Document bBqV0LwzgO1pq4j875nnpnVd0

1415 HH/MLF 13 June. 1967 Mr. Frank Dexter Union Carbide Corporation Chemicals it Plastics Division Z7Q, Park Avenue New York. N.Y. 10017 Re: ASBESTOS TOXICOLOGY Dear Frank: 1 assume that you are aware of the occasional reports concerning possible toxicity and carcinogenic properties of asbestos. Dr. Demehl of Union Carbide Medical Department has followed this area very closely and has maintained a very close check on the working conditions at the King City plant. Perhaps the most publicity and "interest'*1 In this problem has been In England. There, only two ports will handle normally bagged asbestos, at the other ports the Union of Dock Workers havo 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 reports on these shipments have undoubtedly already dome to your attention. Mr. Sayers of the asbestos group in UCl#h& written a report summarising the findings end feelings concerning asbestos in the U. K. X assume that you have also seen a copy of this report, t am enclosing with this letter, a copy of the comments Dr. Dumehl made in response to this report from England. My main purpose in writing this to you ia to confirm that at the July asbestos meeting In Oxford we will implement the suggestion made by Mr. Sayers and agreed to by Dr. Dernehl that Union Carbide join in the cooperative standard sample comparisons to the extent of arranging for standard samples to be forwarded to Niagara Falls for trace element analysis. In joining the program to this extent we will be able to keep in dbse contact with the progress of this study and will also be aware of any adverse findings which may develop. 1 assume that this is satisfactory to you. We will, of course, keep you directly advised of any information that may devdbp over here. If these findings or any others of which we may not be aware cause any change in marketing plans or programs for asbestos, we assume you will immediately advise us. UCC 023087 / v/ 273_PAAK AVc-NU'c., i\YC'-v-n, \4, Y. -117 .J , l . '.Alt MT.NT SUSiC j , Jl'j'o'J Dr. T. J. Hall Union. Carbide Europa A.A. 40, Rue Du Shone 1211 C-eneve 3 Dear Toin: I have reviewed the report, "Asbestos As -.1 l-- v^T J. kv-, - Hazard In The United Kingdom11, prepared bp I. c. :l~a:ayTreAr"1s, and in general I find that it is reasonably accurate. I do not attach very much importance to the data, on the u incidence of asbestosis and death from asbestoses an cancer because these are merely tabulations of event and do not take into consideration the numbers of people who were subjected to the possibility of the event * We had been intere: ;eu short fiber Coalinga prc ^ *l " r- ` V': rici Z-t-.'' than the rcoi u convex tio. .1 ou..;--. o.. o. ... '.-j c... .u sub-nicron silica has been knov:n to cause a rasa, progressive silicosis after exceedingly brief ex: \> "UX`4: , We were concerned about 'whether, the Coalinga mat': la! .with its exceedingly fine fibril diameter might : :ve a similar effect in causation of asbestos!s. We tlj ;ref o; made some preliminary studies in which the mater; .1 wa; injected into the belly cavity of guinea pigs, r; and rabbits and also was injected intratracheal;* method which distributes the asbestos throughout ne lungs of rats. The materials injected were the : rc v> *r w* _X. > Ul X U fiber, a refined fiber.and a long fiber obtained rom Johns Manvillo for purposes of comparison. ,ue Jectlon study the Coalinga refined fiber prose, :d UfX i.0 most severe reaction in the belly cavity, whereas she UCC 023088 O 1-; P' O c , (-/ o M O 3 ' r-S H , )! O >a 1-] L lf Oo ;andard fiber and the uohns Renville fiber were es- sane ar.c less severe. In the injection tudy in the lung ine cruao Hoars cause a a ners severe ; bur *r'~j. . 'v C. 110^ was intermediate and t onns kanvilao n .east active. on;' onclusicn wo can aw iron tms cruae test is tnat s Poi cibae tnat our Coalinga product nay be more he rdous to use '' n long fiber asbestos in that it me ^ J .J O * ij iji e, asoestosis, at an early tine a;h xposur::. question v:a:; reason artic,-*le> s per cubic foot wer :V the b m.ion ,, VulJ-O t-i lx .. i U 'l.. ;0 id init Value. I maintain v*' -d u va;Uv i xj u Lj--l i ; o.1" ect in terns of preventing the cl lease, asbostesis. here is no evidence of asoestosis occurring among eople who have worked in an environment where the oncentration was kept within the Threshold Limit.Value, t is probable that the 5 million particles per cubic oot will not be acceptable for the prevention of osotheiioma. I have no idea what concentration night e effective in preventing this disease and I would onde'r whether even a limit of 1 million particles per ubic foot would be effective in this regard. * finally, I would give my unquestionable support to he request of the Pneumoconiosis Research Council for race clement analysis of the standard sample of a&'cestos y so doing we -would develop techniques which could be no* Cl tiy and which wou'ld b"i e Cl i> tii e standards. I hope this -will be helpfu. _L to you, if you JTleUi / f';;r>rhr-.r' miAsH nna nl *0 T e:. w ns let own Associate ;ruiy J /!/ ( t/- r \A Medical Director ; 'N Z*/J\/f > . U. Dernehl, K.D. -q a f* W c: (I- V fu O UCC 023089