Document QX5mYOyBykkwN95meON05qEmR

TRlGima- MATERIALS STANDARDS IHSTITUTE, INC., E-210 ROUTE 04, PARAIIUS, U.J. 07652 ^7 (>rn , of'. pl: BULLETIN II 0. 6 7 9 April 23, 1980 NIOSH--OSHA RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING WORK PLACE EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS In a press conference held on April 17, 1980 some expected recommendations mere announced to the media by a joint working group of individuals from ^ NIOSH and OSHA. This press release was In most of the major papers last week. V ,-^Tr EsaentleHyT^TiTsrelease-stated--that-HIQSH and OSHA werereiSu___,---a-*,*. that the work place exposure levels for asbestos he reduced ^frfom Z^fitbeisi per cc TWA standard now in effect to 0.1 fibers per cc Qjtpos^ure ~ A a Trap q pyoTTIT C"nfaTP1cet the WTO-SV----CAHA pP nple^faTS *USlA^-vEhe .wording 100,000 fibers per cubic meter rather than^-tth'^pTl f&^s'per cc which had been used earlier. This method of expresi^pg f^bf^counts has been advocated by Dr. Selikoff and others ln(hj:der td\p^rhaps get larger headlines in the news media. ,\OwJ + v 5;-> xCr Dr. Robbins of NIOSH wrote a letter to Dr^I^ngham^r^OSHA concerning Its recommendations. Some may rera-ll DOOShbbina^gdvocate3 the complete elimination of asbestos from the woric^n&ce the environment. \> *\<nt Among the Items stated in the press release^ana the reports are: (1) There Is no safe exposure licjlt ^for asbestos. (2) All commercial and several nnn-cn^finkr'cla^**fof asbestos cause disease. They did not discuss any new'infitoSSjion they had uncovered that ' supported their recomm^rotlon/%pi^reducing the exposure level from 2 fibers per cc to O^.Jibers pay'*cc. This 13 a most important move on the part of NIOSH^hAd QSEAJ'I They-are suggesting that a new ruJLe i e In nl are ac frfoc^nohths from the date of this press release.. -----------v > >N \ ------------------ =-------------------------------------------------------- - ' This move byi<HpBH-pOSH!!fe''caupled vith the cradle to grave control approach of the EPAbrauld ha^h, overwhelming effects on our Industry. Most of those who Have worthed with the occupational controls and requirements feel that a O^rfr \ijier per cc TWA exposure level is the equivalent of no asbestos iu tft^Juork place. This information on the press release and the statements by Dr. Robbins and Dr. Bingham are enclosed for your lnformati^X E. V. Drlslane Executive Director Distribution: Health and Environmental Affairs Committee Active Members (list C) Regional Members (U.S.dues)