Document RjO2kQnjkn3o3ar6mgrNvBeNk

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT MEMORANDUM Li>- J. Lac JL-sic Research-Physics Di May 21, 1977 R*f. No. Subject TRIP REPORT - SYMPOSIUM ON APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRON AMD X-RAY ANALYSIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, DENVER, COLORADO, APRIL 25-27, 1977 Summary \ p It seems probable that future OSHA regulations will lower permissible levels of asbestos emissions; however, the distinction between asbestos and non-asbestos varieties of the same mineral will likely be retained. Other topics covered during the symposium are also summarized below. Discursion The lead-off speaker, Aurel Goodwin of MESA, implied that he would like to see the term "asbestos" defined as any particle which has a 3:1 aspect ratio and is greater than 2 microns in length. This would make MESA's task much simpler. MESA's goal is to triple the rate of sampling at mines, quarries, and other operations under their purview and analyze these samples using electron microscopy. Under the present law, they are required to dist.inyuish between asbestos and nen-asbestos varieties in the same mineral. During a visit to the MESA Laboratory in Denver, John Thatcher, of the technical support arm of MESA, indicated that MESA is aware of the difficulties involved in making a distinction between different cpocien of the came mineral. He also indicated that MESA realizes it will rved to develop better analytical methods for mineral identifi cation than those used in the Reserve Mining litigation. MESA is planning tc purchase a 200 kV scanning electron trans mission microscope with x-ray analysis capability for their monitoring proo.-r;-.,.. 7`hoy ovpyet to automate this system and eventually tosr.r.3vne 1,000 samples per year. At present they do not know of a method to distinguish- between asbestos and non-asbestos varieties cr: a microscopic basis. The implication is that the use of electron microscopy for quantitative mineral particle identification will increase in the future; however, the degree of sophistication and alduarch memorandum .7?:" REPORT - SYMPOSIUM Of? APPLICATIONS OV ELECTRON AND X-RAY ANALYSIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND occupational health e; t 'Nnoeeo sy the university or rcr.t'ER, r'i'."T r-, "rr.P.W, APRIL 25-27,1377 May 11, 19 77 -2- nutomnticn needed to allow a high sample throughput will likely restrict such analysis to a few laboratories specializing in this type of analytical work. Furthermore, until an acceptable definition cf "asbestos" is developed, either on the basis of medical data, analytical methods, or through litigation, it is likely, that a con troversy such as that surrounding the Reserve Mining trial will continue. '. Dr. Kurt Heinrich of the'National Bureau'of Standards has been assigned the task of developing a definition of asbestos appli cable to microscopic fragments. He feels that; his group is not com petent to develop such a definition; therefore, he is planning to hold o. conference to which he will invite various medical authorities such as Dr. Selikoff of Mt. Sinai Hospital, Dr. Wright (currently consultant tn Jchns-Manville), representatives of the mining industry and govern- ront regulatory agencies, experts in the fields of mineralogy and -y-ology (such as Dr. Tibor Zoltai of the University of Minnesota) and, finally, experts in the area of analytical techniques. It is Dr. Hr inrich ' s hope that some type of definition can arise from this con ference ar.d that he can. then concern himself with a critique of the analytical procedures used in identifying and counting as per that definition.. ... Dr. R. Scholl representing Illinois Institute of Technolooy esearch Institute reported or, the status of their EPA contract to nrvolop a set of well-characterized asbestiform minerals. This con tract vnr. supposed to be completed at the end of this year and is nrproxir.e.tc-ly or:e year behind schedule. This is primarily due to difficulty of fimling sufficient quantities of pure mineral species- *.!.o ar.bnnt.iferm and nen-asbestiform varieties of the six r-."v n in.ernIr.. TITP.I has asked for an extension of their contract ."rr". .'>: to be conducting a round robin proqram to develop a re liable- '.ytied 1 method for the identification and counting of asbcsto.o rirnrsl particles. Material collected and characterized-by liTj'J v;!"! r.c- us r- d .i- aninal studies of the health effects of the i r, ': ' :-j.fc?.t - symposium ok applications o? ::: -.ctrok and x-ray analysis in t'::yipo::: rental and occupational health r?'ONS-''P.CP IIV THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, rEXVEh, COLORADO, APRIL 25-21, ! <=" -3- May 11, 1977 A.fter hearing the presentations on analytical methods for mineral identification, it was clear that the technique developed at u.s. Stool Research represents the state-of-the-art in this area. I h*d numerous requests for copies of our procedure and inquiries about future publication plans and the possibility of interpreting electron diffraction patterns on a commercial basis. ' Other information not related to asbestos identification is as f OllOWR . '- - - 1. Dr. P. Schumaker of Battelle Laboratories described a method for sulphur determination in coals using x-ray fluorescence and x-ray diffraction techniques. Using their method they can obtain the total sulphur, sulphate and pyrite concentrations in approximately one-tenth the time required using conventional wet chemistry methods. Dr. Schumaker agreed to forward a report on their method to Ralph Gray of the Coal Petrography Group (also to be circulated to L.M. Melnick and C.T'. Huffman). 2. Dr. U. Krauss of the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute indicated a strong interest in the automated reflectance analyzer currently being used by Coal Petrography. He was also referred to Ralph Gray. He further indicated that the CSMRI has about five people involved in the study of zeolites as molecular sieves. 3. T visited a small company called IONTEC which has developed : neutralized ion bear, device. This device is capable of either ''-'clopine surface texture by etching surfaces or of ion implantation, ."''plications of the device already developed include improved per formance of biological implants after texturing the surface and im proved corrosion resistance of silver and copper after helium implant-atior.. It can also be used for precision machining with thicknesses controllable to depths of the order of tenths of angstroms. Potential applications in the steel industry may range from surface texturing of sheet products to improved corrosion resistance and adhesion of' plated films to improved hiqh intensity magnetic separators as a result cf optimum surface texturinc. RESEARCH MEMORANDUM: \ ' TRIP REPORT - SYMPOSIUM ON APPLICATIONS OP ELECTRON AND X-RAY ANALYSIS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF DENV>.v DENVER, COLORADO, APRIL 25-27, 1977- :. i . . ... z:\May01 / IS?7 A. The University .of Denver Researchvlnstitutej:has':.deveioped a novel x-ray detector with high sensitivity .and spatial ^resolution. They expect it to be suitable for nondestructive residual^ stress;.; ' ; measurements. Their detector consists of, a scintiilatorv.coupled - to-. 10 micron diameter fiber optic-bundles to!conduct .tHe^x^ray. visible RJL/d CCi Bundy M. Fisher- Gray ' Gross.--." . Hendrickson/R Huffman. f. -Kelly ;:.v;v.v: S. 'Lally T. .. Lankford/' Jr. -F. TTiemi-UOO .: Rall/L. M. Melnick C. Schwerer v- : v* rjr. >? <1*** ?w.y1rjr a