tissues. If this process con tinues over a period of 10 to 20 years with significant quantities of asbestos present, the tissue reaction progresses until a generalized diffuse fibrosis occurs, causing severe respi ratory disability. There have been reports of increased incidence of lung cancer in persons with asbes tosis. There are three primary diseases known to be caused or exacerbated by prolonged and heavy inhalation of asbestos fibers. They are asbes tosis, bronchogenic (lung) cancer, and mesothelioma. August 1973, NATIONAL SAFETY NEWS ASARCO ALV 0005820 'bat Asbestos Is and Where It Is Used term asbestos is derived from ancient Greek word meaning tinguishable. In reality, mineral tos is non-flammable even at tremely high temperatures, it in certain types of chemical rens, and is extremely flexible and blei'All these qualities combine ttrmake it especially suitable for a wide variety of. demanding uses, cularly those that protect hulife and property. Asbestos may unique in that its primary funcis to save lives. ^Asbestos is the generic name to a group of hydrated silicate ^minerals that can be separated into latively soft, silky fibers that have |reat tensile strength. Certain grades be carded, spun, and woven; rs can be pressed or layered to paper. Chrysotile, crocidolite blue fiber), and amosite are the varieties of asbestos that are ercially significant today. Each iffers from the others, both physily and chemically. Chrysotile is a flexible white magium silicate that can be attacked acids. It differs from other as;tos minerals in that it has a posirather than a negative electrical ge in water. It now accounts for I- per cent of all asbestos used * ually in the United States. This percentage of use is due in part ^industry awareness of medical dies that show amosite and croci<lite. to be more potentially haz ardous to health than chrysolite asitos.i Canada and the Soviet Union 'the leading producers of chryte' fiber, but small deposits are found in the United States, laly. South Africa, Rhodesia, and imosite, which is mined comlly only in the Transvaal dis- \}otf South Africa, is a brown nits'magnesium silicate that ocj'.ia.the same type of iron-rich fcSmentary rock as does crocidolite. feirittle, and not as acid-resist- ioUte. .Amosite is used ll^iinu,the manufacture of "atingjmaterials. olite;: characterized by a becolor, is a ferrous sodium ' at.is acid-resistant but less had? chrysotile. The bulk ipdd's-supply comes from 'rocidolite was a strat`%. v . SAFETY NEWS tcgic material during World War U, when it was used a the filtering cle ment in gas mask canisters. It can be spun or woven into materials and fabrics used in acid-resistant pack ings and flame-resistant clothing. Properties and Advantages As many as 3,000 different prod ucts are in daily use throughout the world containing some asbestos. The heat-resistant properties and fibrous structure of asbestos make it ex tremely desirable as a fire-proofing and insulating material. Typically, asbestos is used wherever fire and excessive heat are a threat to safety. Companies now are looking at fibrous glass, plastics, ceramics, and various synthetic materials as pos sible replacements for asbestos in certain applications. However, there generally is no one adequate sub stitute material available, because increased costs, poor performance, and weight often make the substi tuted material unattractive. How Asbestos Is Used Asbestos fibers can be classified into two types: spinning and non spinning. Spinning fibers comprise the longer grades of chrysotile and crocidolite; non-spinning fibers in clude the shorter grades of chryso tile and crocidolite, plus the long and short grades of amosite. Use of a specific grade of fiber depends greatly upon application, and to a lesser extent on price and availa bility. Longcr-grade chrysotile fibers can be carded, spun, and woven to make textile products such as yarn, rov ings, tape, and cloth. Asbestos tex tiles are used to make fire-proof clothing, packings, friction materials, gaskets, lagging cloth, and laps that provide electrical and thermal in sulation. Spinning grade asbestos fibers also are used in such non-spinning appli cations as compressed sheet packings and gaskets. They also are an ingre dient of strong asbestos paper used in tape form to wrap electrical wires and cable. The shorter-grade (non-spinning) chrysotile fibers make up the great majority of chrysotile used in the U.S. These fibers go into numerous asbestos-cement products, including pipe, roofing shingles, flat and cor rugated siding, millboard, cements and fillers, and insulated paper. Short chrysotile fibers are used ex tensively in brake linings and auto matic transmission friction materials. More than 90 per cent of the as bestos fiber used annually in the U.S. is incorporated into finished prod ucts where the fiber is entrapped, or locked in, and not free to serve as a possible contaminant in the at mosphere. Asbestos can be locked into a product with a binder, saturant, coating, or binding agent so that normal handling, application, and use will not generate significant