Document Rz7OrvkZ8emGB8QBJamLjBDz

E. MARTINEZ The debate on manufacturing A general approach is very dif ficult to use when discussing the prospect for asbestos fibre manu facturing, just as it is inappropri ate to speak of an asbestos finish ed products industry per se. There is no one specific industrial sector for asbestos finished prod ucts: there are industries related to pipe, construction materials, floorcoverings, textiles, friction materi als and other products, each one governed by its own set of rules, and using asbestos fibre as raw material in varying degrees. How ever, asbestos-based products share a common trait in that the majority are mature products which are in decline, at least with respect to their traditional markets. In fact, if the rise in demand shows a marked decrease in the traditional European and NorthAmerican markets, this is being compensated by a rapid increase in the developing countries, and more particularly, in the Near East and Africa, where the production capac ity for pipe and asbestos-cement sheets is growing considerably. Contradictory debate In the present Quebec context, one is faced with a contradictory debate on the future of asbestos fibre. Some state that there will soon be a world shortage of fibre, which consequently will increase the bargaining power of Quebec pro ducers. Others feel that the future of asbestos fibre is by and large uncertain. These two viewpoints are more or less realistic insofar as, given the projected small increase in as bestos supply and demand, the real question to be asked is: will there be a surplus in production or in de mand, and for what types of fibre? A surplus demand could justify min ing new deposits, and be absorbed by price increases, while a surplus supply would result in a decreased rate of use of the fibre production capacity. Supply and demand In 1978, world production of as bestos fibre was about 5.6 million tons, of which 2.6 million tons came from eastern Europe and 1.3 from' Quebec. Hence Quebec production represented 22% of the world total and 44% of western production. From 1978 to 1981, world demand should rise at an annual rate of between 1 and 2%, primarily because of the growth in developing coun tries. At the same time, the supply will likely stabilize in the West and increase in Eastern Europe. It is thus possible to project a very slight deficit in world supply, while developing countries will have a slightly increased demand which could for the most part be filled by production in eastern countries. In fact, this deficit will be mostly felt with respect to short fibres of which there will be a surplus in Eastern Block markets. Consumption Even if Quebec exports 96% of its asbestos abroad and could in crease local manufacturing, it is interesting to note that its per ca pita production capacity is relative ly high. Thus, Quebec manufactu res more than 15 lb of asbestos per capita, as compared to 6.2 in the United States, 6.6 in Europe and .7 in Japan. The means of in creasing asbestos manufacturing in Quebec can be carried out on three levels: the setting up of plants for products with favorable market potential, the relocation of plants, and research and development. As regards the objectives relat ed to job creation and maximum fibre manufacturing, we are faced with the following dilemna: products with high asbestos content, such as papers, are generally used in in dustries requiring a small labour force, while products likely to create more jobs, such as asbes tos-cement and friction materials, have a much lower asbestos content. ASARCO ALV 0001530 A study on the development of asbestos research CDT is actively pursuing its study The Centre de developpement technologique (CDT) of the Ecole polytechnique de Montreal is active ly pursuing its study of the develop ment of asbestos research in Que bec which deals with medical, epi demiological, technological and theoretical research, as well as technological research related to the production of asbestos fibre and asbestos-based products. Assessment and future prospects In addition to this analysis of the asbestos research situation in Que bec, the study will identify all the factors likely to limit or promote the development of research in Que- ec in every field related to asbes tos utilization, and will also make an inventory of the staff and equip ment found in the various research centres and university laboratories. Based on the study of these precise fields, the final report will consist, in addition to the introduction and conclusions, of four chapters en titled: Review of Research in Que bec, Restrictions to Research in Quebec, Human Resources for Re search in Quebec, and Research Program Methods, the latter chapter being divided into sections dealing with health, hygiene and safety, re search programs in progress, fibre marketing and research of new pro ducts. The report will also contain a chapter concerning the structur ing of the proposed research and its financing. The team The Centre de developpement technologique has secured the serv ices of several specialists with di verse fields of expertise for this udy, which is being directed by Laurier Juteau, Eng. and Professor at the Ecole polytechnique. The chief participants are Rene Dufour, Pro fessor of Mining Engineering, and Roland Dore, Professor of Mecha nical Engineering. The other par ticipants are