Document JJmm5YQadB6zdRdJjKMXD0GE6

FILE NAME Quebec Asbestos Mining Association QAMA DATE 1979 Nov DOC QAMA161 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION QAMA Bulletin Vol 3 No. 6 Asbestos and health and the public Asbestos for which there is no real substitute in a large number of applications is useful in countless ways and saves thousands of lives each year thanks to its fireproof and thermal insulation properties Besides being a unique product a natural substance whose characteristics no other natural or made material can duplicate asbestos is without the shadow of a doubt one of the safest products on the market today in the applications for which it is intended Scientific and medical research and studies on asbestos which have been carried out for a longer period of time and more intensively than for any other substance used in the manufacturing of substitute products have demon- strated that asbestos exposure levels to which the general public and the consumer can be subjected are at worst infinitesimal and involve no significant health hazard Significant results The preliminary results of an epidemiological study bearing on the populations of several towns in various regions and carried out according to a rigourously scientific methodology by the Qu^'bec Department of Social Affairs have shown that mortality rates due to respiratory deficiencies lung diseases or other ailments which asbestos could possibly be associated with among a number of other causes are no higher in asbestos mining com- munities than elsewhere If people who have been living in asbestos mining towns for generations are not especially prone to the illnesses which are presumably related to a prolonged exposure to con- centrations of fibre dust it follows that asbestos involves no risk whatsoever for the public at large Quantified risk Neither do consumers and users of asbestos products risk exposure levels which are harmful to their health A team of scientists from McGill University in Montr^'al has established that the risk of lung cancer for asbestos workers who would con- tinually be exposed to levels of one air- borne asbestos fibre per cubic cen- timetre is equivalent to the risk involved in smoking two cigarettes a week By definition asbestos workers are the people most likely to be exposed to high fibre concentrations and outside the asbestos industry's working environment levels of exposure to asbestos dust never reach anywhere near one fibre per cubic centimetre In fact as unexpected as it may seem researchers have even demonstrated that asbestos can be the best protective agent against the dangers of asbestos Thus to lessen the natural fibre content of water or wine no filter is more efficient than an asbestos filter Safe products Asbestos products involving a possible risk have been taken off the market and the public can rely with confidence on current asbestos products in which the fibre is literally bonded in cement resins or asphalt so that dust emissions are nil or negligible In friction products the rise in temperature within the mass chemically modifies the fibre transforming it into inert and completely harmless particles In the case of other mineral fibres including fibreglass and the various substitutes which are being tried in certain applications practically nothing is known as regards their biological effects on man and their possible harmfulness On the other hand the technical and medical data available on asbestos and the tech- nological improvements applied to its utilization make it possible to benefit fully from its numerous advantages in complete safety | Bullakin A delegation of the Soviet asbestos industry visits the Qu^'becproducers A Soviet delegation comprising representatives of both the government and the asbestos industry of the USSR made an official tour of the Qu^'bec asbestos region between November 26 and December 6 The visit was at the invitation of the Association des mires d'amiante du Qu^'bec and five producing companies Manvile Lac d'amiante du Qu^'becCanada Les Mines d'amiante Bell and Soci^'t^A'sbestos The Soviet delegation's tour was pari of a program of reciprocal visits which first began in 1960 when a delegation of the Canadian asbestos industry was first a guest of the government of the USSA A few months later a Soviet mission in its turn visited operations in Qu^'bec Since then there have been three similar exchanges the last Canadian visit to the USSR dating back to May 1978 Remarks by Mr. Anpilov At the close of the visit the head of the Soviet delegation A.Y Anpilov Deputy Minister of Building Materials of the USSR stressed the importance of these exchanges for the Soviets The tours of the mining complexes and the personal contact between experts of both our countries he stated considerably when it comes to the transporting of the ore and the tailings In general explained the Deputy Minister in the mining complexes of the Soviet Union the processing plants are not adjacent to the mines as in Qu^'bec they are located at distances that may vary between five and ten kilometers And in order to develop a green belt around the mining towns An exhaustive tour This time the program of activities for the Soviet guests led them to Thetford Mines Black Lake Easi Broughton and Asbestos where they were able to acquaint themselves with all the mining Installations and operations in the mines in the processing plants and related services such as the laboratories and maintenance shops They also visited the Institut de m^'decine industrielle of Thetford Mines a model of its type established by the asbestos producers of the region Manvile The Soviet visitors with two representatives of of Johns Canada in Asbestos From left to right Boris E Zerubin interpreter Eugene YU Kazakov Section Head at the Instiute Anpriov Deputy Minister of Binding Materiels of the USSR and head of the delegation RB Grosharm Manager of the Jeffrey Mine of Manville Mrs Thorpe interpreter James P Power Operations Manager of Menville Yun Giszunov Head of the Technology