Document J8LbwRQrKo7XrxMXJwXgOrXB

FILE NAME: PPG (PPG) DATE: 1966 Apr DOC#: PPG003 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memos RE Asbestos Research 2ific0 o f {fra P rcsiisni APR 2 5 1935 April 22, 1966 Mr. Russell Brittingham, President PittsDurrr. Corning Corporation Subject: Health Indications of Asbestos Dust Ebcoosure 1. I an sure you are familiar with the recent concern for tr.e r.eaith of both the general public and employees wno have allegedly innaled ascestcs ana fiber glass materials. This con cern r.as oeen stimulated by public news media articles attributed to Dr. .rnr.g J. Selikoff, a New Yorx physicians It is the opinion of many persons within the scientific community that the statements attributed to Dr. SelikoiX are not scientifically sound. _t is difficult, however, to refute sucn statements . because of the lacK of published scientific data to the contrary. Little has been published on the health experience of industrial vworxers employed in the manufacture of products containing asbestos and fiber glass. Also, more, needs to be done in the wav of laboratory research in an attempt to further identify and delineate the problem. . 2. The Industrial Hygiene Foundation of Mellon Institute has made a proposal to perform laboratory research on the inhala tion of fibrous materials including asbestos and fiber glass. They are soliciting monitory support for this work from interested industry. Several days ago, I attended a meeting to which their proposal was discussed. I have attached a Memorandum for Record concerning this meeting which may be of interest to you. I believe the Industrial Hygiene Foundation proposal is worthwhile and should be supported by industry as a matter of self-interest. 3. The National Insulation Manufacturers Association (NIMA) at an April 12, 1966 meeting decided to establish a Health and Safety Committee which will consider appropriate measures "to combat adverse opinions with respect to the health and safety aspects of thermal insulation (asbestos and mineral fiber)." This committee is scheduled to meet on May 10, 1966, in the NIMA in New York. The Industrial Hygiene Foundation's "research 100535 Mr. Russell Brittingham April 22, 1966 -c- proposal," as well as the ways and means of hotter ,+ industry-wide health cxoeriences, apoears Tor the NIIL. Committee.' Inasmuch ll l utl" 21ne appropriate subjects I would like an excretion of o ^ ` ? V rnemoer of this Committee, to which Pittsburgh Corning C o r ^ r a U o n ^ s i i l l i n g " ^ 1^ ^ degI*ee a. financially support the Industrial Hygiene Foundation's research proposal b. participate in an industry-wide health ann Z Y T Sntil StUd5r f ini-triai S i o v " lift iioer gllaasLs "pr6od"uct^s.d r i n g or asbe.toHnd / Lee 3. Grant, M.D. Medical Director Ins me f \ 100536 April 21, 1?66 .1 RECORD 3. Grant, K.Z. JVOS and Tiber Class Xedical Research - April 12, 1966 Keelin'' .-.oaert T. ccTreville, Managing Director or the Industrial .--or., arranged tae subject meeting of member companies who had "i??*;. T'?e .?urpo'3e r Lne meeting was* to discuss a .?osal by tne Inaustrial r.ygiene Foundation in hooes of -ona* -inancial support from the persons represented in this 5-nm.7eriitT1**arl*sfa *Li7s%t oi-Jr--rt>i_h_e tp-iersons pre.se.nt. a.t the meeting frm Dr* deTrGvil-e containing both a draft of the ct proposal nd a contractual agreement. Tne following subjects were discussed during the ir.eetin- in catai.ed discussion of the p^o?osd rerearen project: " ' ^r* xrv;-n? J * Seli:ff, a physician at the V.z. Sinai nospital^ in New fork, has made unwarranted and un scientifically based claims concerning the health hazards associated with the use of asbestos and fiber glass materials in the construction industry. He uses as a basis for his claims a three-year study he has been conducting for the Insulation Union Markers. nis claims have been given greater creditability because of a $325.,COG research grant he has recently received from the United States Public Health Service r *S*S ? 