Document ZBwYbe38mOmdMNKq4ZRyodL0O

\V i i j **C ivlB UNION CA.HlVfDI.iJ OMITED . Hah i7 tffse *Alt$Q5--------- PRC:jmw HCKAI'TON STUKKT |,()\D()N W.l. MAY I A I II HIOO OAHl.US: l* N l \ fill l 1 Y. I.oSliDN \V. 1. - T li L t \ Dr. A.E. Pufahl, Assistant General Manager, Asbestos, Union Carbide Corporal. i.mi, Minin;.'; u: Me tal Hi. vis ion , 2?0 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017, IJ.3.A. 12th January, 1966. Dear Dr. Pufahl, You will recall that from time to time we have sent you extracts from publications which indicate concern felt in industry on the detrimental effect asbestos has on health. We tried to obtain some information for Southalls Paper Mills, who v;anted to use our asbestos in a sanitary tissue of the Internal type. The;/ wore concerned about, possible 11 anther to health. Wo vie re unsuccess I'u 1 th'ii i a oht.a i nine ansv;ers is.) tlielr specific i|ue:; l,i 1111:;, nml could mil.;/ (lea I. v/.i th them in v ry |/i icra I. terms. However, | feel l.li,al, W' may new lie able l.o be Hi' . J ' SJiecilie v/li'ii I,Ik- occasion arises by using the Information contaJ nod in the documents, Bri t:i sb Industrial Biological Research Association and Report of Proceedings of an International Conference on the Biological Effect of Asbestos, copies of which we enclose with this letter. We believe the documents are well worth having studied by the Medioal Adviser to the Corporation, and :it Is our belief that, we may well be able to take advantage of the fact that 0111' material sup]niseiII > contains so little of the dangerous trace elements that are mentioned in -those documents, it this is so, then we certainly have good copy for pub I i.o I. t.y use. You vii.'ll. bn interested to note that 'two Aineri.eni 1 medical aui.liorl tb s attended the International Conference, namel.y Du. II.K. Ayer, Public h'-aith ber/Jee, Cincinnati.!, and Dr. I.J. Gelikoff, Mount binui Hospital , New York. We would appreciate your comments and conclusions in due course. Sipyerely, A ' issa P.R. Cheston Assistant, Gales Manager c.c. Mr. II. Reichard.1 Mr. t TV in T rr_ 1 1 r -c ,/t u. ' 1 .- - 5H - A -i. L'3 I.' C, I -hat the silicone fluid is devoid of silica granule-s. [The intense fibrous tissue reaction and the pr-:: . of . -hi;' refraebile crystal:; ir. the l-.-s Lena described by '..'.r.ur g__ g'. ' __. u_g.) not been rop.-rd.-d by other wnrh.r.'s using puce i.uu..; . . > . . ::;licu:i'-r:. TV.. < 1 the l.reu :.! Lor,::,' nr..;c:ut. on.., rule:;, u '..'.uur r r !. {inr.ci ;.y I r,.d Vegutasio butty ar..:.., '.1 v;'.,.;:l nl'fi of .ndueirg ir. their owr. rpjht th.O .;ov...e . ,r..it ,us reaction observe.!. It is .yuito probable that a significant cr -. r. su jir role vac played by the fatty acids ir. the induction of the report:! severe fibrous lesicxs. If wo are to believe the claim. of the cuaster.se of silica granules ir. the salioor.e fluid preparation, then it is osueeivable that the silica sty have beer, a contributory factor in the predustier of the tissue reaction, however, a very reliable ssttrcc of ours has. r.e hesitation in refuting the claim that silicone fluid is cor.tar.ir.ated with silica. Only under conditions of extremely high temperatures and high, pressures and in the presence of oxygen is oxidation of silicone fluid to silica possible. For this reaction to proceed during shelf storage is r.ot only highly improbable but wcll-nijn impossible.] :: i g o 1 :i 11: c m a a :: d a 2 b z ? 