Department of Giavesbest anandd Yvan H Korablev Deputy Director General of UralAsbes Aside from the official dinners and receptions during which the Soviels met the principal executives in charge of operations in the producing companies a number of technical gave rise to an exchange of information and to numerous discussions on questions of interest to Canada and the Soviet Union the two largest asbestos producers in the world are particularly conducive to effective cooperation especially at the tech- nological level When asked about the different characteristics of the mining and procesing of asbetos proces ing in Canada as opposed to the USSR Mr Anpilov remarked that in terms of mechaniza- tion and automation of production the methods and equipment seem to be essentially the same while they differ the waste dumps are located a long way from the mills A considerable amount of rail equipment is therefore required to transport the tailings over " long distances Mr Anpilov also noted that the ore mined in the USSR is much harder than that produced in Qu^'bec The hardness of the rock causes more fre- quent breakdowns of machunery par- 2 USSR Each of these republics has contributed to the construction costs the Kiembay plant and each shall in exchange receive a share of the production in proportion to its Investments complexes are located revealed that the incidence of lung cancer is no higher than in other regions of the USSR where there is no asbestos min- ing Priority to technology Domestic needs According to Mr. Anpilov the demand for asbestos fibre in the USSR is constantly increasing In fact he stated we are currently using approx- imately 80 of our total production Alexander Y Anpilov Deputy Minister of Building Meterials of the USSR particularly in the sector of asbestoscement materials And with the continuing industrialization of the USSR ticularly during processing operations thus involving greater maintenance The maintenance services connected with asbestos mining operations in the USSR also differ with those in Qu^'bec in the sense that the Soviets manufac- ture a certain portion of the required equipment while the Qu^'bec producers concern themselves mainly with the maintenance and the overhauling of equipment purchased from independent manufacturers and the related construction projects we will be able to continue to absorb the same percentage of our libre pro- " duction for a numbeorf years Among the other applications mentioned by Mr Anpilov are residential construction materials Insulation products and industrial machinery parts To a question concerning the health problems related to asbestos Mr Anpilov replied that thanks to measures taken in order to improve health and safety conditions in our mines and mills the problem of Soviet production According to the latest figures Soviet fibre production in 1978 reached 350 000 short tons and everything leads to believe that this production will double within the next few years On this matter Mr Anpilov referred to a program to modernize older mills in order to increase their asbestos and health is almost non- " existant in the USSR He pointed out that the cases of asbestosis being detected today are found among workers exposed to conditions that prevailed in the past Moreover epidmolgical epidmolgica epidmolgca studies in the regions where the asbestos mining capacity He also mentioned the recent opening of a new processing plant mill No 7 at the UralAsbest complex and the starling up of mining at the Kiembay deposit in the southern Urals At Kiembay the first part of the plant is already in operation and should produce some 250 000 tons of fibre this year Once construction is completed Kiembay production should reach 500 000 tons annually As Mr Anpilov explained the Kiembay project was implemented as part of a construction development program which involves the Comecon coun- tries including Bulgaria Hungary Czechoslovakia Rumania East Germany Poland and of course the Soviet and Canadian experts during an informafion meeting m Thetford Mines Mr Anpilov also stressed the necessity for close cooperation in the area of environmental dust emission control In order to do this he concluded we will have to engage in mutual research on methods of counting and measuring fibres so as to arrive at a uniform system which will " enable valid comparisons It should be noted that in this last area Soviet concerns are in one with those of the Canadian asbestos industry Nevertheless the executives in charge of operations for the AMAQ companies noticed that the visitors prionties were mostly of a technological order The latter were indeed particularly interested during the tours and discussions in the opera- tions related to the classification of fibres This was doubtless due to the facl that Soviet engineers have up until now been unable to obtain the wide variety of libres that are produced by the Canadian processing plants It was precisely these problems of classification which led the visitors to Initiate negotiations with certain Qu^'bec producers with a VIEW to possibly purchasing licenses and The Soviet delegation The Soviet delegation included representatives of the government and of the asbestos industry The head of the mission Alexander Anpilov Deputy Minister of Building Materials of the USSR was accompanied by Mossrs Yuri | Glazunov Head of the Technology Department of Glavasbest Yvan H Korablev Deputy Director General of UralAsbest Eugene Y.U. Kazakov Section Head at the Institute of Asbestos Construction Materials Vladimir YA Siderov former Mills Manager at UralAsbest currently in training at the Academy of National Economy and Boris E Zarubin InLerpreter for the group Pe AA sbess tos b and e its stos Asbestos in plastics at the service of advanced technology The plastics industry one of the most vital and complex of the modern world has given us such terms as cellulose polyester polyethylene formaldehyde vinyl silicone thermoplastic etc , mysteries to which only chemists have the key One thing is certain however