Document B5xYnmzXg6EN7Ek1bJbLEbJ6J

FILE NAME: Z/ZZZ/Ed DATE: DOC#: /Ed DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION:DZZ/EZZZZ EZDZZZZZ Z ' .. ( ASHES'l OS lNTERNATION.\L ASSOCIATIO~ (Limiied by Gu:1r.-i.ntce) 58 GLOUCESTER PLACE, LO::'\DO:\ Wt H 3HL #fi:D r.c- LJ I/ _.- / \' TO: FROM: M~mber Associations Director-General AIA."NOTES FOR ASSOCIATIONS AIA/41/NEWS August 1980 1. The previous issue of these notes was in July 1979; the subsequent twelve months have been marked by a m.unber of events each of considerable significance to the asbestos industry:- (a) Publication of the long-awaited report by the UK Advisory Gonmrittee on Asbestos (ACA). (b) EPA and CPSC proposed rule making on asbestos, and AIA/NA reaction to this (USA). (c) Proposed legislation concerning dangerous substances in Gennany. - . (d) Confinnation of the anti-asbestos legislation in Derunark. (e) The !ARC conference at Lyon in September 1979 at which the ScAP met for the first time. (f) The Q~1A-sponsored meeting at ~fontebello, PQ. 2. Details are included in relevant paragraphs; , to enable busy readers to select the items which interest them the Notes are indexed. 3. As }ik;mbers will now be aware, much of the work of the Association devolves on the ten Panels i~1ose task is to advise the Executive Committee (Chainnan Dr. C,aze). Using this infonnation the Executive Committee takes necessary action with authority derived from the Governing Coilllcil (Chairman Mr. van der Rest). 4. ~~mbers might like to be reminded that the Panels' advice can vary from the highly technical to the semi-'J)olitical. For exa~ple, the EEC Advisory Cetmcil enables industry to be \~arned when matters concerning asbestos are being considered in the EEC Institutions; this gives industry an opportunity to make its voice heard. Dust measurement is a critical issue for asbestos c:tnd the Dust ~!easurement Advisory Panel enables us to bring to bear on the subject the highest possible quality of scientific expertise. In matters of me,dicine our industry doctors try to achieve an identity of views through the Medical Advisory Panel. and our Scientific Advisory Panel gives us the considered opinion of eminent outside medical specialists on A07396 ucc 014586 /2 i l l /41 /NEWS 21 JUL~ 1980 AIA 110TES FOR ASSOCIATIONS COETENTS ACTIVITIES OF P..U.1ELS Ere MLl'flll'ERS NATO LABELS WASTE COi:~~JCES 10.:-:cos:s: - Ilffi".'STIGATION R.e..D:::OG.?..AIBIC INVESTIGATION .li.CGIH UICC/ILO X-RAY PIUt AIA J.DVISOEY ~OCUHENTS USEFUL P1'.PERS Sfi,".:'CTED RZPORTS FROH COUl~ES r. s rnFOrJ.IATIC!T l;EE!JS 1-21 22-39 40 41-43 44-45 46 47-55 56-58 59-62 63-64 65 66-69 70 71-113 ucc 014587 A07J.97 .~~~-:.:, I\ , ' ! 'Member Associations AIA/ 41/NEWS August 1980 - 2- our problems. Advice on how to put the AI.A viewpoint to goveU'llllents, the public etc. comes from our Commtmications Advisory Panel. The names of the remaining six Panels clearly indicate their ftmction. The items in these notes owe much to infonnation which has appeared in:AIA/NA's News & Notes; the QAMI\ Bulletin; the Amianthus Infonnation Bulletin and the magazine "Asbestos" - to all of whom many thanks. Sir Neville Stack Director-General cc: Go"verning Comcil Executive Committee Olainnen of Panels C.AP Mer.iliers NOTE: as Because of the difficulties of knowing hOW' many copies to send each Member Association, tov.ether with the administrative load which would be imposed on m)f small staff, I am sendin~ ocannlybeonme acdoe-ov to each Association needed. in the none - that further conies - ucc 014588 . 1. 2. 3. - 2- J...IA/ t._i(!m:.rs JULY 1980 A.I.J._. 1'TDTF.S FOR ASSCCIJ..TIOl!S (For Period July 1979 - July 1980) EEC Advisory Council (EAC) (Chaim.an Mr. K. Thiele) Six meetings were held during the period. A recent meeting was held in Aalborg when the opportunity was taken to visit the Dansk Ete:rnit Factory. The 16th meeting was held in }lilan - a visit was made to the Balangero mine and delegates also met representatives of the Italian asbestos industry. Details of EAC business are sho;m at paras. 22 to ~9 below. Du.st Measurement Advisory Panel (D!~l\P) (Cha~rt!lan nr. K. Robock) This Panel has held three meetings during the period: these were held in Xeuss, Costa Rica and Cannes. The D.AP produced the Standard Reference Method (P.THI)<' see para. 66 below~ in tioe for the Lyon Conference and is now addressing itself to the problem of.:.measuring the dust content of ambient air and of dust e::Ussions from factories. The DHAP sponsored the recent successful Third Dust Colloquium at Cannes on 10/11/12 June 1980 (see paras. 52 and 53 below) which was hosted by the Che.mbre Syr.dlc~~ de 1 1.A.ci.ante (CSA) France. The next Dl-1AP meetins will be on 3/4/5 Septe~ber 1980 at Denver, Colorado. The :Medical .Advisory Panel (Yi.AP) (Cbairm~n ]r.S.J". :r-:c:J'!1lla) There have been two meetings of the }L~ (their 3rd and 4th) in the period. The paper on standardising criteria for the diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases is nearly complete. The drafting of an agreed fonnat or recording the health d~ta of wo:rk people has broueht to light the difficulty of reconciling the numerous recording methods already in use b~ met:!ber CO!r.?anies. After reviewillb this difficulty the Executive Comoittee ha~ decided t~~t the problem of compiling a standard health-recor~ing fo::."ITI (since it also involven the recording of dust levels) should be incorpcratecl in the work of a special study t,":'.'o-.;,p on epidemiology to be chaired by Dr. Robeck. The Study Group's terms of :::-efer"!nce ere: "To make recom:r.endaticns on i:hat the f.II i;;bou.J.o. oo to cnoour1.1ge ~ember f,;s;:;ocie.t oms to;- ucc 014589 A07399 - 3- (a) Undertake more epide!TJ.ological investigations. (b) Facilitate the unifo't"lll collection of data." 6. It has been further decided by the Executivecomwittee that the HAP's tasks should be made less burdensome by making their terms of reference ~ore specific and reducing them in number. These at"e now to be:- "1. To standardise the criteria !or the d.12.gnosis of asbestos-related d~seaees (this task is nearly finished - para. 3 refers). 2. To advise on suitable Conferences for attendance by .HA representat:f.ves. (this is an on-going requirement.) To make recommendations to the Executive Co~.nittee concernin; the trainincr of d.octors involved in the diaenosis 0 asbestos-related disease - this will involve the interpretation of X-ray pictures and the results of lung function tests. (this is a new task.)" .:;Th,:.:::e:....::Bu=i.:::l:.:::d~i~n.._;;:;a;;n.::.d_C.:::.o:;:;n=st.::,;n=1c:;.t:.;1r.;'o:::n::....;A;.;:d::.:v:.;:i:.::s~o:.:...i__;l:l..;2.:.::n;;:e~l (P:J1!') Chairman 1~. Y. Alex<0:.ndre 7, The :BCAP has now held five meetines all of which have been involved in discussing various drafts of an Advisory Tiocument which lists tools for use with e.ebcatos cen:ent, (See para. 67 below.) These tools h~ve first been tested at the Asbestos Institute at Neuss under conditions which simulate on~site work. This has been a most demanding task since great accuracy is required and a large number of tools have had to be tested. We owe a considerable debt to jl.u-N Teichert and the Asbestos Institute at Neuss. Acknowledgements and thanks are also due to those who hc:.ve sent toole for testine from as far away as ~he weste:rn U.S. and eastern Australia, 8. It w-as hoped to have a dr2ft of the Advisory :rocument ready soon for consideration by the Executive Committee but final aereement witbin the Workins Pe.rty is provinG more difficult than expected. 