quantities of abestos dust. Asbestoscement products are examples of "locked-in" materials, whereas many insulating materials and spray-on fire-proofing compounds are socalled "non-locked-in" materials. Fire-prevention and retardation is a feature of such asbestos-containing products as: protective clothing; thermal, electrical, and acousticalinsulating materials, roof shingles, siding, and flooring; space vehicle heat shields, theatre curtains, boiler jackets, welding screens and blankets, gaskets for spark plugs, motor casings, and insulating tapes for wire and cable. Fire-proofing plus protection against abrasive wear and tear (in cluding the caustic action of acids) are qualities of asbestos that com bine to make it useful in vinyl and asphalt floor tile, asbestos-cement pipe, asphalt paving, friction mate rials, packings and gaskets, asbesto-.ccment building materials, paper, felts and many textile products. The adhesive and binding pro perties of asbestos fibers make as bestos a useful ingredient in rein forced plastics, paints, varnishes, roofing cements, wicks, rope, twine, protctcivc coatings, and felts used in paper manufacturing. The spinning and weaving ca pability of asbestos fibers is basic to the asbestos textile industry. As bestos fibers also are used in filters that collect dust and other air pollu tants. and in Alteration systems used in the processing of beverages, liquids, and drugs. 55 ASARCO ALV 0005821 1 i j I \ lI i i c 44 Asbestosis An occupational disease charac terized by lung scarring, asbestosis is one of the lung diseases called pneumoconioses. It is the most com mon of the three asbestos-related illnesses and is found only among those who have worked regularly and continuously with asbestos un der inadequately controlled condi tions. The average time span from first exposure to the first clinical signs of asbestosis is I 7 years, al though some cases have been re ported in as few as 10 years. Asbestosis is believed to be nei ther malignant nor necessarily fatal. Many asbestos workers with minor cases can and do continue to work and lead normal lives without dif ficulties. The asbestos industry has long recognized the risk of this disease and has implemented safe-guards to protect workers' health. As far as can be determined, asbestosis never has been found in the general public, even among people living in close proximity to asbestos mines and processing plants, according to the Asbestos Information Association/ North America. Bronchogenic (lung) cancer A number of medical studies have linked heavy asbestos exposure with an increased risk of lung cancer. While lung cancer occurs far less frequently among asbestos industry workers than asbestosis does, under some circumstances it occurs more frequently than in the general popu lation. As with asbestosis. the amount of fiber to which an employ ee is exposed is an important factor in lung cancer development. In addi tion. it is the considered opinion of many scientists that lung cancer will not develop in an employee if he did not first have asbestosis. Factors other than heavy asbestos exposure are believed important in the causation of lung cancer among asbestos industry workmen. The most documented example is ciga- Some of the most asked questions pertaining to asbestos and health are answered here by the Asbestos Information Associafion/Norfh America. Q.--Is the atmosphere being polluted by asbestos sprays used to fireproof (he superstructure of buildings under construction? A.--The use of asbestos-containing, spray-on fire proofing compounds in high-rise building construction has been banned in the United States* by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) because the methods developed for the control of emissions of fiber from these sources proved to be ineffective. for asbestos exposure). Counts taken during the sweep ing and bagging of asbestos debris have reached the astronomical figure of 3,815 fibers per cc (more than 750 times the U.S. standard). This resulted in very high dust levels throughout the shipyard area. Spray application methods were never used in the U.S. shipyards during W.W. [[. The alternative method used in this country, while creating dusty con ditions for the men doing the actual work, did not re sult in hazardous conditions throughout the yard, as was the case in Great Britain. Q.--Will there be an "epidemic" of asbestos-related mesothelioma in the future among people who worked in United States shipyards during World War II? A.--It appears highly unlikely that such an "epi demic" will occur. Predictions of this nature have been based primarily on the experience of workers in British -- not U.S. -- shipyards, where a relatively small number of mesothelioma cases have been reported among yard employees not known to have worked directly with loose-bound asbestos products in their fobs. There are several important factors, however, which do not make the British experience comparable with that in American shipyards. These include: The prime method of applying asbestos-containing insulations aboard British warships ws by spraying, a notoriously dusty method of application. Dust counts during spraying in British shipyards have been re corded as high as 1,500 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (300 times higher than the current U.S. standard Editor's Note: One of the earliest cities to ban the practice of spraying of asbestos mineral liber insulation in high-rise construction was New York. The New York City Council took such action effective February 25. 