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ASBESTOS SCF-FA-7500 H007 OZII The Silent Killer By M)CHAELO'MAM.Y Journal Staff Writer BILL HAMILTON was bursting with energy that afternoon. t*o yean ago, when he won llte trophy In a Cattail* cross-country jogg ing marathon. He never snioli-d, always watched his eating iialuts and ran six miles a day - nut the ostial track record (or a man who died last week ol a chronic lung disease. BUI Hamilton's real name is being witbeld. His wife has re quested anonymity during the proceedings ef a lawsuit she filed against a group of asbestos manufacturers. She believes their products are responsible for her husband's death. . Hamilton began his carver as a maintenance engineer at the Ford's Sandusky Parts Plant in the mid IfiSOs. Asbestos workers, st that time, were Insulating the boiler breaching and heeling pipes in the power house with asbrslus cement and asbestos block insula tion. . the past month, his wife end three children had to stand by and watch hint grapple with a fata) disease called mcaoUieUoma, caused by the inhalation ef asbestos tlbers. "We were at the point of our lives when we were Just beginning to enjoy each other," says Mrs. Hamilton. "The kids were raised and he had only seven more years until retirement. Sometimes I wish he had been lift by a truth. It's so hard to sec someone you lovu. dying." The story of this family's ex perience is not uncommon. Robert Sweeney, a Cleveland lawyer, writes in "Trial" mogatinc: "The tragic story of the epidemic of asbestos dust in the United States is just now unfolding. What see are looking at Is Act 1, scene 1 of a health tragedy that could have been avoided." Sweeney and State Representative Leonard Camera (IVlioraini have drafted and in troduced legislation against what they believe is a hazard that has reached epidemic proportions. Aa the workers mixed the ce ment and cut the blocks, a great amount ef dust was released into the air. One former co-worker, wboae name has been withcld on request, said 'the entire work area looked Ukt it was covered with goose feathers At times the dust on the Door was two toel thick." Asbestos Is the name for a natural group of fibrous minerals which are extremely durable against beat and friction. Such properties make the material uselul in the construction in dustry. Asbestos products include various forms ef Insulation, floor and celling tUex, aome paints, putties, twine, webbing and many ether building materials. About It was sometime between those days of construction and two years ago that a cluster ef tiny serpen seventy-five percent of ali the asbestos in this country Is used In construction. tine fibers penetrated his lung wall. The fibers, in the form of asbestos dust, caused an Irreversible cancer in the pleural membrane lining his chest cavity. Asbestos is often found in com mon household items. Hair dryers, pot holder*. Ironing board covert, drapes, rugs and flower pots art sonic products of the fiber. Wbsl At the age of 49, Hamilton had to has been called the "miracle accept the fact that be wouldn't fiber" is estimated to have about live la aee bis next birthday. For I Continued on Page 61 PRODUCED BY FORD 6 TV-Jn,;rnj, I team. < dun Sunday. I >n miwr * I'.-- iEJo007 Q?IZ Asbestos Dilemma: Is Cost Worth Death on the Job? ...Mrs. Hamilton's nights were interrupted by her husband's cries for morphine to ease his pain.... iCorKbiucd from PegeOhel UKwh everyday hfe. avhratnaii tn "Asbestos'" at pre- It it also widely used In the otomottve Industry. Out of Bfll Hamilton's wife it well 40.000 tons of asbestos fiber used wire of the paadbtlNfec of an annually In the United States, III milhon pounds are used to produce brake (hoes while 4.1 million pounds are incorporated Into dutch tarings. Once an asbestos product Is cut, torn or damaged . microscopic fibers are released into the at mosphere which, according to medical specialists, can be dangerous and oven fatal if