Document b3od5J1Re02jQBdkvDDObeok

unua>Mi E. I. ou Pont oeKMNUeHmfonurs & Company CHAMBERS WORKS OCCW.TCX. hlw j>I(Y lD Movember 5, 1980 Or. Allan Associates c/o Samara 3rown, R.N. ERD - N-11400 Wilmington Dear Dr. Allen: From the earliest time that I saw your rubber 3tamp placed on the x-ray reading card of a Chambers Works' employee that high lighted that the chest x-ray changes being observed may be asbestos-related, it caused me a great deal of concern. The reason for the concern is not an absence of Chambers Works having a concern about the employee's health and wanting to know if anything is amiss but it is a concern that the singling out of the word "asbestos" may heighten the working community's awareness about past asbestos exposure to an unnecessary high level. I am Cully aware that you ace concerned with malpractice and do not wish to be considered as negligent in overlooking an x-ray observation but the attitude of the working community in the CJ.S. is litigation oriented and each time any medical entity befalls them the initial posture is that the illness was caused by their occupation. I do not think actual statistics can support that but as long as it receives press headlines and is news worthy to make such allegations, this myth persists. I propose there is no need to help perpetuate it unnecessarily. I have voiced my concern to many `different groups within the Du Pont Co. Each listens politely. None have taken a positive step towards stopping it. However, my immediate supervisor suggested that I write to you and get your views. Should you concur with me, the CAP Dept, of Du Pont might then take some positive steps in appealing to Corporate Medical to have the stamp that you are currently using modified slightly. However, if you do not concur, the stamp will persist and with it the heightened sensitivity of the litigation-minded worker. DUP 0931920 CTTC* THINGS rQ* SCTTC* LIVING . . . THROUGH CMCMtSTBY / DU 035656 nsi Page 2 November 5, 19S0 Dr. Allen Associates The stamp uses the words "could be due to previous exposure to asbestos or other irritant materials."I believe that the x-ray reading report would be ]ust as complete if the statement excluded the words "asbestos or other." It would indicate there were x-ray changes. It would state the changes were possibly due to some irritant material. It would leave the determination of what that irritant material would be to an historical gathering by the inquiring physician. By this time, at least within the Du Pont Company, he should be well aware that irritant materials would include past exposure to asbestos and would consider that as he worked up the patient. Thera is no intention to insult your intelligence but on scanning the appended list of substances which can cause a pneumoconiosis, it is rather obvious that asbestos is not the only substance in a worker's environment or even in his personal hobbies that could be a contributor in causing x-ray changes that might be associated with some irritant material. I would appreciate your views in this matter and your consideration whether or not you believe eliminating the word "asbestos" from your x-ray reading report compromises you in any professional way. William S. Neeld, Jr., M.O. Director, Medical Division WEN/saw Attach. CC: R. h. Wright DUP 0931921 Du 035657 I ICC /V IKE PNEUMOCONIOSES Classification (H.S. VanOrdstrand, M.D.) K. Those that are non-disabling (so-calind "Sanign"; du to inarc non-fib rogtnic dusts): ' 1. Sidarosis 2. Scanosis 3. Barltosis 3. Thosa that ara usually non-disablint and which may only ba temporary (such as soma of tha occupational immunologic diseases) : te. 1. Byssinosia 2. Baggaaosis 3. Farmer's Lung A/\j q alt l (S CAJit I 4. Maple Bark Disaasa 3. Mushrooe Picker's Disease- 6. Pigeon Breeder's Disaasa 7. Sequoiosls 6. Furrier's Lung y'. Coffee Worker's Lung 10. Vineyard Sprayer's Lung 11. Paprika Splitter's Lung 12. Cheese Worker's tuns 13. Malt Worker's Lung 14. Suberosis C.' Those which may be disabling and even-fatal: 1. Silicosis 2. Asbastosia f 3. Berylliosis 4. Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis 5. Shaver's Disease 6. Talcosis 7. Cristobalita Silicosis 8. Diatosacaous Earth Pneumoconiosis l DU? 0931922 / DU 035658 Kc/ised March 197 3 H. S. VanOrdscrand, h.D. OCCUPATIONS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH PNEUMOCONIOSES ASBESTOS IS Asbestos weaver Aveo r.sehanic f.rake rsnufacrurar C.irpancar Clutch manufacturer Filter makerFioor cilemaker 1 -..iulacar ! asger. Mail worker Miner' Pjjofar Shingle maker Shipbuilder Steam fitter HAG AS SOS IS Cane worker Insulation maker Paparaakar Wallboard worker BARITOSIS Barite miner Barite niiler' Ceramics worker Glassaalcar Paint maker Rubber worker Well driller BERYLLIOSIS Alio/ maker ` Bronte maker Ceramics worker Electronic tube maker Extraction worker Fluorescent lamp maker Metallurgist Missile worker Neon sign maker Nuclear energy worker Phosphor mekar Propellant maker Toxicologist X-ray cube maker IYSSIXOSIS Workers exposed to cotton dust OAL MINER'S PNEUMOCONIOSIS (See page 2 for complete classification) COFFEE WORKER'S LUNC SILICOSIS Abrasives worker DIATOMACEOUS EARTH - Bricklayer PNEUMOCONIOSIS Workers exposed to calcining of diatomaceous earth Brickataker Ceramics worker Coal Miner FARMERS LUNC Exposura to moldy forage DlaComice worker Eaamsller Fattier ^Filter maker FURRIER'S LUNG Workers with furs Foundrymaa Claesmaker KAOLINOSIS Brick maker ' Insulation workar Miner Mecormen Ceramics workar China maker Miner Paper maker Potter .... Polisher Sandblaster Shot blaster Stonecutter Stonedresser ,, .. Stone driller HALT WORKER'S LUNG Tunnel driver Quarry men " . MAPLE BARK DISEASE Lumberman STAMP 313 MUSHROOM PICKER'S DISEASE Workers involved in'the selvagm of tin PAPRIKA SPLITTER'S LUNG .. PICEOM BREEDER'S LOSS SEOUOIOSIS Lumbermen SHAVER'S DISEASE Abraaivea makers exposed to the heat treatment of the ore bauxite SIPER0SI3 Demolition man Fattier Flame cutter -- Foundrymam - -Grinder Metal worker Metalixer Polisher Scerfer Shipbreaker . Weldar SUBEROSIS Workers with European oak . trees from which cork Is obtained TALCOSIS Cable maker Ceramics worker . Cosmetic worker Miner Papermekar Plasties worker Rubber worker ; DUP 0931923 -1- DU 035659 ;3||ggg|j*ggggRg| u Cs> O^SLiX v\KjlaSI^ Q^_^. ^s^l&Sc. ^ V^j\. 0>^SL3-- "3<k$S=-_ QfOk. -^nJ*-^- 3*\-fis--fiSo Vaj>a1 e/^~ar\X-.SL. Cr->Ao-. ^oo-OJ>-*^^ *j----- --------(^3-*--3------------------^v_ C>- cr> v Akjo-v-a. -Ik^_ ./\S>3i--l,^-A--^. ^ ^ <^n^~ fe\ 4^2L 3-- DUF 0931924 ^Os3--'^--"------- DU 035660 DUP 0931925 t DU 035661