Document dQRYVKbQz1xEa000wjRN3RRXR

FILE NAME: Newspaper & Magazine Articles (NMA) DATE: 1966 Dec 6 DOC#: NMA203 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Government Press Release -'V Appendix U HARDEST? - 963-7^34 (HONE) - 654-0231 S. S. DEPARTMENT OP HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE v Public Health Service Division f Occupational Health * PROFESSIONAL RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9 8 1966 Sincinnati, Ohio: Exposure to high levels o asbestos dust 20 to 30 years ago are probably responsible for a 21% increase in the death rate among certain workers in a large group recently studied by the Public Health Service. Thisexcess was due to cancer of the lung and gastrointestinal tract no to asbestosis. Zn other asbestos-using industries studied where dust levels were relatively low even though there was long-term exposure,, the death ratio were much lower. The.report was presented to 22 experts on environmental disease attend ing a Conference on Asbestos Research sponsored by occupational health officials of the Public Health Service here this week. "While dust levels have been sharply reduced in the asbestos textile j industry where the excess mortality was found, the finding adds to the grow ing evidence that asbestos exposure is associated with cancer of the lung." o '* said Dr. Murray C. Brown, Chief the Division of Occupational Health, who made the report. 0 Sr. Brown8s report was based on research being conducted fey Dr. Philip Enterline of McGill University and Dr. Mildred Kendrick of the Division of Cccupational Health. Their data is taken from the Social Security Admin- j istration records for 21,733 men who had worked in the three Industries and ^ from death certificates from State health departments. j r'Dftflr* A # L O I I-- -- Ix.I_ n A r t B The Conference vas held to exchange information on asbestos research V. _ rograms now underway and to identify gaps in research as veil as areas . needing greater attention. The conferees agreed on the need for a broader attack on the many prob lems related to asbestos as an industrial as veil as a potential environ-. mental contaminant. High on the list of research priorities vere studies of population groups with both heavy and light exposures to asbestos fibers. In making such investigations the types of asoestos as well as other asso ciated factors must be considered in evaluating both types of exposures. It * vas pointed out that is is not known whether asbestos mineral fibers are vehicles or carriers of carcinogenic chemicals or are active themselves. The group stressed that there must be expanded laboratory animal stud ies of the effects of different types of asbestos dusts, alone and In com- i-.owion with various metals and hydrocarbons. They said that present s..r.o. for the accurate identification of asbestos fibers in tissue are inadequate and must he ir.provsd. There was also concern about the need for standardization of diagnostic methods, better diagnostic terminology for pathologic and radiographic de scription of lung changes end pleural tumors. Similiarly, techniques f-r I the collection. Identification, and quantitation of asbestos fibers in the industrial and community environment need refinement and standardization. "This latest information indicates that asbestos is causing problems, and we intend to move rapidly toward an intensified program to get answers to some of the more urgent questions," Or. Brown told the conferees. } CRMC-Asb&Health-BODMin-000103  3 - 2a the meantime, It-Is Isnpor&snt that these producers sad users who r not shewing proper regard to the health tiasards of asbestos dust tnstlSae @ntrls which have already been shorn to reduce the dust problem90 0?&Mla w@ really d net know tow eontrols sen b applied in all f the endless varieties f work situations and sites, these questions a fea,, answered through the types f diligent painstaking work that have been ulined at this meeting,*1 Brc Brown @nludgd0 Asbestos is a generic term applied to number @f fibrous crystalline silicate minerals Although chemically they are grouped as hydrated alii sees, there is a great variation in Eh degree f hydration, omplex ompo sleioa of the silicate, and physical properties @ the crystalline fibrous '^'stnaesureo These differences make it difficult @ assess the fibers f= *eets on the lung Although asbestos has been known for centuries, it has only been a mineral significant industrial importance for about 75 years0 With out standing p?prti@s of ehesleal resistance, fibrous structure, m i iaeeabustibillty, the material Is used in practically every major industry ver n million workers are involved In the manufacture @r handling stoscea produets Major applications include textile manufacturingB felts, rpes0 roofing and flooring materials, asbastos-eesnenE pipes, gagkets8 insulation, special papers, filters, plasties, and brake linings Surreng domestic consumption of the mineral in She manufacture @ asbestos products is nearly E00s000 tns0 the three forms of asbestos, - chrysotile accounts for about 9 percent of this figure, with amosle at ^D Ar>U9LJ^n|j>Urox-\rvna:_ > r1; - - ' 4 ^ at about 20,000 tons and erocldollte st about 10,000 tons making up the remainder. Because most of the mineral is imported into this country, researchers in the field feel that the greatest potential health prob lems in America exist for those vho work vlth asbestos rather than for Choso vho mine it. i* * * * * ( V. r 1 / ;( CRMC-Asb&Health-BODMin-000105