Document beBN7eQjN3jxwbew0ze5n0Q0

FILE NAME: Westinghouse (WH) DATE: 1970 DOC#: WH504 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Report - Status Summary - Mid 1970 Asbestos Toxicology with Cover Letter from Union Carbide to International Shoe Co. t b.e* R. E. 3yrne J. L, Hye B, L, Ingall3 J . A. Rid P. McDaniel A* Stewar RESEARCH AND DEVELOPM ENT DEPARTM ENT UNIDN CA RBID E CORPORATION l 4 6 2 3 R O Y A L A V E .. P. O. BOX 3 7 9 . N IA G A R A F A L L S . N EW Y O R K 1 4 3 0 2 ?' I August 6, 1970 Mr. John Juett International Shoe Co. Box 32^48 Bryan, Texas Dear Mr. Juett: * . The asbestos toxicology information which was promised ' during my recent visit to Texas is attached, The presentation points out the most pertinent statements, but in recognition of the pitfalls of quoting out of context, also provides the com plete articles for your examination. It has also been learned that v;e have a man in the UCC Industrial Hygiene Department in Mew York who makes regular .checks on our asbestos plant operation in King City, California. If you think it would be helpful, vie would be glad to arrange to have him visit with you in Bryan and possibly also talk with your Union representatives. His asbestos experience is particularly pertinent to your problem. < . As we also discussed, International Shoe would have no further interest in asbestos unless it provides worthwhile costperformance advantage over an alternative approach which does not have the toxicology opposition. Prom what you have told me about your end use and high shear compounding, I would think that High Purity Pellets will work as well, or quite possibly better than, T-135 Open. The HPP product costs less than half as much as T-135. Current price lists are enclosed. It was a pleasure talking with you and we hope that this information will make it practical for you to look further at asbestos. If we can be of any assistance, please let us know. I Very truly yours, A. HBR/bsn Attach. cc: Mr. K. E. Wiley H. B, Rhodes / . Technical Services - CALIDRIA Asbestos 7,"1 '7 < jr - [ Ur-tr- S $ STATUS SUMMARY - MID 1970 ASBESTOS TOXICOLOGY i 1 CALIDRIA ASBESTOS UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION P.O.BOX 579 NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. 1^302 INTRODUCTION Over the past several years a great deal has been said in the public press regarding the potential health hazards of asbestos. Much of this has been based on a classic work of environmental medicine by Dr. Irving J. Selikoff now at the Mt, Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Although Dr. Selikoff*s work covered only a single end use, sprayed asbestos for the insulation of steel frame buildings, it has been extrapolated and interpreted by others to give a widely held impression that asbestos is an extremely dangerous material. This report is intended to provide some of the most recent information on this subject so that objective judgments may be made. CONCLUSIONS These references lead to the conclusion,that there is a hazard in the use of asbestos. As the McGill study points out, however, even under poorly controlled dust conditions ..."the total number of respiratory diseases attributable to asbestos was very small," Asbestos thus appears to be a typical industrial raw material, i.e., it has some handling hazards but can be used safely as long as reasonable care is exercised. There are explicit govern ment specifications on' allowable dust levels that constitute safe handling. -- The Union Carbide Corporation Industrial Medicine and -Toxicology Department has prepared a mre detailed summary of the current state of knowledge on asbestos toxicology. It is attached for reference. -2 EXPERIENCE WITH SPRAYED ASBESTOS IN THE BUILDING TRADES A synopsis of Dr. Selikoff's latest thinking is given in an article in the Engineering News Record of April 2, 1970. A copy of this article is attached for reference with the following quota tions particularly pertinent here: "From buildings under construction there ' is often a gentle floating fall of a cottony material. This material that fails to adhere to the steel as it should and blows up, down, around and across a job and sometimes over wide sections of a city on windy days." "The resulting storm of asbestos dust is a potential danger to everyone on the job, according to Dr. Selikoff. He has not as yet gathered extensive data on the threat to the general public and will not guess the possible incidence of asbestosis or lung cancer among those not directly working with asbestos but intermittently exposed to it in a casual way." "Dr. Selikoff says that products in ' which asbestos has been bonded into the material, ' such as floor and ceiling tiles, roofing, siding, and pipe, are not considered a cause of cancer," This position is also amplified tyy the following additional quotations of Dr. Selikoff from another*source. SELIKOFF * ' Of the eighty-seven men who didn't smoke cigarettes, we didn't expect any to die of lung Cancer, because people who don't smoke cigarettes by and large don't die of lung cancer, although a few do. That has been our experience among the asbestos workers as well. We have yet to see in Nevr York- City a death due to lung cancer in an asbestos worker who didn't smoke cigarettes. On the other hand, of the two hundred and eightythree men who had a history of cigarette smoking,' we should have expected, as cigarette smokers, two or three deaths due to lung cancer. There have (l)Men and Molecules, American Chemical Society News Service, llb5 Sixteenth St. N.W., Washington, D.C, 20036 -3 been twenty-seven. This indicates that there is some combined multiple effect between asbestos and lung cancer. Dr. Hammond has calculated that an asbestos worker who smokes cigarettes has ninety-two times the risk of dying of lung.cancer as compared with a person who neither works with asbestos, nor smokes cigarettes, Therefore, if asbestos workers will stop smoking cigarettes, and many have, we can probably eliminate a large part of the risk of lung cancer among them. NARRATOR ' Unfortunately, at this point, there is no simple way to reduce the other possible result of working with asbestos-- the appear ance, tvrenty-five to thirty years after the fact, of mesothelioma, the cancer of lung and abdominal tissue, that is now a fatal and virtuallyincurable disease. , SELIKOFF ' Y/e have observed mesothelioma among asbestos workers who do not smoke cigarettes. Therefore, a second approach is necessary: the approach of sharply decreasing the expo sure to asbestos. No:?, most of these men began work, and were exposed to asbestos, at a time when the risk was n<?t known. ThereTore, precautions were either minimal or non existent. We now know these risks, and, there fore* it; is important for us to design measures, Knowing these risks, to eliminate them. It is important to note that Dr, Selikoff worked with men who generally had extended exposure to generally