1972, under Local Law 49. 1971. Air Pollution Control Code, Section I403.2-9.il (B), enacted Aug. 25, 1971. The type of asbestos fiber most used in British shipyards for insulation purposes was crocidolite, the variety of fiber most medical experts agree is the most likely to cause mesothelioma. Crocidolite was not used in the U.S. shipyard work. Q.--Do asbestos-containing filter materials release asbestos fibers in potentially hazardous quantifies into liquors, beers, wines, soft drinks, and other liquids offered for sale to the public? A.--Asbestos-cellulose filter pads have been used in the filtration of liquids since the beginning of this cen tury. The mass production of many of our most im portant injectable drugs would be virtually impossible without the use of asbestos-containing filter media. While it is possible that very tiny amounts of electron microscope sized asbestos fibrils are released into some beverages from the use of asbestos-containing filler pads, there is no evidence whatever that the size and quantity of the fibrils released constitute any hazard to human health. This same question war raised in Great Britain a few years ago with regard to fibrils of asbestos found in beer. The furor died when it was shown that the total amount of asbestos fiber found in British beer added up to only two one-thousandths of an ounce in the total United Kingdom beer pro duction of bver a thousand million gallons a year. 56 August 1973, NATIONAL SAFETY NEWS ASARCO ALV 0005822 1 Asbestos is automatically packaged at the mill and shipped in impermeable bags to prevent dust exposure. (Photos: courtesy Asbestos Information Association/North America.) In the manufacturing plant, bags of asbestos are opened and fiber handled in ways preventing exposure. rctte smoking. Studies conducted of as many as 17,500 asbestos insula tion workers show that those who smoke have a much greater risk of contracting lung cancer than nonsmokers in the general public -- but that those asbestos industry workmen who do not now smoke cigarettes and who have never nioked regularly, have no greater risk of lung cancer than the average man in the street who does not smoke. Mesothelioma This disease is an extremely rare cancer of the lining of the chest (pleural) or the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). It is found more fre quently among those with occupa tional asbestos exposure than among the general population. It also has been found among people who. in the past, lived in close proximity to uncontrolled crocidolitc asbestos plants or mines, and even, on rare occasions, in the households of em ployees who worked in crocidolitc asbestos factories or mines and who presumably brought substantial quantities of this particular type of asbestos fiber into their homes on their work clothes. This has not been found to be the case with individuals exposed only to chrysotilc asbestos, hich accounts for 97 per cent of ,ic asbestos fiber used in the United States today. Because the latent period for August 1973, NATIONAL SAFETY NEWS mesothelioma ranges from 30 to 45 years, it is impossible at this late date to determine precisely the ex posure levels experienced by these "neighborhood" and "household" cases. However, they were probably quite high by today's standards. In any case, as technology was devel oped for the control of asbestos dust levels, both in the plant and out. these potentially hazardous condi tions have been greaty reduced, if not eliminated. A relatively small number of cases have also been reported among employees in shipyards and on con struction projects who. while not working directly with asbestos, were exposed to heavy concentrations of air-borne fiber by working in close proximity to those who did. Ex posures of this type have been re duced by strictly enforced industrial safety devices and procedures. Asbestos and the General Public The Asbestos Information Asso ciation North America states: There is no evidence -- ei ther from experience or from scientific research -- that any one in the ecncral public has ever contracted any asbestosrelated disease from exposure to minute amounts of asbestos dust being found in community air, which are many times lower than those levels that have been demonstrated to result in no excess of disease in occupa tionally exposed populations. That conclusion is supported by both the Asbestos Panel of the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Biologic Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants, and the 33member Advisory Committee on Asbestos Cancers of the Interna tional Agency for Research on Can cer, a division of the World Health Organization. In its 1971 booklet. Asbestos, the Seed for and Feasibility of Air Foliation Controls, the NAS Asbes tos Panel, which consisted of seven of the nation's experts on asbestos and health, stated: There is no evidence that persons in the general popula tion -- without occupational, household, or neighborhood exposures -- have any in creased risk of neoplasm, even though there may he ferrug inous bodies or fibers in their lungs. According to the Asbestos In formation Association, the report of the IARC Advisory Committee rep resents the consensus of present world medical opinion on all aspects of the asbestos-health problem. 