0 ,I followins the Panel's meetine; in June 197; all m2jor westnrn .!'ibre F:!:'oduccrs now show the ""'" loco on the::r b;;;g:;;, T'41ie i~ .:t ucc 014590 A0740C 4 considerable achievement and the AIA has written to the concerned Commissioners of the EEC so to inform them. The AIA has also been in touch .with Rhodesia, Russia and Yugoslavia, to try and persuade them to f'ollow suit. 10 The new advisory doc1Jlllent "Asbestos Fibre Handling11 (RCP 4) is 0 now issued (see para. 66 below) and the first draft for the document on "Bag Opening" (see para. 67 below) has 'been ~iritten. The Cotnr11unications ~a_vie::orv Panel CAP Chairman V:r. c.X. Le.t-t 11. This Panel has now had seven meetings. Following its recommendations both an "Industry Statement" and an 11Ini'ol:'II12.tion Digest11 have been produced in pamphlet form (see para. 68 belo1.1). ':'he CAP has recently been asked by the Governing Council and the Executive Committee to progress recormnendations made at the April 1980 l~ontebello. Conference in Quebec on "Communications &Asbestos" (see :Paras. 50/51 below). 12. The CAP cert.ain hreacsomenmdeonrdsaetdioannsdot!hethEe xHeocnutteivbeelCloo.mCmoniftt~ereenhca~s.nowChainenfroovfedthese are:- '" -. 1, To hold a special World Conference on asbestos &health during 1981. 2. To assemble all papers concerning asbestos & health (this task is being undertaken by IP.:DA*). 3. To devote half a day of the 1981 ~iennial Con!e=ence to Corm:mnications. 4. Countries who have not already done so to be advised to conduct a review of their national asbestos &health si tuationa. 5. To have an AIA/RA member on the CJIE. 13. The C.AJ? continues to advise the EY.:ecutive Committee on immeciate co!lll:lunications issues and has played an important part in drafting lJA comment to the UK F.SE on the ACA report (see ~ara. 101 below). * Institute for ";he nescc..rch :':; Dcvelo-pJ:J.cnt Of J.s:::oc-!:os - (_; G,.'.JU/Quebec Cove=--J!!ent-unaea In~titut~.) ucc 014591 A07401 - 5- Friction 1'1aterials AdVi!:ozy Panel (FMJIJ') (Che.irm2n 1"'..r. H. Doussier) 1~. Two advisory documents on Friction Materials are nearing completion toge,ther with a background "position paper" on the friction material industry. At the first F?!.!.P meeting held at Cologne on 22 April 1980 the most recent dra~t of the position paper was agreed and this has-been sent for a second look to E!:ecutive Committee members for their approval, The second FMAP meeting wao held in London on 23 July 1980. Scientific Advisory Panel (ScAP) (Chairman Dr. J.C. _Gil~on) 15. The Panel met for the first time on 28 Septsmber 1979 after the IAP.C meeting at Lyon (see paras. 47/49 below) and thirteen out of the full membership of fourteen attended, As the total membership included scientists from as far away as Australia, Canzda, Japan and the U.S. t:b.is was very gratifying, The Sc.A.P made two main recommendations enlarged on at paras. 16 and 19 below. 16. Firstly the Panel strongly advised the industi:y to assemble data on.areas of low dosage, They suggested that this could be done by._locating a factory, mine, mill or othe.r site where low dust levels were considered to have existed for a long time and where the work force was 0 a reasonable size for a worthwhile 'investigation. 17. When such a plcmt had been located it should become the subject of a study which might well show that a long-established work force subject to low dosage had no asbestos-related disease. With this informatibn the industry would be able to put forward the concept of an "acceptable level of risk". However, while the disease data for past years can perhaps be obtained, it is almost impossible to obtain dust level figures from the past because records are not available. (See paras. 56 - 58 below.) 18 .. 1".ore recently the Chairman of ScAP, :Dr. Gilson, and Dr. Hans Weill have suggested as an alternative that we make a world-wide industr-J radiograph investigation. (See paras. 59 - 62 below.) They advise that this could have three results:- (a) It mif;l'lt show that the asbestos worl:e~s 1 health is generally much better than suggested by industry's critics. (b) It could form the basis for a co~parability st~dy if carried out at regular intervals (say, every 4 years). ucc 014592 - 6- 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. (c) The figures could c~r-ry considerable authority since they would be on a world-wide basis. Secondly, the ScAP at Lyon advieed that there should be a long-term investigation into lune burden as a mea~ure cf asbestos exposure. Such a study would need sophisticated e~uipment and highly skilled technical staff. The AIA is therefore trying to collaborate with the EEC Commission in such an undertaking. (See para. 33 below.) Sea.Ii Haterials Advise:!:"\' Penel Chairman Mr. C. -~ .\. r..'J.~. ~v-"-) This Panel has met twice during the :period and has been discussing a labelling policy for Sealing Y.aterials products. A report to the Executive Comcittee will be prepared. Textile avisor. Panel ':'AP Chairman !'Ir. J .:r. r-:arsh This Panel is producing three advisory documents (eee para. 67) concerned with ma.."lufacture, application ar..d p~otcctive equi.pme::r~. The EEC Co~.mission - DG III Interests. (Internal }':arket and Industrial /fairs) Councn Directi.ve :Directive Ho. 6 /c49 :::SC of .;;..:.~=:::....~::;..i...'" which deals with the clasdfying, packagi:-..g and labelling of dangerous substances has Tecentl~ been amended for the sixth time. knong the amendnents a new class of ~~b~tances "carcinogene11 has been added to the Directive's classi.ficat:.on list but an appropriate carcinogen label has yet to be agreed. Over 1000 dangsrous substances have so far been categori.sed into 14 different classifications such as ''toxic", 11inflars.<::.ble 11 , "explosive", etc. ; asbestos however is not yet listed. 1..e ?resume that asbeetos fibre (b~t not 2sbestos-containing articles) ~ill eventually be classifieC., poes:'..bly as a "carcinoeen", but asbestof: is clearly not proving ee.sy to catego::-ise. rr:c J.. ~d<>.ted r.ou::icil :V:irect:.....-e (D~rr.otive.ro. 76/760 ~".: o: 1t'.l"76 1 ")'7. 1 V T l-l l , r '( l'.'l-J'.C..)......!~...J;.V.e'~'"''...r,~JQ.".'L.4T:.'.1l,-"-.-,.~.""'c+ive 1.