high levels of asbestos. This leading medical expert in the field is advocating that asbestos be handled with reasonable care, not that it be banned. EXPERIENCE IN ASBESTOS MILLS AND GENERAL ENVIRONMENT The most recent information in this area was reported in the magazine Asbestos in May 1970. A copy of this article is attached for reference. The results of a three-year survey by a research team from the medical faculty of McGill University provides the following key information: . -If "...at present levels of dust exposure In modern asbestos mills/ even 30 years' ' employment would probably not carry any measurable risk of lung cancer." "Two points must be emphasized," declared Dr, McDonald. "First that the dust expo-sure experienced by these workers occurred many years ago when environmental conditions in the asbestos mills were poorly controlled and second, that the total number of respira tory diseases attributable to asbestos was very small." . "The two sets of results confirm the association between occupational exposure t o asbestos and'these two .varieties of respira tory cancer. The results are nevertheless encouraging in that they suggest the risk is virtually confined to levels of dust exposure which are controllable, if not already con- trolled, in most Canadian asbestos mines and mills." Perhaps the most significant aspect of this work is the find ing that: ' "There was no increased number of cases whose contact was limited to residence in the neighborhood of asbestos mines or mills." ' It is noteworthy that these workers also find that additional factors beyond asbestos are probably involved in mesothelioma. "Close surveillance over the occurrence of suspected mesotheliomas In Canada, so as to better understand their cause. Asbestos exposure has failed to explain most of them and is probably not the only factor when present." Dr. McDonald commented. ACTION BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT Allowable levels of industrial dusts have long been controlled by the Federal and State governments. The latest thinking has been incorporated into the Ualsh-Healy Public Contracts Act which went into effect on February 17, 1969. A copy is attached. This Act reduces the allowable level of asbestos dust from 5 to 2 million particles per cubic foot. Although It has been generally -5 accepted that a worker v/ill not develop asbestosis if he is exposed to no more than 5 million particles per cubic foot of air, even if the exposure continues for his entire working lifetime, the reduction In allowable limit represents an effort to increase the safety factor. / : . OVj i V Mc GnAW- t i i LL' S CO/Z U l UC U ON V i t k l Y TTj s te f@ s IL ( m i i if^riir^fi5 i $ ;. L U 1. IV /"'; . JL Medical researchers have found strong evidence that sprayed asbestos used in fireproofing steel-framed buildings causes cancer in men who work on these buildings. The hazards of asbestos are becom ing a public issue. New York City is considering regulating its use and a California legislator introduced a bill this year to prohibit installation of as bestos inside air duct systems in public buildings. So far, however, no positive legislative action to control its use or method of application has been enacted. ' The most likely victims arc the men who spray the asbestos mixture on ex posed steel members and ductwork and apparently inhaled the heaviest amounts of asbestos fiber. Once asbestos fibers enter the pulmo nary or gastro-intestinal tract, they never leave the body, never break down. Medical research is making an increasingly strong case against these fi - bers as a source of cancer. * The asbestos fibers and dust par ticles, those highly visible during a spraying operation and the millions of microscopic ones, also cause, asbestosis, which is associated with lung cancer. Three physicians have statistically tied asbestos to cancer among workers in or ctosety allied to the building trades. They are: Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, director of the Division of Environmen tal Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital, in New York City; Dr. Jacob Churg, chief pathologist at Barncrt Memorial Hos pital, of Paterson, N.J.; and Dr. E. Cuy- lcr Hammond, vice president for epide miology and statistics of the American Cancer Society. . In 1962 they compiled a list of 632 men who, as of Dec. 31, 19-12, had been members of two metropolitan New York City locals of the International Association of Heat and Frost In sulators and Asbestos Workers (IAH- FIAW), AFL-CIO, and who had been ex posed to asbestos for 20 years or more. Union, medical and insurance records showed that in the 1932-1962 period, 262 out of the 632 had died, seven be fore 20 years of exposure. On the basis of ages of the study group, the normal death total should have been 203. Moreover, 45 died of lung cancer, when actuarial tables anticipated only six. And another 50 deaths resulted from other types of cancer. Of this number, 29 died of gastro-intestinal cancer, although only 10 would have been the normal number for this dis ease. Still working with the original list, Dr. Selikoff later found that between January, 1963, and March, 1963, of the 370 survivors of the original 632 men, 113 more had died, while standard mortality tables would predict only 50 deaths. Of the 113 deaths, 28 were caused by cancer in the pulmonary tract, eight by gastro-intestinal cancers and 15 from asbestosis, which is a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs re sulting from the presence of asbestos particles. . i . The scarring impairs the!lungs so se verely that they cannot absorb suf ficient oxygen. There is no cure. Death, a strangulating,'coughing demis^is. the only end. Dr. Selikoff savs that products in which asbestos has been bonded into .the material, such as floor and ceiling tiles, roofing, siding and pipe, are not considered a cnuscoCcancer..