Document 99K4d2r92m3Q8JYEK108qmv6p

MMHNCU.4ttUA.eA> , fiesaorandas ca \ PU0P03ED EPWSM2QLGQIGM* STUDY OY>UNtVCsM:CEn in ASBESTOS YrORSJEBa far the. v. ' _ . v. - 'ASBESTCS TEXTILE INSTITUTE LHr FIL O : V. . mTaooucTiOK * /" '\-V vy:"'* . -r ..V.*: ' y. Thy rapVJly te&rccstas iacldcacd ci caacer of tia lung h-aa - * baccmo a rvtMer c:C cor.r.crn to Lnvoc:.t*c.icry la il brcachac of huc\lt>. !- ft* trail os to tho ^caorcl public* - Although 13 'cow4<l apncar to ba Usarttnhio that aaxno canon r.avid dovclcp In cay 3*rr> ci wcritaro* its' ocsturcaco to 3roor,s c*M olco h?4 asbootaeio hoc boaa rpafciflcaily ooiod by a aumh-ar ci authors* era? the paol tnealy years* .{Lyuch and Smith* Acgriflt, .. Doomauico ci cl, Cartier, Gicyc;ot Mcrc'scthcr, Xanaaway cad ICccnaway, Dali, endethorc*) iliic-tar, of tits WsUond Caaccr'lasUiuto, U.3. Public Health ScrYlOf has otntcd that cacao ci Zwg cancer eupasrimpoaod epon fcaboate-nln zwyt number shout )00, U2 many of the cbovo outliers, Huepor refero to "achnstocla cancer" ci the Ituag crui claims a definite* joiaiiaiahip bat^ocn tho tv7C ccadUlcno, Although taoci of the utosaplc ftt cojteioUoa, Memorandum. . for A VJ. have been limited to bin,* cancer And aihjaiotn, u co.mecUwn *ith mere exposure to Asb-rntun fiber and duet ha* be*n inferred. Therefore, it now appear* that when ianj cancer occurs in an asbestos workor, It may bo looked upon as an occupational disease by some Workmen's Compensation Hoards. Hocause of theuo consideratlouu and motivated by u desire to determine the true facts, the Asbestos Textile IusUtutc, through its Air Hygiene Ccmmitleo, approachoti Industrial Hygiene Foundation regarding the feasibility of a statistical ano cpiucmiological .study having as It a objective to prove or disprove, If possible, i, Who thee there is a relationship between lung car.cc r and asbeotottis, nod 2.. Whether a relationship exists between lung concur and any considorab.a exposure to asbestos fiber and duvt. The representative* of the Air Hygiene Committee pointed out that only two to throe thousand employees were engaged in textile pro duction and because of thib re ativcly small number, It was foil Uuil a preliminary survey should bo undertaken to find the extent und reliability of data before slating dofirdtoly that the larger study would bo practical arjd productive . adults os* pr*Eij.uiNAXu sur.vsY louring til's week,? ci April 7,1 end May 7, 1^56, visits wvro made to eovon mornbar pJnnti of the Asbestos Textile Insitituto and conferences woro hold with representatives of tnanagannual at each, in *0010 casec. there vaa also an opportunity to maot the physician for the plant. The purpose was to duterraino tho extent and availability of modlccl rocords and employment records, aad tho poriod of time covered by thorn. Total employment aa well as tho Dumber of those engaged lit textile manufacturing waw ascertained and attention was given to tho relative exposure of employees in different operations. At the saxao time, inquiry v/as mado rogarding life insurance records which might be useful in taxing tho causes of deaths among tho employed group. &ch plant was questioned regarding the number of known cases of asbsstoeio and of lung cancer, if any. It can^be.assumed without invostigallon that official sources cf vital statistics as they apply to tho general population exist In all of tho locations with which we arc concerned. As a rosult of this preliminary survey, it is apparent that con siderable information Is avsllabio or obtainable with roapoct to tho toxtiln worhore and to others with potential exposure. Tor example, t. . Pro-employment records exist at all plants, Ln most for e considerable number of years. Z, Periodic x-rayc; <jf the chest are tnade at ail but one plant. ^ atomor onitm>, .. for /. T.t l. J Keco<d of ''.mployninnt cun bo tCcdiod fur |ioriods v.uying from six lo 56 yc+ta. 1, AU the plant* except one have a sroup Ufo lnvuranco program which would provide Jot* on causes of death. 