Document bajneZXVZpErQVpvJ1KM9ZvN6

ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION AUtftR.A 1835 K Street. NW. W*>*gton. DC 30006 (202) 223-4885 17 Seutember 1976 Docket Officer Docket H-033 U.S. Department of Labor Room N-3620 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20210 Dear Sirs Please refer to this Association's letter of 8 April 1976 and accompanying documents prepared and submitted in response to the proposed revision to the standard for occupational exposure to asbestos (29 CFR, Part 1910) as published in the Federal Register, October 9, 1975.- In the Association's response exception is taken to the statements on "New Evidence1* noted at pages 47655-6, Federal Register, October 9, 1975. Specifically, it is stated, at page three. Volume f of the Association's response! "Our review of the literature indicates that no credible epidemiological studies have been published which would suggest an excess of malignant tumors among persons exposed to no more than 2 asbestos fibers per cc of air (TWA), using the prescribed membrane filter test method. This is a fact simply because there have yet been identified for study no populations the exposure experience of which consistently has been as low as 2 fibers. Since all populations studies to date have been ex posed to substantially higher concentrations of airborne asbestos we can conclude only that an excess of all types of asbestos disease is associ ated with levels of exposure significantly higher than the level currently mandated to become effective on July 1, 1976." This summary statement is made on the basis of the study and review pre pared by Hans Weill, H.D., Professor of Medicine, Tulane University, which is at Part 3, Volume I of the Association's response. "STATEMENT BY TBA INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS LTD. OSHA ENQUIRY As a processor of asbestos fibre and manufacturer of aBbcstos textiles for almost 100 years, this Company has a unique record of experience in the field of asbestos and asbestos-related diseases. It has co-operated with U.K.Government Departments in the recognition of asbestos-related diseases and has carried out its own research into the health of its workers and ueans by which environmental working conditions could be monitored and improved to make them safer. Because of this background and the fact that we appear to have been alone in our early attempts to correlate long-term exposure to asbestos airborne dust and the health history of the labour force, a degree of importance has been attached to this work which was never expected and in some quarters our work has taken on the mantle of a world authority. In January, 1076 we were approached'by Dr. Bans Weill, Medical Consultant to the A.I.A., North America, with a request for detailed information on any "new evidence" which was available to relate to the OSHA proposal for a reduction in the D.8. Occupational Exposure Standard for asbestos dust from 5 fibres/ml to 0.5 fibres/ml. Data was made available on a cohort of our workers with at least 10 years exposure to asbestos dust but with no exposure prior to 1st January, 1951. This data included .. (a) details of dust counts taken in our factory by static membrane filter technique between 1961 and 1972. This information . describes the location, mean dust concentration, standard deviation and number of samples. 