__ The data that scares. The data dis closed by Dr. Selikoff pushed the New York City Department qf Air Resources into a start on writing regulations that would regulate the spray application of asbestos for both fireproofing and in sulation. . The regulations would require: Be fore insulating and fireproofing mate rial is applied, the entire floor of the area involved in the operation be cleared of all objects, materials and equipment except that needed to apply the material. As the material falls to the floor, fra: ments be swept up immediately an placed in special containers. Wet sweeping of the area, and vao uming to pick up the material that li dded. - , Enclosure tarpaulins not be di , mantled for 24 hours after complete of clean-up unless adequate mechan'-- \ means are provided to clean the r : | within the enclosed area. J Great Britain already has strict regu I Iation of sprayed asbestos fireproof! p j (see box). Richard L. Ottinger, a Dcmocrati member of the House of Represent? tives from Westchester County, N.'i last week latched on to the sprayed-a- bestos operation as an environment issue with political appeal. Ottinger, a cosponsor of the feeler. r Air Quality Act of 1967, charges thr New Yorkers are exposed to tons of c ir , ccr-causing asbestos dust every year. H specifically cites the sprayed-asbestc method of fireproofing buildings an demands that the federal governmen impose regulations governing the use c asbestos. | He says the federal Air Pollutio: Control Administration can act nov under authority already provided b' i the Air Quality Act. f The apparent virulence of asbestos i 1 more than a table of death rates to Or I tinger. Five years ago it struck at Mil:-. Kitzmillcr, now Ottinger's legislath. aide. When Kitzmillcr was making re j pairs on his house, some loose asberto' insulation fell into an open cut on hi shoulder. The cut healed, but one year late- the scar developed a "mean-lookin' dark area around it," according t' Kitzmiller. By last summer, tltc scar be came painful. Tests.showed it was ma lignant. Surgery removed the cancer. Hitting the obvious. Ottinger, ncv. sccking-the Democratic nomination fo j U.S. senator from New York, was call j ill? attention to a nhi-nr.mpnnn ti- ] t rn^p.y persons in cities across the coun try, but undcistood by a relatively small number. From buildings under construction there is often a gentle floating fall of a cottony material. Tins is material that fails to adhere to the steel as it should ancTtlows up, down, around and across a job and sometimes * over wide sections of a city on windy . . The fireproofing material is a mix ture of asbestos, rock wool and cement. It is contained on the job in a cone shaped hopper equipped with a worm gear at the bottom that feeds the mix into a hose. Compressed air, at about 22 psi, pushes it through the hose to a nozzle. Approximately 1 in. beyond the nozzle's end, the dry asbestos-rock wool-cement mix interacts with a stream cff water running through a sec . ond hose. The wet fireproofing material then is sprayed directly against the steel mem bers previously hosed down with water to improve bonding. About 200 tons of sprayed fiber ma terial b.used on a 30-story building. Depending on weather conditions and measures taken to provide some enclo sure, as much as 50% of the sprayed material may be wasted. The resulting storm of asbestos dust is a potential danger to everyone on the job, according to Dr. Selikoff. He has not as yet gathered" extensive'data on the threat to the generaFpubfic and"wilf not guess thT~po5sibIe~ihcrdehce~of~as- bestosis or lung cancer among those not directly working with asbes'toTFut in termittently exposed to.it in a casual Asbestos airborne is source cf worry. The helping hands. Dr. Selikoff has received support from the insulators and asbestos workers international union since mid-1950. The union first provided the health histories of its members. Then in October, 1968, Johns-Manville Corp., of New York City, the largest producer of asbestos in this country, joined with the inter national union in backing Dr. SelikofTs work with cash. The company and the union provided $352,500 to finance a new program called the Insulation In dustry Hygiene Research Program (IIHRP). Dr. Selikoff directs the pro gram out of Mt. Sinai Hospital. IIHRP's primary purpose is to develop methods of minimizing exposure of all insulation workers to dust and fumes encountered on the job. , The program has already had some Great Britain restricts asbestos spraying The United Kingdom, with exten sive statistical material linking as bestos to cancer, only last year cracked down on the use of asbestos In the building trades. The thorough, detailed and apparently restrictive regulations have all but eliminated asbestosspray fireproofing as a method, ac c o rd in g to a n officer in the N a tio n a l Federation of Plastering Con tractors. He says that instead of us ing sprayed asbestos as the fire proofing agent, contractors arc boxing asbestos panels around the structural members. The regulations require: Fllinrr Kir fV>**rAritr-ir r plication with the Department of Employment and Productivity 28 days before asbestos is to be applied on a structure. Operation of exhaust and ventilat ing equipment in the area of asbestos application. Mandatory use of respirators by workers in asbestos-contaminated areas, an d w earing o f special clo th ing. The mask ond clothing must be provided by the contractor. Storage of asbestos in "suitable containers," marked with blue paint or ink, "asbestos--do not inhale." Vacuuming of all surfaces, ma chines and equipment in areas where ,,,,u,...,,,,. ---- ,i:,,a repercussions. Chief among them is : Sprayed asbestos fireproofing opcir.o at the twin 110-story towers of : ' World Trade Center in New York C On this job, which will require an c mated 5.000 tons of sprayed f proofing,'specially designed tarprur cover the exterior of the floors b '! fireproofed. The tarps extend thro, the window openings and are tucf back under the sprandrels so that me rial being sprayed will not escape fro! the area and fall on other floors, or s rounding streets. Moreover, the ar being sprayed is closed off inside t building with plastic sheeting so th the materials will not drift into adi cent work areas. New York City has also taken an i itial step by preparing rules to cont: the application of sprayed-asbestos fin proofing. But the regulations have r.[ gone much further than an initial dr.jj since the city's Environmental Prot'j tion Administration and the Depr \ ment of Air Resources have not h commissioners at the helm for sc. c weeks. The rules, therefore, have : been pushed. As proposed the regulations wov. require that sprayed asbestos fi proofing contractors obtain a license, addition, the area of a building be!: sprayed would be tightly sealed, * precautions approximating, and some cases, exceeding those now in feet at the $600-mil!ion World Tre Center project. Should such regulations ever becc effective, they would raise costs of fi proofing with sprayed asbestos. A stru tural engineer reports the costs nr range between 30 cents and 60 cents sq ft. And another broad estimate can `from Mario & DiBonno Plastering C | Inc., of Great Neck, N.Y., which se' the approximate cost of fireproofing ? 