Document M88jjLyGOKEyd8DgQM3Qmk7M
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October 5, 1976
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Mr. Marc Collinn Airflex Plant Baton Corporation 9919 Clinton Road Cleveland, Ohio 44111
Subject: Airborne Asbestos
Dear Marc,
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I have your letter of October 1, 1976 and will* comment' Cfn-^t and
. ir: v. the other topic of our conversation, possible aabbdtds dust .exposure
by people who change or grind brake linings.
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Taking the last item first, I can offers4he
facts and
opinions.
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The August 14th, 1975 issue of-the Wall Street Journal carried an
1 article that is the cause of a lot of. consternation from people who are
r / exposed to the problems associated with theuse of asbestos. A copy
of the article la attached for your review.`
In the article, a NIGSH:spokesman makes a statement that I do not
agree with and is the basis'ffor a lot'of unnecessary fears regarding the use of asbestos-containing products. In Che second paragraph of
the article, HEW rapp^tedly said ;that, "garage personnel who change or grind brake liningpSre beiing exposed to potentially hazardous levels
of airborne asbegtoe." If the statement had been made that, "garage... personnel who change andgrind brake linings --" rather than, "-- who ' ; change or grind brake.linings--", I would not object. As written, it,
: implies thit the mere.act of changing brake linings exposes personnel to high levels of: airborne asbestos. This, in my opinion, is not the
case as: I'Will phoW 'later. However, I cannot disagree that the act of grinding- aabeatoa-contalning products may cause some liberation of .
asbestos, wbdtcib. may become airborne and could lead to people in the - lcmtediate-ansa to become exposed to potentially hazardous levels of ' airborne:.asbestos. More about this later on.
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.In. the next to the last paragraph of the article, the information \ la. given (and I do not disagree with it in general) that asbestos dust
Canbe generated where truck and bus linings are ground to fit brake drums or are resurfaced after use. However, I do disagree with the
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SCF-EC-1611
FAW 11855