Document EdBjy1bmejJdND4qbOe32BJ4x

Johns*IVlanvi!le Corporation 22 East 40th Streat Naw York, N.Y. 10016 CxaeuUva Offtc** December 23, 1970 Mr. A. H. Fay National Gypsum Mr. R. Power Fraser GAF '* -- Mr. Harold McNabb Certain-teed Mr. James Moran Flintkote Mr. B. W. Swain. Panacon Mr. S. D. Weaver Woodward Iron Mr. S. R. Zimmerman Raybestos-Manhattan Gentlemen: RECOMMENDED aia/na position on tbs banning and REGULATING OF ASBESTOS AND ASBESTOS-CONTAINING PRODUCTS As promised, I am attaching a revised version o this document, the first draft of which was distributed at our December 4 meeting. This draft reflects comments and suggestions made by Dr. Wright. The text also has been changed to eliminate any implica tions that asbestos-containing spray compounds are the only ones that can satisfactorily provide protection against fire. Analysis at the J-M Research Center indicates that several commercially available non-asbestos contain ing materials, if applied in sufficient thickness, can also perform this function. More 01-0218222 In view of the probable imminence of public hearings on this subject before the New York City Council, I would appreciate receiving any comments or suggested changes you may have as soon as possible. Sincerely, ) *> -/ W. P. Raines Director of Public Relations CC: P. J. Solon, Jr. Larry Woodward Z M. Fenner Carl Thompson M. M. Swetonic'G. W. Wright, M.D. F. L. Pundsack 01-0218223 RECOMMENCED AIA/NA POSITION ON THE BANNING AND REGULATING * OF ASBESTOS AND ASBESTOS-CONTAINING PRODUCTS Asbestos has numerous important applications in our modem industrial society. Among these# it provides built-in protection against fire and deterioration in scores of common products in daily use. Through the years it has saved countless lives and billions of dollars in property damage by preventing or checking the spread of fires. Asbestos-containing acoustical products make ? valuable contribution to noise abatement. Products containing asbestos are used, among other applications in the construction of schools, houses, theaters, factories, office and other public buidlings, and in the insulation of furnaces, boilers and electrical equipment. The asbestos industry has recognized for many years that there are occupational health hazards associated witb the excesssiye inhalation of asbestos dusts over long periods of time. As a result, the industry has sponsored and cooperated in a wide variety of scientific research projects designed to identify these hazards and to eliminate them wherever they may exist, not only in asbestos mines, mills and manu facturing plants# but also among fabricators and applicators of finished asbestos products. These efforts have resulted in the development of /and technology effective measures for the control.of asbestos dusts throughout industry. In recent years# the use of certain asbestos-containing products in high-rise building construction# primarily asbestos-containing More .... 01 -02182 2 <4 spray insulations,has been called into question because of supposed public health hazards associated with the use of such products /the during application and .eventual demolition, of buildings containing the products. Proposals to regulate the use of asbestos-containing spray materials have been enacted in several cities and states across the country, New York has announced it intention to ban completely the use of asbestos in this application. The asbestos industry wholeheartedly supports the enactment of regulations designed to protect spray and other construction employees from exposure to potentially hazards amounts* of asbestos or any other form of dust in their work, and also supports efforts to reduce or eliminate rhe nuisance of small amounts of dust being allowed to escape into the community air. However, the industry is opposed to the complete bann ing of any useful material, {including asbestos-containing products, on the unproven supposition that its application or use under the proper operating conditions may present a health hazard to the general public. It has not been demonstrated 'that asbestos is a public health hazard. There is no evidence, scientific or otherwise, that anyone in the general public has ever contracted any' disease from exposure to the minute amounts of asbestos that may be released into the air at construction or demolition sites. In addition, recent investigation.': /may show that small quantities of asbestos fiber from natural sources have More Q1--0213225