Document KRpqw5MweJxaJd48Qw7M2NroQ
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"F. J. Solon* Jr. - 4 Korth
- Vila and Chrono
July 18* 1973
w INf 0 1TXIT 1 LETTER TO DR. SELIKOFF
*W. R. Goodwin F. B. May W. F. Alba J. 8. Autry J. F. Ball L. J. Bartolanso R. M. Billings L. R. Blair E. P. Burke R. F. Carter A. L. Cini R. B. Cuje Z. M. Dianatbach J. B. Dorsey E. M. Fanner W. F. Goodwin M. Harris W. W. Hendry J. E. Basse D. E. Hlllier W. A. Rindon J. R. M. Hutcheson H. B. Jamin H. R. Keafa C. C. Keller G. F. Loubart D. B. Lyons
A. B. Merchant E. F. Marrinar* M F. A. Martinson S. J. HeDuff J. A. McKinney B. B. Moreno R. E. Naylor R. Rebel P. C. Nikitovieh G. E. Parker P. L. Pundsack
Ivan Sabourin S. V. Schuliaeyer C. E. Shepperly R. V. Smith T. R. taith F. J. Solon, Jr. J. J. Spangenberg W. C. Straib C. J. Sulewski W. L. VanDerbeek C. W. Mattson B. J. White W. C. Winblad F. A. Winterhaltei G. W. Wright, M.D
You will bs Interested !' sure in reading ths sttschsd latter from Dr. Bilton Lawinaohn and Stephen Bolnee of Turner * Naval! to Pr. Xrvlng Sellkoff, calling his attantion to Misleading statements ha sada, using Lavlnsohn-Holnas material* at a presentation in Boston in lata May.
For background, this lattar is a diract rasult of our racant tiip to England (see trip raport attached). Dr. Gaorga Wright critiqued and comantad on tha various drafts leading up to this final Fersion.
P9* 2 July 18. 1973
1 call your attention to the first two paragraphs especially. The transcript cane from Ed Fenner and Bill Jteitze's tapes made at the conference which we forwarded to Dr. Lewinsohn and then followed with our visit to the British group to personally convey the request of George Wright and ourselves that a strong letter of dissent be sent to Selikoff. The second paragraph has statements as strong as any I*ve seen from professionals to professionals. Mote also that copies of the letter were sent to Dr. Marcus Key, Assistant Surgeon General and Director of MIOSH, and to the head* of AXHA and ACGIH, the two organizations who sponsored the Boston meeting at which Dr. Selikoff spoke. AXA/KA will forward copies of the letter to Secretary of Labor Peter Brennan and Assistant Secretary in charge of OSHA John Stendcr.
All this by way of letting important people in government and the professions know the kind of misleading acts Dr. Selikoff continues to commit. This is the kind of positive aggressive approach we intend to take on our environmental affairs problems.
Enc. (2)
uu t t
riU MEMORANDUM
REPORT or TRIP TO UNITED KINGDOM
Jm> H - July 1. 173
Subject trip was Bad* in ecapany with Xvan 6ahourin, our Canadian legal-environmental counsel; John H. Marsh of Kaybestos-Manhattan in his capacity as President of the Asbestos Information Association/North Aaericai and Matthew M. Seetonic, executive Secretary of the AXA/HA.
Purpose of the trip related aljaost entirely to the reopening of the OSBA Asbestos Standard in the V.S. tie wanted to meet with aaebers of the British nodical group, with British government officials and Britiah asbestos industry personnel to review the situation and prepare in advance for what we believe will be quite a rigorous confrontation at the public hearings on the asbestos standard which are ccadng up in the near future.
Following are brief eossssnts bn the meetings we held in the course of our stay in the United Kingdom.
1. Meeting (June 25. 1>711 with Dr. Milton Lewlnsohnand Stephen Boimo of Tome srotheer^a^AMsbi Iefsrteods; hAowleaxrdCorToss Michael Turner a wewaii.
For background -- Or. Lewineohn had issued some pre liminary figures on a re-study be is mating of workers at the Rochdale, England plant of TBA. Dr. Selikoff had put these figures into a graph which he presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Industrial Hygiene Association in Boston last May. Selikoff said these new figures changed the entire picture on asbestos standards and that tha present 0S8R standard places *U.S. asbestos workers at serious risk of irreversible, often fatal disease and in my (Selikoff*s) opinion* it should Jumacciately be xeconardared."
Me had forwarded to Or. Xewinoohn a few days prior to our meetlnc, s verbatim transcript of Dr. Sellkoff's pre sentation at Boston with a copy of the slide he had used there which he said had been made from Dr. l*winsohn's date.
Flit Menorandun - Pag* 2
Report of trip to Dr1tod Kingdom Jun* 33 - July 1. 1>73
Ns reviewed thi* at our Mating and handed out to attendees a copy of Dr. G*org* Hright'a mm to me on th* Levinsohn-Selikoff natter.
