Document YyZBYgQmrdYdgLa2pbKpxEek

ATI-188 AS2H;72o TS'.TIIZ II*S7IiJT A^_ i ^ vl^ *>j-- *. Report cf I.eeting dated 10/6/?k f Henters Present: R. B. Smith J. W, l?eber B. W. Luttenberger D. R. Holmes Doctors Present: Dr. K, W. Smith - Johns-lianville Dp, E, S, Myers - American Asbestos Dr. D, W. Martin - Raybestos-IJanhattan Dr. H. W. Hetherington - Keasbey t iriattison Dr, 0, A. Sanders - Southern Asbestos " Dr, C, W. H. Schepers - Medical Director, Saranac Laboratory Dr, P. A. Theodos - representing Asten-Hill Dr, II, White - representing Asten-Hill The meeting began promptly at ?O0 A.M, with D, R, Holmes acting as Chairman. The chair consnented he was pleased to see the large turnout of representative doctors. 1. The meeting got under way with an explanation by Dr. Theodos of his Research Program Proposal of heart function to asbestosis. A copy of Dr. Theodos' proposal is enclosed and is to be included in the minutes. In con junction with this proposal, Dr. Theodos advised that the cost to a Company for an employee to participate in this program would run about J250.C0 to v30C.0C on a semi-private basis with a maximum of *500,00 as the ceiling which should include hospitalisation, transportation, etc. However, he advised that nost Companies could have this service performed by using their hospitalisation pro gram if one is available. Dr. Theodos in the past, with our Company and with American Asbestos, has classified the diagnosis to be pulmonaxy fibrosis. When completing the hospitalisation forms, this has worked out in every case and the Insurance Company has paid claims without comment, Also in these cases, one question is to be answered on the insurance form; "Is accident, illness or disease caused by the occupation?" and we have always had this answered, "No". It has never been challenged by the Insurance Company, Under this program. Dr, Theodos would like to haVe about fifty patients take this treatment in one year's time. This would average one a week from some Company. Dr, Schepers showed slides of specimens taken during an autopsy of an , asbestotic. These slides showed the different findings present in the lung area. These slides were very beneficial to all doctors present as many of then saw lung conditions of an asbestotic which they had never seen before. Dr, Schepers' demonstration indicated that when a biopsy is taken the surgeon should cut dc--r. lew and obtain an area large enough to definitely show whether or not asoestosis was present and to what degree, coupled with clinical findings. GARLOCK INC. 00058-009012 ATI-188 Air Hygiene Committee - hetcrt rf I'.eeling 10/6/5L Page 2 At the end of lr. Thecccs' presentation, Dr. Sanders suggested that some employees who believed that tr.e/ r.ad scr.ie degree of asbestosis be hospitalised for this survey in order to conclusively prove their condition one way or the other. It was the opinion of tr.e Company representatives of this Committee that we enderaeeDr. Theodos1 proposal. The nodical men also approved of this program after approximately tuc hours discussion. Ralph Smith suggested that all information gathered from this program be made available to all members cf the Institute, This also was approved by the joint committee of members and doctors. Hie committee presented the following proposal to the Board of Governors: We propose that the Institute approve Dr. Theodos1 proposal provided that member Companies would have a hospital program available to share the cos* of the pro- ,gram, or absorb the cost which eculd run up*to.0500,00 maximum per case for hospitalization, biops;, transportation, wage loss, etc. - The program was approved by the Board on the basis that member Companies could, participate in the program on an individual basis, and there would be, therefore, no financial responsibility on the Institute, 2. Dr. Smith presented the details of obtaining autopsy specimen studies from the Saranac Laboratory, Outline of the medical routines, the employment and medical histories and specimen preparation were given each Doctor, The several values of such a program were emphasized. Animal ex perimentation has contributed greatly, but even more complete knowledge of the disease process can be obtained through this study. Collectively, the industry experience can be extremely valuable in this regard. Individual reports to the submitting company will establish, in a manner not possible by x-ray and clinical diagnosis, the extent of the disease process and, therefore, the extent of Workmen's Compensation liability for a particular ease. It was agreed that each member company, through its Doctor, would process as many cases as was possible under this program. The Saranac Laboratory vail make individual report to the submitting company, and, when sufficient studies have been made, review the collective experience for a report to the industry. 