Guy Perreault, Profes sor of Mining Engineering, Armand Patenaude, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, and Guy Daoust, Data-processing specialist. In addition, the research group includes Dr. Francine Aubry, Epi demiologist, McGill University, Dr. Graham Gibbs, who has conducted several research projects related to asbestos utilization at McGill University's laboratories, Dr. M. Jenicek, Epidemiologist, University of Montreal, Marc Trudeau, AMAQ technical advisor, and Jean Gau thier of Kilborn Engineering. Twenty organizations The Centre de developpement technologique intends to include in the study all organizations that are interested in one way or the other in the asbestos industry and in those fields associated with fibre produc tion and asbestos-based product manufacturing. In July, CDT rep resentatives began to visit univer sity, industrial and government lab oratories, while nearly 20 research organizations were called upon to collaborate in the study. According to CDT officials, all the laborato ries visited were very interested to participate in the development of any project aimed at ensuring the viability of the asbestos industry in Quebec. The CDT study will also take into account the work already carried out by the Sores group for AMAQ and the research that has been done abroad. 2 l Les Mines d'amiante Bell of Thetford Mines temporarily halted pro duction in July to begin two weeks of significant work in the No. 3 shaft. The work is part of a large expan sion and improvement program of underground facilities which aims to automate the various operational phases as much as possible while increasing mining production as well. From 1 000 to 1 325 feet The installation of new cables during the July work stoppage will allow the ore cage to descend to a depth of 1 325 ft. Extensive expan sion will be carried out at this level until 1981, the ultimate goal being ore extraction from the section of orebody located between 1 000 and 1 325 ft., that is, at the second and third levels of shaft No. 3. At pres ent, the orebody has been mined to a depth of 1 000 ft. Platforms, tracks, electric sig nals, gates, etc. will gradually be installed at the third level to allow the ore cars to circulate as soon as excavation of the tunnels is complet ed. The cars will then be hoisted in the ore cage to the surface where the primary crusher is located. 28% increase "It has become necessary to car ry out this work in order to meet the projected 28% increase in production as of January 1979. We must also maintain a steady ore reserve and anticipate mining of a new section of our orebody", stressed company president, Marcel Dorais. Produc tion at Les Mines d'amiante Bell, which is at present 16 500 tons of ASARCO ALV 0001531 Bell increases its production capacity raw ore per week, will reach 22 500 tons as of January 1979. The work week tempo for underground opera tions will increase from 11 shifts to 15, on a 5-day basis, while the mill will maintain the same production rate of 3 shifts, 6 days per week. Plans to excavate and expand the new part of the orebody are designed to automate the mining methods; however, the ore extraction methods will remain approximately the same. At present, the company uses the conventional mining method of ore and is hoisted to the cars. Lumps of ore that are too large to pass through the gratings are drilled and blasted. This method is still being used to extract ore at depths of less than 1 000 ft. New method Mining of the section at a depth of 1 000 to 1 325 ft. and of a section located at the western end of the deposit will be carried out by means of block caving of ore at lower subterranean levels. Sections of ore- about 20 draw points, considerably reducing the dust emission caused by the falling ore. The latter will be carried from the draw points to the grizzly by new vehicles, the shuttle loaders. In addition, drilling and secondary blasting of large lumps of ore will be gradually phased out as a hydraulic hammer will break up the latter. In a few months, the ventilation capacity in the underground facil ities will increase by 60 000 c.f.m. In fact, once new ventilators have been installed, capacity will go from 90 000 c.f.m. to 150 000 c.f.m. The company has spent more than $28 million to modernize facilities since it began its modernization program in 1966. A considerable portion of this amount has been used to improve health conditions on the work site. The Shuttle loader that wilt transport ore from the draw point to the grizzly in the underground mine of Les Mines d'amiante Bell. extraction, this being block caving and funnels opening onto the grizzly. According to the grizzly method, as it is commonly referred to, the force of gravity pulls the ore towards gratings where it passes through steel bars, which are set 19 inches apart, the ore then falls into chutes body will be mined and connected horizontally to new tunnels where excavation will begin in November. According to the current method, each draw point is connected to a grizzly; according to the new method developed by company engineers, a single grating will be connected to New building The company has recently begun the construction of a new office building in which the administration and engineering departments will be located. With completion, projected for the end of the year, the building will house approximately 75 people, and cover an area of 25 000 sq. ft. The building's exterior covering will be made of asbestos-cement mate rial and bricks in order to demon strate the numerous possibilities that asbestos-cement materials can offer from both an aesthetic and a practical viewpoint. At present. Bell employs 500 peo ple, and has an annual production capacity of 58 000 tons of asbestos, which will reach 72 000 tons in 1979. Les Mines d'amiante Bell used openpit mining until 1952, at which time it switched to underground mining. 