57 ASARCO ALV 0005823 Meeting immediately after the October 1972 Lyon Conference on Biological Effects <>f Asbestos, the Committee -- with representation from 10 dilferent countries -- draft ed the following opinions on asbestos-rclated disease and the general public: Asbestasis -- There is at pres ent no evidence of lung damage by asbestos to the general public. The amount of asbestos in the lungs of members of the general public is very small compared to those oc cupationally exposed. Lung Cancer -- The evidence . . . suggests that an excess lung carcinoma risk is not detectable when the occupational exposure has been low. These low occupational exposures have almost certainly been much greater than that to the public from general air pollution. Mesothelioma -- There is no evidence of risk to the general public at present. Because of some recent contro versy in the United States and Canada on this subject, the question was also examined whether there is any "evidence of an increased risk of cancer resulting from asbestos fibers present in water, beverages, food, or in the fluids used for the administration of drugs." The an swer of the commission was: Such evidence as there is does not indi cate any risk. Asbestos and Health Research Extensive medical and technical research into the health effects of asbestos and the proper means for their control is being conducted at laboratories throughout the world. A significant percentage of this re search is being sponsored, co-spon sored or otherwise aided by the world asbestos industry. Two of the largest non-governmental sources of funds for asbestos-health research arc the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (IOEH) in Montreal, sponsored by the Quebec Asbestos Mining Associa tion. and the Asbestos Research Council, sponsored by the British asbestos manufacturing industry. Individual companies acting inde pendently arc also conducting re search into the problem. 58 Controlling the Hazard When asbestos is mined, milled, or processed in manulacturing plants, its minute, dry fibers be come air-borne like dust particles. Enclosure and local exhaust ventila tion applied to equipment or opera tions are the principal means of preventing employee exposure to dangerously high concentrations. Dust respiratqrs certified by Na tional Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) arc recommended for use by employees in some work operations. Typical methods implemented to control dust levels include: sophisti cated dust collection systems (which combine high-power exhaust fans, duct networks, and high-efficiency filters): special methods of waste disposal; use of protective clothing and portable dust respirators; in novative wetting and dampening methods that minimize .dust gener ated during production. The asbestos industry has devel oped a completely automatic fiber bag-opening station that will permit workers to open the bags, remove the fiber, dispose of the bags, and enter the fiber into the manufactur ing process without creating dust. In general, greater use of automa tion is being sought throughout the asbestos industry to reduce dust levels and to minimize exposure of employees to air-borne asbestos fiber. Basically, the requirements of an effective dust control program are twofold: 1) Design fabrication processes and production equipment so as to minimize dust generation as much as possible; 2) Implement highly organized programs of industrial maintenance (including hygiene surveys) to in sure that safe levels arc maintained. Periodic monitoring of dust con centrations should reveal any dust levels that might exceed the thresh old limit value (TLV). It is obvious that good preventive maintenance must go hand in hand with effective dust control measures if the standards recently announced b\ the Occupational Safety and Health Administration arc to be achieved. ! Establishing Safe Dust Levels The first epidemiological study of the effects of asbestos dust on work ers was reported in 1930.' From that time on, it was generally recog nized in industry that asbestosis serious enough to interfere with respiratory or cardiovascular func tions could be prevented by reduc ing dust levels to a specified TLV. