Document Jrxpq0ypb8m0ZOroywZ8Gknz6

Asbestos Information Association/North America 22 East 40th Street New York, N. Y. 10016 (212) 661-6206 B. JOHNSON DEG ; v exk:iit October 26, 1971 Mr* Eugene Patterson Managing Editor THE WASHINGTON POST 1515 L Street, N.W. Washington, D.C* 20005 Dear Mr* Patterson: The WASHINGTON POST story on the National Research Council's recommendations on the control of asbestos dust, which ran October S, 1971, on page A30, erred in its statement that asbestos poses a hazard to the general public. * The lead on the POST story reads: "The National Research Council declared yesterday that asbestos dust poses-.a health hazard for the general public and called for new stringent controls to keep it out of the atmosphere**'. . In contrast, the National Research Council's press release which apparently served as the basis for this story carried the following lead: . "Controls of asbestos emissions into the atmosphere are needed to safeguard the general public against possible health hazards from further contamination, as well as to protect the small number of peoplp who are currently exposed to unusually high concentrations*". (Underlining is ours.) The Council's point is that the possibility exists that further addition of asbestos to the air might pose a health hazard) not that*fesbestos poses a health hazard for the general public", as your story states, in its study the National Research Council stated that: . "At present, there is no evidence that the small number of fibers found, in most members of the general population affect health or longevity* " The asbestos industry agrees with the facts presented by the National Research Council and with the Council's recoanen.dations. He do not believe that the general public faces any * W Ada* UmmCa~ Canal*MM fntma Ca* rnmwn C*. OA* Ca- WwMwMi NkiwW CTrw Nmbi* Card, in............ . Wniiwid Car* Mr. Eugene Patterson Page 2 ' October 26, 1971 hazard from the minute amounts of asbestos that now exist in the ambient air. We do believe it is prudent to estab lish reasonable regulations to insure that hazardous levels of asbestos do not develop in the community air in the future. Sincerely, Secretary 01-0218098