3 ,I ASARCO ALV 0001532 L'Association des mines Its role, objectives History Quebec asbestos mining companies have been grouped as an associa tion for more than 46 years. This association was called "Quebec Asbestos Producers Association" until 1948, when it adopted its present name: "As sociation des mines d'amiante du Quebec". More precisely, it was on January 20, 1931, through the initiative of the then Quebec Minister of Mines, J. Edouard Perreault, that the asbestos mining producers first met with the purpose of arriving at an agreement to standardize the grades and classifications of asbestos crysotile fibre mined in Quebec soil. After numerous meetings held from January to Sep tember 1931, a consensus was reached with respect to a uniform official classification of the grades and types of fibre. Following these negotiations and the agreement which was to give rise to the Quebec Standard, the asbestos producers decided to form an association in order to develop a spirit of cooperation amongst the com panies and to work together with the purpose of tackling some of the prob lems which were common to their industry. Role and objectives The AMAQ is comprised exclu sively of Quebec asbestos mining companies. Membership is volun tary. Since its inception, the Association has aimed at encouraging a spirit of collaboration among its members, at maintaining and enlarging a spirit of cooperation and a constant liaison with the other associations, with the labour milieu and with the public authorities, for everything relating to health and hygiene at work, to the environment and to labour re lations. The Association also coordinates the asbestos mining industry's ef forts to help establish and maintain uniform standards regarding the quality of the fibres. In the fields of health and hygiene at work, of the environment, it encourages and supports technolog- ical research programs, and scien tific and economic surveys. The Association also provides financial backing for the Institut de m6decine du travail et de I'environnement de Montreal which it estab lished in 1966. These are the role and objectives of the Association. AMAQ's areas of intervention are defined and de marcated with respect to the normal exercise of competition among mem ber-companies in the domestic and international markets, and to the Canadian, American and internation al laws and regulations concerning trusts, cartels and competition. The member-companies, which are themselves concerned with protecting the interests of their respective shareholders, are mind- fut that the Association does not exceed its role. 4 ,I Structure and The Association is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of the Chief Executive Officers of mem ber-companies who elect amongst themselves a President whose term does not exceed two consecutive years. The current President of AMAQ is M. J. Messel, President of Lake Asbestos, whose term was renewed in January 1978. The other Board members are Marcel Dorais, VicePresident, President of Les Mines d'Amiante Bell; J.R.M. Hutcheson, Director, Chairman of the Board of Canadian Johns-Manville; M. M. Prus, Director, President of Les Mines Carey Canadienne. The Exec utive Vice-President, P.A. Filteau, is Secretary of the Board of Direc tors. The committees The Board is assisted in its work by nine committees which each have specific duties. These committees are the following: Committee for the Uniform Clas sification and Grading of Fibre, which sees to the strict application of the Quebec Standard; Chairman: Keith S. Jackson, Vice-President of mineral processing, Les Mines d'Amiante Bell; Committee on the Environment, which is devoted to the constant improvement of air cleanliness in the mines and mills; Chairman: Lio nel Ptuze, Technical Advisor to Lake Asbestos; Committee of Occupational Health and Hygiene which is involved in all matters related to workers' health, occupational medicine and industrial illnesses; Chairman: Dr. Michel Lesage, Medical Director of the As sociation; ASARCO ALV 0001533 d'amiante du Quebec is and functioning id functioning Committee of Workmen's Com pensation and Accident Prevention; Chairman: M. W. Bonneville, Safe ty Director, Canadian Johns-Manville; e Industrial Relations Committee; Chairman: R.B. Gresham, Manager of the Jeffrey mine, Canadian JohnsManville; Traffic Committee which is re sponsible for negotiating contracts with shipping, railway and trucking companies for the transportation of fibre; Chairman: R.P. Gagnon, Vice-President, Sales, Lake Asbes tos; Legislation and Taxation Commit tee which studies all new laws with *espect to mining rights, income tax and taxes on products which are essential to the mining industry; Chairman: R.W. King, Controller, Les Mines Carey Canadienne; e Technical Committee which de votes itself to researching methods of controlling