Document RJeZajqYgLq32nOZyeXjxp54n

Hidden dangers in the air we breathe Particles of certain widely used mineral substances are so small that they can't be stopped by the excellent filter system in our. noses, or by any ordinary means. If allowed to be present in your home or place of work or business, minute particles of some materials may lodge in your lungs and eventually cause cancer. The first report of lung cancer believed to have been caused indirectly by asbestos fibers was recorded in 1935. Many studies have since been reported in which examinations have been made of or autopsies per formed on persons who have been in direct contact with asbestos, either in the mining and manufacturing phase or in connection with its many uses as an insulat ing material. Thorrt Sc nnu/ pntCi!C?-UV HO dOl'bt thlt 2 JJffJOR greatly increases his chances of developing a really dan gerous disease called asbestosis if he is subjected for a time to the fine asbestos dust that is possibly present within one-half mile of an asbestos manufacturing plant in the country' or anywhere within a considerable distance from the^framewoik of a new building that is being fireproofed by spraying it with an asbestos-based product. (A single major tall building in New York City will receive nearly 5000 tons of asbestos spray, of which a great part floats off into the air of the city. It has been suggested that, for city dwellers, the hazard of lung cancer may be as great from inhalation of asbestos as from the smoking of cfcavettes.l And while Lie symptoms of asbestosis, a non-malignant lung disease, take years to develop, it would seem at this time that there is a good likelihood that after 20 to 30 years have elapsed, lung cancer will develop in a surprisingly High percentage of the cases. And the as bestos worker who smokes cigarettes regularly in creases his cancer risk enormously. 50 percent of 3000 autopsies in one study showed asbestos particles in the lungs. Unfortunately, experts have now about concluded that a practical hazard and a definite long-term danger exists, not only for dirccliy exposed persons, but for practically everyone who is forced to exist on the highly contaminated air found in most urban and some rural areas. Once in the lungs, the asbestos particles, remain there throughout life. Even kindergarten chil dren have boon exposed, in using asbestos powder with water as a form of modeling clay. The root of the problem Why this comparatively sudden awareness of a danger that must have existed for two thousand years or more? Actually, modern medical researchers had to re sort to the electron microscope in order to identify positively the minute pieces of "encapsulated" mineral fiber. Many are so fine that they cannot be seer, when floating in the air around us. And there are literally thousands of sources for the material in man-made products in our environment. The long fibers of asbestos, like those of cotton and wool, for example, have- those qualities required for spinning the material Into a thread and thence into fireproof garments, curtains, shields, ironing board covers, house insulation, insulation for electric wires, and the like. The short fibers arc mixed 'with -various binders, such as cements and plastics, and the mixture compressed into pipe coverings, brake linings, clutch faces, roofing and siding shingles, filter cloth, yarns and ropes, plaster, rubber goods, some paints, siding, paper, and many molded products. Actually, the num ber of products on the market which contain asbestos is believed to exceed 3000. However, there is a favor able trend; some manufacturers arc novv offering min eral fiber material for certain uses that does not con tain asbestos. Fortunately, the great majority of these products utilize the asbestos as a mixer or extender and bind it into some other material where it is not available in the free state, except when the material disintegrates with lime and weather. When used in firm mixtures, as in asphalt root coalings and in plastics. Hie likelihood that the fibers will separate and become airborne is greatly reduced, as is the danger of their being inhaled in harm ful amounts. ' Protective actions taken Serious research has been in progress for some years to Investigate the possible dangers to health that may be SEPTEMBER 1971 / 29 CAPCO KIN 0000668 involved. Many companies have taken certain action dangers involved, the number of uses for asbestos con- needed to reduce the-hazard. As, an example, special tinucs to increase. Even in the home, there arc many plastic bags havoUfen developed as containers so that areas, from roof--asbestos shingles--to cellar--asbestos water and dry' asbestos can be mixed safely to be used insulation and cement on boiler and .pipes--and on as heat insulation on the exterior of heating boilers and ironing boards, where asbestos is lo be found in one pipes. form or another. Asbestos board is much used, and New York City, Philadelphia, and the State of Cali sawing it in the hobby shop puts countless fibers into fornia have taken action to control the manner in the air of a home. which buildings are sprayed with