Document KzDmXzrmY0eM4x5zxy02X0GmQ

MMHNCU.4ttUA.eA> , hlesaorandas ca \ PU0P03ED EPWSM2QLGQIGM* STUDY OP l-TOlVCAKCEIt vn ASMS10$ YrORSJEIta er the. v. ' , _ . .. - 'ASBESTOS TEXTILE INSTITUTE LHr FIL O : V. . mTEODUCTIOK , - v, * /" '\-V vy.. V. *: ' . Thy rapVJly te&rccstas iacldcace ci caacer ol tia lung haa - * ' - . bsccmo a rvtMer c:C cor.r.crn to LavocMsclcry la il brcnchac oi hucuth . !- ft* trail os to tho ^caorcl public* - Alihccigh 13 'eoald apncar te ba Uscrttnhlo - that aaxno aonon r.ovid dovclcp In cay groi?g> ci workers* its' ocsturcaco . . ' to paroor,s xfho alee? h?4 esbootaeio lisa boaa rpatincally ootod by a ' *'* tvumbar ci autlvtro era? the p3l twenty years* .{Lyueh and Smith* Acgrlflt, .. Daamaulco ei cl, Cartier, Gleyc;ot Mera'seOver, Xanaaway cad ICccnaway, Dali, ondethorc*) Hue-tar, of the National Cancer; Institute, U.3. Public Health ScrYlOf haa otated that cacao ci lung cancer eupasrimpoaod epon taboate-nlc near number cheat 100, U2 many nC the abovo outliers, Huepor refero to "achnstocia cancer" ci the lroag arul claims a definiio joiaiiaiahip betwaen tho tv7C ecndUlcno, Although raoct of the utosaplc ftt cojteinUoa Memorandum. . for A VJ. have been limited to bin,* cancer And aihjaiotn, u co.mecUwn *ith mere exposure to Asb-rntun fiber and duet ha* be*n inferred. There fore, it now appear* that when ianj cancer occurs in an asbestos workor, It may bo looked upon as an occupational disease by some . Workmen's Compensation Hoards. * Hocause of theuu consideratlouu and motivated by u desire to determine the true facts, the Asbestos Textile IusUtutc, through its Air Hygiene Ccmmitleo, approachoti Industrial Hygiene Foundation regarding the feasibility of a statistical ano cpiucmiological itudy having as It a objective to prove or disprove, If possible, i, Who thee there is a relationship between lung car.cc r and asbeotottis, and 2.. Whether a relationship exists between lung concur and any considorab.a exposure to asbestos fiber and duvt. The representative* of the Air Hygiene Committee pointed out that only two to throe thousand employees were engaged in textile pro duction and because of thib re ativcly small number, It was fell Uuil a preliminary survey should be undertaken to find the extent and reliability of data before aWitsag definitely that the larger study would bo practical arjd productive . adults os* pr*Eij.uiNAXu sur.vsY louring til's week,? ci April 7,1 end May 7, 1^56, visits wvro made to eovon mornbar pJnnti of the Asbestos Textile Insitituto and conferences woro hold with representatives of tnanagannual at each, in *0010 casec. there vaa also an opportunity to maot the physician for the plant. The purpose was to duterraino tho extent and availability of modlccl rocords and employment records, aad tho poriod of time covered by thorn. Total employment aa well as tho Dumber of those engaged lit textile manufacturing waw ascertained and attention was given to tho relative exposure of employees in different operations. At the saxao time, inquiry v/as mado rogarding life insurance records which might be useful in taxing tho causes of deaths among tho employed group. &ch plant was questioned regarding the number of known cases of asbsstoeio and of lung cancer, if any. It can^be.assumed without invostigallon that official sources cf vital statistics as they apply to tho general population exist In all of tho locations with which we arc concerned. As a rosult of this preliminary survey, it is apparent that con siderable information Is avsllabio or obtainable with roapoct to tho toxtiln worhore and to others with potential exposure. Tor example, t. . Pro-employment records exist at all plants, Ln most for e considerable number of years. Z, Periodic x-rayc; <jf the chest are tnade at ail but one plant. ^ atomor onitm>, .. for ATI l. J Keco<d of ''.mployninnt cun bo tCediod fur |ioriods v.uying from six lo 56 yc+ta. 1, AU the