to- Industrial cover-up. She rued a lawsuit against the asbestos Industry, not only for loos of Income, bat for the fact that "they (the Industry! knew of this ihealth haiardi before my *--**'* was to Mrs. Hamilton's nights were Hvterupted by her husband's cries for morphine HOD milligrams every houri to ease his pstn and die had halsdoriogeXed. to sell some property to pwy for medical costs The Johns-Manville Corpora tion m of the defendants tn the ini filed by Mrs. HamHon. Is CMOtry's larged importer and anulactsrer of asbestos aerials. Their products have The Feed Meter Company re fused to forward her husband's workman's compensation claim to the state. The company's at torneys -- Squire. Sunders and i cn under constact attack by , eminent agencies and medical -. honties who dte the basarda of a agthe substance. toeunrated by the reseaich of Irring Srtfltefl. St New York's . M. Smal Hospital. The National : lr titute hr Occupational Safety ' and Baaftb ttftOSB), took steps ,lo control asbestos dud b work . areas. Sclikoff bad shown : andsmablo ondeoce that wuekers Dempsy. of Cleveland, have said: "Employer denies that claimant has contracted a mesothelioma In the course of his employment; denies that claimant was eapoaed to airborne asbestos sufficient to cause such condition during the course of employment; denies that mesothelioma conatftutea an occupational disease: and denies that claimant Is totally disabled because of any such alleged ocngjstioiial disease.*" highly aaecvpteble ta ettbar Howtree, therw are othar pro- * j " . tag af _ inildTa fliwns -- a fatal ' wbU aauaBy kUto vtetbss sttb mwyssr. --The final pathological diagnosis from Dr. Muawtfar Ahmad at the Cleveland Clinic was "mallgnaid muodehonw." The resoBs of SeflkofTs reseordi wars made public in the I early I9Wa. But evidence is shown ! through internal corporate docu- , melts that the asbestos industry was well asrsre of the trotted --la Kay of If7. HamOtoa was seat to 3L Joseph Hospital. Lorain -- where the late Dr. Thomas SfUlgoJ. Medical Director of the Kauplee Unit, ate diagnosed the j long before this time, i , Thtt awareness, and the ' iastbdity of an industrial caver- op has led Ougrcssman George Miller fD-Cslif.l to introduce eese ta ''metastatic mesothelioma of Bn right lung arltb severs chronic pain." --And finally. Dr. D C. Z.twrskl who is the current arttn* Verltml JhiitA -J>r*.*>... "*"** xisa:im. 0 sa'd they were aware of the cant bt maasuied to dollars and problem and it will be corrected. cents. But the neat beat thing is to relnibuisa the people that he left An inspector from OSH.V Doug behind through as fault of hit McKee. said: "Ford very safety conscious. TVv aren't n et -- tons to share in the responsibility of theproblem.~ In December, t7t. NIOSH eatabBshod asbestos dust stan dards in bvfustrUl work places, (hie year later, due to SeUkofTs research, the agency lowered the acceptable Barit of fibers par 1*0 workers in the Electric Boat Worta in Groton, ChnnecMcafWtr P*resnt af tt the Mlpiwtdb nvatrmUm asdtn ffnsd to ------ * T~n~ fTYflnr fr astlsria too***. SswentyOve perccnt'.of tbs nripyaid'a atortrlJ Henry 8. Moreno. JshnsMan vllle'a senior operating vlceptualdent said; "It Is obvtaa that the overall effect <ri lowering the present (standard! to two fibers per cubic certbneter wooM hove a very mbatadta! affect on In Augnst .IfTf. pulmonary apersaliste were commuolcncd by the Sbtpbeltdere anion In Baltimore to enambie toe men at the Bethlehem SteeCu riUpyard. Mere town eighty-** percent c( all the workers* showed signs af Dr. AJ. Norelto of Lorain, Even though the government's brnught the problem to the atten dot standards warn towered. tion of AmSWp Drvtoton af the Sefflkoff dWmad tin mcritock* American Ship Co. bet wae tnehriqeaa dU nut detect the emend that there was no ram mflltana et for alarm because the company no faxes that wars fast as longer used asbaetoe products ta Ha aktoM that the awarana ettpbddtag. asbestos