Document M4g1r8VzmGJVmxOEL63LJYE19

FILE NAME: US Gypsum (USG) DATE: February 17,1937 DOC#: USG059 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1937 Letter to CM Price from AC Hirth regarding inquiry about effects of handling glass wool. b r< ; I Ujtex s - Illino is n Gl a s s Com pax O l a s * CoHiAnnoif General Ofrcrs Toledo H r. C h a r l e s H. P r i c e . S o o tt, MacLeish k Falk. 134 S. L aS alle S t . . Chicago. 111. Dear Ur. Prioe: H r . B e l k n a p h a s d i s c u s s e d w i t h me y o u r i n quiry relative to the possible deleterious effects of handling glass wool, p articu larly with respect to possible derm atitis resulting therefrom. I n o n l y two o r t h r e e r a r e i n s t a n c e s h a v e we heard of any i l l e ffe c ts re s u ltin g from the handling of g la s s w ooli Very o c c a s io n a lly an i n d iv id u a l fin d s t h a t h is skin beoomes s l i g h t l y i r r i t a t e d , j u s t as some i n d i v i d u a l s f i n d t h e i r s k i n s s e n s i t i v e t o v a r i o u s d y e 8*^0 ommonly u s e d i n t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f c l o t h i n g a n d costume jewelry We h a v e made c o n s i d e r a b l e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n connection w ith our employees, and have been advised t h a t in those ra re instances where i r r i t a t i o n is produced, i t is r e lie v e d by an a p p lic a tio n of soap and w a te r. B e c a u s e o f t h e r e o e n t ' s i l i c o s i s e p i d e m i c we a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t w i l d s t a t e m e n t s m i g h t be made r e l a t i v e to p o s s i b l e damage r e s u l t i n g from t h e i n h a l a t i o n or in g e s tio n of fin e p a r t i c l e s of g lass wool. Accordingly -< we h a d e x p e r i m e n t s c o n d u c t e d u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f c? Dr . L e r o y TJ. G a r d n e r o f S a r a n a c L a b o r a t o r i e s , S a r a n a c L a k e , New Y o r k , and P r o f e s s o r P h i l l i p E. D r i n k e r o f t h e H a r v a r d S c h o o l o f P u b l i c H e a l t h . Our own o p i n i o n t h a t t h e ' product was harmless is' borne out in the ~ r e p o r t s cf th e s e two e x p e rim e n ts, oopies of which are enclosed for your inform ation. hhO IVOrf'r) Ow e n s -Il l in o is Gl a ss Company 2 From: t i n to tim e-w e h a v e r e c e i v e d r e q u e s t s fo r the enclosed re p o rts from salesmen, hut have deolined to pu b lish the rep o rts as such, because of the p o s s ib ility of th e ir being d isto rted or m i s u s e d , 17e h a v e , h o w e v e r , t r i e d t o p a s s a l o n g t h e e sse n tia l information contained therein, as evidenced by a copy of our l e t t e r t o Ur. Johnson of 7 . S. Gypsum Co* o f F e b r u a r y 1 2 , w h i o h i s e n c l o s e d h e r e w i t h . I n some few c a s e s i t p r o b a b l y w i l l be n e c e s s a r y to show the customer the r e p o r t i t s e l f . Such e a s e s , h o w e v e r , a r e b e i n g r e f e r r e d t o T o l e d o and we h a n d l e them d ire o tly w ith the customer. TFe t r u s t t h a t t h e f o r e g o i n g i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l be of a ssista n o e to you. eb end. Legal & Patent'*Department. 099^ o o