0 s The development of tumours (mesothelioma) following exposure to asbestos dust tends to be insidious (51SF.A Bull. 1555, , The initial obstacle to recognition of tho hazard lay in correlating two episodes -- exposure to asbestos dust, however light, and subserruer.t ic-velapnont of tho tumour. Or.co this connexion iisd beer, esc.isl_r.hod the problem assumed now ;nd stmovn--t alarming dimer.sicr.s since mi'..; time-lag between cause and effect map- well extend to over half a century. Before 'yjO the industrial and eo.tr.ercial importance of asbestos in this c sun try was still relatively small. Thus it is only r.ow that the ir.aider.ee of diffuse pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma can be expected to show a steady upward trend. This pattern is becoming all too apparent. Public interest in -the p.-oblea should cert^-.rviy have 'i.urn r.hr.r.ce by a report m the r.umViy ?ir.:.;s (>*. On tuber Ts'ji) on the- w.rh ..f ,.,.w. Th'Vr.psun (hr. .1. lid. Mud. lib,, Id,',). Vi..:..; n.-.p .rt.s.i ..p,r. logical xtuay i:.,vc; :! Mo pn. u r.-.lu.; .r-.e 44 f. ...Lu:.j u _ in ;.<...iti,v<siy uiaiTi'-nutl 'li.fliua rdumai. or ritoneal -.so tiiul-urwi a.h:ii t I'j.ntiou Hospital over the cou.nu of approximately `jCj yr. hriu'":. tu : f exposure to ashes Ion was outainod In 40 of the 75 cases whose b..eh;rround histories could bo traced with relative accuracy. Cf the remaining ;,6, 11 had lived within half a mile of an asbestos factory, Ir. a control group of 76 in-patients, matched for-sex and ago, only 14 gave histories of previous airoct or domiciliary exposuro to asbestos. She rioc in reported cases of asbestos bodies In the lungreflect either an absolute increase in Incidence or tho results of more searching pathological examinations in the light of this r.ow '.r.owlcdge. Be that as it may, Causa et al. (j. let. mod. Ass. 1965, '571) report a 417* incidence of asbestos bodies seen in tho course of ICO routine adult autopsies (477* in males; 547* in females), although r.ono were founu beforo tho ago of 24. Mo casos of noaotholioma or asbostosis coals, be identifiod and primary cancor of tho lung was only present in two patients -- ono with asbestos bodies snd ono without. Tho authors draw attention to /' aJ186C 515 the problem of positive identification of the asbestos body end the differentiation between it and the similar structure encountered in talcosis. They believe that the problem is made more difficult because cf the cirdlarity between asbectccis arising from exposure to trcr.olite and talcosis. HisiDchcnic.nl differentiation is thought to be necessary, but the method us"! in the present study van electron-probe .analyaas. "sr.ethelerr., the muth'vs redect"'i findings which did not j.ouitiv'd y i<!<.;!!. fy elasr. 1 cal ion bodies and still prcbs'-cd isoj/h see --:ch nr-v ions studios had revealed at autopsy, : Vf>. si Cape Vova (llr.-rron '"t -.1. S. f.fr. red. J. 1?r,jr yy/yy) .and in Miami (Inonron, Cenicvvr.co on Biological affects cf Asbestos, Hew "orb, October 1?o). french verhers have also dravn attention to the problem, and an analysis of hi s t epatho 1 ogi ca1 findings has boon published (furiaf ct al. Ibressc m:d. Tyl, 215?)- Although the asbestos industry in flint ccur.tr;' is net large,- the incidence of mesothelioma is rising and concern is 'understandable. P.eccrdir.g the incidence of asbestosis and mesothelioma and standardising diagnostic techniques formed part of the terms of reference of the Vsrhi : Group convened, under the aucpicec of the Geographical Pathology Committee of the International brnio:i against Cancer (I.TJ.C.C.), to lock into thn vhel'1 question of asbestos and cancer. The eompr'diensive report of the Group (Mr. J. ind. Med. 1955, 2?, 165) rece-m.'-nds three main-lines cf r.i'T.c!:: Hr idor.io logical -- more information is required concerning the results of exposure to particular types of asbestos fibre (amosite, crocidelite, anthophyilito, cltrysotile or trcmolito) by inter- and ir.trsnntior.nl studies in specified areas. It is recommended that studies be undertaken into the relation betveer. dust dosage, the physical ctr.ce of the dust and the incidence cf acbectosis, carcinoma, mesothelioma and other tumours. It is aloe proposed to vidcr. the field of enquiry to embrace ancillary occupations, ouch as transport, docks, building etc., which ray involve lees ir.tonciv'' fv:pcrv.ro to ~o ^ ~. -Ml - - - ' '" - M:"' ''.'or. should be ri porously sorecr.'"'