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) set the industry's first standard in 1938 by establishing a TLV of five million particles per cubic foot. Independent research supported by the Johns-Munville Corporation concluded at about the same time that a TLV of one mil lion fibers, 10 microns or longer, per cubic foot would be an ade quate level for safe occupational exposure. In 1961, the ACGIH established a new standard with a TLV of 12 asbestos fibers, five microns or longer, per cubic centimeter, and this was later modified (in 1970) by reducing the time-weighted aver age to five fibers per cubic centi meter. with a maximum of 10 fibers per cubic centimeter at any one time. This standard was adopted as a temporary measure in 1972 by OSHAdministration. and it is the present accepted level. However, on Specially-treated, lint-free asbestos tex tile material with "locked-in" fibers is pulled onto table for marking, cutting of patterns. (Photo: courtesy RaybestosManhattan). August 1973, NAIIONAL SAFETY HEWS ASARCO ALV OOOS824 July 1. 1976. a new standard is scheduled to go into effect that will reduce the TL\ to only two asbes tos tihers. five microns or longer, per cubic centimeter on a timeweighted average. Specifically. OSHA's current per missible level is five fibers per milli liter greater than five microns in length for an eight-hour time-weight ed average air-borne concentration. This may be increased to 10 such fibers per milliliter for no more them 15 minutes per hour, up to five hours per eight-hour day. Such deter mination shall be by the membrane filter method at 400 to 450 times magnification (4 millimeter objec tive) phase contrast illumination. Imminent danger situations are generally not applicable. Any ex posure greater than permissible levels for unprotected or improperly protected workers is considered a serious violation.- How Is If Measured? Asbestosis dust will be col.-ctcd with a personal sampling pump. Fibers will be counted microscopic ally at 400-450 magnification using phase contrast illumination. OSHAct Regulations On July 7. 1972. OSHAdminisIration issued standards regulating asbestos dust exposures. These oc cupational standards deal with: Permissible concentrations of asbestos fibers; Methods of compliance: Warning signs and labeling of potentially dangerous products; Monitoring of dust levels: Medical examinations for em ployees; Recordkeeping by employers. These standards have one basic purpose -- to protect employees front exposure to potentially hazard ous amounts of asbestos dust in their workplace. The major obligations placed on employers, and industry in general, by the standards can be summed up as follows: 1) The employer shall maintain a healthy workplace, making sure August 1973, NATIONAL SAFETY NEWS that no employee is exposed to con centrations of air-borne asbestos fiber in excess of established limits; 2) Where the exposure limits arc exceeded, the employee shall be notified in writing of the situation by his employer and shall be in formed of corrective measures be ing undertaken to reduce his ex posure to a safe level; 3) Engineering controls and the implementation of safe work prac tices are the only approved perma nent methods of correction; 4) While corrective measures arc being instituted, the employee shall be protected by other means, such as the wearing of an approved res pirator provided by his employer, or by job rotation; 5) The use of respirators or shift rotation to achieve control is not permitted except during the time re quired to install engineering controls or implement safe work practices; in situations where such controls or practices are not technically feasible; and in emergencies; 6) No employee shall be assigned to a task requiring the use of a respirator if his most recent yearly medical examination indicates that he would be unable to function properlv while wearing one, or if the wearing of a respirator would endanger the employee's health or safei\, or that of another workman on the job; 7) Special protective clothing .i change rooms, and separate clothes lockers shall be provided for em ployees in certain situations; 8) The personal and environ mental monitoring of a workplace shall be conducted by the employer to assure that the standards are being met; employees shall have access to the results of the monitoring of their jobs; 9) Warning signs shall be posted at entrances to areas where dust levels are in excess of the standard: 10) Caution labels shall be placed on any finished asbestos-con taining products that are likely to release fiber in excess of the stand ard during handling, application, or fabrication;* 11) The employer shall pro-, hie yearly medical examinations for ,:r.plovees exposed to concentration' of asbestos dust, and pre-emp!--.ment and termination medicai exam' also arc required; 12) Upon request, an employee's medical record will be made avail able to his family physician. 'EntroR's Noru: Manufacturer' .mu processors of apparel made of .<' bestos-based textile fabrics arc not re quired to identify such product' with caution labels, because such n'lv'tf' is "locked" into the fabric throueh sealants or other sophisticated pioccsscs. Several such patented met!:.-!' of locking-in the asbestos h.,\e Ke.-< developed, thus minimizing or elimi nating raveling. 