~~0'"-"~"1 .l;:l'-<.C...,,~/-"-'"') -;-~~ :':lE! which GOVC'!'nS the I!:Ove-::o~t o!: :I)cni:;i;;'.':"OU.S S..:,1:;!;';2.r.CS 'beheen m<:r.:ber countries. ':'his Ji::-e:ctivo is nbcut to be arr.er.a.er.. for the fifth time ty <: :p:-o:po~ee. Directive which ,:o....:.:!..d allow various t:rpe!: of astestc~ to be i;.scd i:l certain wi:'!y. ucc 014593 - 7- 25. As the draft now stands there are different restrictions on the use of crocidolite and on other types of fibre. However, these restrictions allow the main uses of all types of asbestos. nevertheless, the directive differentiates between croci~olite and other types of fibre and this is proving to be a difficulty since France and Germany do not so differentiate in their national legislation. The draft is now at COREPER level and at a recent meeting on 25 June Denmark vetoed the draft as being too lenient towards crocidolite and Germany vetoed it because it was too strict. In the voting~six countries opposed the form of words dealing with c:roc:i.dolite, while France, Germany and Italy were in favour. The next discussions re-open in September. 26. The Scientific Committee on Food SCF (a ver-y prestigious body of distinguished EE.D scientists has issued a report which states that there is no proof that there is any danger to health in the use of filters for food and drink or in the use of a/c pipes for drinking water. Unfortunately the report then goes on to suggest that it might be prudent to try and use substitutes. This is not very helpful to us, 27. The report is entitled 11Reports of the Scientific Committee for Food - Ninth Series 1979". Reference 15 BN 92-825-1638-5. Catalogue nll.t:lber CB-NW-79-009-~T-C. It is printed in all the main languages and if a copy is required the AIA EAC offices in Brussels can help you. T'ne EEC Con:rnission - DGV Interests (Social Affairs) 28. The Directive on the Protection of Workers from H8.ri:i.ful Exuosure to Chemical Physical and Biolo j cal :~ nts at ~:orf. the "Frau.1e,,:ork 11 Tiirective was adopted by the Council in June and should be :published in the autumn. The Directive now includes a provision -~llowing national legislation to be more stringent than the EL'C's. T'ne industr-y had been consulted during earl~er draftinG and the Directive is not in conflict with our interests. 29. Following from this 11frillllework" Directive there will be nine ''daughter" directives, one for each dangerous substance li::;ted e.nd l-!e are cf course concerned with the one dealing with asbestos. Vcrious workinc par"!;ies and co=nittees on w~1ich we have E:pokes:nen (notably Dr. F.cbock) are j_nvolYed and our views c.re beine taken into account. The pl?.n is for tr.is draft asbestos Directive to be submitted to the Council by early Sept~mbPr 1980. ucc 014594 - 8- 30. The Directive will cover all aspects of working with asbestos including:- an allowable asbestos dust concentration; a transitional .period (5 years) in which to move from 2 !/ml to 1 /ml; differentiating or not between fibre types; handling or free fibre; health checks; protective clothing; plant cleaning; waste disposal; measuring methods; monitoring frequency; use of substitutes, etc. 31. D.G.V asked the AIA (through Dr. Roback) to contract for a report on dust measurement methods. The task was given to }!::r:. W.H. Walton a noted dust expert and his interim report has been sent to the Col!lIJlission. The final report is to be ready by mid-Se;ptember 1980. 32. We understand that in the autwnn, DGV ~re likely to start a:r~fting a new directive which was to have been called "Carcinogens at the 1-!ork Place 11 but which may now be called "Specially Dangerous Substances at the v:ork Place". T'nis will allow for the control of other dangerous substances besides carcinogens (such as tetrogens and some others which are hig.~ly to.xic). The EEC Commission - DGXII Interests (Research) 33. The DGXII directorate has fl1!lds available for research ~or~ on asbestos and we have been asked to suggest topics for research. One which we would like to suggest to the EID Commission is an investigation by electron microscope into lung burden (see para. 19 above). In the first instance a meeting with certain scientists sponsored by the ~ is needed, then we would hope to broaden the scope world-wide. However, at present we cannot persuade the EEC to move on this matter. The EE'C Comm5_ssion - Sr:l?C I:1t.e:-eds (Environment and the Consumer) 74. The effect of emissions fror.i factories into a.ir and wa.'te!.' is becoming of more ar..d more interest to the EEC and the AI.A is helping them to gather information for the formulation of a directive. The investieation is being handled by T.r-;.o. (Toegedast NedeTlands Onderzockscentrum) the Dutch =esea=ch establishment who have sent a. cuestiorma ire to AI.A ~:ember Associations in the EEC to be ~nswered by individual firms. Dr. L~nt:ing, in charge cf the p:r:oject, has recently asked if Greece and Spain (being prospective EEC members) could join in; this has been ai;reed. ucc 014595 - 9- E!!'.C - The .Eurouecn Parliament (E.P.) 35. The ronosed Directive which deals with the movement 0 aAbestos between EEC member countries see paras. 24 and 25 above) will be passed to the E.P. for its opinion. The Inatter will be dealt with by Parliamentary Committee No.11 (Environment, Public Health & Consumer Protection) and it is important that each Association in the EEC countries ll'lakes contact with its own members of the Europe~ Parliament. who ~av.e an und~:r.sta.nding of t~e industrial positio:.? and partj cuJ.arfy with r:enbers of Col!llilittee ?To .11. - The AI.A Brussels office-has written to all concerned- aboi.i-.t thls and we emphasise again that the industry point of view should be put to E.P. members before the matter comes up in Parliament. :rr.ar. van a.er R.est and Ni-. Vanherle have already met the Chairman of Committee No.11 at Strasbourg; the Committee restarts its meetings on 22 September 1980. EEC - The Economic &Social Committee (E.s.c.) 36. Following from para. 35 the same proposed.Directive has already been passed to the ESC for their opinion. llere the matter is be~g considered by the Section which deals with 11The Environment - Public Health and ConSllI!ler Protection". 37. A working group has already been formed by this Section and through our Brussels office we have been co-ordinating the appointment of an "expert" (Ilr. Gaze) to advise the G:roup I (industry) members of the 1!orking Group and of "advisers11 (Yir. Bouige and Yir. Vruiherle) for individual industry members of the Working Group. T-.vo meetings of. the 1~orking Group have been held so far and a preliminary draft.opinion has been :published which aroonsst other matters recommends that the use of crocidolite should be limited to a/c pipes larger than 1500 mm diameter. We are strongly opposing this. Inter-Nanagell!ent'~ Renart cm Asbestos and th~ EI:C (The RieC.l P.euo:rtl 38. }. closely arg-iled report on asbestos and the EEC by Inte:!:'-Hanagement (Tl1e Riedl Report) has been dictributed to ~eobers of the :E>:ecutive Committee and to member associates in the EEC (i.e. to EAC members). Thls report which has just been received by the Executive Committee supports the advice given in .