Document RDB4arK2r2y1Z9JB17r83gEa

FILE NAME: CertainTeed (CERT) DATE: 1968 Feb DOC#: CERT033 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Johns Manville to CERT with attachment of Letter from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine CONFIDENTIAL Ar de re Mr. Maloolm Meyer Ardmore Legal February 27, 1968 C. E, DeLong / kb AC PIPE HEALTH PROBLEM cc: Mr. James R. Relobel - Ambler 1j5 (w/encl. Enclosed is a letter from Herb Ball of J M enclosing certain attachments pertaining to the health hazards of AC pipe, including a very important letter by Dr. Snell and further newspaper articles on the Nashville situation. Please note the request in Mr. Ball's letter that all this information be kept strictly on a top executive level. Enel general FEB 2 8 I960 Castleman.CERT000239 Her bert Morton Ball VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL J o h n s - Makville Co r po ra tio n TWENTY-TWO EAST FORTIETH STREET NEW YO RK, N. Y. lO O Iti February 26, 1968 Charles E. D e L o n g , Esq. Secretary and Resident Counsel Certain-teed Products Corporation 120 East Lancaster Avenue Ardmore, Pennsylvania 1S003 Dear Charlie: Attached is a copy of a letter from Dr. Irving J. Selikoff v/hich presents the same point of view that Dr. Selikoff expressed in his letter to Dr. Bistowish of Nashville last Decem ber 7. This letter is certainly more positive than negative for our cause and seems to take the wind out of Vanderbilt University's Dr. Snell's sails, since Dr. Snell used the previous writings of Dr. Selikoff in making his original allegations. We are now proceeding full steam with the position paper on asbestos-cement pipe. A due date of March 15 has beer, placed on this position paper. Also enclosed are some reproductions of newspaper clippings in connection with an appearance of Mr. J. Baker of JohnsManville before the Metro Health Board of Nashville and an addi tional appearance before the Metro Councilmen. I repeat that as agreed at our meeting on January 3, this information is to be kept strictly on a top executive level. It is definitely not to be distributed to the field. It is with this understanding that the attachments are sent to you. Sincerely yours H M B :LH Encs . Castleman.CERT000240 MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ' c j Tbt City Unit:crs;`ty of Ncio York F I F T H A V E N U E AN D I 0 0 7 H S T R E E T - NEU' YORK, N.Y. 10039 Detriment oj Coinmunity ^MJicin February 16, 1968 Dr. F. L. Pundsack, Director Division and Corporate Research and Development Johns-Manville Research and Engineering' Center P. 0. Bo n 159 Manville, hew Jersey 08835 Dear Dr. Pundsack: I have been aware that inquiries have been made concerning the possible ' health hazard associated with the drinking of potable water circulated through asbestos-cement pipes. thi5 lncern 15 drived from the. recognition of the carcinogenic hazard of asbestos While this hazard exfsts, I would qualify such cate- eonrimin" " i f * by SddinE the phrase "imder ce^ a i n industrial conditions. ftorkmsn occupationally exposed to asbestos have an increased many lnstnces> of lung cancer, pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma death ^ gastrointestinal cancer, asbestosis and possibly several causes of death, not yet well defined. mUCh lSS SeCUre ground in Judging whether any health hazard environmerta3OR"hCCfPatinal aSbeStS exposure` While there is evidence that I T n Z T T * asbes;os contamination occurs, association of disease with the _u c *f.leve^s lnvolved has not been unequivocally demonstrated despite some s 0gestive evidence under special circumstances. Ifvfrn?0Unt 'tne dllflcultles ln answering the question you ask, studies on S I ?!! aSfeSIOS dlSea5e haVS bGen Cor`cerncd with inhalation exposure. There is no way to translate these experiences into exposure by ingesiion. that'of t i r a0'' eqUa5 % f PPi0ri ^ reSPnse of th^ respiratory mucosa with lit_ * f TT ffe offer -a C S r 1 V - TM 0 in gastrointestinal tract; I am sure that these re markedly dif^ r e n t . ^ F o r example, asbestos bodies parench>'ma following inhalation of asbestos fibers following ifgestionfr rarely' ^ ^ ^ th S astrointestinal mucosa, " r^ S : ; iBentai S far haS n0t yiCldCd evidence of Significant do* f r associated with ingestion. For example, Russian work with were^ninor" ^ f r^ EntS haS demonstrated some mucosal changes, but these nfod, 7 Whl Ur wn laboratory feeding experiments in hamsters have C; 0Vfiy I Z sub- - - s a l asbestos bodies and an adenocarcinoma of t! colon in only one^animal (very likely coincidental, since such are known to occur spontaneously in these nnii^ls') Vnr fu , , in thi, ovnou A anlmaisj. Yet, the exposure to ingested asbestos if ! , f W0^ WaS Vry mUch lnrBcr ^ d eed than might be anticipated in water obtained iro.n asbestos-cement p i p ^ ` Castleman.CERT000241 Dr, F. L. Pundsnck Page 2 February 1G, 19G8 This is not to say that the problem cf ingested asbestos docs not require further study; it obviously does. First, such studies will be useful in determining whether, any relationship exists between ingestion of such material and the occurrence of peritoneal mesothelioma or gastrointestinal carcinoma (alternate routes of contact can be suggested in tte pathogenesis of these tumors) and, second, as part of wider necessary studies to define whether Rny health hazard exists with low-level exposures in general. Thus, there is no evidence at this time that the presumably very low-level exposures by ingestion which might occur by intake of water supplied through asbestos-cement pipes has resulted in a recognized health hazard. Even if such a hazard could be defined, it would be difficult to be sure that asbestos cement pipe water were the only source since a number of foodstuffs and othei substances are filtered through asbestos filters and may presumably contain small numbers of the fibers (including beer!). . ' j ' The question of potential health hazards associated with low-level environ mental asbestos exposure is under intensive study at this time. As noted, the potential hazard of asbestos-cement pipes is part of this general problem. I hope and trust that we will find that no -hazard exists with the very low level of exposure associated with environmental contamination and that the problem will be found to be confined to the much heavier exposure in industry. If I had to hazard a guess at this time, I would suggest that this is what we will find. I hope that this information will be of assistance to you in your research on this problem. Sincerely yours, $4. Irvi J. Selikoxf, M.D. Professor and Chairman Division of Environmental Medicine \ IJS:df Castleman.CERT000242