30-story building is $250,000. i One of the five major companies th { make the spray-asbestos material h sought and succeeded in developing spray-on fireproofing compound th contains no asbestos. The manuf.': turer, U.S. Mineral Products Co., j Stanhope, N.J., said that the new pre uct, C a fc o Type D -C r'F , will be on : market in about a month. ; _ It contains mineral wool and pi prietary binders it will not identify, will cost about 10% more than spray-' ; asbestos fireproofing material. < Company officials say that they c ! velopcd the new material because of i: \ THE INFLUENCE OF ASBESTOS ON HEALTH Three-Year Survey The results of a thrcc-ycar survey by a research team from tin- Medical Faculty of McCiill University into the health of workers in Quebec's asbestos mining industry suggest that, at uroii-in )<'.':l`;._.nf dust exposure in modern asbestos mills. veil .''i rears mnlovmcnt would probaBIy not carry any liu-iiMii :iir<` riNj ui Inn; ranrrr. I I* imuiciice ot asbestos oil health lias been the subject of intensive research in many parts of the world mainly be cause of the discovery that, in certain circumstances, exposure to the mineral (her may be related to cancer of the lung and to mesothelioma, a cancer of the covering of the lung. .Supported by substantial grants from the Institute of "Occupational and Fnviroumcnlal Health of the Onebcc As bestos Mining Association is well as from the I'.S. Public Health Service, the epidemiological studies formed part of an international research program coordinated hy the Union Internationale Cuntre le Cancer. I leaded hy Dr. J. C. McDonald, of Mctiill University's Department of Kpideminlugy and Health, tin: international research team's investigations were aimed at assessing tlie risks of lung cancer to persons exposed to Canadian Chrvso- tile asbestos. Another primary put pose was to review all aspects of ihe health of workers in tjuehcc's asbestos mines and mills to ensure that it is elliciemlv protected. Dr. McDonald reported on the findings of a study of mortality and causes of deatli in some 12,000 industry em ployees horn between lSOOand I'.CO. Tbe survey showed that the 10% of these employees who belonged to tile highest dust- j exposure giou|i had an overall death rate about 12% higher , Ilian the others, mainly due to asbeslosis. lung cancer and other ivspiiatory complaints. The lung cancer death rate in this same group was. about three times higher than that of employees with minimal dust exposure. Seventy per cent of this group of employees who belonged in. the lowest dnst- e.\ posit re categories had little or no increased mortality from these diseases, \ "Tiro points must he emphasized." declared Dr. Mc Donald. '`First, that the dnt exmxnre cviwricnccd hv these workers oeciineil "maiiv years ago when envn'oiunentai onu- Page 2 ASBESTOS -- May tV70 diU-Q.nsJq.tlie asbestos mills were poorly controlled, and, scc-_ f<)l|T that Hie tai;il im m lic r of re s p ira to ry d iseases a ttr ib u table to aslicslos was very sm all." .. ........... Dr. Afc"Don;dd then reported on the results ol findings from surveys throughout Canada of deatlis due to mesothe lioma.' During the 1960-63 period only 105 fatal cases had been recorded hy pathologists throughout the entire country. Field inquiries confirmed that in a minority of cases tlterc was a definite history of having worked with asbestos. Almost all the histories were of exposure in the manufacture and industrial application of Hie mineral, rather than in the pro duction of asbestos fiber. There was no increased iMiml'cr.oC cases whose contact was limited to resilience in tin- neighbor hood oi asbestos mines or nulls, ' Tlie two sets of results confirm the associai ion between o c c u p a ilonal e x p o s u re to ashesins ami iltcse i wo v . u n l i o oi respiratory cancer. I lie results are ncvei Uieless enco u rag in g in t lial iliey sii;;'gest llie rfsT is~vinii:ril\ coniiiM-d pi If C-i'-,'iTi* Vtiist e x p o s u r e w hich a r e controllable, it not a i r < ~ ) ' , , , n - iiolli ti. in most (. a n a d ia n a slirsios m ines a n d .n u iK . ` in iigm ol the researchers' findings, u has le-m deeid'*d tn 'continue the research program, with Asbestos Industry support, for a further live years. The extended rescaich pro gram into (lie health of Our)ice's O.tMMl asbestos workers will have these main objectives: ( I ) 'I'o record and analyze deaths and their cause to enable the present approximate estimation of what constitutes a safe level of dust viiiiceutratiou to he more accurately defined. ( 2) Close surveillance oyer the occurrence of snsnecicd m esoth elio m as m Ca n a d a , so as lii'iier m uinlei si.m d m -JT cause. I ''A s b e s to s e x p o s u r e has tailed to e \ | i l a m mo-a ol 'ft in ;tiuF is jnoli;u>l\' uni Uic u iilv i;in i r n n iiiVv mT i7r~ _i\lcl Jonaid c o m m e n te d . 1 i .i I In collaboration with the Industry's iudnsinal clinics in riietlord Alines and Asbestos, it is planned to introduce new procedures for the regular periodic medical supervision of asbestos workers, based on the lessons learned during the iluce-ycar study just completed. DKCISI ON-M AKING SYM PO SIU M --The `M, in ternational Symposium on Techniques for Decision Muhina >in the Mineral Industry will lie held in Montreal. Canada. June 14-19, 1970. Pag 4 A5BESTOS -- May 1970 r u t t 5 A N D R EG U LA TiO N i Til? 4-- r-PU3LiB DONIiAOTS AMD FlOFERTY E f S i Chopor 50-- Public Cenracls, Dcparl- ' mont of Lobo" PART 5 0 - 2 0 1 - ASCl'. ERAI R E G U L A T IO N S " PAST 50- 204-- SAFETY AND HEALTH - STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL SUP PLY CONTRACTS Safely end Health Standards On November 6, 7. and 8. 1953. Inter ested persons were afforded an oppor tunity to submit orally data, views, and arguments on proposals to revise Fart 50-204 of Title 41. Code of Federal Rcg' illations, and section 50-201.502 of that title published In the Federal Register n September 20. 1958 (33 FJt. 14252). Interested persons were also afforded an opportunity to submit written data. Views, and arguments concerning the proposals. After consideration of all such relevant ^matter as was presented by interested persons. Part50--204 and 5 50-201.502 ore hereby revised V fndlcatea'bclov/!'The Fevised S 50-i201'.36 republishes the radia tion standards for mining published in the Federal Reczstxr on December 28. 1963 (33 FJt. 19947). which are pres ently In efTect. < The revisions shall become effective days following the date of publication 30 In 1the Federal Recist;e23s.. ^ 1. Part 50-204 Is revised to rend as .follov/s: Subport A' Scop and Appticsi'or. 'B ee. 60-204.1 Bcope ta d application. . Subpcrt t --General Safety and KsollS Standard 0-294.2 ' 80-20-1.3 50-30",.0 80-204.5 . 60-304.G 50-20-1.7 50-204.8 60-204.10 General tafoty and health stand ards; Incorporation by refer nee. M aterial h an d lin g and atom-E*.' Tools and equipm ent. M achine guarding. Medical services and drat aid. Personal protective equipm ent. Use o f compressed air. Occupational noise exposure. Jubporl C-- Vodiation Slandord 60-20430 60-20421 .. 60-20422 50-20423 80-20424 60-204 2 5 6O-2042S 60-204.27 60-20-123 60-2C423 80-2C-5.30 60-20431 60-204.23 80-204.23 R ad iation -- D ed altlon a. Exposure of Individuals to radLs- Uoa la restricted areas. Exposure to airborne radioactive m aterial. Precautionary procedures and persouDcl monitoring. Caution sign*. labcU and signals. Exceptions from posting require m ents. , Exem ptions for radtoaetlvi m ate rials packaged for shipm ent. In siru cilcn of personnel resting. Storage of radioactive mi tcrlois. V/astc dlr.po lat. Koctflcatlon of Incidents. Eeporta o f overexposure sod er- ersalv Ifcvelo na*cj couccn tra- Uoas. R eco rd s. D isclosure to form er em ployco of In d iv id u a l em ployeo' reco rd . 