. to ' eici-'v 'ire to uebf -sics rii'.st. Pathologj eal -- it war. felt necessary to st.end.ardi re criteria <v- diagnosis under the careful supers Is lor. of a 'on.suli at i w pori'd. of patholeg-i. An '"nduavnur will Me r.ade to grade the d'gr'"' .;f ru'senary fibrosis due to the :u'or>-nce of asbestos rr.d routine oxn.uir.'.ticn oi sputum, fresh lur.g or fired tissuas (.h.err> available) for .nsoc-"cr os or fibres will be incorporated into all pathological era- ir.nticr s. Physical am . chemical -- the possibility vas discussed cf csos.Viish.ing a oor.tr'' to produce a set of analytical standards and to investigate the biological, physical and chemical characteristics of various types of asbestos fibre. Methods of identification of the different typer of fibre in large samples of tissue ar.d in lung sections were also discussed. Investigations a.t the Pneumoconiosis Research t7r.it, Llandcugh Hospital, South Vales, vcrc designed to resolve the suggested association between exposure to crocidolite dust and diffuse pleural mesothelioma occurring without intervening asbestosis, and between asbestosis ar.d subsequent lung carcinoma (Vagner, Bull. Un. int. Conor. 1955, j> (2), A HS6 1  } - 516 - 2). The following mechanism could provide a possible explanation: Heavy exposure to asbestos -> Prank a:;b..'Sto.nio --------- > Pulmonary cnrcincm. light exposure (especially to crocidsliso) Ho fibrosis, out -> asbestos bouios or fibres J1i ffu.; n t; 0 o *. he 1 i 0 0. i '.'t r.icurs. or ~r.is pattern vou-d j: tar to e:ep_air. previous reports 01 _ow inoider.ee of rascthalicma, especially vh.ero pathologists only considered the existence of this particular tur.our ir. those oases shoving frank asbestoses. The study of Hcvhouse i Thompson (loo -cit ) revealed that in 47 ease:; from th.e group showing positive mesothelioma, whore tissue frer. biopsy er necropsy or sputtee could be obtained for examination, 10 (62. y/j) shseed evidence of either asbestos bodies or asbestosis; but ...0 an.ferity of those shoving frank asbestos is were workers actively ( r..1 or. ,, addin.; raw :aa: \ to mg.i eoncr over long periods. It was also shea' that the hosvucr and longer th.e r exposure, the shorter was the interval before the onset of symptoms ar.d 'the tir.e of death. Obviously, therefore, the denser of incipient r.osothol ro.ta is present nr.on,; those who are exposed throu.;h. contact with a relative or who live m the vicinity of a factoiy and are thus suspense: to only minimal exposure. Suspicion has been focuescd on crocidolito as the causative agent in mesothelioma, but in cost British factories a mixture of crocidolito, the atr.osphere an; cr any ci the various constituents of the dust. Studies cr. ho organic c.cr.t;cncr.tr testos are ooxng carrii out .sarin'son el Cancar Car.pn 1964, Ho.A2, p.2j). Two fractions cf oig___ ; matorsal c.tn be determined: oils present naturally and oils arising frer. contamination during the manufacture or transport of asbestos. Sxtrseted samples cf a particular batch cf smesite v/h.ich had previously appeared to be r.c.o- csrcincgcnic, or only wed-, ly sc (V.'.tgr. or, Mature, bond. `.'jol, f;, ' . d ,, have been found to be as so ; sated with th.e development cf r..o:s ir. .hamster:: (heltkoff, person..I oor..v.unicution in 1 to lirs; ;; s. . . ( Ijje . i_; . 1. A ::c.::p!e* ef :.i.* o r, ;.in : 0 <tr.'Le t. ls now he1::.,; . - P'.