Document XOnbB3nG38LyN3Nxa7Ndr0wO4

FILE NAME: Z,, DATE: DOC#: , OCUMENT DESCRIPTION: W^DZd&ZZZZZ WZ,,, .... -. ,.. TO UNIteD STATES GOVERNMENt Memorandum u.s. CONSUTv1ER PRQOUCT SAf==TY COMMISSION Catherine c. Cook, Director, Product Defect Correction Division CA7E: April 17, 1979 THROUGH: Task Force on Hand-held Hair Dryers Lynn S. lichtenstein, S~aff Attorney, Product De.lt:ect CorreC~...1. 0n DlV'"1S10nJ,SL ~s~: Task Force Recommendation For Preliminary Determination Hand-Held Hair Dryers Recorranendation The Task Farce recowmends that a preliminary determination be made that hand-held hair dryers which contain asbestos materials exposed to the airstream of the dryer present a substantial product hazard, that identification fi1es be opened in thenames of manufacturers, importers, distributors, and priva-:e labelers or such hair dryers. and that correc- I tive action be sought frcm these firms. Defect 1. Defect as Reported. Information provided to and obtained by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (C?SC) indicates that beD1een 20 and 25 pe~cent of hand-held hair dryers previouslY said and those still on the mar!<et contain asbestos paper or materials as a protective lining around the inside of the nozzle or barrel of the appliance and sometimes as the support for the heating coils or the appliance. These sources indicate that tests performed on the dryers using electron microscopy have identified quanti ti es of res pi rab1e asbestos fi bers emi tted from the dryers whil e in use. The sources and information availabl e differ a.s to whether . these quantities of asbestos accumulate in the home or are dissipated. - 2. Assessment. The Task Force noted that asbestos in sufficient concentrations is a known cause of 1ung cancer and a type of cancer kno.~ as mesothelioma which af71icts the rne~branes lining the chest and abdomina1 cavi~ies. Some of the respirable asbestos fibers which enter the body may become entrapped there and create sites for the formation of cancer . . , CEGIE 00020 0001 -- . . -2- The Task Force noted further that when released from the dryer. the asbestos fibers may accu~u1ate in a particular environment, such as a home. The Task Force believed that the insulation function performed by the asbestos paper or other materials in the dryer cou1d also be performed by mica, aluminum, and heat-resistant plastics and that these alternatives do not appear to result in a significant incr2ase in the cost of the dryer to the consumer. Accordingly, the Task Force 'cons; dered the use and/or presence of asbestos paper or other asbestos materials in the dryer which are exposed to the dryer's airstream and ~,hich release re~pirab1e asbestos fibers into the air to be a defect. Risk of Injury 1. Pattern af Defect. The defect arises from the des~gn of the hair dryers containing asbestos paper and other asbestos materials which specifies the use of asbestos as an insu1ator or component part. The defect manifests itself during normal use of the dryer. '. 2. Number of Defective Products in Commerce. It is believed that be~Neen 9 and 15 million hair dryers current1y o\'/ned by consumers contain asbestos. If sales of hand-held dryers in 1979 are comparable to those in 1978, approximateiy 3 million dryers contain; og asbestos will be sold. It is not knO\yn how many dryers containing asbestos are currently in distributors' and retailers' inventor} or with manufact:.zrers. 3. Severity of Risk. (a) Seriousness of injury - The presence of asbestos paper or materials ;n the airstream af the dryer may contribute to the inducement of cancer in persons in the environment where the dryer is used. -. (b) likelihood of injury - r.~e Task Force noted that the development af lung cancer or mesothe1ioma in a person who is exposed to asbestos might take 20 to 30 years or longer. The Task Force believed that the exposure ~o asbestos accompanying the uSe of the dryers with asbestos ~aterials ~xposed to t~e dryer's airstream c~eates an unnec~s sary increase in the ris~ of cancer from asbestos and felt that injury from this exposure was possible. The Task Force acc~rding1y assessed the likelihood of injury as possible. GEGIE 00021 ~ . '--'-' -. '-", .. 0002 . . " ........-. - :..: ...... -3- risk (t) Assessment of injury to be - The Task Force considered the severity of the high due to the fact that an increased incidence of cancer may result from the use of asbestos-containing dryers. 4. Substantia1; ty of Ri sk. Due to the 1arge number of' asbestos-containing dryers' in 'consumers I hands> to res the f pirabl a e ct that consumers asb~stos fibers (many from th o e f wflom dryers are du r chi ing 1 dren) nonnal 2.re exposed use~ and the. possibility fibers,. the of an increased incidence Task Force.concluded that of cancer from. inhalation of the the dryers create a substantial risk of injury. TASK FORCE HEJvIBERS: ; Bessie Draper. COM;~ Z y . WJoahrrn~nGoPmri1u1nae,llF a, H~ICP~. Gal e Wyer, ESc-! ~~ Catherine Cook, CEPD Cc.C - GEG1E 00022 '. '._ _ _ _ _ ._ ,_". __ " ..._."' _._ ...... "a ..... .-. 0003