we live daily with plastics in their many forms Yet what we are often unaware of Is that asbestos fibres both short and long enter into the composition of several plastic materials or resins Combined with plastics the asbestos fibre serves as an additive as a filler and as a reinforcing agent This is a known application doubtless because asbestos is almost always combined with other fibres and substances in the resinous mixture For instance certain automobile air conditioning casings are manufactured according to the following formula 55 asbestos 10 libreglass and 35 polyester tance to tension impact corrosion chemical agents and wear Their dielectric properties and their resistance to high temperatures make them ideal thermal and electrical insulation . materials Reinforcing agent Asbestos fibres are used in plastic materials mainly for their reinforcing properties Distributed throughout the mixtures they absorb the energy generated by the pressure and tension to which the composites are subjected thus assuring their rigidity The length of the fibres and their proportion to the other ingredients ha- ve a direct effect on the resistance of the finished product Thug maximum resistance in phenolic resins is obtalned by adding 25 long fibres this proportion being increased to 45 in the case of silicone The percentage of short fibres varies between 30 and 60 and both types of fibres are often added to the composites Used aas filler asbestos increases the viscosity of the resins For example the degree of viscosity of polyester alone is 2 500 centipoises at 75 F if 20 asbestos is added the viscosity is increased to 60 000 centipoises With a high fibre content even thick puttes and pastes can be prepared High technology industries Today several technologically advanced industries use plastics the asbestos- autombile ard aeronautics Industries among others and even the aerospace industry reinforced plastics possess In effect a certain number of characteristics which make them ap- propriate material for the manufacture of parts and equipment in those indus- tries which are subject to extremely stringent and requirements requirements Thus containing resins are particularly suitable for the mold- ing of intricate and sized shapes which are more difficult and more cost- ly to achieve with metals Moreover once molded they offer superior rigidity as well as exceptional resis- Some of the numerous applications of asbestosreinforced plastics Top left cooling fan top door centre fan shroud top right parts of chimes Bottom left parts of water fiftering unit bottom right several components of this aircrati are made of reinforced plastCR 4 Variety of combinations Even though asbestos fibres are mainly used in phenolic resin systems and in silicone composites there is a wide variety of possible combinations with other polymers Thus many different finished products can be obtained depending on the type of resins and the proportions of the various ingredients used Because of their high resistance to corrosion reinforced plastics are frequently used in the chemical industry in the form of tubes pipes valves tanks and liquid containers agitators pumps fume ducting systems in fact anywhere equipment might be subjected to strong alkaline conditions or exposed to chemical salts in high concentration Because of their dielectric properties reinforced plastics are also used in home and industrial pro- ducts They are found for instance in the insulation of electrical cables in circuit breakers and in household appliances such as washing machine agitators Because of their moisture resistant properties they are used in the manufacturing of doors and panelling boat hulls and decks pressurized containers various types of decorative facings and even rocket tubes Missiles is in moreover the field of missiles of aeronautics and the aerospace in- dustry that reinforced plastics find their most important and most spectacular application Their high resistance to heat their low rate of ablation progressive destruction and their structural strength play in fact an essential role in the proper functioning of a variety of missiles Very special asbestos plastics have indeed been perfected for use in direct rocket blasts thus contributing to resolving problems caused by the extreme heat Asbestos composites are also used in the manufacturing of a variety of missile parts thermal insulation barriers belween the engine and the propellent exhaust pipes electrical conduits turbine wheels bulkheads ducts etc The Vanguard rocket nose cone for example was made of asbestosphenolic material Similarly the portholes of one of the space capsules which returned to earth were sealed and insulated with asbestos putty Sophisticated applications reinforced plastics also find highly specialized and sophisticated applications in the field of electromagnetic wave transmission Among other things asbestos plastics are used in the manufacturing of speed radar scanners which monitor aerial and maritime navigation and in domes for gain antennas used in space communications In fact applications for asbestosreinforced plastics are many and varied And as the plastics industry continues to grow it is likely that chemists will develop an increasing number of products for which the unique properties of asbestos will prove both useful and essential French delegations on a tour of information in the Qu^'becasbestos region Three French delegations and governmental familiarized themselves with the mining installations " must admit thal judging by what I mining processing manufacturing re- have seen it is possible to produce search and development activities in asbestos under salubrious and safe_ the field of asbestos but also at conditions and for this reason I now stressing Qu^'bec's tangible interest think that the asbestos industry shall as a producing centre in questions doubtless get a second wind concerning asbestos and health This comment was made by Dr. Bignon advisor to the French government in matters of health and asbestos in Black Lake before