the quality of asbestos fibre; Chairman: E.J. Day, Super intendent, Quality Control. Canadian Johns-Manviite; Pubflc Relations Committee; Chairman: Paul A. Filteau, Exec utive Vice-President of the Asso ciation. Consultants The Board of Directors uses external services for assistance and counselling in legal and public re lations matters. The Association's legal advisor is Philippe Casgrain, Q.C..of Byers, Casgrain, McNally, Dingle, Benn & Lefebvre, while the public affairs consultant is Yvon Turcot, President of Intercommum'ca. Offices with distinct orientations in four cities of Quebec With the recent installation of its environmental protection services in Thetford Mines, I Association des mines d'amiante du Quebec now has premises in four cities in Quebec, i.e. in Quebec, Montreal, Sherbrooke and Thetford Mines. Quebec In Quebec, at the AMAQ head of fice, an Executive Vice-President attends to the day to day operations of AMAQ, acts as liaison officer between member-companies, other associations and public authorities, coordinates activities of all the com mittees of the Association, and en sures the application of general poli cies and all decisions made by the Board of Directors. Since 1976, the Executive VicePresident of AMAQ has been Paul Filteau, Mining Engineer, who acts, as it were, as agent for the Board of Directors, of which he is also the Secretary. Before the position of Executive Vice-President was creat ed, Mr. Filteau, who is the first to hold the title, pursued more or less the same functions as General Man ager for 13 years. 5 ,I ASARCO ALV 0001534 [.'Association des mines d'amiante du Quebec ...Offices with distinct orientations... Montreal The AMAQ office in Montreal es sentially attends to matters of oc cupational health and hygiene at work, under the direction of Dr. Mi chel Lesage, Medical Director of the Association since 1974 and Pres ident of the Committee on Occupa tional Health and Hygiene. The work carried out by this Committee and by the Medical Director involves ail aspects of occupational medicine and industrial illness: research, prevention, epidemiological studies, diagnostic methods and means, leg islation, etc. The medical direction is in close contact with international organiza tions, groups and institutions that are devoted to occupational medicine and the improvement of health among workers; it maintains a continuing program of information exchange in this field. The Committee and the Medical Director, who work in close collaboration with the Scientific Committee of the Institut de medecine du travail et de I'environnement, inform and advise membercompanies with respect to the set ting up of programs aimed at elimi nating industrial illnesses and pro- Dr. Michel Lesage, AMAO Medical Di rector. moting the worker's physical and mental well-being. Sherbrooke In Sherbrooke, the AMAQ owns and manages a laboratory located In Sherbrooke, Marcel Cosseffe manages the AMAQ laboratory. on the campus of I'Universite de Sherbrooke. It is in this laboratory, under the direction of Marcel Cossette. Chemical Engineer, that ana lyses are made of fibre samples collected in the mills of membercompanies. These analyses aim to ensure the maintenance of uniform standards regarding the quality of the fibres, and to verify that they strictly comply with the specifica tions and classifications of the Que bec Standard, known and accepted throughout the world as a guarantee of quality. Samples analyzed in the Sher brooke laboratory are collected each month from all the asbestos mills in Quebec by a technician employed by AMAQ, Maurice Doyon, of Thetford Mines, who reports to the Com mittee of Uniform Classification and Grading. This Committee, whose Chairman is Keith S. Jackson, VicePresident of Mineral Processing, les Mines d'Amiante Bell, is ultima- tely responsible for the control of standards and quality, in accordance with the Quebec Standard. Thetford Mines The AMAQ office in Thetford Mines is basically technically orient ed. The Association's technical ad visor, Marc Trudeau, Master of Science, coordinates all activities related to noise and dust control, while pursuing a research program on asbestos fibres and other mate rial in suspension in the waters of the Becancour and Nicolet rivers. Serving at the same time as a data, analysis and research center, the Thetford Mines office is responsible to the Association's Committee on the Environment. This Committee is devoted to the steady improve ment of air cleanliness in the as bestos mines and mills and in the surrounding area. It also carries out the technological exchange pro gram which has been agreed upon by member-companies in this field. The work of the Committee on the Environment, whose Chairman is Lionel Piuze, technical advisor to Lake Asbestos, is divided into different subcommittees whose as signments are coordinated by Mr. Trudeau. Marc Trudeau, Technical Advisor for AMAQ. 6I ASARCO ALV 0001535 [.'Association des mines d'amiante du Quehpr 1 Institut de medecine du travail et de I'environnement dom and independence. In addition, research find ings are published regularly whatever the con clusions may be. The Scientific Secretary of the Institut is Or Premysl V. Pelnar who oversees activity co ordination and handles daily management. The AMAQ founded the Institut de Medecine du Travail et de I'Environnement de Montreal in 1966 with the