Document YGyLqmxjKM7v2YmyGQLZGqZ5y

1415 TH/MU 13 June. 1967 Mr. Fruit Dexter Union Corbid* Corporation Chemical* It Plaatics Division 270. Park Avenue New York. N.T. 10017 Re; ASBESTOS TOXICOLOGY Dear Frank: I assume that you are aware of the occasional reports concerning poeeible toxicity and carcinogenic properties of asbestos. Dr. Dernahl of tiedon Carbide Medical Department has followed thio area very closely and has maintained a very close check on the working conditions at the King City plant. Perhapa the moat publicity and "Interact" la this problem has been in Thar*, only two porta will handle normally bagged asbestos, at the other ports the Union of Dock Workers have refused to handle the shipments os asbestos. We have been permitted to bring in several shipments with not very favorable results. The last shipment, because of rather poor handling ud packing, was in bad chape with many broken bags and much free asbeetos. Copies of reports on thesa shipments have undoubtedly already dome to your attention. Mr. Sayers of the asbestos group in UC1. has written a report summarising the findings and feelings concerning asbestos in the U.K. X assume that you have also sou a copy of this report. X am ^closing with this Uttar, a copy of the comment* Dr. Dumehl mad* In response to this report from England. My mats purpoeo la writing this to you la to confirm that at tho July asbestos meeting In Cstord w* will Implement the suggestion mad* by Mr. Sayers aad agreed to by Dr. Dornehl that Union Carbide join la tha cooperative standard sample comparisons to tho extent oi arranging tor standard samples to bo forwarded to Niagara Falls for trace element analysis. In joining the program to this orient we will be able to keep in dbee contact with ths progress of this study and will also be I aware of any adverse findings which may develop. : ! *5 'i-rf PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT 1 assume that this Is satisfactory to you. We will, c course, keep you directly advised of any information that may devebp over her*. If these findings or any ethara of which we may nou... ba awara cause any change in marketing plans or programs for asbestos, we usume you will immediately advise us ./ /./ OIPO KXJi. JV ajujt-t. ' V a. KENNEDY UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION 270 ?** AVENUt. NEW YOSK. N Y. 100'.7 ASBESTOS TOXICOLOGY REPORT It has been known for many years chac some persons working in ash os production were prono to uevelop a disabling lung disease. In tira this condition became known as asbestosis and was related to expos\ re to high concentrations of asbestos dust. ;.'itk further experience, it \ as found chat men could work with asbestos without development of lunj disease if dust concentrations were kept below a certain level. It is 4ov generally accepted that a man car. worx a 40-hour week for a lifetiffli without developing asbaot__ If ; .a -t! mao;. a .; - .-lala count is kep at or below 5 million particles per cub.a foot oz air. This dust con4^ncracion of 5 million particles per cubac foot cf air is the Threjs hold Limit Value for asbestos, and no cases of asbestcsis ar.s Known to t ive occurred when exposures have been maintained at or below this level! despite large-scale utilization (now approaching one million tons per rear in the U.S.A.). This concentration of dust is generally not vis i ile in the average work area unless a beam of light causing a Tyndall effe : t is present. Usually the dust concentration must be from 8-10 mi lip.on particles per cubic foot before its presence is visible in average .ighcing conditions. Several years ago, it was reported that there was ar. increase in t ie incidence of cancerous tumors, especially of the lung, associated with asbestosis. Recently there have beer, reports of soma cancers occ ring In individuals exposed to asbestos dust, out who have not deve oped clinical asbestosis. It is believed by mast authorities that thes ; cases have been associated with exposures significantly exceeding the hreshold Limit Value. A major manufacturer of asbestos products who also mines asbestos has not been able to show an increase in cancerous grow hs in sen working where dust concentrations were maintained at the Thre hoi' Limit Value. -Control of asbestos dust exposure is therefore necessary. The ; 1- v cont ol methods ere the standard ones applicable to a variety of dusty operItions- They include closed flow systems, wet processes where poss ble- end adequate exhaust ventilation where openings in the system are : ecessary. Pelletizing is sometimes used to improve the handling char cteristics of otherwise dusty materials. *here satisfactory cou tainskent to stay within the Threshold Limit Value is impractical or impo; s ible, efficient and reliable respirators are available for the protfc tier, of the employee. A program of environmental monitoring is high y desirable to determine that Threshold Limit Values are not being exce^aed. In paper manufacturing, if would be desirable to know the dust conci ntracions where the asbestos is dumped from begs into the pulp slurny Concentrations should also be determined where dusting occurs in I -2- fin . shing products. While initial dust determinations should be made at . frejjuenc Intervals, once che level has been established as satisfactory, che frequency may be extended to occasional tests to assure continuation satisfactory condition. Pre-employment and periodic physical examinations of workers are desirable. These should include chest X-rays to insure chat che worker has no chest condition prior to work with asbestos and to determine that no lun; changes are resulting from work with asbestos., It is believed that che addition of. asbestos at the proposed levi Is during che manufacture of paper products would be harmless to che coni umer. Total dusting would have to be well in excess of any levels acci ptable to che consumer for the asbestos concentration to approach the Thr< shold Limit Value. In conclusion, while asbestos dust in excess of the Threshold Liml t Value is potentially harmful, as are many other dusts.encountered in indt, s Cry, it is as readily controlled as other such dusts and it can be usee safely with appropriate precautions. Carl U. Deraehl, M.D. Director of Toxicology X. S. Lane, M.D. Assistant Director of Toxicology A 0 3 I 3 ' 1415 TSVML.F 13 June. 1967 Mr. Frank Dexter Union Carbide Corporation Chemical* It Plastics Division 270, Park Avenue New York. N.Y. 10017 Re: ASBESTOS TOXICOLOGY Dear Frank: 1 assume that yen are aware of the occasional reports concerning possible toxicity and carcinogenic properties of asbestos. Dr. Dernehl of Union Carbide Medical Department has followed thic area very closely and has maintained a very close check on the working conditions at the Xing City plant. Perhaps the moat publicity and "Interest" in this problem has been in England. There, only two ports will : handle normally bagged asbestos, at tbs other ports ths Union of Dock *Vorksrs have refused to handle the shipments of asbestos. We have been permitted to bring in several shipments with not very favorable results. The last shipment, because of rather poor handling and packing, was in bad shape with many broken bags and much free asbestos. Copies of rsports on those shipments have undoubtedly already dome to your attention. Mr. Sayere of the aabestoe group in UCL has written a report summarising the findings and feelings concerning asbestos in ths U. K. 2 assume that you have also seen a copy of this report. I am enclosing with this latter* a copy of the comments Dr. Duraehl made in response to this report from England. My main purpoao in writing this to you is to confirm that at ths July asbestos meeting la Oxford wo will implement the suggestion made by Mr. Sayers and agreed to by Dr. Dernehl that Union Carbide join la the cooperative standard sample comparisons to the extent of arranging for standard samples to be forwarded to Niagara Falls for traee element analysis. In joining ths program to this extant we will be able to keep la dose contact with the progress of this study and-will also be aware of any adverse findings which may develop. 1 assume that this is eatisfoetory to you. We will, of course, keep you directly advised of any information that may devdbp over hers. If these findings or any others of which wo may not be aware cause any change in marketing plans or programs for asbestos, we assuma you will immediately advise us. 7^> --