Document VJYL0NywyYO7v8yN3mjBj4dao

FILE NAME: DuPont (DUP) DATE: 1965 Nov 29 DOC#: DUP032 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from GJ. Stopps to J.R. McClean, Plant Medical Officer, Maydown Works ee: A. j. Fiesing, .u.-wiiingto J. F. Morgan-Haskell Ltboratc f ^ / L t T : C - C 0 2 2. 7 \ Kovecber.29; 1965 \ J . R. McCLEAK PIAXT KLDICAL KAYTOVK WORTS P. 0. BOX 15 LWOOKSERKY OPFICLR \ \ c* D r . Fleziag has passed your letter to se for *' reply._on the Question of the risk involved in working with asbestos. This is naturally a Batter of considerable interest to u* since as you correctly suspect a considerable amount of asbestos is used in Du Pont plants largely in the fore of pipe lagging. There are any facets to this eubjeet but the two ssost important are the questions, What is the risk to Ben who were exposed to asbestos prior to our recognition of the possible risk of cancer? and, What steps should be taken to protect the sen who are now potentially exposed to asbestos? It is hoped that these questions will be answered by studies which are at present underway. For exasple, the Division of Occupa tional Health of the D. S. Public Health Service has started an in-plant study to ''detrj.ne the effects of exposures to asbestos fibers And dust. . . .and to develop edieal and environaental . criteria and procedures for the control of the health risks of asbestos workers. Six plants located in Jforth Carolina, Kew Hampshire and Pennsylvania have been studied." That definitive answers to the questions you raise are not yet possible is underlined by the enclosed eopy of the report of the Working Group on Asbestos and Cancer, This is a good statement of the present position and contains any valuable suggestions for conducting further reaearch. In line with their suggestion we hope to start & study of the health of pipe ooverers eoopared with the health of non-asbestos exposed group within the oext few weeks. Since this will be a study of existing edieal records it is not expected to take a long tiae to eoeplete and this should st least tell us whether we have a profclea. J . JR. KcCL&AX 2 lfoveober 2S, 1965 For immediate application it the knowledge that the control ef l M & i e s resulting from asbestos lies In the control of dust And that close attention should be given to reducing the dust exposure of workers with asbestos. This ay be done by suitable exhaust ventilating systems where asbestos is handled at a fixed location and by the use of dust respirators where exhaust Tentilatlon is not practicable as is often the case in handling insulation in the plant. I shall be writing to Dr. Lewis J. Cralley, of the U. 2. Public Health Service, who is in oharge of their asbestos research program to find out what results are available at this tlae. I plan to keep you informed of further developments. O R IG IN A L-SIG N ED V c - J. STOPps 0 1 J Stopps, K.S.,H.S. Chief, Physiology Section GJS/dyb ~nclosure