purpose of promoting the advancement of science in the field of biological effects of asbestos, and encouraging research aimed at eliminating the dangers inherent in asbestos dust, as much in the environment as on the work sites. The member-companies of the Association pro vide financial backing for the Institut jointly with four other asbestos mining companies which are also members. They are: la Societe Asbestos Limitee, of Montreal, Cassiar Asbestos Corp., of British Columbia, Advocate Mines Limited, of Newfoundland, and Chrysotile Corp. of Australia, Pty, Ltd. The Scientific Committee of the Institut, which is made up of Canadian and American scientists completely independent of all companies related to asbestos mining, has approved to date more than 30 important research projects throughout the world, totalling more than $5 million in grants. The organizations, institutions and universities receiving grants from the Institut have total free Dr. Premysl V. Pelnar. Scientific Secretary ot the Institut. BfHatiiKiHliiilW^ MBaBESSSfc-f Quebec Standard Quebec asbestos mines produce close to 150 types of fibre. As some fibres are better suited to certain manufacturing processes, it is essential that users have pre cise knowledge of the various cate gories and classes of fibre placed on the market by asbestos mining producers. Hence the importance of a rigorous and uniform classifi cation system. The official classification of ('Association des mines d'amiante du Quebec is recognized and ac cepted throughout the world. It is called the Quebec Standard. The Quebec Standard for asbestos fi bres classifies the fibre according to length, grade, and distribution. Today, the Quebec Standard ap plies to about 32 types of fibre which are grouped into 4 or 5 dif ferent categories or grades. Verification of the grades of crysotile fibre produced in Quebec constitutes one of the most funda mental duties of the AMAQ. awaaBwrjari "s.: i ASARCO ALV 0001536 Mesothelioma: an important discovery .A, Canada Poetoa W Port Canada Hi I PrMKpfrma tat My* j / Third Trolsl&me class classe B-683 Montreal, P.Q. Due to the unexpected cases of mesothelioma reported amongst vil lagers of Karain and Urgup in Tur key, two areas where homes and caves contain zeolite formations, the entire question of pulmonary disease as related to mineral fibres might be raised once again. In fact, there are no asbestos-related activities in these villages. This was revealed in a report pre sented during a symposium organ ized by the New York Academy of Sciences in New York from June 21 to 30. The report is based on a study made by Dr. Peter Elmes of the Pneumonoconiosis Unit, Llandough Hospital, in Penarth, Wales, who compiled the data from Turkey. Zeolite The cases of mesothelioma found in the two Turkish villages were re lated to zeolite, and not to asbestos. Zeolite, a member of a group of minerals resembling feldspar, is used in various consumer goods, in cluding water purification and sludge treatment products. Extraction of the mineral is carried out on a large scale in the southwestern United States. This mineral could set off a new wave of concern in light of the cases found in Turkey, even though there may still be no cause for alarm. Zeolite can be found in its natural state in caves that serve both as homes and warehouses for some vil lagers who live in the region where the cases of mesothelioma have been reported. Zeolite is also used there in the construction of homes. This is not a mining area, and the cases of mesothelioma are not related to any particular occupation or trade. Vic tims, which also include children, are village residents. Oddly enough, some villages where zeolite is found did not report any cases of mesothelioma. A study by means of electron microscopy of the soil and dust in the streets of the villages where the desease had struck showed that fine fibres were present in the chabazite, the main component of zeolite in this region. However, according to the study, such fibres were not found in vil lages where there were no cases of mesothelioma. Number of cases An article, published in the Thorax Journal by a group of investigators from the Hacettepe University School of Medecine and the Institute of Mi neral Research and Exploration in Ankara, provides more details on the subject. The group reports that in 1975-76, 11 of the 575 residents of Karain died as a result of pleural mesothelioma, and that five cases of fibrosing pleuresy were also found. There were 25 cases of meso thelioma in Karain during the pre vious five years. According to the investigators, who were under the direction of Dr. Y.l. Baris of the Medical School, as bestos is not found in the local rock or soil, nor is it handled in the vil lage, but a few fibres were found in the water. Mesothelioma is a disease which until the present time was associated solely with asbestos, but according to a Turkish government official, the discovery of cases associated with zeolite could create a whole new con troversy. . 0 n a> cHt - 4-> 01 U <0 OlPS -tCQ *f .ppc+ioa rttSpio r* eo of; This BULLETIN is published by I'Association des mines d'amianfe du Quebec, 1130 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 410, Montreal H3A 2M8. The Post Office Department in Ottawa has authorized postage paid in cash and forwarding of the pub lication by third class mail. ASARCO ALV 0001537