worker breathad Tn aruund four taBtao (Bara a day. However. Ptsl Bbnriwtte. g^afftennaM than in ao ah preaUecd of the Bofbnafcert Local add ashesCos la a hecard In repair "J??!1 * *e to MM no one e+ernmm ct do* rtndarrin + NIOSH Tbst's the fear Moody Thompson darted work. When an elder drip Is converted Ikon a tactor* tn a detsef. a let of asbeatas dear tt released when the old boiler to tom ertmg at the Cleveland Ford plant. Thornpaon'e )ob wan to weU cracks and drisets ta rad hot A qvd--iwn far (ho Lorain angina htarkp as they cams along a uouveyor hum a tog teranoe. **Pwto. arid aw ed hoc euamto to* of fl* Wifiweal Up raffrT lbs welders aaad foor fast by four UMg ta Janaary of NTI to feet deett af w-wfwtnw et pm. the asbeatas drat to As teetive heat tolMds. The cotttag of so end to l * Ince Ibcua theee sheets nkinil e Qnrry of t* danger af ispoaari on pax and Obanbrio file Mr. pceamt emplnywea. Whan aakad hag to betagAas about nuttylag For S years Thompeon punched goto mqitayuea who may have the time clock at the command of the foundry wMstle. bearing the . m emt 4s i------- - heat and the dusty conditions, not the past; they're already *- knowmg Oat every evening he would curry home millions of tiny tarn fibers ui his lungs -- fibers The vtce-presiJcnt of Aroshfp. which were slowly butefaenrg tns tUlph Whitaker said "there to no insides. problem" because asbestos It no longer used tn the Lorain ship fa TD77 hik Wtfi* Rpqqw hhHppi< Sto Af4 If fh* ttodM^toW * PRODUCED BY FORD PRODUCED BY FORD nrourseed tr research of Irvin* SeUko New York's M Smri Hospital. The National Ir utote for Occupational Safety m HoaKb fNIOSHl. took step* .to eontroi ashesto* dost in work areas. Sellkoff had shown ondemabls eialence Oat workers ai|iwonit to asbaatm tlhen wort cuoeopUble to ailbar The resottn of SeHkoKt to search oas mads pabtie In tbs Mir tan. MnUm Is ihown tfevagh htemal corporate docwna*s that the asbestos industry was weB aware of the problem long before this time. That awareeese, and 'the poaslbtBty at an industrial coversp baa led Congressman George MDIer (D-Callf.) to Introdsce Isglslafinn estsbllebing criminal HUa oBn n- aaV-bioot health and safety Miller's but is an outgrowth of a aw yaar Investigation Into tba asbestos industry. MIDm has on- uj*h ui mum odcwu Oat hasp rgvnslad "a legacy of fear daeadoa at conrop soldi millions at people to caocercaasing ssbeatoa matrrlsls ~ MUkr b rsftotng to kttma that doe tba reaction at ths todostry to a aartoe at stadias an asbestos Bn* Me condurtod during tba asrtyinri. One soch letter was sent by Vandiver Brawn, attorney for Jftn Menvllle. to tumili scieoHat Dr. Anthony J. tana.. s medical officer with the Metropolitan InssrancoGo. The letter, dated 1KB reed, in pert: . aO wa a* are favorable sweets be Included. none of the . unfavorable be unintentionally pictured to darker tones than the | druimtancea Justify ... I feel j estlfert yoo will give us this j A IWS letter bom the editor of I the trade Journal "Asbestos" to the president of ReybestosManhatUo. an esbratoa company, road as follows: "... the Information yoo give as to soar gsrsnac (New Ytk> invi-s'-..ytt.ii Is moot m!rrr:.tuut *W ivu; i- -..- mderstund tfi.il .ifl 'I > j j >Jcn -n i-:..' J - J: :. . . c. ,r;.'.< ., , ; e*m> tli.lt t,f.*Me*.*iH % a Sfn*M-tl to ilirbornt- asbestos sulfmcnt to cause sorb condition dorm* the course nf employment: denies that mesothrliomn conslitotes on ormootional disease: and denies that claimant is totally disabled because of any soch alleged occupational disease. " However, there ore other profesaionel opinions: --The final psthotoglcal diagnosis from Dr. Mmaffar Ahmad at <he Cleveland Clinic waa "malignantmesothelioma.