3. A review of the articles by Drs, Knox and Beattie entitled, "Kineral Content of Lungs After Exposure to Asbestos 0031" end "Distribution of ISineral Particles and Fibres in the Lungs after Exposure to Asbestos Dust" was made by Dr. Schepers of Saranac Laboratory, His^numerous coiments on these two articles were discussed by the group. It was the consensus that the premise of the disease mechanism developed in these, papers was not suostantiated by the details of their research or that of others, * Afternoon Session The entire afternoon session was spent ir. listening to the discussion of the "Relationship of Asbestosis to Pulmonary Cancer" by Dr. Schepers. A nur.eer of slides oontairung facts and figures concerning the subject of cancer were shown. At the latter part of his aiscussion, he made some conclusions concerning OARLOCK INC. 00058-009013 ATI-188 Air Hygiene Committee - Report cf ueetir.g 10/6/51* Page 3 the relationship of asbestos to lung cancer. Here are seme of the highlights I gleaned from the. discussion: Both asbestos and silicosis dust do r.ot necessarily lead to lung cancer. In some cases, asbestos will protect the lungs from cancer. The first case of cancer of the lungs due to asbestos was found in England in 1932. These are English statistics. Lung cancer has been on the increase for the past thirty years. Industrial cancer averaged 9*5 cases out of 100,000 persons in a 19L8 survey. Lung cancer is usually present in the fifty to fifty-five year age group. However, when exposed industrially, this group age nay be as much as ten years earlier. Listed below are some of the carcinogens that cause cancer: Tar6 Oils Nickel Copper Chrome . These last three cause a high percentage of cancer, particularly chrome or chromium. The West German government in 1951 recognized lung cancer caused by asbestos. In another British survey it was found that 1.32ft of 6,000 silicosis cases had cancer while 13.2ft, or ten times more persons out of 266 asbestosis cases were affected. Therefore, the incidence of lung cancer with asbestos is ten tinea greater than that of silicosis. However, it was pointed out that experience in North America does not correspond to these figures. V/e have seen very few cases of asbestos and cancer. Possibly the different experience is due to the fact that in England a considerable amount of amosite fibre is used, while over here we use mostly chrysotile fibre and little amosite. In the same survey it was found that the average age for cancer to strike for males was 55 years, females, LL.6 years. Exposure time was 20 years for the male and 7*6 for females, these are averages. There was a carcinoma found in a male as low as six years exposure and as low as six months exposure in a female. After Dr. Schepers concluded his discussion, the writer suggested a pro posal to the Board of Governors as follows: Dr. Schepers of Saranac Laboratory suggested that particles of asbestos be inserted in animal lungs in order that research be done on this problem (cancer and asbestosis) so that facts may be deter mined to combat unjust compensation claims. ' This proposal was offered to the Board and it was their recommendation that Dr. Sebepers he requested to sunoit a proposal for further consideration. GARLOCK INC. 00058-009014 ATI-188 Air Hygiene Committee - report ..eetir.g IO/6/5U N Page Ll At this point, the chair adjc-rr.ed toe meeting with the doctors and we were all in accord that we had a find neeting which was instructive and beneficial to all. U. The next item was Cust Ccr.trcl at the Winders, ' On this subject there were prints and pictures submitted by the following Companies: Raybestos-llanhattan General Asbestos Asten-Hill This information is to be studied by members of the Committee in order that the dust hazard at toe winders can be reduced or entirely eliminated. These prints and pictures are enclosed and shall be a part of the minutes. D. R. Holmes 1 v_ qARLOCK INC 00058-009015