members of the Association des mines d'amiante du and Qu^'becrepresenta- tives of the producing companies and of the Soci^'t^'nationale de l'amiante following a tour of the mining Installatlons in the Qu^'becasbestos region Favorable impression The French delegates who visited in particular the Manville installa- tions at Asbestos and those of Lac d'amiante at Black Lake made no secret of the fact that they were favorably impressed by the tour and they expressed the opinion that the open policy applied by the membercompanies of the AMAQ had doubtless led to the solution of several problems which have yet to be solved elsewhere Responsible attitude Faced with the enormous scope of the Qu^'becasbestos mining activity Qu^'becprogram Dr. Bignon's remarks were made on the occasion of an official visit by three French delegations one governmental another scientific and the third industrial which were simultaneously invited last November by the government of Qu^'becto come and acquaint themselves with the asbestos mining facilities in Qu^'bec This tour by the three French delegations was intended as first step in a Qu^'becexchange program in the field of asbestos the objectives of which were determined by France's Prime Minister Raymond Barre and Qu^'bec'sPremier Ren^'L^'vesquein the spring of 1979 This program which to be implemented by the Soci^'t^'nationale de l'amiante is aimed not only at informing the French who are essentially consumers of asbestos Dn Qu^'bec's Members of the scientific delegation visiting the processing plant of Lac d'amiante in Black Lake 6 asbestos products are resold by wholesalers and entrepreneurs Installed by technicians and main- tained by craftsmen Who are they How many of them are there This is problem which must be solved before France can even hope to formulate and During a technical session at the Universit^'de Sherbrooke Marc Trudeau Technical Advisor of the AMAQ fleft explains the functioning of equipment used to collect samples of airborne fibres to Andr^' of Rebi^refrom the French Department of Labour Premysl V Peinar Scientific Secretary the insituri de m^'decinedu travail et de l'environnement de Montr^'alMichel Lesage Medical Advisor of the AMAQ and Yves Alexandre of Eternit France apply adequate regulations But in the opinion of the French delegations the Issue of asbestos and health is neither the most serious nor the most pressing problem to be solved as there are both in the mines and in the mills with the significance of the technological means developed with the sum of the efforts made to improve the working conditions and with the priority assigned to research and development the French delegates were better able to measure the import of the asbestos mining industry in Qu^'bec and to judge for themselves the responsible attitudes of the producers who as Dr. Bignon admits are operatIng clean mines and mills In addition to touring the mining installations the French delegates some of whom had never visited an asbestos mine visited laboratories and participated in scientific conferences and technical sessions which constituted an important first step along the road to future scientific collaboration Questions of health Presentations on the research work a report on the preliminary results of an epidmolgca study by the Qu^'becDepartment of Social Affairs contributed to demonstrating the importance that university government and industrial circles in Qu^'bec ascribe to questions of health and safety The members of the scientific delegation some of whom are well- known for their negative attitude towards asbestos were thus exposed to a series of achievements and facts which contrast sharply with certain assumptions or prejudices which may prevail in various European circles France and Canada and in particular Qu^'bechave similar attitudes in terms of the regulation of asbestos but for reasons of a quantitative nature the problems confronting France seem to be more complex France's problems In fact according to a representative of the French Department of Labour the use of asbestos being extremely other industrial products such as vinyl chloride which pose a more serious threat to the health of workers Probably because the problem is more easily identifiable in Qu^'bec regulations aimed at protecting the health of workers have been applied and have shown results more rapidly thus avoiding the threat of extremist measures as are now being contemplated in Europe A cooling off However in the opinion of cerlain French delegates the situation in Europe seems to be stabilizing Itself the paranoia related to the presumed dangers of asbestos seems to have passed giving way to concern for much more serious problems such as the nuclear issue and vinyl chloride Also the circulation of adequate sclentific information has helped calm people's fears This last aspect is not the least important in the Qu^'bec exchanges which are thus opening doors to communication between conducted under the auspices of the spread it is difficult to pinpoint Universit^'de Sherbrooke or theAMAQ and on the recent establishment establishment of the not only the enterprises which use it certain being almost cottage indus- Institut de recherche et de d^'veloppe- tries but the persons that may be ex- ment de l'amiante IRDA together with posed to it After manufacturing scientists Industrialists and govern- ments who might otherwise for lack of this type of initiative not have had the opportunity to meet other than in con- frontation Best Wishes for Very Happy New Year from L'Association des mines d'amiante du Qu^'bec Les Mines d'amiante Bell Lt^'e M anville Canada Inc. Canada Inc. Lac d'amiante du Qu^'becLt^'e Bulletin Buletin ae This BULLETIN is published by l'Association des mines d'amiante du Qu^'bec 1130 Sherbrooke Street West Suite 410 Montr^'al H3A 2M8 The Post Office Department in Ottawa has authorized postage paid in cash and forwarding of the pub lication by third class mail iv Canada Canada Postage pard 1001 1001 paye Bulk nombre third classe class Montr^'alP.Q.