Document dQ1mgNZ0ZjyweZD5v6o4Oyane

FILE NAME: DuPont (DUP) DATE: 1966 July 28 DOC#: DUP037 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter - To C.A. D'Alonzo M.D. from G J. Stopps / \ v \ \ \ V C. A..D'ALONZO, K . D N MEDICAL DIVISION EMPLOYEE RELATIONS D E P A R T M E N T S ^ N-11400 July 28, 1966 a - 0^/77 rv C O > 1 I welcome your letter on the related topics of pulmonary function and asbestos. As you know, we are actively working with Dr. Neeld of Chambers Works on a practical pulmonary function testing program and we have also been studying the health of the pipe coverers. . At this time I should like to see Chambers Works used as the site for a pilot study in "routine" pulmonary function testing, and with the experience gained there we will be able to make recommendations for the UBe of Du Pont plants in general. The asbestos situation in Du Pont is a difficult one to assess due to the relatively small number of people exposed and the difficulty of determining the exposure either in terms of the type of material involved, the duration of the exposure, or its intensity, I am keeping informed on the. various Btudies now going ahead on the health effects ol' asbestos, but no results are expected from these for several years. What is needed to bring the Du Pont study to a meaningful conclusion is a detailed study of personnel records to define at least the length of exposure. It is very doubtful that dust concentration data can be obtained for past exposures, and even for current exposures it presents some technical difficulties due to the long thin fibers being much more difficult to count than the usual dust particles. We have carried out the studies to date on our own funds but I think a contribution from the operating depart ments should now be requested. Your interest in these topics encourages me to hope for a very fruitful series of Joint studies between Haskell Laboratory, Sidney Pell's group, and the plants. I am enclosing, as a natter of interest, a memorandum prepared in late 1964 as a Justification for a pulmonary function testing program. The arguments used then are at least as valid today. GJS/dyb Enclosure O RIGIN A L SIGN ED BY G . J . STO**5 G. J. Stoppa, M.B.,B.S