asbestos. Rules gov erning adequate enclosure of the area in which the spraying takes place and cleanup and disposal proce In California a bill has been introduced to prohibit the use of asbestos or fiber glass as linings in air duct systems of new buildings. dures have been outlined. Indeed, following the initial action in April of 1970 in New York City, the hazard was considered sufficiently great that the mayor or dered the spraying of asbestos halted wherever possible in all construction projects under supervision of the city government; the decision, at least in part, was based upon testimony presented by Dr. Irving J. Sellkoff, of Mount Sinai Hospital School of Medicine, who is one of the modern pioneers in asbestos epidemiol ogy. Based upon work done by his group, Dr. Selikoff stated that lung cancer was the cause of death of al most 1 out of every 5 asbestos workers in the city in the past 27 years. The report,, which summarized findings of examina tions of 632 asbestos insulation workers, covered a pe riod of 25 yean. During that period, 358 persons in the group died. Of that number, 72 deaths were due to cancer of the lung or pleura. Statistically, in considera tion of normal mortality rates, only about 9 deaths would have been expected. The danger of mcsolhelial tumors exists not only among asbestos workers but also with othen after only "apparently minimal and jiOii-otx-upaiionai" exposure to asbestos dust, but usually after a .long delay or latent period of forty years or more. Lately, talcum powder for babies has been found to contain substantial amounts of asbestos particles, and these are of course readily inhaled by infants and those who care for them. Talc dust alone presents problems similar to asbestos but the risks arc not so great. In late 1970, over 100,000 women's coats were manufactured and sold from a blend of melton-type doth imported from Italy which contained wool, ny lon, and asbestos. While it is almost a practical impossibility to recall the coats, according to Mr. H. Mendelsund, an officer of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, union members have been ordered not to cut or sew cloth containing asbestos. The main reason why this cloth was made and im ported was because of the cost advantage it might offer due to the possibility of a lower import duty on as bestos material as against other fibers. If you have such a coat-lhe label will tell--it should be "taken out of circulation." Family Health reports that Dr. Selikoffs advice was that one should bury a coal that contains asbestos fibers. Fiber glass has -Io been under suspicion tor some time as a cause of respiratory injury, Tuorc have been suggestions that it might be harmful in view of its use in home furnishings and in the ducts of heating and cooling systems. Information available up to this time Opinions differ ^ does not indicate any substantial danger from this cause, (hough it is established that "man-made vitreous As is so often the ease, there are some who feel that the reasons for concern regarding asbestos fiber inhala tion arc not as well based as they might be. Dr. George Wright, a pulmonary disease specialist in Cleveland, who has served industry as consulting expert on asbestos, has commented to the effect that some of (he concern may be ill founded regarding the large quantities of asbestos supposedly put into the air from automobile brake lin ings. He stated that "the amount of asbestos fiber used in friction material in the United States was estimated fibers" have become lodged in human lungs. Pending - availability of further information concerning the pos sibility of harm from glass fibers, we suggest that city and stale governments and individuals should not allow use of glass fiber in any part of a heating, cooling, or ventilating duct system of a home, office, or factory. Glass fibers are regularly used in the form of a mat as a filter in warm air healing systems, but it is believed that in this use the danger of putting glass fibers of inhalable size into the air stream is not great. at less than five percent of the total in 1965. And the Everyone should be alert to the potential danger that high heat of friction destroys the asbestos, converting exists in the handling or use of any articles made of or It to material no longer having the characteristics of - containing asbestos fibers or glass fibers. We do not asbestos.... know at this time how convincing the evidence by Dr. "Serious exposures to asbestos fiber can occur in cer Wright tending to minimize the hazaid from asbestos tain occupational and immediately adjacent environ may be. Our advice would be, in any event, to avoid ments but there is evidence that a low concentration of contact with asbestos in every practicable way, espe- asbestos in the air breathed by the general public is not cially in connection with building, heating, and plumb likely to be harmful." Even with the increased awareness of the potential ing operations. On glass fibers as a source of skin irrita tion, see Consumer Bulletin, November 1969. J j 'I : j ; i j j 1 * ; : : i ; ; " : 30 / CONSUMER BULLETIN CAPCO KIN 0000669