0-20-12-} > -r :i.2 0 eo-:cM .35 ATIO llc sn tse s-- AhO ccnL-crtors c p c rstln g /dTO p ia u lj cssi fr.ciliilc3-- /diC -cg:t;:r.cnl Ctat? li cen sees or r c c tt`.:r.n`.;. A ypU calloa ior vorir.tica f;cm rcGlction lsvsls. Radiation standards ior m ining. Sy^j^r! 1!>-- C c:o;( Vcporj, rvM , Cvt?! C2 d MKj gatlo n , th a n tren.1 a failure to comply IOli f," ny` c f Ih ; 'cl' r.r.d h e a lth v ;; t'.s re ;' co: riai ned Ih" this F a r t 59-204 ru; "resulting Inj^vorklrTg- e'o'h-' d lteh s v.hich arc "iinsr.rilt:-ry f'nr.ifcT-" u s b r dangerous to the health arid ta fol r mr!yce3"'v/!hin' Uie'm r.nlng'cf ~ TToiTlTci of the Act end the contract stip u la tio n It requires. Every such In v estis a `.or or eve ry such oktcerTha ifrTrh'e"" 60-20-.0 60-301.C3 60-2O.C3 8 o -:o ;.e 7 60-204.63 C ates, .vapors, fum es; durts, end tnlate. " Inspection of eompreessd gss eyllndcrs. A ccty lcu s. - Oxygen. Hydrogen. technical cm picr.cc lia safeV;'," In d u s"' FriaTJfy Toac^ o f bo tH"as Yo "be 't p pr-" p rl lc . 0a the rr.r.Ticrsu'.c-r Lnvj*'p.'.'tion or consideration. . (c) Whenever any applicable standard In this Part 50-204 ts relied upon by the 60-204.C9 60-204.70 .50-204.71 60-204.72 itltrous oxide. Compressed gisc-s. . Safety relief dsvicta for eetn- pressed gas containers. Bate practices for v/eldlcg and cu ttin g on containers which bave held com bustibles. Subporl E---Tronsparlclion 5cfly 60-204.75 Transportation safety. * % Subporl F----VarolDns Department of Labor Ln a formal en forcement proceeding under section 5 of th e Walsh-Kcr.ley Public Contracts Act to support a finding of violation of the safety and health provisions of the Act end of e contract subject thereto, any respondent In the proceeding shall have th e right j>.no_sniU be aborec T:i"o? porturity" L~"eli,l!cng the legality, iairness'or propriety of clnl;suIniTeTTahce." 80-201.60 Variations. A tm iocrrr: Tho provisions of this Port 50-204 Issued under seta. 1, 4. O Btat. 2030. 2038, as am ended: 41 U.S.C. 35, 30; 5 U.S.C. 553. R ) Une standards expressed In" this' P ert 50-201 ere for application to ordi nary employment situations; compliance with them shall not relieve anyone from the obligation to provide protection for the health r.r.d safety of his employees Ln Subpar! A--Scopo onci Application , 50U-20V-.1 Scope oud A pplication. unusual employment situations. Neither do such standards purport to describe all of the working conditions which are un (a) Tne Y^.lsii-.KjytUit. Public Con sanitary or haaardous or dangerous to ktracts Act requires that contracts entered the health and safety of employees. Into by any agency of the United States (Where '.such other working conditions for the manufacture or furnishing of / *nr.y be found to be unsanitary or materials, supplies, articles, and equip- ] hazardous or dangerous to the health ment Ln any amount exceeding $10.030 7 and safety of employees, professionally jn u st contain, among other provisions, a 1 accepted safety and health practices will stipulation that "no part of such con^ri^a used. . tract W'lHbe performed r.or will any of the;, (e) Compliance 7/ith the standards mvnatfeavr-i4anl!se, supplies,parMrtriTcldecs, oree^q!u`inpmmo?e>nKt expressed Ln this Part 5C-2C4 Is not to be memufnetured or furnished under4 Intended, and shall not be deemed, to said contract be manufactured or fabri relieve anyone from any other obliga cated ln any plants, factories, buildings, tion he may have to protect the health or surroundings or under working condi and safety of his employees, arising from tions which ore unsanitary or haaardous sources other than the Walsh-Healey or dangerous to the health and safety of Public Contracts Act. such as State, local employees engaged In the performabice of law or collective bargaining agreement. (! said contract" (sec. 1(e). 49 Str.t. 236, 41, "U.S.C. 35 (c) ) . This Part 50-204 expresses*^>reerencTstSK lf& , "^ciikatiSTTihd ' the Secretary of Labor's Interpretation cedes published and available elsewhere.' 1and application of this provision with, re- it only serves to adoot the substantive, gard to certain particular working ccndl- technical "portions of'"such standards.* tions. In addition. 51 50--204.27,59--204.30, speclilcatIons and codas. 50-204.31. 50-204.32. 50-204.33, and 50 204.25 contain requirements concerning S u b p c r t 3-- General Safety e n d the Instruction of personnel, notification Hcelth Standards O f Incidents, reports of exposures, and maintenance and disclosure of records. (b) Except ln the conduct of foimal enforcement proceedings provided for In Fart 50-203 of this chapter and as other wise provided ln this part, every Investi gator conducting Lnvcstigations end 50--20-1.2 G eneral nicty en d h e a lth tnndariLs; incorporation by refer. r\cc. f*e) Every cor.l rector shall.protect the. prdety and_braUa of .hls_ employees by' complying r.dth tiie p.ppilcab]c siamicafds.*" every officer of the D epartm ent of Lvborx 1t ^ " ,,co^ e3- r- " ci determ iini,ng w hether ftvh,ere. a. .re. o r h a v e / " - - ilLshed by.the following* org--anir.atlo-r.s: been violations of the safety ar.d health requirements of the V/aish-Kealey Pubiicf Contracts Act and of any contract sub- j jeet thereto, and whetlicr a settlement of the resulting Issues should be made w ith out resort to p.dnUnlstrative or court lltl- "Cn t e d S o il: o i Ar is rte a S '.ir .d i- 'd i l a j t l t u '.o (Araerlctn 5:wid v.-Cs Association). Nr.' loasi Fire ProticUoa Association. Americas Socio'.? o' Mechanics'. E.o-lnecra. Ajnirlcsn Sociar?- t >r Testlcg and Materials. U atl States Oo' ernreental AgiocleJ. ln- ttuUlng by vs y ol liistmtloo tt iollowlnj Fubllcattocs of tie Indicated agencies: * rtO iH /J. 2:C ISTS, V O L 34, NO. 12-- FSIO A r, )A N U A 2 f 17, IV A 1? RULES /\K'D nEGUlAViONS . ' (1) '/(o n to Energy Act Sources. Any such variation is necessary to obtain a . (2) Tor other th a n uranium miner r employer v h o paiizrscj or uses courcs beneficial ism of radiation cr atomic fo r surface w orker; in ail mines. : material, byproduct material, cc cgacial cr.crg>r, (2) such benefit to of cuhlctoni p a ra g ra p h (1) o i this p arag rap h will nuclear material. as cancel In tho Atomic value to warrant tho variation, (3) em applicable; Provided, hc-uever. T h at Enercy Act of 195*1, os cnindcd (42 ployees will not be exposed to an undue no cnvIrorirriCnt-l s-r.nIc <* * U-S.C. 2011 ct seq.), and has either regie - hazard, r.r.d (4) appropriate actions r/lil e e n tratio n greater th a n 9.23 v :r._ tcred euch sources with, or la cpcrr.ting be token to protest the health and cr.lc-ty level in ar.y occupied p a rt cf the rr._ under n license lasucd by. e. state which of such employees. tho m aintenance cf individuai occupa- h u an agreement In effect with tho (b) Applications for such variations records and the calculation cf lad!