Document B8Xwxnj03gDpnpX4w5nOxQG8

**'^ousmpJ Was hot a pr * IT'S FILsi LRIES' Wc. an Li KECOno OP pp--' CANNOT pc COiVi FR'oyt UT^ricZ^^ ``WUSTWES0^* : THIS CiNOTE 1 P a * -- . ,. =* i ir>i NOT COME FftOw H-j . . ' 1 w i i LLO December 17, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT:- MEET1 It ON DECEMBER 13, 1971, CONCERNING NIOSH/PITTSBURGH CORNING CORPORATION RELATIONSHIPS References: 1. Letter to Janes E. Feavy, M.D., Coomisaloner of Health, State of Texas, from William M. Johnson, M.D., Acting Deputy Director, Division of Field Studies and Clinical Investigations, NIQSH, dated Novaaber 16, 1971 2* Letter to William M. Johnson, M.D. froei the undersigned dated November 29, 1971, The subject nesting was requested by the undersigned to avoid further misunderstanding between Dr, Johnson end the undersigned as set forth in Reference 2 above. This eating was attended by Dr. Joseph X. Wagoner, Director of the Division of Field Studies and Clinical Investigations, NIOSH and several nenbers of his staff and also by Dr. Charles Powell from ___ '"TVVtSI Dr. Marcus Key's office in Rockville, Maryland. *i bB ----- -* ----------- NIOSH expressed their concern for the employees of the Tyler Plant of Pittsburgh Corning whom they felt were being exposed to coo much amoslta asbestos and were evidencing some adverse effects based on data they had available from their own study of the employees, Ineluding a history, auscultation of the chest and inspection of the hands and data on mechanical ventilation studies of the lungs assumed by the undersigned to have been given then by Dr. George Hurst, Director, East Texas Chest Hospital, who is conducting a medical study at the request of and financially supported by Pittsburgh Coming Corporation* They were also, concerned that Mr. McMillan, who was the former Plant Manager had died from lung cancer, Mr. Snavely, the Plant Accountant, apparently has a partially disabling lung disease, and one that employee has a pleural lesion as yet undiagnosed. They felt that little had been done to control the exposure to asbestos at the Tyler Plant since the Public Health Service Study in 1967, while they felt that the conditions at the Port Allegany Plant were much better. They wanted their panel of experts to review the chest x-rays taken of the employees ^ by Dr. Hurst as soon as p ssible. . The undersigned indicated he has als evidenced a long-standing interest in the health of the Tyler employees.. He said that following the Public Health Service Industrial Hygiene Survey in 1967, he discussed s medical examination follow Page 2 NOTE: THi - \,t ' <A ! NOT COM: ; *1 w < . i i i wlcti Dr. llurnt who agreed to perform same, buc this was deferred on informution I rum the Public Health Service that they anticipated performing Much medical examinations on the Tyler and Port Allegany employees. The undersigned said that the Publie Health Service never got around to performing these examinations, so In 1971 Dr. Hurst was requested by him to go ahead with the studies. These studies were delayed until August because of personnel shortages in Dr. Hurst's hospital. These facts were mentioned to put in perspective the urgency of HIOSH now to have their panel of experts review the Hurst films. The undersigned indicated he dos not want to unnecessarily delay this review but feels that it will serve the best Interest of the employees if the x-rays are released following his meeting with Dr. Hurst on January 5 and 6, 1972, at which time the complete study will be discussed so es to determine (e) If a health problem related to employment exists, (b) If so, the extent of the problem, (c) What further study or clinical care stay be Indicated, if any. A N10SH representative was invited to participate in this meeting with Dr. Hurst and the undersigned. j 1 'j The undersigned, ageln attempting to put the Industrial hygiene data obtained at Tyler in 1967 by the Public Health Service into proper perspective, made the following analysis based on a reasonable industrial hygiene Interpretation of the data in terms of the TLV for asbestos of 5 million particles per cubic foot of dust. It was pointed out that the material being manufactured was only 607. amosite asbestos, not 100T: (The complete report as submitted to the Tyler Plant Management la shown in Attachment #1). Mixing Area -------------------- * 5 samples taken: 5, 13 9, 7 for a 8 MPPCF average. One sample of 31 was considered conCAmiriSTed since It was 6X greater Chan average of other samples. Forming Area 8 samples taken: None above TLV for average of 3.1 MPPCF. Carina 1 sample: .1 MPPCF. Finishing 6 temples taken: 1.9t 1.6, 2.6, 2.0, 2.4 for 2.1 MPPCF average. One sample was 10.9 and was consldaFe3T contaminated since It was 5X greater than average of other samples. Inspection 3 samples taken: 2.5, 2.1 for 2.3 MPPCF average. One sample, -45, was considered contaminated since it was 20X greater than average of other samples. In no ease was the everage of the samples that agreed relatively closely, one with the other, in exceas of the then TLV. This TLV was not changed to 12 fibers/ML until 1970, at which time the intended value became TLV. The undersigned pointed out thit In e study done by University of California at Berkeley, at the request of and supported by Pittsburgh Corning comparing Unlbestqs and 4 leading asbestos-containing thermal pipe insulation materials Indicated thet none of these products v uld be used In the construction industry with ut exceeding the 12 flbers/ML TLV and that this study intensified the research effort In Pittsburgh Corning to find an asbestos substitute. Being DOCUMENT WAS NOT a nr SlSSSSiss^S BY PPG Page 3 NOTE: TTI l"\ NOT COiv l i i w *i l i . unsuccessful In finding such a produce that was economically competitive with Che* asbestos-containing produces was a factor In Che Plttsbuxgh Corning d cision to gee out of this market. The undersigned had provided copies of this University of California Study back in September, 1971, to Dr. Johnson. The undersigned requested the following be provided to him, if possible: (1) Copy of OGAW request to NIQSH to Investigate asbestos exposures at Tyler, Texas. (2) Copy of NIOSH Survey of October 26-29, 1971, at Tyler. (3) History and physical, findings of NIOSH on Tyler employees. (4) NIOSH reconraendatlons on type of medical follow-up on current and past employees of Tyler Plant. (5) NIOSH reconraendatlons on lnnedlate corrective action to reduce asbestos exposure at Tyler.. (6) Report of madical studies on Port Allegany Plant employees. LBG:lc Attachments cc: . Dr. J. K. Wagoner Dr. Charles Powell Dr. Marcus Key Mr. E. W. Holman Mr. C. E. Van Horne hec. A. C. Packard P. Martha 6. A. Burstt KJ>. Lee B. Grant, M.D Medical Director | BB 0021759^|j i* THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECORD OF PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME FROM. IT'S FILES AND CANNOT BE AUTHENTICATED BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. i t