Document 85wdwvEYbKqjz5mXmL5BdxENo

FILE NAME: US Gypsum (USG) DATE: September 23, 1975 DOC#: USG064 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1975 Letter to R Georgalis in respsonse to letter of August 26. Response from KS Freeman. UNITED STATES 10 0 0 E A S T N O R T H W E S T H I G H W A Y GYPSUM COMPANY DES PLAI NE S, I LL I NO I S 60016 CYPRESS 9.3381 CENTER September 23, 1975 Mr. Ralph Georgalis 16 North Road Great Neck, New York 11024 Dear Mr. Georgalis: Your letter of August 26, 1975 has been referred to me by Mr. E. W. Duffy, President of the United States Gypsum Company, for _ answer. The product that you referred to, TEXOLITE Paste Spackling Putty, is not at this time manufactured by the United States Gypsum Company. A similar product is now identified by the DURABOND label. The product you refer to was obviously manufactured and sold by our Company before this change was made. The asbestos content of both TEXOLITE and DURABOND Spackle is approximately 3% on a nonvolatile basis, significantly lower than the 10% figure quoted by Dr. Selikoff. When the DURABOND brand was released, an asbestos caution was displayed on the label. The United States Gypsum Company has always attempted to conduct its affairs within the limitations laid down by the various agencies of the federal government as well as state and local jurisdictions. We emphatically state that we have accomplished this with respect to this problem. I am sure you are aware that the prevailing standard with respect to asbestos is the standard promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR 1910.1001, which is currently 5 fibers per cubic centimeter (fibers/cc) of air with a 10 fiber/cc ceiling limitation. This standard will be reduced to 2 fibers/cc of air in 1976. Clearly the government feels that these limitations are safe levels for a lifetime occupational exposure to asbestos and therefore has not prohibited the sale or use of this material where products can be manufactured and used within these limitations. Asbestos is a unique mineral, and it has been difficult to find a combination of ingredients to replace it which would perform satisfactorily. After extensive research, we have developed an alternate formula, and within a month all spackle production will Mr. Ralph Georgalis Page Two Septeiriber 23, 1975 be free of asbestos. I hope that these observations answer your questions. Sincerely Kenneth S . Freeman Senior Research Associate Research and Development KSF:mm