-, h. Atomic Enercy Commission pursuant to chould bo filed with tho Director, Bu exposures will r o t bo required. ; section 274(b) (42 UJS.C. 2021(ty) of Lho reau of Labor Standards, UfU. Deport (d) (1) At tho request of an empi: ; Atomic Enercy Act of 195-1. os emended, ment of Labor, Washington. D.C, 20210. (or former empio;, cc) a report of the e. 1 and In accordance with the requirements 50-9.04.36 E cdiaJion elcnciurdo f o r ploycc's exposure to radiation as she. oi that Slate's laws and regulations shall m ining. in records maintained by the empi;; be deemed to be In compliance with the pursuant to paragraph (c) of this [ radiation requirements of this part. Inso (a) For the purpose of this section, a tlon, shall be furnished to him. The ; ! far as Ids possession and use of such ma "working level" is defined as any com port shall be ln writing end contain 1 ;; terial Is concerned, unless the Secretary bination of radon daughters in 1 liter of following statement: of Labor, after conference with the air which will result In the ultimate Atomic Enercy Commission, shall deter emission of 1.3 x 10` million electron; T h is re p o rt Is (u rsilsh rd to you u n i i r : p ro v isio n s c r th e U S . D e p a rtm e n t or I_-.r mine that the.State's program for con volts of potential alpha energy. The R r k lttlo a ScUety t a d H e alth S tm C s rd s i trol of these radiation sources Is Incorn- numerical value of the "working level" C - t 60--20-1.3C), Vou sh o u ld preserve *. ; patlblc with the requirements of this part. Is derived from the alpha energy released re p o rt fo r S u tu re referen so. ; Such agreements currently are In effect by the total decay of short-lived radon only In the States of Alabama, Arkansas, daughter products In equilibrium with (2) The .former "employee's requ ( California. Kansas, Kentucky. Florida, a10ir0. Aplcwoo-crukriniegs loevf erlamdoonnt2h22ispdeerfilniteedr aosf sdhaotau,ldsucinhclausdseocaiaplpsreocpurriiattye niudmenbteirfy'e!: f Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina. Texas. Tennessee, Ore the exposure received by a worker ^dete3 and locations of employment. gon. Idaho. Arizona. Colorado, Louisiana, breathing air at one working level icon- ] Sufcpnrl D-- Deso, Vcpcrr, Fumr Nebraska, and Washington. eentration for 4 VS weeks of <0 hours \i . D usli, en d M itts (2> Other sources. Any employer who each. t possesses or uses radiation sources other (b) (1) Occupational exposure to l 50-204.50 C asco, v u p o rs, feme, dor f than source material, byproduct mate radon daughters In mines shall be con- i a n d r.sss'j . . rial, or spcclat nuclear material, as de trailed so that r.o Individual will receive}1 (a) No employee shall be exposed - fined In the Atomic Enercy Act of 195-1, an exposure of more then 2 workings inhalation, ingestion; sicin absorption : as amended 2 UJS.C. 2011 ct seq.), and level months In any consecutive 3-mc:ith/ contact to any materiel or substance at has cither registered such sources with, period and no more than 4 working level \ concentration above that specified Ln ti or Is operating under a license Issued by months In eny consecutive 12-m onth1 "Threshold Limit Values of Airbcr: a State which has an agreement In-effect period. Actual exposures shell be kept Contaminants for 1933" of the America with the Atomic Energy Commission. as far below these values as practicable. Conference of Governmental Industri: pursuant to section 274(b) (42 UJ3.C. (2) In enforcing tills section, the Di Hygienists except fcf the Xollowk 2021(b)) of the Atomic Energy Act of rector of tho Bureau cf Labor Etandards standards--the values listed t.n Table 1954, as amended, and In accordance may at any stage approve variations in. of this section which are the subject c with the requirements of that State's `individual cases from the limitation sob current USASI standards and except !r laws and regulations shall bo deemed to forth In subparagraph (1) oi this para the values of Mineral Dusts--Table II : be in Compliance with the radiation re graph to comply with the requirements thto section as they appear herein. quirements of this pirt. insofar as his of the Act upon a showing to the satis (b) In all cases, feasible engine-aria possession end use of such material la faction cf the Director by an employer controls must first be determined and ton I concerned, provided the State's program having a mine with conditions resulting plemented. Methods of control la th ' tor control of these radiation sources Is the subject of a currently cCcctlve deter in an exposure of more than 4 working, level months but not more than 12 work working environment Include local ex mination by the Secretary of Labor that ing level months in any 12 consecutive haust ventilation, general room air ven *uch program Is compatible with the re months that (1) under .the particular tilation for dilution o! the contaminant quirements of this port. Such determina facts and circumstances involved tho substitution of lesa toxic material, r.r.-i tions currently are In eSect only tn the working conditions of the employees so Isolation or enclosure of the process o: States of Alabama. Arkansas. California, exposed are such that their health and .operation. In casos where protectlv-. Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi; safety ore protected, end (II) the em ployer has a bona fide plan to reduce the equipment or protective equipment iz New Hampshire, New York. North Caro lina. Texas, Tennessee,. Oregon. Idaho, leveto of exposure to those specified In addition to other measures Is used as th- Arizona. Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, subparagraph (1) of this paragraph es method of protecting the employee, such, and Washington. soon as practicable, but Ln no event later protection must be approved for each | S 50-204.35 ** * Application for variations than January 1, 1971. (c) For uranium mines, records of en speckle case by a competent Industrie! : i r o n radiation Isveia. vironmental concentrations ln the occu hygienist. ' (a) In accordance with policy ex- - pied parts of the mine, and of the time T atos I pressed in the Federal Radiation Coun spent ln each area by each person in . t - h r . ttr~. teelgiitei ; cil's memorandum oncemlng radiation, volved ln underground work shall fcs es ercroji ! protection guidance for Federal agencies tablished and maintained. These records H y drogan Sulddo (ZaZ Z -loeS) T. . . gdpprn ! (23 FJFi. 4402), the Director, Bureau of Labor Standards may from t'me to time grant permission to employers to vary from the limitations contained In 53 52 204.21 and 50-204.22 when the extent of variation Is clearly specified and it to demonstrated to his satisfaction that (1) shall be Insufficient detail to permit cal T u lu e n s (237.12-1707)...............