7 =h health a5?ec"s r asbestos and fiber glass. Dr. Otto^Besse is the Director of the Division of Research Gran-s x the National Institutes of Health whose civis-'on auth^ized pr. Selikoffs grant. The Division of O c TM Z ! -lonal r.eal-n o- the United States Public Health Se-vice according to Dr. Lewis J. Crailey, feels that Dr. Selikoff-s nj n0t fca-entificclly based. In fact, the work of Dr. C*al*ey n ***e^environmental aspects refutes the work cone by Dr. Selikoif. Ho.vever, Dr. Crailey<s wo~k has no wwiiuthh DDrr. SsefluikkoSf*t`"sLrOensaelar:;e"nlgtrhanhta.s nTohteytriareed, howienvteerrfere calling to the attention of the BS?HS Contract Konitor'the ata.e.nta that Dr. S e l U c o n has mada in the past wrr ch a re considered unscientifically based this in the future. . Thev -n . n "-e y Wl11 contlnue to do Industry ..as no- -- omplished and/or published in-alar,t cnviro.-..en-al stucic-s nor research laboratory ir.vestiraU o n s w m c h could cc used to refute Dr. Sciikof-''s claiirs The Jchns-Kanvilie C-rporatien has been d ^ f ^ o ^ e T t i l / ' // / //; I .r.ornr.durj for Record -2- r:,, ....... ^ -V, . , ..^Z.* , . t, . -- -.T-dlVlCiUill hi**i 1 TM * * TM :^*or for study. " 1 ..s* u C wUuV ^ the*' .f-*^v .* -* A..O| OUt^ tiiS wt*.ljT hdw "Q" M am on L.:.. i* " , . . J **.v-*C consiaorunli ;t j: : -?cic^. ?x rp a^ nrVaien?s .the'aTM ^ 7 of the incivicuu~ c. f l ? " i!Xt 5he -ost serious effect of Dr. Se''>0--- s * f . ,,s h" /e been on the customer and ere-- -* ~-v - tions. The public vi'l res'^-tP t, * * `w re-a" nur-orted to ^e to use a ?~ocuct that is * ' Jc*aLeQ W1 *h serious health implications. c. netoliiliSf h" >** on f t or six . i g n___i+t e * - p*S E oJsaLs a^na mEassriv*e" d?u1stWietxaoasu-pc m e y cost on an average of &6,C00 per case. ^ S* * S12$D000Sn!n 0f Cc<:u?a "io~al Health of the USPHS has soenThZr: P w year i0r o-wironaental studies on M b " - S S r ennoldnds iV2iUil***ut2 52. The Research Grants Division of the USPHS <s s u - o - , - * other asoestos studies at the n-esen* t<-0 ..n6 .vo Wayne State Univers-'tv is ---,,*/ r,Wl-" t'*V`e * ur` vor.-;ald of particles in order 0 stud^the fa^o- t h L ^ 5^ *Sheszos when thex reach the Innj. / a . ' ^ t ^ s T i - Clar, hazard " =t'Jdy f the * * S :ranclsco i w reference to the he- ^ h ie tS r ^ w u i h e 'l i - l ^ r r J"* ** Tht* was performed on thi a. S'llkiS'' st" * "hi=h g. A point was made that the health h v i - n *_ . in the manufacture- of ash - S - ^ r - W?rkers S o l v e d id not cornarable to tie hcc'-h h zard o'rh?1"" Pr" C" workers who use -.hose n-od--- v u d futhe construction are experienced by -.he c o n ^ i ^ t i o ^ w o ^ ^ 1' * " * ex?os- Memorandum for Record ~3- . h * Some discussion was held with respect to the types of . bindery for fiber glass materials which might be used in ^ ^ ciystrla^ -Hygiene Foundation research * It was cited that chrome oinccrs" are more common with the fiber and p icnol-formaldehyde" resins are more common with the insulation materials. It appeared that some guidance SMould be provided to the Industrial Hygiene Foundation - rogard.to. tne or types of binders which should be ^ considered ior the research project. Assoc' a f or's the National Insulation Manufacturers ribr 1ff,C*T8rai> " dMr. C. L. Shooirier'of this Co-a'-e* i- wt*`?ni'-r'u"l U b* their ^O'Pxny's representatives on contr-o-te s' -ni<< f.el* our rss?etttve cojtpsnies would be able to ascestc; and' r l t e r t t l * * #f " * e^ ^ e n = e s in handling