Document LKj27rZOMEy536JzMbvb3ZNbg

lb-4252 }w 140 2 UNION INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE CARBIDE MINI NG AND METALS DIVISION P 0 63X *579 NIAGARA fAUS Nf'.V Y:'RK 1-10' Mr. J. W. Rawlings omw I Mining l Metals itemftM I New York, New York Cm* t>* February 7, 1972 Oiiginafing DtpL CAL I DR I A Asbestos - Marketin fi*>eorch ur.d D*v*lopmorit impertinent Arrfwtritip Irttr daft Mli Degu s sa he following comments are for your consideration in answering legussa's fetter dated 1-27-72. ft I - Degussa did not discredit the activities of UCC but they did discredit A -- 14 and A-28. This impedes the progress of another UCC distributor for moving the same products under different names. ft 2 -Degussa should also advise their U.S., Japan, and other representatives not to discredit our products. Dr. Fratzscher made a tie between A-28 and RG-244 when he "Discredited" both of them in Japan. 3 - Asbestos is proven to be harmful only when TLV's are exceeded for 10-30 years. General- A list of customers "in due time" is not adequate - our new distributor (W. R. Grace) needs them now so they can squelch Oegussa's comments. they became so concerned late in 1971 why didn't they request our assistance and/or advise us of their intentions before taking cJstomer action? ' It is not a proven fact that asbestos dust causes cancer when regulations are observed. Thsir customers are not forced to reformulate because the products are now available from Grace as SX-14 and SX-28. /cvb LETTER FROM DEGUSSA, FRANCE TO SACI ! Re : Thickening agents A 14 and A 28 TF-4249 Gentlemen, He noted with pleasure your order of A 28, our thickening agent* Unfortunately, it has been found out that A 28 is noxious and probably subject to cancer. Subsequently, our company decided to stop selling this product. . Some quantities will be, however, available before end of this year. In order to continue your manufacturing, we would be grateful if you could let us have your orders immediately. A 28 will be replaced by our Aerosil COK 84 or Aerosil 300. Please do' not hesitate to contact our technical department if any problems arise. * Looking forward to receiving vour further news, we remain : With kind regards. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION MINING AND METALS DIVISION 270 PA** AVNU. NEW VORK, N. Y. IOQ17 January 5, 1972 Dr. Milton Stem 38th Floor Dear Dr. Stem: The new RG-244 and RG-144 distributor agreement with W. R. Grace was executed on January 4, 1972 and is effective as of January 1, 1972. For your information, the termination with Degussa is not going smoothly in that they are making very irresponsible statements to customers concerning the toxicology of asbestos. The attached file will bring you up-to-date on this matter. ^ Very truly yours, JWR:mc Attachments J. W. Rawlings. < Geschaftubereich Fiemente DECU5SA. P-ftCCC ~iAkfan I. Pgalltca 333 Mr. James W* Rawlings, Vice President Union Carbide Corporation 2 70 ?af< nVcfiUS New, Vork. N. Y, iOOl? USA Franktart (Malt) V/eiaifraueaatraaw Telaleo: Telegrarame: Tales: Bask: Peitacheck: Ceackaliazeii: Reguier-Nr.: |M II) 211-t t 1221 fig*!* e CEGl'SSA Su.i.. ' Frenklurt (Mam I III tS01 F'ank'utl iMa:-" .nontagi-lreiteg* 1.50-'.i; 22 HRB8IM Freak furl iMe.ni tbre Zaichea Hire Nechrteht vent Unaere Zelcbea PT-V Telel.-DurekwaM 218. 2222 Datum 27th Jan., if7 Dear. Mr. Rawlings, We refer to your letter of Jan It, 1972, and the letter of ; - Hi on C&r^>xuc uUJOpci to our sucsauusry c orr.p any Dcgussz.-.-_`z." " z; of Jaii^SthV* In both these letters we are reproached tha; .. ar.d our subsidiary company in France do market our own .v:z in violation of the rules or. fair competition by r.ahir.o disparaging statements cn asbestos thickening agents o: y: r company. As already pointed out in the letter of our subs:.srv company in France to Union Carbide Europe, v;e can ascur* y : that it was never cur intention to make statements discredit*ng the activities cf your comoary; all th? more so since ~ srs do not have any knowledge that the- asbestos produce^ j. ; - are products supplied by your company. '''`addition, immediately taken all steps to .make sur.e that the representatives of our company or its affiliates limit their statements, as far as the -^xic properti of asbestos chickening agents are concerned, strictly to, the contents of the publication which we distributed in Germany and which we attach hereto for your information. i As you will see from this circular letter, we emphasise that our decision to stop the sale of asbestos thickening agents is due to our personal opinion that numerous scientific publications have in she meantime with increasing certainty