~IA Ho:norandum 3/79 (dated 31 October 1979) and repeated regularly by the Secretar:r to the EAC - u~ich is thEl importance of our Xational Associations in EI:C coun-t"ries cattinc to know peroona'.1.ly their own coun+.ri ec' reprecentativee involved in the EEG Institutionc (Core:pe:!'; E.P.; ESC; and the Commission) and !:eepint; them well inforr:ied. o:' our vj e''Point. ucc 014596 - 10 - The Riedl Report also endorses close co-ope=ation 1-:i t!! l:-:'.'l'CE * and CEE'IC.+ (AIA has been a melilber of Ut"ICE for over two years and has had usetul connections with Cr:FI~ through the Brussels officcJ The report al~o recommends th~t the industry should make a particular effort tl1Xough nat:!.cr.al industrialists to inform Euxo:pean H.P.'s about the asbestos industry and that industrialists should do this oy going to Strasbourg du.ring sessions of the European Parliament and by meeting members there informally. NATO Scientific Committee 40. ~!e lea2'?1.ed that the Scientific CortlI!littee of NAC'O had become interested in asbestos and had asked T.N.O. (see. na=a. 34 above) to initiate a study with a view to possible research funded by NJ.TO. We made contact with the TNO investiga'to:r concerned (!'2'. Fornerod) and a.l:'e now involved in the early staces of planning the exploratory study. Labell i.n."." The AIA "a" logo' 5.s now used on all bags of fibre co:::tin; f:-or:: our most important mines. We have also been in cons'.lltaticn \:ith F.hodesia, B.ussfa and Yugoslavia to see i f they als~ \-:ill u.se the "n" logo. Cyprus, although not a member of the ;J;_ , has agreed to use the logo after present bag stockc are used up. /~2. The logo is being used on ~ore and more productc a..~c i~ is -to be hoped that the "a" symbol will become known and accei:rteC. b~r )0Vern.1!ents as well as by the general public. Con:::uoe= lobbies around the world are increasingly insisting that what is on sale must be properly described and readily recoe:;nis~":le. l~e should keep movin& vith this tide; whether we do so or :lot lies jn the l:ands of our mc>r.iberll ancl it is a matter of re~~t -tr.et a nmaber of these appea~ to have misinterpreted tr.e ~o~iticn (echoed by a recent ai:::bestos industry report \;hich refe::::-:!'ed to labelling a:s "d.iE>crim::ln::itory"). Labelling has con.e to s--!;a.y and the asbeotos incusti-J can be no exception. 43, A dye.ft schedule has been tlYav.'Il up incOI'!Jorati~c Geta!ls o: the asbestos labelling/loeo i.isca in IDember county!es. '?'.r:.:!.s \!ill be distributed soon for oonlr.lent and th6 inco'.!:'pO!.'aLor: of amenC!::lents, sui;eestions, de. It w:!.11 then be sent cu-: in final form and updated as necccsarJ thereafter. * nnion of !uropi=an Ccr..munity Indu:::trJec. + fu.ropcan Council of Ohe:r.:i.cc:.l l":c..m;.facturc::::-::: I'e:!eration, ucc 014597 - 11 - 44. The J.JA advigory publication on ~.aste Disposal (RCP 3) was published in ~Igust 1979. (See para. 66 belo~.) The EEC Council Directive .ifo. 78/319/EEC of 20 I:arch 1978 on 11'.:aste Disposal for Deneeroue Substances" has now run its two year course and Common }iarket countries can expect their national authorities to en.force the requirements in the Directive if they have not done so already. 45. There has been questioning in some countries of the dust counts at waste disposal sites and lTember Associations should remind company menbers concerned to take regular dust counts of their waste disposal areas so as to be able (if necessary) to prove their safety to local authorities. !~m:ibe:?:sl:i n ~6. Since the last D.G.'s notes were written, Israel's application to become a mernber has been agTeed by the Ckiverning Cotmcil and Ni~ria's application wHl go before the next Govel.'ning Council meeting, India has formed a Nationa.l Association with the intention of joining the AIA and. Mexico and Yugoslavia are in the process of discussing the formation of Hational Associations. ).rgentina, B:r.az~_l and Korea have been in correspondence on this subject. J IL"lC ~t'.lnference hel<l ::it. L on on cf l!ineral Fibres 47. Close to 300 eminent scientists frora 26 countries gatherad at Lyon - the conference was organised by the Internat:onal Ae;ency for ~esearch on Cance:r (IA.rte) in cooperation wlth the Institut de la Sante et de ln Recherche sur le Cnncer and the U' Hedical Research Council's Pneumoconiosis Unit. This was 5.ntend.ed to be a joint asbestos/r!l'lv.F ~ynpos:.ur:i out most of the papers p:r.esented were on aobestos because few l1CEI" resct:.rch projects ~ad been completed. 48. Uo-thi.n.: verJ new wat: dii;cu~i::1::d.; :perha:p~ this \ras due to the fact tha-'.; rnoct a,ailable data refer to exposures expe:!:'ienced 20-30 years ago. We of co'..lrce u.Tcently need health data on the e!fects of cu:rrent 10\r dust levels. Ho....-cver, the climate of Ao14oa' ucc 014598 12 - opinion was reasonnble although there -was a h~~denir.g of atti.tude against amosite; neve:rtheless, the ind.ustzy h2d enough representat:i.on to ensure that there was a balanced attitude. Dr. f,obock produced the .PJ.A advice=:,. doc~ent on a 'Reference Hethod for the Measurement of .A.i:::-"corne Fibres at the Work Place (RTM 1). 49, The q_uestion of a dose/response :relationship between asbestos and cancer was discussed and a nutnber spoke about a 11 straight line'' relationship. Not many, however, spoke for an 11accep~able level" of asbestos dose although many scientists p:-esen-t believed that there was such a d.ose level. Thus it is or industry to demonstrate this and to try and show how far above zero this level lies. Montebello Confer~nce. Ouebec. CanP.da. 10/11 knril 19ea on 11Coiranu."ti.cati.ons and. A~bestos" SO. A wide-ranging discussion at this C'}Y'lA-sponsored meeting a-t which there were 55 participants i'rom 12 coun-';:::-ies el:lphasised certain areas in asbestos activities which needed attention. Notably the importance of convincing the sci.entific bod~ of the positive facts about asbestos and health ;:hich were beginning to come to light. The a::::gument ran that medical and scientific views would then, in a positive way, ir.i'luence the media and those others ;mo were the opinion-setters in our society. Once this happened the general public and gove~ent wouJd follow suit. 51. The conference also recommended that therg stould be a world asbestos conference to be held ;rithin twelve ~onths. ':'his would provide a forum for scientists to discuss the asbestos and health question in en unbiased atmosphere and that hope.fully as a. result much of the distorted :publicity which had been doing asbestos so much ham would be conected. (The CAP Report at paras. 11/12 above gives further details of the recoJ:?mendations.) .AIA 3ra Dust Colloouium - Ccr.nes - 10/11/12 j~e 1980 ~2. The Dust Measurement Advisory Panel (DMA?) sponsored the Third Dust Collocuium at Cannea which was chaired b:, Dr. :?.o"::ock ;md }'Jr, Bouige.a.."td was attended by delegates fro~ seventeen (17) count=ies. There wene sixteen (16) t;0verr..4le~~ representatives (including:; ministers from Fr.mce); seventeen (17) scien'!:ists; and twenty (20) industriali3ts. ucc 014599 - 13 -. 