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February 10, 1567
Mr. James ?. Verbalen United States Mineral
Products Company Stanhope, Hew Jersey 0787^
Dear Jim:
Enclosed is the letter dated February 7, 1967 frcs Mr. Sherman, Chief of the Division of Industrial Safety cf California setting forth his Division's views on the asbestos dust situation.
X am also enclosing a reply from the Federal Trade Commission, dated February 8, 1967 on the complaint against the two Houston, Texas insulation companies, which indicates that the Commission has the matter under investigation.
Sincerely yours,
JB/jn
Enclosure
cc: Board of Directors
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S. ATt & CAUWlNIA-0*nOTM*NT IfUHONS ACtHCT
'.OAXTMIHr Ol1 IN0UJTUA1. HlAIlONS
DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY *aa ao* cats xvtwut um >twc..iea
February 7, 1967
Ronaid Reagan,, iow^'xxuienm '
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Mr. J. P. Verhalen, President Sprayed Mineral Fiber Manufacturers
Association, Inc. Suite 2300, One Wall Street New York, New York 10005
Oear Mr. Verhalen
Our Oivision of Industrial Safety, in conjunction with the State Health Ceoarcment and the U. S. Public Health Service has, over the last three years, mace extensive studies into the hazards of asbestos because of the emergence of a full-fledged asbestos industry in California.
The MAC for asbestos in our General Industry Safety Orders is 5 million par ticles per cubie foot, this to be measured by the method recognized by tne u.S. Public Health Service. This has been the standard light field cechnicue. Re cent studies by the U. $. Public Health Service, using electron microsccoy and dark field microscopes with phase contrast and higher magnifteat ion, icentify particles of chrysotile down to less than 0.01 micron in diameter, in typical air samples, more than 50 per cent of the particles counted would not be visible using standard light field techniques.
For at least ten years, evidenea has been accumulating relating lung eancer to asbestosis, and in the last few years a serious increase in mesothelioma among asbestos workers hes been reported.
V have made studies In much the same manner as the Ohio Oivision of Safety and Hygiene with simitar findings; we also require the use of approved dust respira tors by the exposed workmen. We have also had injuries from slips and fails caused by the slippery, wet material which plops to the floor.
We have not found serious asbestos dust concentrations resulting from the wet "spraying" operation, one reason being that the building is not enclosed at this time.
We do consider dry sweeping of this material in an enclosed building to be potentially hazardous. The USPHS- has studied this operation'using phase con trast, higher magnification and dark field lighting and in persona) discussion, has indicated they find very high concentrations of small particles. So the immediate cleanup operation is important in our view, for both reasons.
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Mr. J. P. Verhalen Page 2 February 7, 1967
we appreciate your concern thee ''unnecessary cautions" work a hardship on industry. We want controls which will provide for a reasonable level of safety for emoloyees. There has been considerable mi s informat ion aoout asbestos dust in recent years. Examples are the correlation between as* bestos bodies and asbestosis, and the misconception that only 20 mieron particles and larger cause asbestosis.
We hope you are well aware of these matters. The correct answers are im portant to you and to us, and most important, to the exposed individuals.
Very truly yours
cc Mr. J. A. CInquemini, Executive Secretary Los Angeles Building and Construction Trades Counci 1 1626 8everly Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90026
cc Mr. V. C* Mathis, Assistant to Executive Secretary Los Angeles Building and Construction Trades Counci 1
cc Mrs. Margaret R. O'Grady, Oeputy Oirector Department of Industrial Relations