~ --to Kay at BN. Ramfltaa wua Mnl toSt Joseph Hospital. Unin -- where the Into Dr. Themas SRUgoJ. (M|_ejadtea--lS Dtrae. e. t_ar ofa atfbc_a_ IWpKV vflKs ) Ql|nOM8 TO oar as 'hnetoafaMc maaotbeSoma at tba right lang With eevsew --And finally. Dr. D C. ZaworsU who la the current acting Medical Director of the Koepice Unit has reviewed and aommerlted Singers final diagnosis: "la view of his acute expoewe to Mbestoe materials 9 yean ago and He chronic exposure on at least a yearly beats since that time. It seems to be ns question as to the causal relationship between Ns exposure to the asbestos and his carront malignant mesothelioma. The medical Uferaturs supports this finding since there Is no other apparent cause at the mesotheBosna that has been identified." The Sandosky Ford plant manager. Joe Carney, `'can't believe the doctor's statement," and further commented: "1 hope the newspaper wool print anyth ing wtthsot the facto.** An Industrial relations official. Roe Each, at that company said he feaart "know tha particulars" at ths case but acknowledged that tbo Occupation*I Safety and Health Administration (OSHAI had cited tha company with tan violations of Improper handling and ose at asbestos. .Six violations pertained to the use of faulty respirators and four violations me tor falling to property con tain and label arbestoe waste aod When asked whether or not the employer (Hamilton hod been exposed to usbrstiis dost while -.rVw; ~jl the S.inlv.Vy v-r-1 1. i *:!o- . level of asbestos dust exposure. Safe feveb or not. ht 1 no one ever heard of dost Standards MOSH. That's Ole year Woody Thompson started working at the Cleveland Ford ortc. Whfn # ffjff* is rwuiW ffwn . .nrtwtH* tn * dwsrt. S W t4 ifusf IS released when t/ir old Iwikr a ton* Out plank Thompson's Job was to weld cracks and defects In red hot A tockawnon for the Loreto engine btodts as they cmne along arid m ad hoc commft- a conveyor from a Mg fumance. toe rf tha Nattonaf SNp BuikSwt The welder* aaed four fart by four mri In January at 1*7* to feet sheets of asbestos as pro dtoram the asbertoe dust In 0v tective heat shields. The cuttfrut at work area and fo l >eg tato fern these sheets released a flurry ut fibers IntoIhe sir. the danger or axpaaure on iwsl and peeasnt smplmw. Win oM what to bringrien* stout nulWykw Far 9 years Thompson punched poag ropkjiscs who tnrv hove Ihe time clock at tha command of the foundry whistle, bearing Ihe heat and the dusty conditions, mg K itomogs. ths spakoaiisu arid "... yea can't fe anjttau stout the past; lhay'n already ex- knowing that every evening he said they were swore nf the can't bi measured in dollars and problem and tt will be corrected. eoria-But the next best thing Is to nilmfUM the people that he left An Inspector from OSHA. Doug behind through so fault of ids HcKte. said: "Ford is very safety owa." conscious. They aren't one of our usual violators." Asbestos, however. Is appealing In response to the apparent to Industry for many reasons. contradiction between soch medics! diagnoses and corporate denial of responsibility. Represen tative Camera has began a crusade on behalf of families who have suffered from health hazards la the construction Industry. John Welsh, s spokesman for the Asbestos Cement Pipe Producers Association says: "Let's face IL We're In the midst of an energy crisis. Asbestos Is the most msteffectlve material in the Camera has cited overwhelming marketplace, and there are no medical proof that asbestos viable substitutes. We're causes cancer and that generally bulhsh on the future." mesothelioma is a latent disease. "In other words." said Camera, "a person who a suffering from The Industry has been able to sustain this '-bullish" attitude by an asbestos-related cancer today .citing all the positive sides ot (heir could.have been exposed to the abers or 30years ago. product. Because of its flame retarding nature, it has been widely used for die prevention in Camera's proposed legislation calls for a revision of state product liability laws. Presently, under the Ohio revised code, Ihe plantiff may file a low-sort against an asbestos manufacturer fur bodily Injury two years after the ex posure. However, because of the latency public buildings. And since