1061 was the first year in which TBA used the membrane filter method for sampling, prior to this date the thermal preclpltater had been used for sampling asbestos dust. (b) Mortality and morbidity of the exposed workers in relation to comulative exposure in fibre years/ml, fibre years ml being the term used in adding the mean exposure rates for each year of exposure over the total period exposed. The same data is herewith atade available for use at the OSHA hearing. We were given to understand that the view was mistakenly held in some quarters in the D.S.A. that dust levels in our particular factory bad been at or below 2 flbres/ml for many years and it was against this background that the health record of our workers was being judged. Whilst this was true for certain locations it was by no means the level which had obtained on many of our operations. The U.K. Asbestos Regulations 1969 (with their associated Technical Data Note 13} were the first attempt to specifically define permissible dust levels for asbestos airborne dust. These stipulate a minimum T.L.V. of 2 flbres/ml with an upper limit of flbres/ml for all types of asbestos excluding croddollte ` 7f o.ther ;;r- wo M mi wr o mm tm mn mb r Ti*. UT a-* 14 S'' W T 0.9 04 18 04 94 t .? r* a 84 ti 99 14 .9 1 a a 14 0.9 ru 19 1.1(4 a14 o. a9 14 a0.T i* a* m. 14 04 a 19 8 ae.T 04 u 19 m M A4 T 1.1 M M tt 9 *. 1.1 M 9 M 14 18 uU l.T *.9 13 9.1 84 11 84 a14 u Q r M IU .1 > t* 8 a *4 4 14 U' 14 aa at 8.T 88 Jr ** aa14. M M ii 1.9 14 8.1 14 a u 11 18 18 N . a P <99 tt m 1.9 84 a 84 U 84 <4 414 14 14 j* a* J*V 14 81 . a a a t .. 19 ;S V-vri&jfjfl f* *51 a a:! *HL 84> T04 a ? J*IU 194 K.T 19 114 V *4 a4 i. Is. a W. n8 a 19 na a. 1 ' *' *.c ''3Fr* B?:'i 00$ UNITED KINGDOM ASBESTOS TEXTILE PUNT TABLE 2 Typical range of dust counts taken within enclosed area around carding aachinss to which saintenance workers could have been exposed. DUST SAMPLE RESULTS (FIBRES/ML) BT LOCATION AND DATE 4.7.72 Location: 7, 15. 15* 7. 2, 5, 11. 14, 5, 3, 2. 3, 5i 15, \ 5- 5. 5, 28, 6. 9* 5. 6, 6. 6. 6. 8. 9, 8, 8, 2, 4, 5* 4, 5* 7, / *7. 5. 3. 4, 3, 2, 2, 2. 36, 6, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1. 3, 2, 7, 2. 1. 25/50 Card - Section 8. Range: 1-36 Sampling Method: Royco 8 f/al 25.7.72 10, 10, 8, 10, 8, 4, 7, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6, 9, 11, 11, 8, 8, 10, 10, 9, 11, 16, 13, 16, 7, 9, 8, 12, 11, 11, 15, 17, 19, 26, 26, 38, 12, 13, 20, 11, 10, 6. Location: Single fc Tandem (Sect. 8) Range: 4-38 Sampling Method: Royco Mean: 13 f/al 17.7.74 8, 8, 10, 10, 7, 9, 7, 6, 5, 2, 14, 14, 9, 5, 3, 10, 14, 9, 8, 2, 4, 3. 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4. Location: Carding West 1. Range: 2 - 14 Sampling Method: Royco Mean: 7 f/al 22.4.75 2, 4, 5, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 4, 5, 8, 12, 6, 6, 3, 5, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5. 9, 5, 5, 3, 6, 4, 5, 3, 3, 2, 7, 8, 5, 4, 4, 5. Location: Vest Carding 2 (Single) Range: 2-12 Sampling Method: Royco Mean: . 5 f/al 15.8.75 35, 12. 8, 15. 4, 3, 6, 2, 3. 7, 5, 3, 4, 3. 7, 6, 3, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, 3, 10, 3, 6, 9. 15, 1, 1, 18, 10, 5. 11. 14, 6, 8, 2, 4, 9, 4, 9, 7, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 5, 7, 5, 5, 9,. 1, 1. 3, 3. 3. 8, 8, 3, 4, 1, 2, 2, Location: Carding West 1. Range: 1-35 Sampling Method: Membrane Filter. Mean: 6 f/al 19.8.75 6, 11, 4, 5, 7, 4, 7, 1, 4, 4, 9. 5, 3, 2, 7, 4, 3, 7, 10, 9, 3. 