Document GmwbxomobrZzboz4yVqaVJOnn

FILE NAME: WR Grace (WRG) DATE: September 29, 1967 DOC#: WRG312 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1967 Notes from Asbestosis Symposium Asbestosis Symposium - . Western Health Conference San Francisco September 29, 1967 Histology (yff C s c c P ; c ' T u . d , i o Ferrt/ginous Bodies - Positive Without Known Exposure San Francisco - 42% Montreal - 48% Pittsburgh - 41% Lung Cancer - Asbestos Workers m 2 to 1 for Silicosis Workers 3 to 1 and 6 to 1 for Workers in Insulation Lower lobe most affected in Asbestosis Time and Dust concentrations determine Syri^pj^ism between Asbestosis and smoking - The smoker has 92 . times the chance of lung cancer compared with expected lung cancer among non-smokers. Average Asbestosis victim has 20 or more years in trade - at least 10 years. Out of 31,000 cancer deaths only one could be directly attri buted to Asbestosis. Many of these cases had never had an occupational exposure. Carriers or carcinogenic? Asbestosis fibers have been found in routine post mbrtems showing that a very large percent of the population has asbestos fibers located in their lungs. Future Methods for Field Sampling Techniques - (See method used by U. S . Public Health Service for enumeration of Asbestos Dust on Membrane Filters). Reduction of Dust Counts immediately reduces the' incidence of #3 Cancer Causation Asbestos Fibers alone Something else in dust besides asbestos Something occurring with asbestos Asbestos plus process additives Asbestos plus non-process additives Relative-corralate well Look at the specific thing Reach lower levels Lower personal samples Weight methods may become practical with analytical break through - at present the electron counter is best. Normal finishing and mixing operations of insulation workers expose them to above TyL. TVL should be reduced to between 1-5 million particles per cubic foot of air. Attention to Asbestos as a basis of material data studies increases rapidly. Dose response evaluation is needed. *7"^ t r-------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- / Entire public is threatened because asbestos is in forefront of air pollution problem - some say this is - speculation - fantasy - fact. Since people from all oyer the world ha ^'asbestos bodies in their lungs whether they have had an industrial exposure or not and the epidemiological factors are lacking to prove existence . 6 the outstanding question remains unanswered. Selection of matched controls is impractical. Asbestos in ambient