Document NGO70Ra0VJ0z75kq1r42EmazR
FILE NAME Quebec Asbestos Mining Association QAMA
DATE 1974 Mar
DOC QAMA130 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION IOEH Newsletter
Mr. R.H. MERENESS
INSTITITE OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTII
SUITE 112
5 PLACE VILLE MARIE
eee
MONTREAL CANADA Han 20e
rae
Welch
Newsletter No 37 March 1974
1 A new research project was accepted by the
ICEH Scientific Committee and the Executive Committee of
and
by QAMA and became IOEH No Dr. Alison McDonald
"
Epidemiological
study of mesothelioma in U.S.A. The investigation is currently
well under way
2 A meeting of the Scientific Committee was held in Denver on February 23 and 24 1974
TFeocrhwnaircdaelCdoCmommSwitzerland Technical
ttoo of
3 International Labour Organization ILO Meeting
Experts on the safe use of asbestos was held in Geneva
Switzerland in December 1973 Dr. Pelnar attended in the
Comm capacity of an observer for the Permanent Commission and International Association on Occupational Health There was no
representation of the Canadian or U.S. asbestos industry
A full report of Dr. Pelnar on this conference was circulated in
January 1974. The final document edited and distributed by ILO
secretariate was obtained in March 1974 and is enclosed Enclosure 1
4 International Shipyard Health Conference organized by the Society for Occupational and Environmental Health founded by Dr. Selikoff was held in Los Angeles Calif in December 1973 It was attended by about 80 persons out of whom 50 were union
representatives Although all health hazards in shipyards were
covered asbestos was prominent in the papers and discussions A number of papers of known tendencies were given by Dr. Selikoff
strikingly and his group by Dr. Ferris of Boston by Dr. Harries U.K.
by Swedish visitors by U.S.Navy speakers Nothing new was reported from the conference The Manville Corporation was represented and details can be obtained from them The presented papers will be circulated by IOEH as published
_ RECEIVED
MAR 20 1974
i
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT | ae
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5 The Report on the Quality of Air at Asbestos
for the year 1972 was released by the provincial Service of environmental protection in February 1974 with the date of February 1973 The fall of all particulates not asbestos fibres alone was followed at four stations in the city area of
Asbestos Quebec throughout the year There is no standard
in existence for asbestos fibres in city air and the federal
standards in Canada for all particulates are as follows
1 yearly average
a acceptable 70 micrograms per mb
desirable 60 micrograms
2 maximum for a single day
nitor nitor
nitor
120 micrograms The results of the measurements are
summarized in the enclosed Enclosures 2 3 The yearly
averages at the four sampling stations were 72.8 102.0 96.9
and 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter respectively and the overall
yearly average was 78.0 micrograms The proportion of fibres
examined in some samples of collected dust revealed at two
stations 5.6-21.4 at two other stations up to 72 The full
report will be circulated in IOEH documentation At the press
conference where the report was released Dr. Goldbloom the
provincial minister responsible for the environment stressed that all these measurements were taken prior to opening the
new CJ mill The measurements have continued and a report
for 1973 was announced for the near future
6 A progress report was submitted by Dr.W. Smith
"
on his project IOEH No 14
Fibre shape and biological activity
It is enclosed Enclosure )
not included
7 A progress report was submitted by Dr. W. Gibbs
H
on his project IOEH no 15
Fibre diameter of dust in mining
milling manufacturing and insulation operations - A pilot study ~~
Enclosure 6
8 A report was given to the Quebec asbestos mining
companies and their unions by McGill University Dr. Becklake
on transfer of some research activities provided by McGill
under IOEH project No into routine health surveillance
activities provided for the workers by the industrial clinics
in Asbestos and in Thetford Mines
It is a testimony of one
direct benefit for the day to day health care for the workers
as derived from a IOEH research project The report is enclosed
Enclosure 7
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9 The governmenotf The Netherlands plans to
promulgate an Asbestos Regulation The draft is enclosed
Enclosure 8
Total ban is suggested of crocidolite and
use of asbestos is generally prohibited for thermic and
acoustic insulation and for preserving and decorative
purposes and for any spraying
a
10 In the Australian state Victoria there only were
2 cases of asbestosis seen by Industrial hygiene division during
the year ending June 30 1973 among 85 cases seen for suspected
occupational disease
Of the two cases only one was a new case
Enclosure 9 - not included
11 A Survey of all research projects supported by IOEH since its foundation in 1966 and a list of the scientific publications which were generated by them was prepared by 10EH and will be
circulated to the directors of IOEH
12 Visitors to IOEH
Dec.
.
5/73
- Mr. A.W.
Toronto
Easton Cominco Ltd. Ontario
Dec.
5/73 - Mr. H.M. Giegerich
Trail B.C.
Cominco Ltd.
Jan.
8/74 - Ms G. Robineau Council Ottawa
National Research Ontario
March
1/74
-Dr Michel Lesage Social Affairs Ministry Quebec Government
Montreal
To
Members of Scientific Committee
QAMA companies Cassiar Asbestos Corporation
Dr. Karl V. Lindell
Mr. Paul Filteau
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Sincerely yours
tempttienmgpting tempting tempting
tempting
tempting tempting tempting
tempting tempting tempting tempting
Premysl V. Pelnar M.D.