- . a . ! culations of the exposures, in units of F o rm n ld c h y d o (X37.1C-I37)_____2 ? ; n C r-rto n Te'-rscblortC-j : | working level months, of the individuals (Z 3 7 .1 7 -1 0 ;7 ).....................................ICoy-c ! end shall be available for inspection by T rlc b io .-e '-h y lc a s (Z37.IC--IggT )___IC O opn AoWicmorecmyieco (Z37X2-!ac7) ic-a?? 1 | the Secretary of labor or his authorized E y d ro g c n n u n r ld o (Z37S:3-lCe0) . S pnci ( egents. . _ n u o r l d o D u o t to P (Z37A3-JCC3) . 2.Jot;/X T [ Fo. JO--pt rr-- raaszAt m o is t :;*, vc: \ no. 12--rP IP A Y , JA.NUA5Y I T T.U1E5 7VCD fiEG'JLATiCWS vaav* n K'.-M Colettaci V--."1 SCC!erVy >`.-JU-iK-- tJo: (JterpWSlj)........ IV ^ElOrf fSKV.-J u v t i (Te* il P u t ) __ Cr!s!ob*llt*: V n U tw yJ u Cii!cuU!<5 Cess tin couni en en ei i j r a u J S i r :eirti. TtMjrinlre U:> H tt-j rilo eaeuSite-J Croa th term e I/o S Q uirls. . JLxuarplrou.\ lricle*i'.rv: t a t u a ! dlstomMeouj cidi____ ,, ^O^-3 SJ Stogf-'' Treta o!H ' ^Os * Om/bP H'tu (Ira Cbm ccytUJ- 11a *ibca): XslyV:>-U f.^vj t*x ciiU'#- _ liter trtt'jr: t'jin { cilcrssJ * In lervslb *cc--................ ) t i a . .... .......................... 1SO^JlCp...O.M. . . ***** P ortland C i = r n t . . . j ......... CrvjhUe (ntcra)......... ........... t Coal D u st (Xlc.p!:Vd (rectica Jena than 7 iO|)................. rsio,. *0 r S3 M M IS .... l/ma/OP . IfrCnrif.TI lnrt or Kulorx-a Du: Rio^lntbUr >'ri^cLioo........... Tut Du:l... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.310, +j is txsr-n to UszTJ? N o n : Coo-rereioa Udori . tiyjcTXCJJ - trlZcn f.it it3j e vitis n t itr pirticlij t'trcx. VClloiu ef pirtlciu rre erV-, fro*. ef t?, birjJ ca fcnpin;sm<U cua^d fcyUsbi-iiH W t '-i Tl>purernuc* e.' crysmPn-j tiScu ln ti.3n.*siuh h tJvi t.'ueuut cttrmJr.cJ t o a f.'r-bcru a a p l j , TO^'fQ tn tic-- tu tin c r i t> tleb etber c s UwCj tiv o beta bovo lo bo tpiSicib!;. . JAj dctraljirj by ti ntairt: 6!!er ntlle-l i <SJ X ylioo coarrx-t a*-rf\iSotlon. A.J wanlrd b7 ta Ctadvd fcaplssa', !hM-t<!d touat trclioiyu:, . Co:b coacratnt'.oa ad b'.-ceat Q airtr fcr tbo Op' a U e n c tba t a l : irs lo i< '.tr a lu s d b o a l i o frocou p 3--zlaz k t u j - a l t i c r trU-t t i j cSourlae . etc-irtlo; -- . jLfr^ynja! di.vr.tter (unit d e s jiv tptktre) % p tx ia j tdsetcr 3 *3 ^ as TS X SO . 10 . 2 10 * 0 * 50-2-01.63 Inspection o f eosaprca-;d c y lin d e r s. Each contractor eha determine tha.t compressed ec cylinder; under his control are In a eafe condition to tho extent that this can bo determined by Visual Inspection. Vletc.l and other In spections shall fce conducted cs prescribed In the Hazardous tis.ierie1.; Reg"daLlons. Of the Department of Transportation <49 CP?. Ports 171-179 and 14 C7?. Port 103). Y/here those regulations are cot applicable, visual and other Inspections shall be conducted la cccordanca with Compressed C-aj Association Pomphicte C-C-1C3 an d C-S-10G2. S 59- 2 C-4.66 Aerlyicnc. . (e.) The ln-p!m t transfer, handling, toraze, an d utlibatlon of cceiyicruj In cylinders chrii bo In accp7'.lnr.co with :M2(.".HJ) thrJI bo conducted Ln r.cCempremed C'.e-s AcopcIeAicn Rrmpkici cord once vdUi the U-0. Eepartn'.cnt ci C-i-'.C3G. Transportation reu! remm-,is. 'V/h::o Co) T na piped cycle m-. ic r th e ln - p lr n i ruch rcr.ulrsmeni', do net apply. Chapitre trc .'u fc r a n d dtoiributicn or cc riy k u o 10. l i . 3-, and 14 oi the Ur.liorm Vehicle ahedl bo designed. iTuir.iled, m aintained, Cede of the National Committee on ni- a n d operated la accord on ca w ith Com dor;n Trade Laws r.nd Ordinances, 1955 pressed Gas Association P am phlet 0-1.2-- Edition, shall bo used. ' 1259. ` (c> Plants for the generation of acaty-. S u b p n rl F-- Y n rin io n s lone and the charging (filling) of acety lene cylinder; ctio.Il bo designed, constructed, end tested In acco'danc-e with the standards prescribed in Com pressed Gas Association Pamphlet G--1.4-- 19GG. . 50-204.67 Caygen. - 5 50--201.E0 Yrrlstions, (a) Upon tho written request of any Interested perron, the Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards rnr.y ln par ticular coses apply variations from the provisions of this part in enforcing the Y/aish-Healey Public Contracts Act fol Tlie ln-plent transfer, handling, stor age. r.nd utilization oi oxygen ?.s r. ltc.uld or a compressed gas shall be In r.eoord- cnce with Compressed Ga; Association Pamphlet C-4-19G2. lowing consideration of tire particular facts and circumstances involved when ever he Is satisfied that doe safety and health of employees Is equally- protected by such variations. 50-204.63 D ydro-cu. . *1116 ln-plant transfer, handling, star t s c, rjid utilization of hydrogen thr-.-l to In accordance with Compressed Gas As sociation Ps.mr>h!ei; G-5.1-1CC1 nr.cl G 5.2-1SGG. . <b) The provisions of Uiis section shall P ot apply to 55 50-204.35 and 50-204.3G, wliich conbln separate and specific variations procedures. . 2. Section 59-291.502 is revir-od to read os follows: 5 0 --20-1,69 N itrous o x id e. The piped systems for the in-plant transfer and distribution of nitrous oxide shall be designed. Installed, maintained, and operated in accordance with Ccm- preseed Gas Association Pamphlet G - 8.1- 1S6. . 5 0 --201.50?. Eecord of tnjurlcr< * <e) Every prrxon who is or shall be come a party to a Government contract which Is subject to the provisions of the Y/aish-Healsy Public Contracts Act and th e regulations thereunder, or who is poriomoing or shall perform any part of ruah contract subject to the provisions 50-204.70 C oniprciid p a: . o ' such ect or regulations, shall maintain The ln-p'.m t handling, stornge, am! utiUzotion of ail camprcssed cr-ses in cyl inders. portable tonhs. roll tanhoe.rs, cr motor vehicle cargo tanhs shril ba In accordance v/ith Compress:-d Gas Asso ciation Pamphlet P-1-1955. Compressed gas cylinders, portable tonlss, and cargo tordes sheil have pressure relief devices which shall be Installed end maintained tho records specified below which shall be availablo for Inspection by authorized reprec-entatives cf the Secretary of Labor: <1 ) Pmcords of all injuries to em ployees. including a brief ascription of tha manner o' c-ccurrence and the date and duration of disability. (2) Records of injury frequency rates, in accordance "with .Compressed Gas calculated annually on e calendar year Association Pamphlets S-1.1-1SG3 (with basis commencing the -first of January 1955 addenda) and 6-142-1953. o f each year, as defined in United StstC3 5 59-204.71 S sicty relief devices fo r com pressed pa* c o n ta in - . Compressed cos cylinders, portable tanks, and cargo tanks shall have pres sure relief devices Installed and main tained In accordance with Comprecsed Gas Association Paraphiet3 E-l.i-1553 and 1953 addenda and S-1A-15C3. 50-204.72 Sofe practices for vreldl-g and cutting on contnlners which hevo held comhustihiee. Welding or cutting cr both cn con tainers which have held Cnmmab'.o or combustible relic's, liquids, or cores, cr o f America Standards Institute.