asbestos was widely used In (he construction of U.S. Navy battleships during World War II. Neal Amarine, a public relatione representative for Johns-Manvllle said: "these ships saved many American Hires." would carrr home millions of tiny sharp libers in his lungs -- fibers The vice president of AmsNp. which were slowly butchering Ns Ralydi Wldtsker said "there Is no problem" because asbestos Is no longer used In Ihe Lorain sHp In 1977 Ns wife Bead# noticed he yards. And If ths workers to Bw was continually having riwetnesi past were exposed, he would hove of breath, along with a hacking no way at knowing because "most cough. "I noticed It when be was remodeling ear kitchen and 1 kept o9fVthMe imasbinesctows iwi>osrat was dona by at hkn to go to a doctor." Leo Gerit, a former business When Thomspen (total into agent for Bio Asbestos Workers tha Cleveland Clinic In April, he Union In. northern Ohio, has stood S ft 11 In. and weighed tW worked with asbestos since 017. tba. "Be was soBd nraede." says He knows the nstme ot the fiber Ms wife. "Bat then ha storied to and what R can do to (he defleate rapidly lose weight." Eight tones of a human being. Although, months later, Thompson wa* he las a odd case at ssberiosls. dead. Dr. lawrence K. Groves at he eonsMas Nraself luckier then tha CBnic (fisgnosed tha death as maiy of Ms former wwutters pleural mesotitotana, caused by tike Georg* Kalony who died at asbestos fibers. - ago forty-eight and Ed Moran of Avon Late who (Bed at sge sixty. Vet "the mlrecte fiber" Is not Both men Installed sshestos exclesivrly the scourge of the Insulation to the Lorain shipyards coograction wot ker. the CEI pcveilmuse In Avon Lake. St Joseph Hospital, Lorain Oty In the soring of 1979. Betty ftofl and Bis Ford plank Both men Green, of South Bend, Ind., a C- diedof aabestoaeelated diseases. yearold mother of six children died of pleural mesothelioma. She Gerie calls the Industry un never handled the fiber In her life restrained, Irresponsible, and but her husband, an asbestos charges It with the "sla of worker, carried the fatal dot pervd ot the disease. Camera wants to change this statute of limitations to two yeors from the time "the plaintiff is informed by As to Ihe current problem of manofacturing a controversial product. Amermo says "JohnsManville has (evented and im home nn hts work clothes. Whenever she did Ns laundry or swept out the family car. she came In contort with & low concentra "The aatefndsstry wtS tecs one of their products If R Is hazard to the priiflc." Curie ask competent medical authority that plemented various kinds of dust tion of asbestos -- just enough to "Bet JohnsManvflle never tooov he has been injured by such controls to meet OSHA standards. kill her. a recafl or a warning when the exposure, or upon the date on And tt people accuse os of shroib:which, by the exercise of reasona tng our rcsfxnsibiTIty to com ble diligence, he should have pensate for the workers who had had knowledge that their prodoc Because a great amount of ceased cancer. . . 17 >oo can sbestos was used durltg.World recall, yowesn at least forewarn." become aware that he had been been exposed, then they most otso War tt. primarily In US. Naval tnjored by the exposure, accuse the OS. Navy who pre and private shipyards, Gorle question* wHy a eongrin; whichever date occurs first" flc scribed the matenals -mil piikjg- approximately t.i million men. Is sflowed to market a prodoc admits his (all u an uphiit battle ingdurmuwarproduetton. ' lav :i- .i --e industry'.i t..\: ,-v An:in*i s.it-1 Ihrun .h i.i--l, r rr on.1 women were exposed to the without knowing whot street i mzIisf.miM*. .'tjn-. of tht-tn may lie may have on tin public. 'Cool ' -* I' .I oi' .! . j,uof!tc of mon sens* tt!s us that w< i*. . . i 1 h-J i-fi f c. . tV o*-iip.i:i, .i t.i * i ' ... I i- vnciult at S.'w-Mli't hj.v tu -19 ymrS ti * .n... .- l|.'irm six.: n: -.ii.5i whlt< p-.l:- nr i.hir j ; I . *:--fTrUViI u<- v v->f -: ... f>Q3007 0??j