Document B8KDXwVp7M6KZV58BXqoVY8rm

i< n > a e. ' 7-vVest -6 Street vv YorK.New YofK 10036 :eve Berger amcaigr Manager ecoa Fenicnel ress Sec'etary Teleohone: (212) 541 8100 News from cV-iXO For release: 1 2:30 PM. TUESDAY MARCH 24. 1970 Congressman Richard L. Ottinger (D-N.Y.) charged that New Yorkers are being unnecessarily exposed to thousands of tons of cancer-causing asbestos dust every year. He said that the dust comes from asbestos sprayed as a fireproofing material at new construction sites and demanded tnat Federal officials immediately impose criteria and standards governing its use. Ottmger s. d that there are no accurate figures on the total amount of asbestos sprayed in New York eacn year, but as an indication of the volume he noted that each 25-story building requires a minimum of 200 tons alone and 1.000 tons will be sprayed on the two World Trade Centers. (In 1969. there were 25 building permits in Manhattan alone for building 25 stones or more.) "Experts say that as much as 50 per cent of the asbestos sprayed escapes into the surround ing air w here unsuspecting New' Yorkers have no choice but to breathe it." Congressman Ottmger charged. As proof of the danger to public health, Ottmger said. "A recent survey m New Jersey showed the instance of lung cancer was 700 per cent greater among persons exposed to asbestos dust." He said that autopsies performed in three'New York hospitals indicated that 50 per cent of New Yorkers already had asbestos bodies in their lungs. The New York Congressman said that the dust, which is so fine that it can only be seen by high powered electron microscopes, stays suspended in the air for days and floats for miles. He cited a recent study which showed concentrations of asbestos dust 1,000 times greater than normal one quarter ofamile from a construction site three days following spraying. Ottmger called upon the Federal Air Pollution Control Administration to act under the existing authority of the Air Quality Act of 1967. He said the Administration does not now propose to act until 1972. "This is incredible." he charged. "Asbestos is the only form of air pollution definitely proven to cause cancer in human beings. It is absolutely essential that the criteria be given the highest priority." Ottmger praised the New York City Administration for its efforts to control the use of asbestos, but noted that effective control is possible only with Federal authority. 'i . PLAINTIFF'S,: i * EXHIBIT S UNIVERSITY OF PITTS3URGH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH PITTS3URCS 1J. PENNSYLVANIA . 'f.X?HINT OP 0CCTJ?K7Zan\L HXJU.TX o; CD c cm mesothelioma of* the pleura (cancer o the outer covering of the lungs). This coaiacldes with what has been reported in Aurics and other cOjdnntries and correlates with my study oZ asbestos workers in which mesotheliomas oZ the peritoneum was found. It is evident then that in the future the problea of disease development and cancer among plumbers will become an important consideration among these employed. in this occupation throughout the country. On the bottom of page 7^9 is a statement that focusses on the advisability of studying auto workers and related groups in specific operations, in regard to the health hazards from asbestos, and opens up an area which had not been previously recognized. Since asbestosis was established, asshatural sequence is the question of lung cancer for this particular..group of auto workers. The statement is as follows:' -"Two yearn ago pulmonary asbestosis was reported in Massachusetts in a man whose occupation included spraying undercoating*of cars; the material used had an asphalt base with about 50% asbestos, and he had true asbestosis." This journal is highly regarded- by all physicians in this country.and abroad and is read extensively so that there will be a greater awareness among plumbers, auto workers, and all others exposed to asbestos, such as boilermakers, 71 1 -- etc., which will lead to- the further recognition cf occup?ticnally related diseases. u T5