53. The Colloquium wns hosted by the Chambre S~dicale de l'P.mi2n.te (CSA) of France (President Hr. Cyril Latty) and covered many aspects 0 dust measuring techniques and strategy. These included progress til.d experience with the Reference Method; electron microscopes; ambient air measurements; and automatic counting equipment. The proceedings will be distributed in due course and the next Colloquillill will probably be in the S:pring of 1981. Other Conferences 54. The Medical Advisory Panel (MAP) c::.dvise . the EY.ecutive Committee on future conferences which deal with asbestos and health. The I1AP also try and ensure that there is an AIA representative present if the conference is of sufficient importance and they further advise if it is considered that papers should be read. 55, The list of conferences is regularly up-dated and circulated to Nember ',ssociations. The following a~e 0 particular interest:- ..:.. 1. "International SymposiUill on '\rater Distribution Systems and Related Health Problems" - Amsterdam 27/29 Ausust 1980. 2. "Fifth International Symposiur;i on Inhaled Particles 198011 (British Occupational Hygiene Society) Cardiff 8/12 September 1980. (The 2nd AIA Scientific .Advisory Panel !i!eeting will fake place at Cardiff on the evening of 9 September 1980.) 3. 11q,idemiological, Immunological, Genetical As~ects of Asbestosis" wroclaw,Pola.nd, Ea:rch 1981. 'The Executive Committee has decided that the AIA should be represented at this Conference.) 4. "International Symposium on the Prevention of Occupational Cancer" (ILO/v:"EO/IARG) Eelsinki, 21/24 April 1961, 5, H.A Biennial Conference, London 26/29 t!ay 1981. 6. l:orld Conference en "Asbestos-Eealth &:.. Society". (Ir.DA, Canadian Governl:lent & f.Il..) !-:ontreal - 1981. (See para. 51 auove.) UCC014~9 7 4 J Q - 14 - Cuer:t.ionnaire on Lo" ]ose Arel'!ri 56. The questionnaire to find out where we mietit ma1:e a low-dose investigation (see paxas. 16/17 above) ha~ bad a cisap]bintinc response. This is probably because the object of the ~uestionnaire was not stated clearly enough and also bec~use there is insufficient knowledge of the dust levels that exited in the past. 57: The purpose was to give the Executive Committee ir.fo:r=ation on where it might be worthwhile to conduct a research pro~ect. In the event most members who were sent the questior:r.aire rr:ade the decision themselves "no :reseaxch project he!"e" by not returning the q_uest:.on fo.rll!s. ! thank those who did, but underst~nd the reasoning of those who did not .58. Fe have, ho,.,ever 1 had scJ:Je info?'lll3tion as follows:- 1. ~en (10) plants (out of a possible 1000 ~ ?lants) sent in repliet: of which two (?) look es i: th(':r may have :potential but. data needs to acc'U!:';.late for some years yet. 2. ':'h:::-ee (3) compe.nies reported tl:at they he.ve low C.ose invcttige".tions soinc: on j_n their :a:.-io-.:s plants. Thl?y ~ould not s?..y whim tl:os!':: p::-o~ectz would be f:inishcC.. P.adfoP.re.phi c !nvest1 I"'"' ti on 59. The disappointing re~ponse to the AIA questionnaire ~a discussed with the Chai:rrr,an of the Scientific AdvisorJ P?.nel (~cL:?), :Dr. Gilson, and. with one of the panel members, Profei;:s~r !!a.'1s 1-.'eill, t'ho was in the U.K. on a visiting professor::hip. fie. Tioth com::idered that the J.::..A wi.th its 1.-:.niver:::cl r:ier:be::-d:ip '!.nclual.ne I:1ar1y tec!i..nic.ri'.'..ly verJ advanced cornpc:.n..ie::: J::ac -:he r:apabili t:r of proYidinc ~:-:ra;r l~&cl t:i do:tc. aoot:.t it::: ~-:::::!: fo:::-ce: ;-:hich, if properl:,r :prscntcd 1 could be coat con...-incinc cviC.ence to :::hou to wo::-ld scicnt.ific c-pi::;ion. >'fna:~ \:e.~ =c:::-e, t:-_:.::: r- ..:i~cr.c.c "..::.:.: imw.E:d:..~tcl;y- ;.,-~..~.:t:::t.:e; ti~e 1.rc";...~lG :--.~t be F:~sr:.t ::.. ;;_p!ini; to ~ct up a::: E!Ji.G.~:U.c.loGic~~ sh:.tj" - ::-.~ r;!:'o~le:::1 -:,~ ccl.:.::ct~ i~oi;.lC: bt: :..n ~"1:::.:..u2.t::.1;i ~he rz.c..io~:::i:.;l: rez.C.:.!:G: ,.91::.=:r: wcro avc.ileble; '\;-:it tLfa Ls }.:l~r(';ly a rnccac.nic2.2. :;::i::o~2.e::.:. ucc 014601 - 15 - 61. The readings could well show initia.lly that the state of health of the asbestos JndustrJ' s worl:force 'l."o~ld--.ide was much better than our critics have sucgested; and. if readings were taken at suitable intervals thereafter a trend should becoce evident which would indicate that better conditions were :proG.ucing healthier worl~ :people. :furthernore (ac with the U.K. Coal Board f!ndings on a si~ilar scheme concerning pneumoccnio~is) the incidence of asbestosis would be seen to be decreasing rapidly in the lower age groups. 62. The Gove:rning Council agreed to a pilot inve:::tigatory scheI!le being launched. T'nis consisted of a short questionnaire which was sent out to Eember Associations to ind ou.t whether there were in fact enough plants around the world which had X-ray information on their worke:r3 to make the scheme worth;:hile. We are awaiting the response to this questionnaire; so far~e plants heve replied from 11 countries. The .American Conference of Covernment In~uetr~al Evpicnist~ (ACGTE) 63. The American Conference of Goverr..men~ Indust~ial Hygienists has stated that they will recommend in their e...~ual booklet to be published in Septeober, that standards for asbestos at the work place should be as follmis:- Chrysotile 2 f/rnl; Al!losite 0.5 r/ml; Crocidolite 0.2 f/ml. AH. has wtltten to the secreta:::y of the ACGili to :protest that such 2. atandard woulC. virtually ban the use of Amosite and Crocidolite. 64. The ACGIH Coll11!1ittee on TLVs was put in touch with Dr. Robock some r.ionths ago anG. hope.fully he and the D!~.P may be able to persuade ACGIH to think again. U.I.C.C,/I.L.O, X-~ay Film Cla~sific~tion 65, The }~..P have reported that a revised cta.~dard set of filns has been produced for the ILO 1979 ~nternational Classification of J>neuu:oconiosis, The set can be obtained fron:- ILO Publications. International Labour Office, CH-1211 GE~EVA 22 (Switzerland) ucc 014602 - 16 - AIA Advisory Iloctu:ients 66. The following documents, Recollllllended Cont~ol ?rocedure (RCP), and Recommend.ea Technical !1ethod (RTr1), are available:- 1. RCP 1 2. RCP 2 ;. RCP 3 4. RCP 4 5. RTM 1 The Control of Asbestos Dust (also available in Italian). Asbestos Cement Products (also available in Italian). Asbestos ifaste Disposal (also available in Italian). Asbestos F:bre Handling (alco available in Italian). Reference Method for Meacuring Asbestos Fibres at the Workplace (also available in Italian and beine translated into French and Spanish), 67. The following are at various stages a~proaching the printing stage end are listed in probable order of availability:- 1. On-site a/c tools (to become an insert to P.CP2) (being translated into Italian). 2. Eag--opening. 3. Friction Materials - manufacture. 4. Friction }iaterials - maintenance work. 5, Textiles- manufacture. 6. Textiles - Manufacture of user articles. 7. Protective clothine. 