Document dYn9YD3XbQjRw8OzMmyXqe2o5

-- PLAINTIFFS 1 EXHIBIT 1 AB- 1 4 Copy May 10, 1972 Mr. D. K, Rennie Vice President New York Office Re: Asbestos Dear Dont With the fundamental push for a greatly Improved ecology, Dr. Sellkoff with his asbestos theme came upon a very timely subject with his Investi gations 5 or 6 years ago. Since then he has created quite a staff for the Investigation of asbestos exposures. Primarily his work has been confined to union members on the eastern Seaboard. Originally I think the subjects were In the insulation business, steam fitting, ship build ing, and demolition groups. Subsequently it broadened to asbestos exposures In factories. Dr. Sellkoff unfortunately, 1 feel, has had somewhat of a flare for creating the sensational type of reporting with the news media. Never theless, one cannot ignore the statistics which he and his associates have compiled dealing with asbestos. It Is quite certain that during World War II, that asbestos exposure among the subjects that he Iras studied were quite high. Many of these Individuals were working at trades which varied in the short period of time from one job site to another, which Inevitably meant that they had few If any safeguards or controls with respect to asbestos exposure. this is at quite a variance with in-plant exposures of employees who remain at one particular job for a number of yearB. Dr. Sellkoff admits that he does not have all the answers on the subject, that he does not know all of the control measures which may have to be utilized so as to protect the present day workers who are exposed to asbestos. I am sure that much of the present legislation concerning asbestos is as a result of the work which he and his associates have done. The mesothelioma, a particular type of lung cancer, is generally speaking a rarity except among those exposed to asbestos where it is much more prevalent. Similarly, there Is an increased incidence of other malignancies of the stomach, colon and peritoneal lining of workmen who have been exposed to asbestos fibers. SPNY 000112