Scientific Secretary
03000 03000
03000
03000 03000 03000 03000
(
\, DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH
3775 UNIVERSITY STREET MONTRIAL 112 QUE CANADA
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Health surveillance in asbestos vorkers
. *
Previous studies carried out by this Department of the health effects of asbestos exposure pointed to the desirability of certain practical measures
in respect of health surveillance of asbestos workers Over the past three years the Department of Epidemiology at McGill University in consultation with Drs P. Cartier and Dusscault of the Industrial Clinic at Thetford Mines
and Dr. Grainger of the Clinic at Asbestos have worked on a program to incorporate these measures as effectively as possible into the already existing extensive health surveillance system This work has been supported under a research grant from the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health
In brief the additions to the existing health surveillance system were the logical outcome of our earlier research work published in several papers in the medical literature which have previously been circulated They incorporate into practice two general conclusions reached as result of these studies
)
that the health effects of exposure to chrysotile asbestos in the mines and
mills of Quebec are dose related this applies to symptoms and lung
function while changes in the chest radiograph only appear to be dose
related in Thetford Mines
2
that of the available tests of lung function one of the more simple ones
vital capacity appears to show an early response to dust exposure and that
with increasing exposure there is a consistent decrease in this measurement
From best
this it reflect
seems likely that longitudinal changes in this measurement might
the effects of dust exposure on an individual's health status
Subsequent reports form other groups have reached similar conclusions
3 ... in addition since the prevalence of respiratory symptoms elicited by an administered questionnaire appeared to be dose related it was thought to be worthwhile to develop a similar questionnaire self administered as an aid to the examining physician
Development of each of these measures for practical application is described
in more detail below
Dust Indices
In the early work of the Department a great deal of effort by Dr. Gibbs and Mr. Lachance was put into developing personalized dust indices for all workers in the Quebec Asbestos Industry past as well as present based on dust and job records provided by the industry It seemed reasonable that this information should be
.
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Enclosure 7
:
_
TOE Newsletter ....
HEALTHHEALTH DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND
4
3775 UNIVERSIAN STREET MONTREAL V13 QUI CANADA
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Montreal December 19th 1973
Mr. N. Messel
:
The Governors
M. R. Geunt
M. L. Nadcau
M. L. Boucher
7
Mr. C. Couture
President Quebec Asbestos Mining Association
Lake Asbestos Thetford Mines P.Q
_ Industrial Clinic Thetford Mines P.Q
.
Pr^'sident Les M^'tallurgistes Unis d'Am^'rique Thetford Mines
P.Q
Pr^'sident Les M^'tallurgistes Unis d'Am^'rique Local 7649
Black Lake P.Q Pr^'sident Syndicat national de l'amiante d'Asbestos Asbestos P.Q. and
syndicats Conseiller Technique
Thetford Mines P.Q.
Conf^'d^'rationdes
nationaux
Dear Sirs
We are now pleased to submit our report enclosed herein on Health surveillance in asbestos workers a short summary of our activities in
this respect over the last three years
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge with great
appreciation
:
1 the assistance patience and support of the Directors of the clinics
Dr. Paul Cartier and Dr. R. Grainger in helping us to develop the present
J
changes while at the same time having to ensure the steady day day
clinic operation
2 the cooperation of the Unions and their members in accepting the new procedures and
the 3 the support of the industry in facilitating
cular the function test measurements
introduction of in parti-
YDivoanturs sincerel(yose tale
Divant
Margaret R. Becklake M.D. F.R.C.P.
S. Ducid M.D. M.Sc. M.Sc. Dip Epid
CC
Dr. M. Pelnar Institute of Occupational & Environmental Health Montreal P.Q .;
8020an9d Dr. G. Wright 460 South Marion Parkway Denver Col.
Dr. P. Cartier Industrial Clinic Thetford Mines P.Q.
Dr. R. Grainger Industrial Clinic Asbestos P.Q.
Enclosure
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DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH
3775 UNIVERSITY STREET MONTREAL 112 QUE CANADA
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
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incorporated into the health surveillance system so that it could be brought to bear on health decisions affecting the individual worker To do this it was necessary to devise an updating system for these indices of dust exposure this system which incorporates the current information on dust levels furnished by the industry is the subject of a separate proposal recently submitted to the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association by Prof. F.D.K. Liddell
Lung function tests
In order to incorporate the measurement of lung function into the clinic surveillance system we tested out a commercially available apparatus appropriate for
making the measurement VR 5000 supplied by Packard Co. and developed a calibration system for regular checking to ensure quality control of the measurements In addition we did a pilot study of the most appropriate testing
procedure and arranged for a period of training for the two technicians one from each clinic who have subsequently carried out the tests on the asbestos workers at the clinics under the supervision of the medical directors of the respective clinics Dr. Cartier and Dr. Grainger
Questionnaire and report
To date almost 3,200 men have been processed in the system information on their cases has been recorded on tape files and a running report including information on symptoms ray changes and lung function prepared for the clinics
An important step in elaboration of the surveillance system occurs at their second visit when their clinical data will be updated Second visits should be starting shortly
General conclusions .
1
As indicated in the report the system herein described exceeds in volume
and scope most existing systems of occupational health surveillance and
we are most anxious that it should serve its purpose effectively
2 We believe the system has now been developed to an operational status and we
have handed over the major responsibility for its continuation to the two
clinics concerned
3
We will of course be most interested to continue our association with the work
in an advisory capacity possibly to help in the evaluation of its effective-
ness as well as to help its smooth operation in any other way we can
Ate
.. .
ot
Margaret R. Becklake M.D. F.R.C.
.
ra . '
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:
a
London
December 1973
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