8, Demolition'. and Strip9ing. 68. :n addition two leaflEJts are ave.Hable:- 1. The Industr-1's Viewpoint Conccrnin5 Asbestos. 2. A Tiigest of Information Conce:::ninc the Association. 4o/ 47J ucc 014603 - 17 - 69. A background positi.on paper ".Asbestos and Health in the Friction Y.iaterial Industry" is in draft fo:=m. Useful Pabers and Reports 70. .ft.mongst the very many :papers whlch are published the following show certain positive aspects and have appeared within the last 12 months. Details have been previously circulated to members. 1. "CJX - Report of the l'.lcientific Committee for Food, 9th Series, 1979" (Asbestos - page 11) (see also paras. 26 & 27 above). 2. "Environment Pollution by Asbestos Fibres". Study by TNO (Dutch Research Institute) - Mr. Lanting. 3. "The Health Hazards of Asbestos", M. Neuberger (Sichere Al.-beit, No.3, 17-21, 1979). "Study of wear on asbestos cement products" (Institut fur Umweltschutz und Emi~sionsfragen and the Monta.nuniversitat in ~~oben). 5. "Airborne Levels of Asbeetos Fibres in General Occupa.~cy Buildings and an Estimate of Carcinogenic Risk 11 (James T. Schirripa, Industrial Hygienics Inc., Hunti~on, N.Y.). 6. 1'FC Drinking Water Pipes - Incidence and Evaluation of Asbestos Fibres in Drinking Water". (Amianthus Centre. Compact - Information - Pipes, 80-1,Viay 1980.) 7, "An Investigation of the Use of Asbestos Cement Pipe for Public Water Supply and the Incidence of Gastrointestinal Cancer in Connecticut 1935-1973". (Ha:rrington, Craun, Meigs, Landrigan, Flannery & Woodhull - .American Journal of: E-pidemiology, Vol, 107, No.2). ~. "Asbestos Cement Pipe and Cancer in Connecticut, 1955-1974'' (I~eigs, Walter, Heston, 1-U.llette, Craun, Woodhull & Flanner/ - Journal of Environmental Realth, January/February 1980). 9. "Is there a risk to health in using ae:be:::tos-cement pipes for the carriage of drinking water?". (S.F. NcCullagh, 1980 - Ann. Occup. Hyg. Vol.2), p.189). 4o? 1- l 4 ucc 014604 - 18 - 10. "A Rational View of Cancer in l"!ew Jersey11 (Dr, F..'B, Demopoulos ':hen Director of the Cancer Institut~ ot New Jersey), 11. "Environmentally Induced Cancer . Separating Truth from I>~yth'' (:Dr. JI.]. ])emopoulos - t2lk to Synthetic Organic Chemical }~ufactu~ing Asscciat~on Inc.). 12. 11C2ncer in Hodern Mortality" (PutEca'tion of the U.K. Chemical Industries Association). 13. 11The Prevention of Occupational Car.ce:r: an ASTHS Policy Document - A Review by Dr .J. Keir Eoward" (U.K. Chemical Industries AssocJation :Background Paper, 20 June 1900), 71. The following paragrephs cover those countries in whi.c~ there has been significant activity, Legis_lationis only repo:-ted where some anplification is needed of the com:olidated schedule circulated unde::- AJA !1emorandum ref. AIA/12/P:i..G dated June 1980, Details of events in all associate countr:!.es as reported by members are sho'"m at the Annex to Governing Co:mcil Y..ir.utes. Aust:r2lia 72. A small sub-co~ittee within SPAA has been set up to consider ways of countering union pressure ae;ainst asbestos. 73. A meetinE to discuss the problem of fine asbes~os dust was held at Vocklabruck at the end of 1979, It was at"':enC.ed by govern:::ent officials, scientific and factorJ doctors, scien~ists and enineers. Details are awi:i.itcd. 74, ' / 75. There has been a tichtenj.ng up of the re:s-<la-t.io!ls concer?'!ins raw f5.bre am! its handling. Governr.:ent pennission now has to be obtained to i~port end use raw fibre and plants so doinc are nspocted for standards, !f the stander~~ are adequate there is no problem. The regulations conce!:'Tling f~nished products a~e reascr.eble and accept~ble to in~ustr-J. C2nada In Dece~ber 1979 the C~nadian Government sent a deputation of officials, scientists and doctors to '\~ash.:i.:ngton to protest at the ucc 014605 - 19 - unnecessar:i.ly str.:..nsent rules concc:cni.ng asbestos e.nd its use which were being proposed by the U.~. ree;u.lato::-:, authorities. ~e Ca..~adian de~utation discussed the probleo with OSHA, EPA and CPSC offieials and explain&d Canadian concern. 76. A tripartite group (Govcrnment/industrJ/worker~) from Cermeny is beincr invited by the Canadian government for talks and a vieit to an. asbestos mine. A French group t:as invited by -the Quebec government in December 1979 for a similar purpose and this :party incl:uded Messrs. Latty and Join and Professor Eigion. 77. Dr. Dunnigan has been appointed Director General of the Institute for the Research and Development of Asbestos (IRDA) in Peb~ry 1980, He had been Director of the asbestos research programme at Sherbrooke University and IP..DA 1s headquarters will 09 on the university Ca!'lpUS. 7e. The Chairman of th~ InDA 'Bo01.rd of Directors is Mr, Miehe.el Prus, Chairman and President of Carey Canadian Inc The other six members of the Board (3 ir.dustr:r and 3 government) are:- Harcel Dorais, President of Les Hines d '1.r:tiante Bell Ltee; J .R;?-1. P.'utcheson, Chairman of Johns-i;'anville Canada Inc.; Andxe 11arier1 Preside11t a."'.ld G.J.r. of Centre de Recherche Industriclle de Quebec; H.J. Hessel 1 ?resident of Lac d '}.mi ante du Q.uebec Lt~e; Daniel Perlstein, President of Societe l~ational de 1 1 ~.miante; Andr~ Saumier, Senior !dvisor, Pichardson Securities of Canada. The Institute 1s main ?bjectives are:- 1. The development of new asbestos-based products. 2. The measurement of the amount of fibre emission into the environment caused by asbestos-based products. 3, Research into the elli:iination of any such emissions. All aspects of health research will continue to be the responsibility of IOEH whose budEet for 1980 is Canc:dian # 810, 700 (funded bj' fibre producers). S.ince it started in 1966, IOIB has spent Canc.dian t 6,195,400 and ~ublished 149 papers on matters to do with resezrch into asbestos and health. 80, A Royal Coilllllission will sit in Ontario in Septer.:ber 1980 to report on asbestos - the hearines are expected to last for a year and QJ.~-.A are preparing to play a part. ucc 014606 - 20 - Dcrun11:rk !31. The list of ai:bestos-containin5 products allowed by D;mish law is as follows:- 1. Unbonded Packinc }:Uterials until 1 April 1982 2. A/C Products (max. 20)~ asbestos by weight) until 1 January 1985 Commutators (max. 60% asbestos by weight) until 1 January 1990 4, Friction Facin.:,'"fl (maximu.'ll W;~ asbestos by weie;ht) no date limit s. :Bonded Packing Materials (max. 20'J~ asbestos by weight) no date limit 6. Linings (max. 2~~ asbestos by weight) no date limit 82, It~s most important that the asbeotos industry ehould be able to convince world tcientific opinion that there is :m ~cce'Dtable level of risk for asbestos dust. If we can do this then :perhaps the political (not scientific) decision in Denmark to ban asbestos :products "unless ze:ro risk from cancer can be nroved" might be changed. 