confirmed our suspect of the toxic properties of the products at stake. We outline in this statement further that this cur opinion is not shared oy some other sellers of asbestos preiu We feel we had to proceed this way anc even sacrifice a ver promising line of business in the light of the enormous nsJ which could fellow from any product ii^^',Ji"`` s-./2 otouss* 2nd ,loM** Kr. Janes W. Rawlings, Viea-Prer*dent Oo,',m 27th J.? . Union Carbide Corporation, New Ycrk Naturally, we very much regret that we had to make this decision but we trust that, after this explanation, you will at least understand the reasons for the measures taken by. us. . The list of our asbestos-clients which we promised-to you in case of the termination of our cooperation - another fact indicating our bona fide approach in this matter will be forwarded to your Geneva office in due time. With best regards, Enel. Yours truly, Frankenbusch 4^ D E GUSSA Gesch&Itsbereich Pigmente OCCL'SfA. o-fi'yw Prtnkluit t. P**UehN9J Ftaaklurt (Mala) Weui(r.:*r.it ? Talafoa: Talagramna: Ttltx: Bank: Potuehtek: G#*ek8/ur!t Ragitlar-Nr.; (Mil) 21S-1 Uagusta Frinkturusam 4 1221 dgSn 50010700 LZB Frankfurt (Ml (8) 1501 Frankiurt iNiamj raonUm-frcitag, 7.50-(4 40 75 HRS 82M Fraaklurt (M;ol fbre Zaichfn (lira Naekricfic vom Cruara Zticfcan PT-MV/Krs-us Talaf.-Ourthwakl 218-20.45- Oalua 29. Nov. 1971 Asbestverdickungsmittel A 14 und A 28 Einstellunq ces Vertriebs zum 31. 12. 1971 Sehr geehrte Herren! Sie gehoren seit elniger Zeit zu unseren treuen Kunden fur Asbestverdickungsmittel und haben sicherlich die Vorziige dieses Materials schatzen gelernt. Trots der technischen Erfolge haben wir uns entschlossen, uen Vertrieb von Asbestvercickungsmitteln mit Wirkunq vcm 31. 12. 1971 ein2ustellen. Der Hauptgrund fur diese MaBffahme sind unsere gesundheit- lichen Bedenken im Hinblick auf mdgliche Nebenwirkungen. Es war schon fruher bekannt, daB das Einatmen von groBeren Mengen Asbes'tfasern zur Entstehung von Asbestose fiihren kann, die sich jedoch durch Einhaltung der vorgeschri eber.en SchutznaBnahmen vermeiden lieB* Wie erst neuere statistische Arbeiten ergeben haben, ist nicht auszuschlieBen, dan auch bei Beachtung der Sicherheitsvorschriften Lungen- und Bauch- fellkrebs verursacht werden kann. ' Wir halten es deshalb fur unsere Pflicht, die Asbestfaserprodukte -vom Markt zurilckzuziehen, obwohl nach unserer Kenntnis niche alle Anbieter unsere Bedenken teilen. Zu unserem groBen Bedauern miissen wir Sie daher mit dem Problem konfrentierun, Ihre unter Verwendung von A 14 und, A 28 ausgearbeiceten Rezepturen umzugestalten* Als Austauschprodukie konnen wir Ihnen unsere AEROSIL-Typen i degussa TOX-D .Me-Kr:./us Frankfurt, 29. Nov. 1971 Zusam nenfassung der toxikologischen Literatur uber \sbestfiiserprodukte Vor dar Markceinfuhrung der Asbestverdickungsmittel wurde 1968 ein toxikologisches Gutachten erstellt. Zu diesem Suit^unkt war bekannt, wie in dem Merkblatt 30/31 der Berufskrankheiten-Verordnung beschrieben, dafl Asbestfasem bei entsprechend starker Exposition zu einer fortschr<. Lrender. Lungenfibrose (Asbestose) fuhren konnen, dafl Lungtnkrebs in Verbindung mit Asbestose relativ haufig beobechtet wurde und Pleuraendotheliome (Krebs des Lungenfells) vorkommen kdnnen. Wenn SchutzmaBnahmen angewandt wurden, wie in dem Merkblatt ZH 1/138 gefordert, schlen die Gefahr aefcannt. Erst nach 1968 verdichteten sich die Informationen, die zu folgender neuer Beurteilung fuhrten: 'Asbeststaub gefahrdet nicht nur den Hersteller von Asbestprodukten, wobei angezweifelt wird, dafi der bisher ange- . nommune TLV (Threshold limit value) als zuverlassig anzusehen ist, sondern kann aucn die Verarbeiter von Asbestprodukten und sogar die Bevolkerung, die in der Nahe von asbestbe- und-verarbeitenden Betrieben wohnt, gefahrden. .Die neuerc-n statistischen Untersuchungen von Dr. Selikoff, New York, bericnten in verstarktem Matte von Fallen von Mesothelioma bei Personen, die nur kurzzeitig einer relativ geringen Menae Asbestfasern ausgesetzt waren. So verdichtete sich der Verdacht, datt Asbestfasern nicht nur eine Gefahr am Arbeitsplatz sondern auch fur die Umwelt carstellen BE GlSSA t, Geseh&ftsbereich Plgmente DSGUSSA. D--6000 Funk(urt i, ?otUcfc 3^93 Frwklurt (Mala) Wiwlrautaitra*M 9 T.ltfoa: T.ltfranmt: tain: Baak: PaiUckaek: GcichifUxalt: (0611) 219*1 0*9ui> Frmkfurtstia 4 1 231 d$Om d $0010700 LZB rrtakfurt (M) (9) 1501 Frankfurt (Main) moatagi*(iaiUgi 7.50-1S.40 72 HU 6239 Frankfurt (Main) Ibra Z.ichcn Ibra Naebricbt ion Uoaara Zaiebaa PT-MV/Krs-us Talaf.