Document R2Bn8kb0na07KXjYygZNQmdrn

s Gre GmbH 6520 Worms/Rh. Postlach449 In dot Holleriiocfco 1 To: R. Peest From: S. Algieri - Bad Homburg Date: April 10, 1975 SA/als - Worms Your Letter: Worms Intercompany Correspondence cc: A. Dambach - Lausanne Subject: Telephone Conversation with Dr. Schute, G. Huhner - Bad Homburg. Staubforschungsinstitut, Bonn - Mr. J. Myers - UCC < H. Schaffer - Bad Homburg R. Sobottka D. Steed H. Villiger P. Zschunke - Worms - Worms - Worms - Worms Hi *pR 144 1975 tJCc. c*U:>pM Since H. W. Schaffer had pre-announced my call and,probably,Dr. h'iese of BASF had already called him he had prepared himself. r He told me quite clearly that: 1. The problem of dust particles which contain asbestos embedded in them (but not free) was considered by the commission who pre pared the "Unfallverhiitungsvorschrift VBG 119". They decided that there was not enough medical evidence on this subject and therefore, to be on the safe side, they would consider every asbestos-con taining dust, unether free or bound, to come under the provisions of the "Unfallverhutungsvorschrift". The Staubforschungsinstitut cannot change that. They cannot release any exceptions to the general obligation of the notification. This interpretation can be changed only if new medical evidence is generated, clearly a long-term process. 2. What the Staubforschungsinstitut can do for us is to analyse samples of the dust in question in order to characterize it. This could serve as a basis of judgement for the local Berufsgenossenschaft when called to examine the situation in a given plant. It will not bring a general change in the interpretation of the rules. f r * i 'i ,>  koc /rrrac, ; ... BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT \ Grace Europe Attn.: Dr. Michael Goodman Vice President P.0. Box 1246 C B1002 Lausanne V v. TRANSLATION \ \ March 4, 1975 /R\ Subject: SYLODEX 24 Gentlemen, we refer to conversations and correspondence we had with your Dr. Deer and Mr. Schaffer of Grace GmbH., Bad Homburg, regarding the industrial use of the aforementioned thixotropy compound. The question of asbestos dust as health hazard was also raised in connection with vising SYLODEX 24 to thixotropize Palatal (trademark of the BASF UP resin). Upon inquiries from our side we were informed of the test results of the Asbestos Research Council in London. The tests revealed that, at least when the thixotropying compound is poured into other containers, no hazardous amounts of dust occur. WWe pointed out that this does not yet guarantee that workers handling SYIiODEX are not endangered when working on finished parts or doing repair work, particularly in view to the fact that dust occurs in relatively great amounts while cutting and sawing GF-UP. We further explained that the resin content of the dust particles which enter th human organism by breathing them in is gradually reabsorbed, leaving free asbestos fibres as remainder. Another test, also conducted by the Asbestos Research Council, which revealed that polishing dust contains practically no free asbestos, cannot hide this fact. 1 3 With regard to our doubts in this respect we have asked for a certificate by the "Staubforschungsinstitut beim Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften, Bonn". The certificate should state that the dust of UP-resin forming compound which is thixotropized with SYLODEX is dust which is no health hazard according to Accident Prevention Regulation No. 2. Sofar, Grace GmbH. Bad Homburg has not furnished this evidence and we, therefore, can still not take the responsibility for the vise of this product, which seems to be technically interesting. We see it as our duty to advise our customers of the danger involved since ,, we have learned, .meanwhile, that some of them use Palatal-products which contain SYLODEX. We trust you will understand this action.. v We are planning to send a circular letter to our customers, Before doing so we would like to ask whether you have more recent information on this subject. Eventually you can already prove by tests recently conducted that inhalation of sawing dust containing SYLODEX is not as dangerous as we see it. Awaiting your early reply, we remain very truly yours *