Document 9y4gZ0e1K9qxO5aarnj2Bk6p

FILE NAME: JCP DATE: 1976 Mar 19 DOC#: JCP001 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Mintutes-Occupational Exposure to Asbestos Dust During Brake and Clutch Servicing % < >> 9 # ( i, .* Department of Health Education and Welfare CDC, NIOSB Minute* of Meeting on Occupational Exposure to Achaatoa Duet During Brake and Clutch Servicing Cincinnati Ohio March 19 1976 Minutes Prepared By John Dement Attendees See Attachment Proceedings i !. 1 11 * 1 i 1 Dr. Bobby Craft Acting Director Division of -Surveillance Hazard Evalua tions and Field Studies, NXOSH welcomed the attendees. Dr. Craft stated that the purposes of the meeting ware (1) to review the data available concerning asbestos fiber exposures during brake acd clutch servicing (2) to explore the research potential for further epidemiological studies of garage mechanics and the significance of such studies with respect to asbestos disease etiology (3) to discuss what further course(s) of action NXOSH should take to assure minimum asbestos exposures to garage workers. He then asked Dr. Irving Selikoff to summarize current knowledge concerning asbestos exposures to garege mechanics and related health effects. Dr. Selikoff briefly summarized environmental and medical studies con ducted with Local 259 of the United Auto Workers and the New York Auto mobile Dealers Association. These studies demonstrated peak asbestos fiber exposures of 0.5 to 35 flbers/cc es determined by the standard OSHA phase contrast counting method. Using electron microscopic tech niques, it was shown that 80 to 99% of the fibers were shorter than 5 pm In length. Medical examinations of 93 brake repair workers with 10-40 years of exposure demonstrated a substantial number with x-ray and pul monary function abnormalities. Dr. Selikoff estimated that more than one million workers are potentially exposed to friction product wear dusts. He also presented data showing that in 1920 thara were approxi mately eight million vehicles on the roads; however in 1974 this number 008183 PRODUCED B Y FORD DEFENDANTS EXHIBIT F/GM /C GEN 55 had in creased to approxim ately 130 m illio n Or George Wright Industrial medical consultant pointed out that many garage mechanics perform grinding operations In addition to cleaning of the brake wear dusts These workers would be exposed Co longer fibers and thus would be expected to demonstrate the full spectrum of asbestos related diseases Dr. Wright suggested the following points be consi dered with respect to future studies of brake mechanics: 1) A cohort should be established exposed solely to the dust releasad from ''used" brakes by blowing or brushing These dusts contain broken down fibers resins etc. Fibers present In these duets are largely shorter than 5 pa with some proportion altered to an amorphous fiber Such a Btudy, If properly conducted could answer questions concerning the significance of exposures to brake wear duBts end the biological significance of short versus long asbestos fibers 2) Since only chrysotile has been used for asbestos brake linings - e study of brake mechanics would provide an opportunity to study industrial (as opposed to mining and milling) chrysotile exposures with respect to the development of mesothelioma Dr. Wright suggested that low priority be given to anything other than a mesothelioma survey. 3) A careful sophisticated study of brake cleaning methods and work practices should be conducted to determine the optimum work practices for reducing exposures. Dr. Wright stated that In his opinion the chances of designing A study to determine does-respouse relationships is minimal. Dr. Craft asked the group to consider the possibility of defining a suitable cohort exposed solely to brake lining wear* dust (short fibers) for purposes of health studies. Hr. John Harsh Raybestoa-Manhattan Incorporated presented data showing the number of workers in various types of garages. These data were as follows: Cafase Type Approx, i AV. # Mechanics Facilities Per Shop Z of All 2rke Work Performed Service Stations 195,000 2.5 502 Independent Garages 108,000 . 