W* aoggeated that Dr. Levinsohn and Steve Holmes, who had worked with Dr. John Knox of TEA in the original study of Rochdale workers, prepare a joint letter to Dr. Selikoff on this natter. This they readily agreed to do. Natter of fact, their first draft was handed to us two days later for review and forwarding to George Nright for consent before final drafting and nailing to Selikoff.
Tb* British group are more than unhappy about this action by Selikoff. The present British Asbestos Regulations are based largely on the original studies at th* Rochdale plant of TBA. Selikoff's misuse of Lewinsohn's preliminary figures places the British regulations, th* British Occupational Hygiene Society and H.M. Factory Inspectorate in an extranely poor light.
Th* British intend to take this Mtter right down to th* wir* -- natt*r of fact, David Bills, Managing Director of TBA, had a personal hand in drafting sone of th* nost direct statements in th* letter to Selikoff.
lilt Maoraadw - Page 3 Report of trip to United Kingdom Juno 23 - duly 1. 1973
2. Mooting (June 26.1973) with Prs. David Muir and John MVit, Institute of (Occupational Medicine, HlnburgH, Gotland'. ' ----- ---------------------------
Me reviewed the Lewinsohn*Selikoff matter. Muir and Devie were glad to be informed and particularly pleased that-a letter was being written directly to Selikoff. They drove ua to their experimental farm on the outskirts of Edinburgh to see the animal experimental work they are carrying on, initially with amosite fiber, under `sponsorship of the Asbestosis Research Council.
rile NMettsdoi - rage' 4
toport of trip to United Kingdom June M - July 1. 1871
). Plwwr Meeting (Jui 27. 1873) with Dr. J. Corbett fcbonald.'
V* rtviwad th Levinsohn-Selikoff matter with Dr. McDonald who la on sabbatical leave from McGill University, Montreal. He was in full accord with our strategy and thought the idea of a strong letter to Selikoff free Lewlnsohn-Holmes was excellent.
As a matter of information, Dr. McDonald's sabbatical involves international work on population growth, requiring extensive travel.
Even though on sabbatical, he still directs the work of his group at McGill. So, John Marsh told him of the pure ehrysotile exposure at the R/M Stratford plant, asked if Corbett's McGill group, led by his wife, Allison, might tackle the study. He sparked to the idea and a meeting was arranged the week of July 8 between R/M and the McGill group to explore possibilities of such an epidemiological study.
Ha had a preliminary discussion about a tri-partit conference of AIC, AXA/NA and QhMA sonatina in the future.
The AIC is producing a new movie - 'Asbestos At Work", which will be issued under the nane of the Asbestosis Research Council.
Me learned freai Alex Cross that Stuart Luxor's job had changed with B. M. Factory Inspectorate. Poraerly Director of Industrial Hygiene Service, he is now Deputy Chief Inspector -- a lateral and slightly upward nova.
Dr. Walter Snither of Cape Asbestos who joined us for
lunch, said he had received an invitation from
Dr. Selixoff to become a ember of the Steering
Co--Ittee for a Hew York Acadesiy of Sciences-sponsored
--ting on the Biological Effects Of Asbestos to be
held October 7-11, 1974. Dr. Snither has nixed eisotions
About holding such a nesting only a year after the Lyon
Keating on the sane subject. X suggested that Selikoff
is calling ****
r.-'-ting because he was unhappy
about the Lyon Meeting not going his way. The group
agreed this was probably so.
,>
File Mangranduw - Fags t ((port of trip
to Unitod Kingdom Juno 13 - July l. 1971
5. Hooting (Juno 21. 1973) with Stuart G. Luxon. Deputy Chief Inspector. H.tf. Factory Inspectorate Ibis wife, Mrs. Maitland Luxon). Saoourin, MarsKT
teutonic, Solon.
Luxon woo tho British government official who, at tho request of Sabourin and Swetonic, appeared as an export witness at tho March 1972 OSHA Hearings on tho Asbestos Standard.
-
At this dinner Mooting, Luxon told-a* his recent promotion had boon brobght about largely by Great Britain's entry into the Common Market, and gives bio international responsibility for Safety and Health for the U.X.
Luxon believes that he would still be the one British official to cone to the U.S. public hearings on asbestos standard reopening should the testiaeny of H. M. Factory Inspectorate bo needed.
.
Be believes we in the 0.8. should be actively seeking negative evidence to show why it is not necessary to go below 2 fibers per cc in our asbestos standard.
Be dwelt at sosis length on the study being carried out by his Government of the entire British asbestos industry (10,000 workers) to determine if their
goal-standard of two fibers is sufficient. Though they nay get indications in the meantime, th* final
determination from the study is at least 20 years . eway.
Mhen Luxon learr^d from John Marsh that the RaybestosManhattan 50-year old plant in Stratford, Connecticut wes a pure chryaotlle exposure except for the past 9 or 10 years -- and that the Bendix brake lining plant at Troy, New York was also pure chryaotlle exposure, h uz^ed u to 'get the show on the road" as soon as possible and begin crash studies of workers at these two locations.