-ri. tc-r.i-al !y :.o r.t'.s as ;.ae'. of a Lot..:- t. , test. Utner w<.:; ;.r .1:;., ::iclu<!us investit,.Ltics of tne possible *.u__. ..--jnd tiatir..: ,ic L. vu tv .-.f crocidollte and ai.os1 to oil in conjunction with the promo us:.g agent crotcr. oil (3I11BA Bull. 1962, 1_ ('), )'!). V been shown that curias' a storago poriod of 6 months asbestos ._rbs 70-2^ of the jute oil present in jute sacks (iiarington, Trans. H.Y. Acad. 3ci. 195; a", press). Cr.e sample of extracted jute oil was shown to have tumour-promo tang activity when a known carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbon was used as initiator. Vagner (loc.cit.) also reports on the relevance of the presence in asbestos of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons, including 5,4-bor.sopyrer.o. Bo hydrocarbons -have been isolated from chrysotile (the most widely uoc-d type of asbestos), but crocidollte, which was mined in that area of South Africa with a high incidence of mesothelioma (Vagner et ml. 3r. J. ins. Med. i960, 1_> 260), contained 3,4-^cnsopyrone in relatively high amounts. The suggestion has also been made that asbestos carcinogenicity ray be related to the metals or metal complexes contained in asbestos fibres; chrysotile contains nickel (0.?/j) and chromium (O.IJw), wltilo amosito has nanganoso (0.7?*)- Serum can eluto small amounts of nickel, chromium, manganoso and magnesium from chrysotile, and iron and manganese from A 11662 A i '\ - crocidoliie and ar.osite (Harir.ston st_al. Icc.cit.). Pleural rocsothelionas, similar to those found in hussar. cases, can ee established by intraperitoncri injection of asbestos into hansters (f-ith Blsassor, Jedn Broc. Join An. Socs crop. Biol. Iff?, 2A, 550). Thorn in a Croat oomo of urconey in tho search far a so Oho or: -rob', e-- of r c l. 1 cry of rorotholiTr.. Aoll".l- ion to sindies vIt jyLri; silicrrir as: Tts.'ir respectively, but silica is r.:r-:-rc:nc:r:.ic except vhcr. intredueed Into specific sites such as tho plcur.al cavity of oupcrir.ental ar.imlr.. The effect of silica and asbestos cr. iysosos.es and rhnpocor.cs (pha-pocytic vacuoles) in aacrophaces is beir.c studied by 'larin.pton A Aliisen (Hep. Br. -top. Cancer Canon 1964, p.24)- V.loen tr>n ur by the pkn-coy`-or, inert materials have nepii.piblc effect cr. the .........1 .,,....1...-,:bo oo fond preroo.-ibV.' asbnr.frr) causes , :.................. \ ... I ....................-- ! '... I i f I . nir; . i :m o m . rue. I 1 ; (. ^ ... * j ,, t ' i !.`f t' ' ...... .......... ' l o . 1 ` 11 I ill--. - v ' 1 I ' I O i in { (\ I |'I I ;* ;`i, I I . 1 ' I' . . ! ( ' > j , f ) A..L-iVbi- .ijii.i.,s Hi.il, u L ; in I;/, cull ilcnUi Hint it Unm.. :>. '.ins action can be neutralised by poiyvinylpyridine-H-oxidc vhich is taken up by phacoscrcs and lysesor.es and apparently binds directly vita the silica surface, prever.tin/p its tonic effect. Asbestos studies cr. sir.ilar. Iine3 or" r.cv in proctors. ::'iv"vor, nw:'.r"ae''.s of the nroblon ar.d vii 1 irm"ris, to tackle t oo.r.no1, cor.plotoly -ask tho sob'-- Inc thou.pht ir.pl ioi t ,'n this puota'.inr. J'ro.n tho rnprrt of tho '.kirk.:f-roup (loc.oit.): "........... further cases of those nssocia tod tr.r.r: : so e::p*c' of. .; for any years to cor.o, oven if dust acposurcs arc r.ov ,pronely r. Bust exposures arc an fact increasing, for the probler. is r.ot only ccnfir.cd to verkors : n tao asbestos and ocntifpaous industries. It concerns all of us vho have asbestos boards in our ceilings and vails, asbestos stats on our iro.oi boards or aobestes installations arottr.d the vatcr pipes. ntiratciy, sor.e forr. of control over the rarufacture, distribution ar.d r.se cf asbestos products is to bo expected, but until such tiro, the procnooio of rsesotholicrr. indicates tho need for restraint cnd.cr.ro in the handling and uor of this potentially dangerous substance.