Document QkOZRvdVbw76er06V37ym30kv

'V-' \ *. December 17, 1971 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT: MEETING ON DECEMBER 13, 1971, CONCERNING NIOSli/PITTSBURGH CORNING CORPORATION RELATIONSHIPS References: 1. Letter to James E. Peavy, M.D., Connnissioner of Health, State of Texas, from William M. Johnson, M.D., Acting Deputy Director, Division of Field Studies and Clinical Investigations, NIOSH, dated November 16, 1971 2. Letter to William M. Johnson, M.D. from the undersigned dated November 1971. The subject meeting was requested by the undersigned to ujoid further misunderstanding between Dr. Johnson and the undersigned is set forth in Reference 2 above. This meeting was attended by Dr. Joseph K. Wagoner, Director of the Division of Field Studies and Clinical Investigations, N10SU and several members of his staff and also by Dr. Charles Powell from Ur. Marcus Key's office in Rockville, Maryland. NIOSH expressed their concern for the employees of the Tyler Plant of Pittsburgh Corning whom they felt were being exposed to too much amosite asbestos and were evidencing some adverse effects based on data they had available from their own study of the employees, including a history, auscultation of the chest and inspection of the hands and data on mechanical ventilation studies of the lungs assumed by the undersigned to have been given them by Dr. George Hurst, Director, East Texas Chest Hospital, who is conducting a medical study at the request of and financially supported by Pittsburgh Corning Corporation. They were also concerned that Mr. McMillan, who was the former Plant Manager had died from lung cancer, Mr. Snavely, the Plant Accountant, apparently has a partially disabling lung disease, and one ocher employee has a pleural lesion as yet undiagnosed. They felt that little had been done to control the exposure to asbestos at the Tyler Plant since the Public Health Service Study in 1967, while they felt that the conditions at the Port Allegany Plant were much better. They wanted their panel of experts to review the chest x-rays taken of the employees by Dr. Hurst as soon as possible. The undersigned Indicated he has also evidenced a long-standing interest in the health of the Tyler employees. He said that following the Public Health Service Industrial Hygiene Survey in 1967, he discussed a medical examination follow-up jws DcUMENr RECORD of COME FROM ^nticated with Or. Hurst who agreed to perform same, but this was deferred on information from the Public Health Service that they anticipated performing such medical examinations on the Tyler and Port Allegany employees. The undersigned said that Che Public Health Service never got around to performing these examinations, so in 1971 Dr. Hurst was requested by him to go ahead witi the studies. These studies were delayed until August because of personnel shortages in Dr. Hurst's hospital. These facts were mentioned to put in perspective the urgency of HIOSH now to have their panel of experts review the Hurst films. The undersigned indicated he does not want to unnecessarily delay this review but feels that it will serve the best interest of the employees if the x-rays are released following his meeting with Dr. Hurst on January 5 and 6, 1972, at which time the complete study will be discussed so as to determine (a) If a health problem related to employment exists, (b) If so, the extent of the problem, (c) What further study or clinical care may be indicated, if any. A N10SH representative was invited to participate in " this meeting with Dr. Hurst and the undersigned. The undersigned, again attempting to put the industrial hygiene data obtained at Tyler in 1967 by the Public Health Service into proper perspective^ made the following analysis based on a reasonable industrial hygiene interpretation of the data in terms of the TLV for asbestos of 5 million particles per cubic foot of dust. It was pointed out chat the material being manufactured was only 60% amosice asbestos, not 100%: (The complete report as submitted to the Tyler Plant Management, is shown in Attachment #1). Mixing Area 5 samples taken: 5, 13. 9. 7 for a 8 MPPCF averagu. One sample of 51 was considered contaminated since it was 6X greater chan average of other samples. Forming Area Curing - m 8 samples taken: Hone above TLV for average f 3.1 MPPCF. 1 sample: .1 MPPCF. Finishing Insoection 6 samples taken: 1.9, 1.6, 2.6, 2.0, 2.4 for 2.1 MPPCF average. One sample was 10.9 and was eonsldtfe'd " contaminated since It was 5X greater than average of ocher aamples. - 3 samples taken: 2.5, 2.1 for 2.3 MPPCF averace. One sample, 45, was considered contarnhaterf since `it was 20X greater than average of ocher samples* In no case was the averace of Jthe samples that agreed relatively closely, one with the other. In excess of the then TLV. This TLV was not changed to 12 fibers/ML until 1970, at which time the intended value became TLV. The undersigned pointed out that in-a study done'by University of California at Berkeley, at the request of and supported by Pittsburgh Corning comparing Unibescos and 4 leading asbestos-containing thermal pipe insulation materials Indicated that none of these products would be used in the construction industry ,554without exceeding the 12 fibers/ML TLV and that this study intensified the research effort, in Pittsburgh Corning to find an asbestos substitute. Being THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECO DIO NOT COME " s> FILES AND CANNOT BE AUTHFmti BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC / \* Page 3 r unsuccessful In finding such a produce Chat vas economically competitive with Che asbestos-containing produces was a factor In the Plctsbuigh Corning decision co get out of this market. The undersigned had provided copies of this University of California Study back In September, 1971, to Dr, Johnson. The undersigned requested che following be provided to him. If possible: Copy of OCAW request to NIOSH to investigate asbestos exposures at Tyler, Texas. q>-(2) Copy of NIOSH Survey of October 26-29, 1971, at Tyler. History and physical findings of NIOSH on Tyler employees. (A) NIOSH recommendations on type of medical follow-up on current and past employees of Tyler Plant. ate) NIOSH reconsnendations on insnediate corrective action co reduce asbestos exposure at Tyler. (6) Report of medical studies on Port Allegany Plant employees. ( LBG:lc Attachments cc: Dr. J. K. Wagoner Dr. Charles Powell Dr. Marcus Key Mr. E. U. Holman Mr. C. E. Van Horne hcc i, C. Packard P. Martha C. A. hurst, il.D. 7 Lee B. Crant, M.D Medical Director THIS DOCUMENT WAS NOT A RECORD OF PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. DID NOT COME FROM IT'S FILES AND CANNOT BE AUTHEIMTICAi ED BY PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. . 5542