Document OEnbO8qQZ2oaz79zVvwxNgeDw

s PLAINTIFF'S i EXHIBIT I &X3 i September 12, 1966 Mi. Noel Hendry Canadian Johns Manville Co. Asbestos, Quebec Canada Ltd. Dear Noel Just to be sure you have a copy, an article that appeared in Chemical Week magazine is inclosed. So that you'll know that Asbestos is not the only contaminat^C'Y, a second article from O.P. & D Reporter assess a share of the blame on trees. My answer to the problem is: if you have enjoyed a good life while working with asbestos products why not die from it. There's got to be some cause. EAMiMAC ESC: Director Of Purchases E. A. Martin / Taking Giant Steps Two chemical process companies took giant steps toward diversifying into the oceanography field last week, and twd^naper companies with com* bined salel^of nearly $1 billion/year reached aVtfeqtative agreement to merge. (1) Bendix^Corp. (Detroit) panded its occarfc activities b| quiring for an unenclosed amoul stock Marine AdviWs (La Calif.), producer of oceVogTaphi^ strumeots for petroleum T^d utifty companies, state and federal\cencr and firms engaged in scientinVorl grams. (2) Fluor Corp. (Los Angeles)'' and B. L. McFarland and Associates (Fort Worth and Midland, Tex.), a group of five compin'ie% involved in offshore and onshore drilling opera* tions, have agreed to merge, subject to stockholders' approval. The Mc Farland group operates five offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. (3) A tentative agreement to merge has been reached by U.S. Plywood Corp. (New York) and Champion Papers. Inc. (Hamilton, 0.). It is sub ject to both directors' and stockhold* ers' approval. The corporate identities of both companies will be preserved. Reducing Gas Rates The Federal Power Commission has ordered El Paso Natural Gas Co. and Transwestern Pipeline Co. to reduce by 517 million/year the price of na tural gas in the southern California market. The rate cut stems from the July 26 decision in which FPC turned down the application of Gulf Pacific Pipeline Co. (a Tenneco subsidiary) to supply gas to the Los Angeles area {CW, Aug. 6, p. 20). Gulf Pacific last week filed for a rehearing. Et Paso and Transwestern were told they would have to lower their rates to reflect the lower costs result ing from the bigger deliveries pos sible in the expanded system. At the same time, FPC said it would conduct further proceedings to decide if cus tomers should get additional benefits resulting from more liberal deprecia tion allowances. FPC has given the companies 45 days to show cause why the reduction should not take place. Sources of airborne asbestos Asbestos-lined ducts used in centrally air-conditioned buildings. Asbestos ducts and insulation in home central-heating plants. Motor vehicle brake linings and clutch plates. Auto undercoatings. . Asbestos ceiling and floor tiles. Asbestos shingles and sidings. Construction and demolition Fitting, cutting, and removing asbestos-filled wallboards and floorings, piping and insulation. Incineration of asbestos-filled scrap. Improperly filtered effluent from asbestos processing plants. Asbestos: Awaiting `TriaS' The asbestos industry--whose end products are valued at more than $500 mlUion/yer--may be In for a shakeup. It could come In the form of federal legislation limiting the use of asbestos, because asbestos has been ac cused--(hough not yet "convicted"-- as a significant health hazard. Prob able contender for asbestos markets: plastics. Recent studies have convinced U.S. Public Health Service specialists and other medical authorities that about 40% of all Americans have mild, chronic cases of asbestosis, even though most of them never worked directly with asbestos. Unlike other airborne dust particles, asbestos fiber* have the ability--al most as much as activated carbon-- to absorb polycyclic hydrocarbons and arsenical*. Furthermore, says ,USPHS. in the past 30 years the asbestos-related cancer rate has in creased sixfold. The Inferences: While the average asbestos worker is well protected, the man on the street is not The 3x1mlcron asbestos fibers in his lungs can come from a variety of sources {table, above). And medical experts say there's no way to assess hydrocarbon content in 'those lung deposits. American Cancer Society research ers feel certain there is a synergistic relationship among airborne asbestos, smoking and lung cancer. They Teasoo that the nondegradable, hydrocarbonsoaked fibers may well be a constant source of lung irritation. PHS officials think it may take them up to five years to establish asbestos' true role as an air pollutant. However, Congress may act before the research is finished. Says Repre sentative Robert Watkins (R., Pa.): "We've seen enough evidence al ready. Asbestos will never get a clean bill of health. With just a little more data we'll move for controls and strict ones." Some form of asbestos control is in the offing, public health officials are certain, if only part of a larger clean-ambient-air program. However, there is the danger that Congress may enact rigorous controls on the quanti ty of asbestos that could be used. In that case both Canada and U.S. asbestos products manufacturers would be hard hit. Of the five forms of asbestos mined today, chrysotile asbestos holds the predominant mar ket position because of its insulat ing and processing qualities. Canada produces more than 80% of the chry sotile asbestos used In the U.S. In both countries, a number of serious dislocations would occur. At present, there is no known ma terial that could fill all of asbestos' strategic roles. On the other hand, . should federal controls merely call for higher standards for binders and shiefdings, that would spark a rise of new products, with plastics taking the lead. Reason, say industry spokesmen, present polymer technology could easily turn up products to replace as bestos in most end-uses. 32 CHEMICAL WEEK Seotember 10, 1956