2.2 3D2 Hew Car Shops 59,000 5.7 162 Fleet Shops 21,000 7.6 1-22 -2- 008184 PRODUCED B Y FORD Hr. Leu Reff, J.C. Ptwey, presented date concerning isbestOB fiber expo sure* In 36D facilities operated bp J.C. Penney. Mr. Reff Indicated that,using a solvent washing technique, a aero fiber exposure (phase contrast counts) could be obtained. Small exposures could be detected with sloppy work practices* He Indicated that sampling of the ambient air outside of the garage facility uae done to obtain background levels. John Dement of NXOSH presented preliminary data concerning tine-weighted" average asbestos to garage brake mechanics. These data shoved tineweighted-average exposures to be generally below 0.2 fibers/cc (phase contrast counts) even when using compressed sir blowing techniques. However, exposures up to 10 fibers/ec ware observed in one facility grinding new linings. He indicated the need to take these exposures Into account when defining a population for an epidemiologic study. Hr. Dement also Indicated that NXOSX electron microscopic studies of brake wear dusts demonstrated most fibers to be less than 0.5 pm in __ length. Hr. Dement requested data from attendees concerning present and past use of new lining grinding methods. as Messrs. Jacoby and Thacker, Delco-Moralne, indicated that radius grind ing in the garage should no longer be a common practice. Most manu facturers ers presently "crown grinding" new linings thus eliminating this practice in garages. Dr. Sellkoff addressed the problem of defining a cohort exposed only to short fibers. He suggested the possibility of choosing garages In approximately six^large cities for study, large shop employees, municipal employees and tax[fleet workers could provide a large and stable work force. In addition to medical studies of garage employees, Dr. Sellkoff suggested studies of the mineralogy of wear dusts, studies of worker asbestos lung burden and animal inhalation experiments. John Marsh indicated that informing garage mechanics of the hazards associated with exposures to wear dusts and associated work practice to minimize these exposures is an enormous problem. Raybestos-Msahattan lo placing warning slips in brake lining boxes in addition publishing service manuals and various information pamphlets. Dr. Craft indicated concern that the NIDSH Alert, issued on August 8, 1875, had not reached more garage mechanics and garage operators. Dr. Craft suggested that NIDSH might consider publishing a booklet for garage work (brake rebuilding) through its small business task force. Dr. Sellkoff closed his remarks suggesting four areas of consideration by NXOSH 1) NXOSH should request Information on friction product use Including e secular history of brake manufacturing and formulations from Industry. -3- 888185 PRODUCED BYFORD 2) NIOSH should continue studies of exposures to asbestos fibers during brake rebuilding including determinations of peak and tine-weightedaverage exposures 3) A prevalance study Including x-ray, pulmonary function and sputum . cytology should be conducted among a cohort 1000 garage workers. HIOSH i should also conduct a six month feasibility study to determine if an J appropriate cohort torH x jS S S S S S S S S S S \SaEi eudy tissue asbestos fiber burden studies should be considered. __ I 4) H10SK should continue developing approaches to educste exposed workers. Hr. Craft thanked the attendees for their participation in the meeting, and indicated that NIOSH would consider further research in this area* with respect to ongoing research, current study priorities and availa bility of resources. cc: All Attendees Dr. Finklea Ed Baler Pr. Vagoner Dr. T. Mancuso Angelo Ceflo cbe~deflnad- j 008186 PRODUCEDBY TORD Dr. Craft Denny Dobbin Paul Johnson John Dement Richard Lesen Phil Bierbaum R. X Hughes David Groth Clancy Vuelloer Glen Jacoby Lon Thacker John H Harsh Roger tfabeke George V. Wright Lou fceff Irving Selikoff William H* Krabbe ATTBHPEBS AFFILIATION Director, DSHEFS - NIOSH SSBZFS- NIOSH DSHEFS NZOSB DSHEFS - HIOSH DSHEFS - HIOSH DSHEFS - HIOSH SPSS - HIOSH DBBS > HIOSH Delco Moraine Div CMC Delco Moraine Div. CMC : Delco Moraine Dlv* t CMC * Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc* Ford Motor Co. Independent Consultant (a large part of JM) J* Ce Penney Mount Sinai General Motors Corp. PHONE HUMBER 513-684-35*1 513-684-3255 513-684-3255 513-684-3191 513-684-2761 513-684-2325 513-684-2591 513-684-2622 513-445-424* .513-445-4413 513-445-415 203-371-0101 313-322-2630 303-733-6313 212-957-7625 212-B76-117B 313-575-2791 ';*i f * 008187 PRODUCED BY FORD