4, 10, 5, 11, 11, 14, 8, 21, 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Location: Carding West 1. Range: 1-21 Sampling Method: Royco Mean: 6 f/al te ttlTXD KIWGDOM 9E3 SXSDSB ansa of deatK , _ SffitsaTv:: J_MuLL6` i ** am bit Position at 31at Dooeabar, 1974. Causaa of Daath Miniaua. Total Lung Kstiaated Huabar Asbaatosls Cancer fibra yra. Nuaber Certified of and Lung without Other Other par al Exposed Aabaatoais Daatha Cancer Aabeatosie Cancers Causaa HALES 0-25 11 00 a - - 25-50 50-75 75-100 100 - 125 125 - 150 150 - 175 175 - 200 55 60 35 30 23 15 7 03 26 11 0` 2 14 13 10 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 1 02 1 05 1 00 0 11 0 03 1 01 - -- >00 - 300 Gear 300 'OB-TOTAL XMALES 0-25 16 5 255 17 43 00 10 22 00 0 2 0 03 - -4 1 15 mm 25-50 20 01 0 0 10 50-75 75 - 100 00-125 25-150 21 20 10 % 00 00 00 01 0 - -- - - -0 10 50-175 OX-TOTAL TOTAL BSOtVEO TOTAL XFBCTSD 1 93 348 00 02 10 24 0 '2 0 4 26.36 3.2 -20 1 13 11 p*r< Arfrhtn KtitcnftM - asswsyQfl rmCTlLI TOMW ** 5 Turt line* first Maemw wlttlw to asbestosis- and cause of death Position at 31st Dscenbor, 197A. Exposure. Year first Nuabor Kxpossd Exposed Certified Asbestosis Total Musber of Deaths Causos of Death Asbestosis A Lung . Cancer 0 Luns Cancer without Asbestosis Other Other Cancers Causes HUES 1951 1958 1953 W 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 I960 1961 1962 1963 196% 1965 30 27 20 28 25 ' 23 19 18 18 29 10 5 -2 1 1 2 1 2' 1 3 - - m - - - - so 2 4 1` 5 3 3 3 1 - - - a . " 1 m a 1 m a a a - a a a 1 1 1. 1 a a a as SB a a a 11 2SB - -4 a2 a2 -3 1SB aa aa aa aa am a SB m* TOTALS 255 10 22 2 4 1 15 IEMAIS 1951 1952 1953 195% 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 I960 1961 1962 $ 1965 10 8 - 7 12 8 15 8 6 8 6 6 1 TOOLS 95 All per . OP _ a SB - a a a a 1 a .1 a m es m m 2 m SB a am a OB m a so SB a SB 4 so a m a mm so m m m- a m a a 1 a 1 a a a * * 2' SB SB m m m m s m st lssst 10 |Mri with no exposure prior to r UNITED KINGDOM - ASBESTOS TEXTILE PLANT ' TABLE S Years sines first exposure ana cumulative exposure tn fibre yfttrTWrWn Position st 31*t Doceaber, 1^74 Year first Exposed .Cumulative exposure In fibre veers pur 1 Millilitre. ' 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 to to to to to to to to to 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 300 300 + NAIS (2555 1951 () 1952 (27) 1953 (20 Y 195^ (28) 1955 (23) 1956 (23) 1957 (19) 1958 (18) 1959 (18) 1960 (29) 1961 (10) 1962 ( 5) 1963 ( 2) 1964 ( 0) 1965 ( 1) 1 2 0 1 4 2 .1 3 6 5 8 6 4 5 4 8 2 4 1 1 1 HVjIVOVO 4r JrVjl VJI VS 3 465 2 4 1 4 5 2 4 '1 2 1 3 420 2 3631 1 4 2 230 3l 3 1 2 .. 2 1 1 33 111 4 3 2 0 2 1 1 m 421 1 1 0 2 0M am 1 SB mam am '* 1 am mm m TOTALS 11 55 60 35 29 23 15 FEMALES (93 ) 1951 (10) 2 se 4 3 1 1952 ( 8) 1 m m 2' 3 2 1953 ( 0) 195* ( 7) 2 1 1 2 1 - . 1955 (12) 4 4 1 2 1 . - 1956 ( 8) 3 - 1 3 1 - - 1957 (13) 5 6 3 1 - - 1958 ( 8) 1 1 3 2 - - 1 1959 ( 6) 1 3 1 1- I960 ( 8) 1 5 2 - e 1961 ( 4) 1 - 2 1 . 1962 ( 6) * 3 2 1 - - - 1963 ( 0) m - - m - 196* ( l) 1 1965 ( 0) 7 17 3 m - e - - as --m --m -m mm m m mm - - am mm TOTALS 17 20 21 ' 20 10 4 1 - - m OKITED KIWboOH - ASBBSTQ8 TEXTILE PLAHT TABLE < Position at 31st Doeeeter, 197* fll. Distribution of cohort In rslstton to cunulattvs exposure Cumulative exposure In Fibre jmn/al. 4100 >100 *300 >300 Totals 1*2 lfil . 7* 17 3 255 Fsnaiss 78 15 as 93 - Asbsstosls easss In cohort rolstlvo to wnulatlve sxposuts. Cuadatlv* exposure In Fibre poffeVsl . s t A100 MOO >300 >300 Hotels Woles Asbsstosls 3 Health? 