- 21G.11957 "Method of Recording and Measur ing Work Injury Experience." (3) Records of Injury severity 'n te 3. calculated annually on a calendar year basis commencing the first of January of each year, as defined ln United States of America Standards Institute. 21GJ- 1957 "Method of Recording and Measur ing V.'ork Injury Experience." Cb) Tho records required In paragraph (al of this eectlcn shall bo kept on file at leant 3 yeras from the date cf entry. (c) YiTiere records are kept on a fiscal have contained substar,cm which may cr Insurance year ba_Lo. they shall be produce flammable vapors cr c ~ c s will accepted as being ln compliance with not to attempted until tho contnlr.cn subparagraphs (2) and (3) of paragraph have fc-ean thoroughly cleaned In strict (n) of this section. - aecorde-neo with the rulC*C r*>^ _ . dures embodied In Amor!con Welding (Ero. , 40 Sett. C03; 41 V S .O. 5003) Ec-:let7 Pemphlet A-S.C-C5. edition of . 'Signed at Washington, D.C. this ICth 1955. day of January 1533. S u h p o r) C-- T rc n s p o r ie lio n S c 'e ty 50--20-1.75 Trar.spo. brtion t-afety. Wiolcid Wiare. . Secretary of Ldor. Transportation In connection ' with j r j z . I J . C0-33: rue-i. Jsn . 18. 1030; pub'Jc contracts, as listed In 160- . 41:43 *jn.J t'ciSTte. vou J4. mo. 1 --retotv v***v *  THE C'lOCOVinY C O M P A N Y V ASBESTOS TOXICOLOGY REPORT I t has been known f o r yea rs tha t some persons working in a s b e s t o s production were prone to develop a d isab lin g lung d i s e a s e . In time, th is c o n d i t i o n became known as a s b e s t o s i s and was r e l a t e d to exposure to high c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f a s b e s t o s d u s t . With fu r t h e r e x p e r i e n c e , i t was found that men could work w ith a s b e s t o s w it h ou t development of lung d i s e a s e i f dust c o ncen tratio ns were kept below a c e r t a i n l e v e l . . I t has been generally accepted that a worker w i l l not develop asbestosis i f he i s exposed to no more than 5 m i l l i o n p a r t i c l e s per cubic f o o t of a i r , even i f t h i s exposure co n ti n u e s f o r h i s e n t i r e working l i f e t i m e . Although no c a s e s o f a s b e s t o s i s are known to have occurred when ex posures have been maintained a t . o r below t h i s l e v e l , the ACGIH (which s e t s the thresh old l i m i t value (TLV) in the U. S. A .) has in d ic a te d they intend to lower the TLV fo r a s b e s t o s to 2 m i l l i o n p a r t i c l e s per cubic f o o t in an e f f o r t to in c r ea s e the s a f e t y f a c t o r incorporated in the l i m i t . The U. S. Department of Labor has a lr ea d y issued a r e g u l a t i o n under the VJalsh-Healy Act p l a c i n g the TLV for asbestos at 2 m illio n p a r t i c l e s per cubic foot for public contracts in which they have ju r is d ic tio n . This concentration of dust is generally not v is ib le i n the average work area u n l e s s a beam of l i g h t causing a Tyndall e f f e c t i s p r e s e n t . U su all y the dust c o n c e n t r a t i o n must be from 8-10 m i l l i o n p a r t i c l e s per cubic f o o t (1IPPCF) b efor e i t s presence i s v i s i b l e i n average l i g h t i n g conditions. Seve ral years ago, i t was reported that there was an inc r ea s e in the incidence of cancerous tumors, esp ec ia lly of the lung, associated with asbestosis. Re cen tl y there have been r ep o rt s of some cancers oc cu rr in g in i n d i v i d u a l s exposed to a s b e s t o s d u s t , but who have not developed c l i n i c a l a s b e s t o s i s . I t i s b e l i e v e d by most a u t h o r i t i e s that these case s have been a s s o c i a t e d with exposures s ig n ific a n tly exceeding the Threshold Limit Value. A type o f cancer named mesothelioma has been noted to be a s s o c i a t e d with asbestos-exposure in recent years. These tumors, while rather few in number to d a t e , may occur in i n d i v i d u a l s with h i s t o r i e s o f only s l i g h t e x p o s u r e s , and that as much as twenty to f o r t y years e a r l i e r . There i s c o n s id e ra b le evide nce th at c r o c i d o l i t e i s most f r e q u e n t l y a s s o c i a t e d with mesotheliomas. From the data a v a i l a b l e i t appears th at the TLV of 5 tiPPCF may not be low enough to p r o t e c t a g a i n s t mesothelioma. Research on the problem continues. r - 2- Control of a s b e s t o s dust exposure is the r e fo re n e c e s s a r y . The c ont r ol methods are the standard ones applicable to a v a r iet y of dusty operations. They inclu de c lo s e d flow syste ms , wet p r oc es s es where p o s s i b l e , and adequate exhaust v e n t i l a t i o n where openings in the system are n e c e s s a r y . P e l l e t i z i n g i s sometimes used to improve the handling c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of otherwise dusty m a t e r i a l s . Where s a t i s f a c t o r y containment to s ta y w i t h i n the Threshold Limit Value i s i m p r a c ti c a l or i m p o s s i b l e , e f f i c i e n t and r e l i a b l e r e s p i r a t o r s are a v a ila b le for the pro tectio n of the employee. A program of environmental monitoring is highly desirable to determine that Threshold Limit Values are n o t being exce ede d. In manufacturing i n d u s t r i e s i t would be d e s i r a b l e to know the d u s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s where the a s b e s t o s i s dumped from bags into the p r o c e s s . Concentrations should a l s o be determined where du st ing occurs i n f i n i s h i n g produ cts. While i n i t i a l dust de term in ati ons should be made at frequent i n t e r v a l s , once the l e v e l has been e s t a b l i s h e d as s a t i s f a c t o r y , the frequency may be extended to o c c a s i o n a l t e s t s to assure c o n t i n u a t i o n o f a satisfactory condition. Pre-employment end p e r i o d i c p h y s ic a l examination of workers are d e s i r a b l e . These should include chest X-rays to insure that the worker has no c h e s t c o n d i t i o n p r i o r to work with a s b e s t o s and to determine tha t no lung changes are r e s u l t i n g from work with a s b e s t o s . I t i s believed that the addition of asbestos at the proposed le v els during the manufacture of products would be harmless to the consumer. Total d u st in g would have to be w e l l in e x c e s s of any l e v e l s a c ce pt abl e to the consumer fo r the asbestos concentrations to approach the Threshold Limit Value. In conclusion, while asbestos dust in excess of the Threshold Limit Value i s p o t e n t i a l l y harmful, as are many other du st s encountered in industry' i t i s as r e a d i l y c o n t r o l l e d as oth er such dusts and i t can be used s a f e l y with appropriate precautions. 5/8/69 I n d u s t r i a l Medicine And Toxicology Department Union Carbide Corporation