83. It is impossible to have a zero risk from anything and oost scientists lean to the straight line relation$hip between a carcinogen and its cancer rate. It is everyone's common exp~:rience that some risk in all our activities is a part of living and since-asbestos can be no exception to this natural law, it ought to be possible to convince the Danish authorities that by asl:ing for a zero risk level fron a.sbestos they are: (a) asl:iri-b the impossible; (b) be.i.ng discrimina'cory in doing so, ?ranee C/i. A recent decision by the Einister for P.:calth to ban the use of asbestos filters for .food anc1 c::-ink wa:::: the subject of e p~ote::::t by the Chambre Syndics.le de 1 1.:1...miante (cs;~), our French Association. This is not a scientific decision cince ~cientists m~intain that an asbestos filtr.is the reost efficient. The ECC's Scientific Committee on ?ood tave st~ted this (see para~.26/27 ucc 014607 - 21 - above) and the German Government Tiealth Department have recently excepted asbestos filters from a bz.n which they have put on some other articles (see para. 92.2.2 . below). The French Health Department is also investigE.ting the use of asbestos in certain household articles with a vie~ to limiting their use. 85. Dr. Eulah Bingham held e.n informal meeting in Paris on 27 June 1980 with government representatives, certain doctors including Professor Bignon and Dr. Sebastien and one industr/ representative, }!r. Tiouige. A report of this meeting was circulated to Member Associations (ref. AIA/1/4/8/POL dated 14 July 1980). :or. Bingham was not very helpful in her comments on the asbestos situation in the U.S.A. 86. The Minister for Health has indicated that the gove:rnment would be prepared to reduce the exposure level to 1 r/ml if the EEC agreed on this figure. There was no intention of going to any lower figure. s7. The year has been an eventful one for the asbestos industry, one of the main aspects being the German Government's concern with legislation to il:lprove conditions at the workplace. This has been largely due to Trades Union pressures. 88. Raw r.:aterial Rep;ulation 88.1 Discussions have taken place on a draft which modifies the laws governinG the handling of all dangerous raw materials in the work:place (in ratification of !LO Convention 1;0.139). These materials are classified as:- (a) highly dangerous; (b) dangerous; (c) lees dangerous. Asbestos is classed as dangerous. 88.2 After negotiations involving the political parties, the traces U..."lions and thf! ~~nistries of Economic Affairs and of Labour, the current draft re{,\'Ulation conce:rnin~ asbestos includes the follo\dnc:- ucc 014608 - 22 - (a) various limitations to be imposed on vorking tic.e if the TLV is above a certain level (still to be laid down - but possibly 1 f/ml); (b) asbestos-containine products to be acco~panied by label instructions referring to the Raw-ffaterial Regulation; (c) reasons for using asbestos products instead of substitutes to be stated to the local labour authority. 89. Chemical Re(\'Ulation After much discussion, asbestos does not have to be included under a new modification of this law which would have been very burdensome to the industry. 90. Industrial Cs.tast:ronhe Rer,v.lstion Again after I:IUch discussion, the asbestos-processing industry will not be included under this Regulation. However the Asbest'(;'S CoTporation at Nordenha.m ~be included because of its large stocks of raw asbestos. 91. Asbestos Cement Law A year ago the Hamburg Senate recommended that asbestos-cement products should no longer be used in public and multi-storied buildings and in underground construction if other materials were available. The Senate may well try and influence the other ten (10) Federal States in Germany which would not be a good development. 92. Industrial Safetv Regul :;ition (Dust) - Second Jn:endmed 92.1 T"ne Federation of Industrial Accident Insura.~ce ~i Industrial Safety Corporations (Beruffsgenoschenr.h?.ften (]G)) is able to formulute accident prevention re.;-~la~ions hich may ultimately be passed as laws. The EG recently passed a second amendment to the Industrial ~.afety P.e~~lation (Dust). ~his details certain protective me2~ure2 to be taken while processing asbestos, wh.!.ch a::-e r.~cc;itab::!.e to industry. 92.2 In addition the ~econd amendment published e lis~ 0 asbestos products which are banned. T"nsse werE::- Au?/. ..,. l 9 ucc 014609 - 23 - 1. Insulating materials used for accoustic reasons, for heat/cold protection and for use against damp. 2. Filters (except for liquids and the ~ha.rmaceutical industry). Paints, putties and adhesives using asbe$tos as an additive. lfurtar and surface fillers using asbestos. Floor covering (this means vinyl underlay for caxpets) and road surface materials which incorporate asbestos, However, the above can be used without re~triction if they can pass a special BG test for dust emission in use (to be less than 0.5 f/ml), 93, Special Nee"tj_ng I The:...:BG Supervisory Board organised: a special meeting on 6/7 March 1980 to discuss asbestos. There were ?C0-800 participants and with three individual exceptions the tone or the meeting was positive and helpful, and the press and other media did not distort their subsequent reports, 94. The Nedia Because of increased coverage of asbestos and health matters in the media much effort has been spent by industry to get in touch with editors and 'J:V directors. This has resulted in a more balanced coverage. 95. The Aebe!':tos InstH1~tr-:, 1fouss The Asbestos Institute for Occupational and Envirorunental Safety tmd Eealth held a press conference on their first anniversary in January 1980, T'ne Institu'te 1 s Chie:f Executive, J)r. 1."J.e:us Robeck, presided and the scientific technical panel (the Scientific 1.'orkinb' G:::oup on Asbestos) with Dr. Bohlig as Chairman al::o attended. ':i'he object :as to give the.> true factr: about asbestos to i:ielecte.d journalisti:: interested in e>.sbestos. ucc 014610 - 24 - 96. Federal :F:tlvi ron.'!lentd Protect :Lon _l..c;~ncy (Umwiltbur.d e!'a.r-;t) This P.gency has recently directed all its acti~~ties (research :progra.::nnes etc.) to assessins what danger to tr..e environment is posed by asbestoc. 97. Hse of f/l:!. tre Those German I:linistries concerned with asbestos are now using the f/litre scele and not /ml. ?retherland.s 98. A new regulation has banned a~be~tos in household articles (irons/toe.ters). 99. A Tripartite Colll!llittee has been set up to advise the goveXT.nent on asbestos matters, !t consists of employers, ex:;ierts, and trades union ~embers. One of the members from ir.dustry is r-~.-~z. Goed!?i.?.r.n, 100. A recent television :procrarmne on factorie!:! z.na the envircm:!ent had shown the Goor Eternit factor-1 as an exenple cf excellence. 101. 1 C2. The Advisory Committee on Ai;bestos (!.CA) :popu~2:-ly Y-'10,~ as the Simpson Co~ittee (after its Chairman) isi::t:eC. its rcco!"Mend at:!.onc in December 1979. These helve been fully reported. elsewhere; e.l!:O!lb" the total o~ 41 recommendaticns i::o~t o:f them are, with socc. reticrvat:!.om:, acc~pta.ble to U.I:. !nc::1!:!t:cy. Two r.:iain e:::coptions c:i'e a Cl. 5 f/i:ul level fo-:: a.u?s:!.te ~'1d a bo.n on crocidoli te. ':he i'-C,~ rcco1r.r:itmdation~ are bc:'..nr discusser!. at p:i:esent and it ~ppe<:.rc thot Ena.1 de:ci3ions a:r:C. he::.ce let;ish:tion w:!.11 be celarocl for sou::i: conside:i:a'ble tfo.