plant* except one have a sroup Ufo lnvuranco program which would provide Jot* on causes of death. - ' 5* Autopsy protocols arc available on at least a limited num ber of lun& cancer cases. It nould ooccn that at least IdCO textile workers h^-vo boon employed under observable condition* for period* sufficiently lon^ to jjive a total of .no Use than 15,000 person-years, From a otauaUcal point of view-, this should be au adequate bacu on which to prodlct *rth V0T accuracy,' providing the plant incidence is actually higher than that la the general population. In addition, this study would be considerably enhanced by virtue of the fact that comparable information will bo a: hand from a similar study to bo xnado for the uabcotoa mining industry. Result* from the laUar will provide extremely valuable confirmatory evidence for deductions dra*n from the present material, PROPOSAL ' Caroful conoidcration of the type and probable reliability of available data permits the conclusion that a study of this problem in the asbestos textlla industry Is fexstbia, and should result In statistically valid deductions. Memorandum. ,. /or .Vf) hcvarnl methods of approach iiu^cilecl tlicirntclv* <, w> ; a fiaa-l chcico ( method should depend upon more detailed utucy of thu dau which tho preliminary survey ha* shown to exist. In general, however, U 1* suggested that a* large a* possible a group or cohort*' , ot worker* who ecterod the industry ftt a specific time bo selected and followed, through the use oX treating record*. Tho incidence of asbes tos*.* in thi* group should bo determined by studying the results of the periodic examinations, and incidence oi lung cancer through record* of Uio lrvaurar.ee carriers and ofiici&l vital statistic*. Thli method would approach tho conditions of a controlled experlmeixt and the in- formc-tlon. derived would he of great importance. Following ;hlc, a comparison oX the rate* found in thi* group of worker* and the incidence in tho general population would be made, h.xporicnee /or icgmonU oX tho geaoral population {selected so as to eliminate blase* and control variable*) would ho obtained from cudy 0/ > .' of/icial vital *latiolic* rocord* and from published reports rogardlr.g incidence oX cancer of tho lung.. It io, oX course, necessary to place .considerable reliance upon death corUXicatoti regarding tho diagnosis, but la most borderline cases it should bo possible to refine tho data by more extensive search. It would be helpful, also, if the group under tody could bo salaried by tha inclusion oX worker* who aro exposed to asbestos fibc** and dust <veo though they axe not employed lit tho textile^, departments. It N cur understanding ihAt *' ----------- * nu< c*ii*muv, , , lor A'i l ~\ * f,. employees have tvAi.o.surft m other aruaj, And a study of the records . of worker# la ouch Aron* would increase iha validity of the otudy, Tfcle type of Auxwy obviously noccuUacca detailed analysis of the work history, medical record*, and insurance company cxperiooce a# they relate to all workers presently employed, a# well as those ao loader employed but whaoa records are Available, It .>U1 also require cximluiUon of insurance company records in all death claims with follow-up 1a each case in which cancer Is a possible cause. In addition, H cvill be necessary to study vital statistic# records for the areas in i vhlvh the various plants arc located. The incidence of lung cancer, although u;cioa#ing rapidly, is ctiii comparatively lov?t and for this ru&soQ, thorn is no substitute for tho typo of approach outlined if mean* lawful ruflulla arc to be obtained. It Is anticipated.that the field work for such a study would consume approximately six months, and. Analysis of tha data, any necessary reviow, aod preparation-of the report, on additional six months. On this basin, cost of the study is estimated at *1 7, 500, including travel and out-of-pocket qxpi 1100 * .