Luxon suggested, to set Sellkoff back somewhat and to take the pressure off the asbestos industry, that J-M call the neabers of the industry together, set a time limit and say that by such-and-such dt* (long before
the July 7, 197< deadline), J-M will announce that all its plants are at the 2 fibers per cc standard or that
workers are provided good protection at those locations we're still working on. He believes the press will be interested in such a story.
Ml* Meawraaduu - Page 7 Report of trip to United Elngdou Jane 23 - July 1. 173
Lanon uy It's too bad w don't have a batter dialogue with high labor union officials as they * do la the U.K. la his work, ha said, ha has fouad his off-the-record dialogue with both ladustry aad orgaaitad labor has been of inastiaable value.
To gat the total rationale behind the BOHS recoastendatloe that the Britiah asbestos standard not be changed at this tias, Luxon suggested we writes
Or. Dereck Turner, Secy. , British Occupational Hygiene Society BP Besearch Center Buabury-on*Thaaes London, England
aad ask for docaeantatloa.
Be said that B.M. rectory Inspectorate was taking the iseesawndation of the BOBS aad was not reopening the British Asbestos standard at this tine.
Luxon said if we wanted hia to cose over for the upcoulng MBA Bearings, it would have to be done throughi
dote Garcia Labour Attache British Babassy . Washington, D.C.
file Hemorandum - Page 8
Report of trip to United Kingdom June 23 - July 1, 1973
8. Heating (June 28, 1973) with Alex Cross (Cape) and
' Howard (T t W) representing both AIC and
Asbestosis Research Council (with Solon, Sabourin,
twetonlc).
.......
"'
Purpose of thia Meeting was to review the various ways in which the British group eight help us at the tise of the OSKA Hearings on Asbestos Standard Re-Opening.
Me reviewed the OSHA procedures on standard setting, told then we understood there would be no new criteria package on asbestos in connection with the reopening of the standard.
Me aaid it would be a minimus of seven months until
public hearing; that the new IS man Advisory Committee
could take * months to deliver its report to the
Secretary of Labor; that meetings of the Advisory
Committee would be public as far as listening was
concerned but that participation in the Advisory
Committee hearings was by invitation only.
,
Cross and Howard suggested that since the BOBS was instrumental in influencing R.M.rectory Inspectorate not to reopen the British Asbestos Standard at this time, it might be helpful to arrange for three people, all members of the Asbestos Subcomittee of BOHSt
Dr. Hilton Lewlnsohn
Stephan Holmes 6. B^rrv (Statistician on Dr. Gilson's staff)
to appear before the Advisory Committee and present the rationale for their not changing the present British Standard of two fibers.
They aleo recommended that Dr. John Gilson was by far the most eminent medical sciantist in the U.K. on asbestos end would be the beet one to appear at the final OSHA public hearings should that be
necessary.
File NMriadi - Fags 9 port of trip to United Kingdom June 2>- Jalv 1. 1>73
7. Mestlne (June Xt. 1773) with Dr. John Gilson and ` Pr. J. Chris Meaner at the HfeC Pneunoconeosis Kasearch Unit. Penarth. Wales (Sabourln, Solon,
lkm>, Wtonlei.
Ms reviewed the Lewinsohn-Selikoff matter and stressed
the fact that we looked on Selikoff's action as an attack on the trltlsh Asbestos Standard and on the reputation of H.M. Factory Inspectorate and the BOHS la the setting of proper standards to protect their workers. Dr. Gilson agreed it appeared to be so.
Be said he was glad to be informed of these matters but had no interest in the awdieo-political area. Be prefers to devote his time to pure medical research.
Ms talked about the reopening of the OSHA Asbestos Standard and again he stressed that he had no interest in the medico-scientific. Bowever. X got the feeling that la light of his warm regard for George Wright, should Dr. Gilsoa be needed to testify in the upcoming OSSA Searings and should his health permit it, he.would react favorably to a request directly from Dr. Wright.
At the end of the nesting. Dr. Gilson asked that his secretary make a xerox of the following LewinsohnSelikoff material -
- Transcript of Selikoff's presentation at the ATha Westing at Boston.
- Copy of the slide material used by Dr. Sellkoff
at Boston.
.
- Copy of the article by Dr. Lewinsohn from which Dr. Sellkoff claims to have taken the information he presented at Boston.
- Copy of Dr. Georgs Wright's memo to me, commenting mi the Lewinsohn-Selikoff matter.
* Be did not ask to xerox the Lewlnsohn-Holmes letter
draft to Sellkoff because he said Hr. Berry had brought a copy back with him frem Hochd`1- that rorning and wae giving it to Dr. Gilson.
Dr. Gilson was in full agreement with obr strategy in the Lewinsohn-Selikoff matter.
Pile Maorandw - Page 10 Report of trip to United Kingdom Jane 23 - July 1. 173
Zn closing this report, let as eay that this entire trip, at ay request, was planned by Ivan Sabourin. He did an outstanding job. We were able to spend time with everyone we had designated as important to a discussion of this subject of reopening the OSHA asbestos standard.
F. Js Solon, Jr*
I