<'. yet. .!_ ( drz:f-L) Cede of hr.ct ice 2nC. Guit"\.~nce :!'~o-::e t~5.o:::- foe :f.ec.1-th :ma Safety at ~-.'ork .Act i.s r,'t)o:.:t to be iscued. ::t cover<; ~;ork l:ith D.::be~tos :l.nsulci.tion ~nr~ 1th. c:cbestos coat.:.rcc-:;.; encl dcd::: with ~crson~l protection, pl~nt 2nd procesa ccr.trol e.n~ ccbeztc~ waste c;nd has inC.u;;try 1 r. f:lll cu:p:;iort, ucc 014611 - 25 - 103. 104, 105, 106. 107. U.~.A. Certain reGUlatory agendes in the U.S., notably the Occupational Se.fety and Realth f.dministration (OS!U..); the Environmental Protection J.gency (F.PA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have shown 'by their combined actions that they are aiming for legislation concerning asbectos which would effectively stop its use. AIA./NA have succesofully queried EPA's water quality criteria document resulting in this being delayed indefinitely. In addition OSHA is considerillb J..IA/NA's suggestion of a model standard for the regulation of the construction industry. But in other areas AIA/NA has not been able to persuade government officials to adopt a practical and. realistic approach to the p~oblem and this difficulty has been aggravated by the attitude of o~ganieed labour and of public interest groups. Thus JJ.A/NA decided to retain a law finn to advise them on:- (a.) Rule-malcing processes. (b) Possible future lesislation. The Advance notices of Proposed Rulemaking (JJJPR) which were issued by EPP.. and CPSC in 1979 were strone;ly argued ae;a.inst b~ or AI.A/NA within the deadline set for response (18 February 1980). The AIA/NA document sent to.EPA consisted 55 pages and that to CPSC was similar. The nub of the arguments in both cases was that unreasonable risk had to be proved before government could pro~ose any regulation under the ~oxio Substances Control Act (TSCA.). Members may be interested to know thP..t the la\t firm retained by JJ.A/NA had been earlier retained by the U.S. Chemical Industr.r who were contesting an OSHA-imposed wor}::plci.ce standard for benzene ten times more flt:ringent then was considered necessary. This case has just been won by the Chemical Industry and it is now up to OSRA to ~ that the hitherto accepted oen~ene ntnndard is ba:rm!ul e.nd to ~ e.t what level any ne,r OSTU. etandard should be set. This decision is bound. to he.ve a fo.!.'-:reachine impact on all U.S. Goverru:-.ent proi:;rawnes to control carc:i.nocems c::nd, for example, will have a beari.ng on OS!Lt..' s stated intention o:f reducine the ucc 014612 - 26 - present 2 fibre/ml workplace standard for asbestos. I!' the new ,Precedent is followed, OSIIA will have to prove: (a) that 2 f/ml is unhealthy; (b) what is a healthy lower level. 108. OSFJ..A has announced that action is to be started on asbestos rule-making du.ring 1980. The standard to be proposed nay follow recent recommendations to OSHA which were made bi a research institute (the Research Triangle Institute) (R~I) "Which suggested that it was possible to manufacture at the follo~ing exposure levels:- Most products (except dry woven textiles) 0.2 f/cl Automotive after-market 0.2 f/ol Shipbuilding 0.5 f/cl Secondary fabricators 0.5 !/ml Construction 0.5 f/t:JJ.. (except for removal, maintenance end demolition) Ship repair 2.0 f/ol. 109. \>fuether OSHA accepts these levels as :practical for r..tle-1D2.king- remains to be seen. The time-taole for eX)?ected OSEA legislatory initiatives is roughly as follows:- Advance Notice of P.ropcsed Rule-Making (A11PR) - July/Aug-.ist 1980 Proposed Rule Public Hearings - Sept./October 19eo - ~eb./Y.arch 1981 (?) Final Eule - i~y/.Ju."le 1981 110. The .I:PA ha~ announced that ~ limitation or ban on non-essential corr.mercial and indu~trial uses of asbestos vould be cons:dared but Euch action depended on showing an U."lreason~ble risk with asbestoc. t~~ reliability of the substitute and the econo:U.c consecuences of bannine. Il'h recogni~es that ~n order to minimise the impact on industry the timinrr of any effective dates could range froo 1985 to 1995 and possibly later, resulting f~om any judicial appeal. ucc 014613 - 27 - 111. 112. 113 . The t:r:1e-tzble for ex:pec'ted FPA leg:i.slatory initiatives followi.ng their AKP3 is a:pproxi!nately: .P.:N?R was published October 1979 Proposed Rule Lee ember 1980 (?) Public Eearir.ss (?) 19$1 Final Rule (?) 1982 AIA/~A's la~-yers need to assemble as nuch in.for.nation as possible in order to prepare their case and a list of A!A/NA's re~uir~~ents toward this end is shown in su;n.~ary form as an An.'1ex to this letter. The infornat.io!l as!ced fc= has been sent, or is beint; prepared to be sent,, by 4"any !{ember J..ssociations around the world direct to ATJ../rTA. be Sowever, if you have not al~eady been contacted by this office .to for-...ard infor.:;ation to AIA/?i.A and if you feel that yo~1 may 'liave infor.nation which could useful to them, please s&nd the data directly to AIA/NA (plus copy to this office, please). August 1980 Attachment: "Stllmllary of Information lfoeds for United States Ree;u.latory Proceedings". ucc 014614 Attachment to AIA :lOTES ::'O~ ASSOCIATIONS JULY 1980 SUMMARY OF INFORMATION NEEDS FOR UNITED STATES REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS 1. Historical data indicating whether or not the amount of asbestos in the general environment increases to any significant extent from man's use of asbestos. 2. Studies of the eventual fate of once-released asbestos fibers. 3. studies of the accuracy and validity of measurements made by the membrane filter method, especially at levels below . 5 fibers/cc. 4. Critiques of present sampling methods, reviews of their relative strength or weaknesses, evaluations of conversions among various measurement techniques, and determinations of the relative sensitivity of past and present measurement methods. 5. Medical evidence from individual asbestos companies, especially if unpublished, of the health effects observed in their employees. 6. Medical critiques of the dos~/response relationship of asbesto.s and heal th, variances of effects among fiber types, 'the effect of smoking, and risk assessments for asbestos at low levels of exposure. 7. Documented historical information of the levels of asbestos exposure among asbestos employees, especially at plants where epidemiology studies have been conducted. 8. Current asbestos exposure levels at all stages of the mining, milling and manufacturing process and during product installation and use. 9. Descriptions of historical efforts to reduce worker exposure, indicating costs incurred, methods used, degree of success in achieving reductions, and the limitations on any further reductions. 10. Analyses of the economic availability, efficiency and medical effect trade-offs inherent in various suggested substitutes for asbestos or asbestos-containing products. ucc 014615