Document MqpGay9b6njZ9pMNvEm2MQqz

c(* ^ J7V 'A-` \ PRESS RELEASE R. T. VANDERBILT COMPANY, INC. 30 WINFIELD STREET NORWALK, CONNECTICUT 06855 BOND-308 CABLE AOORESS "BILTVAN'' NORWALK. CONNECTICUT TWX 7IO-a60*2Qao 12031 653-1400 November 22, 1977 The R. T. Vanderbilt Company Discloses Medical Studies Related to its Talc Products Current animal studies on hamsters by Dr. W. E. Smith and associates at the Health Research Institute of Fairleigh Dickinson University indicate no tumors related to treatment following intrapleural injection of tremolite particles' isolated from talc mined by the R. T. Vanderbilt Gouverneur Talc Company in upstate New York. Previous work at the University had established the hamster as a suitable animal model to demonstrate the effect of exposure to man of various fibrous mineral particles. The intrapleural injections are an effort to induce mesothelioma, a cancer of tissues surrounding the lungs which is commonly associated with exposure to true asbestos. Be cause of accusations that Gouverneur talcs contained large amounts of tremolite, which OSHA mistakenly considers to be asbestos, the Company commissioned the Health Research Institute to study the tremolite portion of its talc products. The current animal studies have been in progress for 600 days. The maximum normal lifespan for hamsters is about 700 days. To date, not one single case of mesothelioma has been found among the test hamsters injected with tremolite at Fairleigh Dickinson. These results are not unexpected in view of prior hamster studies at the University in which injection of New York State talc containing 50% tremolite produced no mesotheliomas over the full two year lifespan of the test animals. Both studies confirm what we at Vanderbilt believe to be true - our talcs do not constitute an asbestos hazard. As part of its overall program for employee health, the R. T. Vanderbilt Company has engaged a Bethesda, Maryland consulting firm in occupational medicine to conduct an BON-01836 The recommendations for use ofour materials are based upon tests believed to be reliable However we do not guarantee the results to be obtained - r R.T. VANDERBILT COMPANY, INC. indepth study of the health records of all past and present employees who have worked at Vanderbilt's Gouverneur, New York talc operations. The results of this study, when com pleted, will serve as a guide for Vanderbilt's continuing program of reducing employee health risks, including dust control improvement. A superior product and strict attention to employee safety and health brings the Vanderbilt concept of "People and Product" to the fore to make our Gouverneur Talc Company operation the standard of the industry. BON-01837