158 3* 71 ; 3 Hotels 161 T* 17 3 Fe--Its Health? 78 15 on . m es 10 2*5 898 m 93 Hotels 18 15 93 Person* exposed for at least 10 posrs with no exposure prior to lotMuiiTi 1991* UNITED KINOOOH - ASBKST08 TEXTILE PLANT Exposure history of wbutoili enw. TABLE 7 Position at ?l*t December, 1974. Certified Asbestosls Cases I Cohort Number Exposure * cumulative Year fibre first Years Exposed per ml. 4Jto 4336 4140 4159 4265 * 4323 4350 4008 4346 4373 1951 1952 1992 1953 1954 . 1954 1955 1956 1956 1956 213.30 193.09 81.47 217.96 157.24 280.50 278.39 139.67 66.10 66.49 Total group exposure - 1(94.21 NMa group exposure - 1(9.4 . fibrs years/si. NMa exposure tl - 14.04 jroars - 9.66 18.08 Parsons exposed for at lsast 10 jroars with no sxposuro prior to 1st January. 1951. 0 *I * The person referred to under cohort number 4265 was engaged la shipbuilding or repair.between 1925 and 1930 and could have had associated exposure to asbestos dust in this occupation. U N ITE-D......K...I..N...GD- OM.....A..S--BBdT1 08 1TEX1 TIL"ES**'*P*LA*NT" prpoaur* history of lung cancer deaths. TABLE I Cohort Mo. Ybar Tina from first Exposure Bcposed to death position st Jlst December, 197V Exposure Period Kinioun EatLiatid Exposure Pibre Years *nl. Tear Age at of death death Habits 4032 1952 14.42 jrra. 14.12 yrs. 161.32 4044 1952 20.42 yrs. IO.83 yrs. 43.64 4416 1955 20.25 yrs. 18.40 yrs. 84.48 4265 * 1954 17.00 yrs. 11.34 yrs. 157.24 1967 58 1972 71 1974 48 1971 .60 10 eigV dap 20/50 W 20/50 <ip/hr 30 eW 4090 4008 1955 17.42 yrs. 16.63 yrs. 64.06 1956 17.50 yrs. 11.42 yrs. 139.67 199S 66 SO ig|f . 1974 59 'iS/90^ Persons exposed for at least 10 years with no exposure prior to 1st January, 1951* The peyson referred to under cohort number 4265 was engaged in shipbuilding or repair between 1925 and 1930 and could have had associated exposure to asbestos dust in this occupation. Year 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 20C first to to to to to to to to to Exposed 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 300 KALES (43 ) 1931 (2) 1952 (5) mm 1 4 - - m - 1953 (4) m 3 1 --- 1954 (3) 1 2 1 - - - - 1955 (8) 2 5 1 - - - - 1956 (3) - 3 1957 (2) - 2 1m 1- - - - 1958 (1) m 1 1959 (1) 1 I960 (6) 3 4 1961 (3) 2 1 1962 (0) 1963 (1) 1 - - - - - 1964 (0) 1965 (0) --. m ---mm -- - - TOTALS 10 22 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FEKAIES ( 1 1951 (2) mm 1952 (1) l 2 1953 (0) 1954 (2) 2 1955 (4) 4 so - m - - - - - - 1956 (3) 3 1957 (2) 2 - m - m - 1958 (0) 1959 (0) I960 (0) 1961 (l) 1962 (0) 1- 1963 (0) 1964 (0) 1965 (0) TOTALS 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ** u"t " *"'* "Uh"` *-- p-i- & pm . CWITKD KINGDOM - ASBESTOS TEXTILE PLANT TABLE 10 History of workers with consistently low level of exposure to asbestos dust ... Position at JXnt December, 1974. Weavlnn Department WVTS CUiMh^iva * exposure In fibre yeare/ml. 0-25 25-50 50 75 75 - loo 100-125 125 - 150 150-175 175 -.200 200 - 500 Over 300 No. Exposed 10 22 11 .- Total 3 TEHAIES Cumulative exposure in fibre years/ml 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 .175 - 200 200 - 300 Over 300 No. Exposed 13 2 - -- - - m Amongst male workers there have been no cases of asbostosis and only two deaiho both of which were unrelated to asbestos exposure. Amongst fesala there have been no of asbestosis. have there been any deaths* [-?: 4 s- Total 15 it beast 10 years with no exposure prior to