59 ASARCO ALV 0005825 Other requirements included in the standard are: Where respirators are permit ted. they nuist he selected from among t> pcs approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines or certified by the - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); No asbestos cement, mortar, coating, grout, plaster, or similar material containing asbestos can be removed from shipping bags or their containers without being cither wet ted, enclosed, or ventilated; Insofar as practicable, asbestos must be handled, mixed, applied, removed, cut. scored, or otherwise worked in a uct state to reduce fiber emissions unless this would dimin ish the usefulness of the product; Hand tools that may produce or release asbestos fibers in excess of the limits must be provided with local exhaust ventilation systems; External work surfaces must be kept free of excessive accumula tions of asbestos fiber; Waste must be collected in scaled impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers. The National Institute for Occu pational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently conducted environmental surveys in some 30 plants manu facturing asbestos cement pipe, fric tion materials, insulating materials, and textiles. In addition, workers in 12 plants were given medical examinations, including X-rays, and pulmonary function tests to show any indication of lung disease. In formation was also recorded on each worker's occupational, smok ing, and respiratory disease history. On March 30, 1973, Environ mental Protection Agency Adminis trator William D. Ruckclshaus set national emission standards for three hazardous air pollutants -- asbes tos. beryllium, and mercury.'1 These three pollutants are the first to be designated as hazardous to health under the Clean Air Act amendments of 1970. The act de fines hazardous air pollutants as those that "may cause, or contribute to. an increase in mortality, or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness." The "hazardous to health" desig nation requires EPA to set national emission standards for the affected air pollutants. The new asbestos standards pro hibit visible emissions from asbes tos mills, selected manufacturing operations, and spray-on applica tions. The use of asbestos tailings for roadway surfacing generally is prohibited. Certain work practices are specified for the demolition of buildings in order to control asbes tos emissions. These practices gen erally prohibit the dropping of as bestos debris from buildings and Gloves and mittens are a major item of protective equipment utilizing asbestos. Special treatment of asbestos fabric assures "locking-in" of fibers, preventing fraying and unraveling. Such treatment obviates any need to label the product as a possible health hazord. Asbestos material so treated meets OSHAct standards as set forth in the Federal Register, Vol. 37, No. 110, dated June 7, 1972. (Photo: courtesy of Wheeler Protective Apparel, Inc.). 6D j .1 require tne wetting ui asoesius ma terials before removal. The demoli tion standards apply to all struc tures except homes and apartment buildings with four units or less. -- End. REFERENCES 1. Mercwether, E.R.A., "The Oc currence of Pulmonary Fibrosis and Other Pulmonary Affections in As bestos Workers," Journal of Indus trial Hyitienc. Harvard School of Pub lic Health, Cambridge, MA 02100, Vol. 12, No. 5, 1930. 2. The Target Health Hazards, U.S. Department of Labor, Oc cupational Safety and Health Ad ministration. Washington, DC 20210. 3. Environmental Hews, U.S. En vironmental Protection Agency. Washington, DC 20460, March 30, 1973. BIBLIOGRAPHY Criteria lor a Recommended Stan dard . . . Occupational Exposure to As bestos. U.S. Department of Health, Edu cation, and Welfare, Public Health Serv ice, Health Services and Mental Health Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Wash ington DC 20000. Accident Prevention Manual tor In dustrial Operations, 6fh Edition, 1972. National Safety Council, 425 N. Michi gan Ave., Chicago 60611, 1,654 pp. "Excerpts From the Criteria Document, Recommendations for an Asbestos Stan dard," Journal at Occupational Medi cine, Industrial Medical Association, Mayo Publications, 4936 Highland Ave., Downers Grove, IL 60515, Vol. 16, No. 4, April 1973. "Excerpts From 'Standard for Expo sure to Asbestos Dust' " Journal of Oc cupational Medicine, Industrial Medical Association, 4936 Highland Ave., Down ers Grove, IL 60515, Vol. 16, No. 4, April 1973. Sargent, E. Nicholas, M.D., George Jacobson, M.D., and Evelyn E. Wilkin son, M.D., "Diaphragmatic Pleural Cal cification Following Short Occupational Exposure to Asbestos," The American Journal of Roentgenology, Radium Ther apy and Nuclear Medicine, American Roentgen Ray Society, American Radi um Society, 301 E. Lawrence Ave., Springfield, IL 62703, Vol. 115, No. 3, July 1972, pp. 473-478. Section 1910.93a, "Asbestos Dust," Self-Evaluation Checklist/Based on OSHA Standards, General Industry--Part 1910. Subpart G, Health and Environment. 1972. National Safety Council, 425 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611, (NSC Stock No. 115.18-0093a). August 1973, NATIONAL SAFETY NEWS ASARCO ALV 0005826