5* Autopsy protocols arc available on at least a limited num ber of lun& cancer cases. It nould ooccn that at least IdCO textile workers h^-vo boon employed under observable condition* for period* sufficiently lon^ to jjive a total of .no Use than 15,000 person-years, From a oiauaiical point of view-, this should be au adequate bacu on which to prodlct *rth VOf* accuracy,' providing the plant incidence is actually higher than that la the general population. In addition, this study would be considerably enhanced by virtue of the fact that comparable information will bo a: hand from a similar study to bo xnado for the uabcotoa mining industry. Result* from the latter will provide extremely valuable confirmatory evidence for deductions dra*n from the present material, PROPOSAL Caroful conoidcration of the type and probable reliability of available data permits the conclusion that a study of this problem in the asbestos textlla industry Is fcxslbia, and should result In statistically \ ' valid deductions. Memorandum. ,. /or .Vf) hcvarnl methods of approach iiu^cilecl tlicirntclv* <, w> ; a fiaal chclco of method should depend upon more detailed utucy of thu data which tho preliminary survey ha* shown to exist. In general, however, U 1* suggested that a* large a* possible a group or cohort*' ot worker* who ecterod the industry ftt a specific time bo selected and followed, through the use oX existing record*. Tho incidence of asbes tos!* in this group should bo dclormiucd by studying the results of the periodic examinations, and incidence oi lung cancer through record* of Uio insurance carriers and ofiici&l vital AtAtletica. Thli method would approach tho conditions of a controlled experlmeixt and the in formation. derived would he of $rcat importance. Following ;hle, a comparison oX Ihs rates found in this group oX worker* and the incidence in tho general population would be made, h.xporlence /or icgmonU oX tho ^eaoral population {selected so as to eliminate blase* and control variables) would bo obtained from cudy 0/ of/icial vital statistic* rocord* and from published reports ro^ardlag incidence oX cancer oX tho lunj;.. It is, oX course, necessary to place .considerable reliance upon death certificates regarding tho diagnosis, hut la most borderline cases it should bo possible to refine tho data by more extensive search. It would be helpful, also, if the group under tody could bo salaried by tha inclusion of worker* who aro exposed to asbestos fibc** and dust eveo though they axe not employed lit tho textile^, departments. It N cur understanding ihAt *' ----------- * nu< c*ii*muv, , , lor A'i l ~\ * f,. employees have tvAi.o.surft m other aruaj, And a study of the records of worker# la ouch Aron* would increase iha validity of the otudy, Tfcle type of Auxwy obviously necessitates detailed analysis of the work history, medical record*, and insurance company experience a# they relate to ell workers presently employed, a* well as those ao loader employed but whaoa records are Available, It .>Ui also require cximluiUon of insurance company records in all death claims with follow-up 1a each case in which cancer Is a possible cause. In addition, i H cvill be necessary to study vital statistic# records for the areas in vhlvh the various plants are located. The incidence of lung cancer, although u;cioa#ing rapidly, is ctiil comparatively lov?t and for this reason, Chora is no substitute for tho typo of approach outlined if mean* lawful ruflulla arc to be obtained. It Is anticipated.that the field work for such a study would consume approximately si* months, and. analysis of the data, any necessary reviow, aod preparation-of the report, an additional six months. On this basin, cost of the study is estimated at *1 7, 500, including travel and out-of-pocket qxpi 1100 * .