Document R983Eq1n6N5E1NgELDYDwYna

FILE NAME: DuPont (DUP) DATE: 1965 Nov 29 DOC#: DUP004 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from GJ. Stopps to J.R. McClean, Plant Medical Officer, Maydown Works - Quote "Control of Diseases Resulting from Asbestos lies in the Control of Dust..." et A. J. Fleming, M.D.-Wilmington J. F. Morgan-Haskell Laboratory /v ce': C - O Z 2. 7 November 29, 1965 J. R. McCLEAN PLANT MEDICAL KAYDOVN WORKS P. 0. BOX 15 LONDONDERRY OFFICER MASTROIANNI & FORMAROU, INC. CERTIFIED SHORTHAND REPORTERS Dr. Fleming has passed jour-letter to m e for a reply on t h e .. question of the risk involved in working with asbestos. This is naturally a matter of considerable interest to us~ since as you correctly suspect a considerable amount of asbestos is used in Du Pont plants largely in the form of pipe lagging. There are many facets to this subject but the two, most important are the questiona, What ia the risk to men who were exposed to asbestos prior to our recognition of the possible risk of cancer? and, What steps should be taken to protect the men who are now potentially exposed to asbestos? It is hoped that these--questions-will be answered by studies which are et present underway. For example, the Division of Occupa tional Health of the TJ. . Public Health Service has started an in-plant study to 'determine the effects of exposures to asbestos fibers and dust. . . .and to develop medical and, environmental . criteria and procedures for the control of the health risks of asbestos workers. Six plants located in North Carolina, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania have been studied." That definitive answers to the questiona you raise are not yet possible is underlined by the enclosed eopy of the report of the Working Qroup on Asbestos and Cancer. This is a good statement of the present position and contains many valuable suggestions for conducting further research. In line with their suggestion wt hope to start a study of the health of pipe eoverers compared with the health of non-asbestos exposed group within the next few weeks. Since this will be a study f existing medical records it is not expected to take a long time to complete and this should at least tell us whether we have a problem. J. * NeCLZAX 2- Iteveaber 29, 1565 d l w m i S l t i f r ^ a b t o ^ l S ^ S ^ ! P " th control of that close ** ontrol of dust and of e o r k m 5 t h i e S S ^ J ? fivan to reducing the dust exposure s^^3SH ^s*<w sr I plan to keep jou informed of further developments. ,, , >v J. STOPP * Stopps, N.B. ,B.S. Chief, Physiology Section ttJS/dyb Enclosure