-Durcbwabl 218.2.0,4.5 Oaiua Dec. 7, 1971 Asbestos thickening agents A 14 and A 28 Sales-stop until December 31; 1971 Dear Sirs, . You have been a regular customer of ours for some time ar.d have no doubt come to appreciate the advantages of cur asbestos fillers. , Although these products have much to offer technically, we have decided to withdraw them from the market between now and the end of the year. We are doing so mainly because of our misgivings regarding the possible health effects of asbestos fibres. It has long been an established fact that the inhaling of asbestos dust in larger amounts can cause asbestosis which it is possible to prevent, however, by adherance to the relevant safety regulations. Only more recently' has statistical evidence begun to build up from which it appears that asbestos dust cannot be ruled out as a possible cause of lung and peritoneal cancer, even wheti these regulations are observed. We consider it our duty, therefore, to withdraw this material from the market although, as far as we know, not all who offer such products for sale share our misgivings. As a result, you will to our great regret be faced with the problem of having to revise any formulations of which A 14 and A 28 are constituent parts. We can offer you our AEROSIL as alternatives although they are not in every respect functionally fully equivalent substitutes. You may rest assured, however, that our service technicians will be only too pleased to help you with the necessary formula modifications that such a change entails. 2nd Blaft an DIGUJSA OotvM D sc 7 , 1 y 7 PT-MV/Xrs-u If, in spite of our misgivings you decide you need to continue, using A 14 and A 28 for the time being, we are prepared to ' meet any orders reaching us up to and including the 31st december 1571 at your risk. We trust that you will appreciate our reasons for taking this action and remain, yours faithfully Sauerborn Kress REGISTERED Geneva, January 6, 1972 DEGUSSA - PRANCE S. a r. 1. 99 Avenue du Roule F - 92 Neuilly s/Seine . Gentlemen: We have become avare of numerous oral and written statements made by representatives of your company which discredit certain^product?, of our parent house in New York, notably the thickening agent A 28. According to you, this product in effect should have been declared harmful and even carcinogenic, and you vouid be obliged to halt the sale thereof. You further proposed replacing our agent with a product of your manufacture.' Such statements, as well as the manner of presenting them, are in flagrant contradiction to the rules of good faith and are of a nature to create false impressions among those in the business. It goes without saying that we cannot tolerate them. We have found it necessary to consult our attorneys in Paris, who are of the opinion that such actions constitute violations of the French law on unfair competition. . We do not wish to resort to the legal means available to us. It would appear, however, that we have no alternative unless you give us, without delay, specific written assurance that your company and its representatives will cease making all statements, direct or implied, of a nature detrimental to us. Awaiting your prompt reply, we remain Very truly yours, (Signature) ' Union Carbide Europe S.A. Translation:D. Dassau RECOMMANDEE DEGUSSA - PRANCE S.& r.l, 99 Avenue du Roule P - 92 Neullly a/Selne GenAve, le 6 janvier 1971 Messieurs, Nous avons eu connaissance de dlversea declarations verbales et Sorites faites par das reprdsentants de votre coropagnie, lesquelles dSnigrent certains prodults de notre raaison-mdre A New York, notainment 1*agent Spaieeissant A 28. Salon vous, en effet, ce prodult aurait St6 dSclarS nocif at mfime cancSrigSne et-vous vous verriez dans 1'obligation d'en arreter la vente. Et de plus, vous avez propose le remplaceraent de notre agent Spaississant par un produit de votre fabrication. De telles declarations, alnsi que la fagon de les presenter, sont en contradiction flagrante avec lee rfigles de la bonne foi et sont de nature A provoquer dee impressions erronSes parmi les coremergants. 21 va sans dire que nous ne ssurions les.toldrer. - Nous' avons jugS utile de consulter nos avocats A Paris, lesquels sont d'avis que de tele agissements constituent des actes rSpriatSs par le droit fr&ngais sur la concurrence ddloyale Nous ne ddslrons pas recourir aux moyens Ifigaux qul nous sont offerts. Toutefoia, 11 apparattrait que nous n'aurlona pas d*autre solution A raolns que vous ne nous donnlez sans dSlai 1*assurance dcrlte et spScifique que votre compagnle et ses reprdsentants cesseront toute declaration expresse ou implicite de nature A nous porter prejudice. Dans 1'attente d'une proropte rSponse de votre part, nous vous prions d'agrAer, Messieurs, nos salutations eznpressSes. *'NION CARBIDE EUROPE S.A.