Document daYJ58B0zydpxwmD8nqKNXR9

CBS Evening News - July 15 1976 CHARLES COLLIHGWOODs Consumers Union and the Natural Resources Defense Council today asked the government to ban spackling or other wall patching compounds which contain asbestos. The groups charge that the products give off asbestos fibers wh ch when inhaled incrc 'sp the risks of lung cancer for millions f people. THE wall street journal Friday, July 16, 1976 Wall-Repair Goods Are Said to Contain Carcinogenic Fibers Some Patching Compounds Have Perilous Asbestos, Studies Say; Ban Asked I* " ` ' ' ~~ -------- - J SvffWau Street Journal Staff Reporter WASHINGTON -Some cl the compounds used for patching and repairing interior wails contain cancer-causing asbestos fibers and should be banned, two public-interest 1 organizations contended. ' In a petition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Consumers Union esti mated that between a third and a half of the patching compounds sold In the US. would' be subject to such a torn. It cited products' sold by Mobil Corp.'s Montgomery Ward Inc. subsidiary and by Georgia-Pacific Corp as among those that allegedly pose a health hazard. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they greatly increase the danger of cancer of the lungs, the lining of the lungs and the abdo* men. The petition cited medical studies showing very high concentrations of the fi bers in the air aft*r asbestos-containing compounds were ii5*-d for dry wall repairs. .Asbestos gets Into the air both when pow dered compounds are mixed with water to create a patching paste and when patched places are sanded after the paste rtnes. the studies showed. ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION/ North America 1835 K Street, N. W. Suite 402 Washington, 0. C, 20006 CAPCO JEN 0002797 IWhat ar the risks of my getting an Asbestos disease? The risks are almost a*ways confined to those who worked extensively with asbes'on some years ago before present safety regulations wer< introduced Asbestos only becomes dangerous when the dust Is breathed in excessive amounts generally over a iong penod It can damage the lungs and interfere with breadur.g. thus is a disease cailec asoesrcsis. which can lead to a greater risk of developing lung cancer particu larly when associated with heavy smoking Some people may develop a rare cancer called mesothelioma. Of all the cancer oeatns m the country only 014% are due to this disease, which can develop without any link with asbestos Where there is a link ii ^ mairJv associated with blue asbestos fibre,which is no icnge: imported Most asbestos related diseases are the result of high exposure to asbestos dust :r. working conditions which are no longer allowed by lav; 2 How long do Asbestos diseases take to develop? Mostasbestosis cases are oiaanosec .5-20 years alter rest exposure. Mesothelioma has develcned re tv. sen 15 and 50 years after exposure to dangerous amounts of asoestos dust People suffering from asoestos dseases today were thus almost always exposes manv years ago to wotlcng conditions which are r.o longer slowed 31s itJus* the dast that's dangerous? Yes. Asbestos-contairung procure .r. ihemselves are perfectly harmless. The onlynskiswhenfibresare released inquantity; for instance by intensive cubing or abrasion 4 What axe the advantages, If any, of asbestos? Asbestos combines several vital propertiesin one economic substance. If resists fire, heat and corrosion, irs strong ar.dlong lasting, evert though it is extremeiy Ight and Qeioble. As a reinforcement it gives these properties to other matenals e g ui brake linings it withstands the heat generated by braking. Kow can I recognise Asbestos products in my 5home? It isnt always easy. Asbestos fibres are usually mixed with other materials - sueh as cement andvanous resins - which seal them in. but can make them hard to recognise. Because asbestos resists lire and heatifls used in Insulation board ironing board stands and oven door seals. Asbestos cement sheeting is weatherproof too.so its often used to roof garden sheds and garages And asbestos is used in your car brake ar.d clutch Jjnmgsln the past it was sometimes used to lag t? nks and pipes 6 What is the Blue Asbestos Tve heard about? Blue asbestos fibre (croctdouie) is a rare form of asbestos thafc exceptionally strong and acid resistant It is in some instances considered more dangerous than white asbestos and has not been imported since 1970. Before that u was used for sprayed insulation and pipe lagging. 2 Are there any tests that detect Asbestos dust 1a the air we breathe? Yes Tests for detecting dust m the atmosphere are canned out regularly by the asDesics industry, through the Asbestosis Research Council, other research organisations and public authonoes. The results indicate no health haraxd to the general public. 8 Is (here Asbestos dust in theairfrom earbrakes? Asoestoscombined.-nm-.arc -w". r-.es 's.i.ed in car brakes :cr efhcier.: sapping pov. e:. srcngci a.-.c. heat-resistance Ory Hof the onyamour.: o: brake dust released is asbestos, and asbestos leve.s tn traff.n are usua-v a null.on times lower than the 4evel allowed m tactor.es 9 k the asbestos on my ironing hoard dangerous? No Tne only asbestos .n your ircmr.g ooarc is m the stand for the iron at the end. Hare iron stands (the sort found or. most modern ironing boards) present no f-.aoar 2 as they oo not wearout Some older ones we.e ma Je of a sorter matenal, howeveiand may fray The amount of our: released sho-.'.d r.o: be dangerous, but obr.cus.y.;:ser.sto.e to replace a wo.-': stand XU1A My husband is a do-it-yourself fan. What should he know about Asbestos? 7r.a aicer.:ooc.cvitr; tar p-r.v.e-.1. c-O' : Te h<-,--p ha-vr/ma- ^ nor: rules aco-t wonang v.rci asoestos croc jc's By the er.d of the yeac most asoestos products ir. the shops will carr/a special symbol. At the bottom, of this page, yo-li f.r.d the Asbestos Safety Code. Why not cut it cut anc keep it handy? U What should I tell roy children about Asbestos? Theresno need toalarm. them.sim.ply tell tnem.Lhat. like petrol.gas and electnciry. asbestos does a great deal of good -for example m fire protection. But like petrol, gas and eieemetty. it can be dangerous if not used properly. 4 O Are older people more likely to get Asbestos Xu diseases? No. Age itself does not appear to affect anyone's suscepcb,1i7 to asbestos-reiatea diseases Some older people may have been exposed to asoestos dust at work, before the present safety legis lation came into force. < Q What should I do if I think I have an Asbestos XO disease? There are many causes for breathing difficulties. However if you ihmk you have been heavily exposed to asbestos dust more than fifteen years ago, and you have trouble with your breathing, you should consult your doctot 14 Can Asbestos cause skin cancer? No. XO1 C WhatiflswaUow Asbestos? There is no evidence that 'wallowing a small amountof as bestosfibrehaseverdone anyoneanyharm. Can I catch Asbestos diseases from someone 10 else? No They are neither contagious nor m/ecaous. KHowthouIdldisposeofAsbestos? For industry, there are special regulations for asoestos waste disposal if you work on asbestos products at home, damp any dust you may make immediately, and seal it in a plastic bag fordisposaL tO Whal can I use in place ofAsbestos? XO Glass tibre. rock fibre ana m.r.rra. wool may be used for some insulation products Howevet asbestos is mdispo- ~.bir for many applications And for manv others.u n. r.tiu :ho cheapest and most efficient material. IQ WTiy has there been no Government statement Xu/ about the dangers of Asbestos? There have m lac: beer, seveta. Government sraiements on asbestos and health over the last 50 years. legislator, controlling asbestos factories was introduced in 1931. More ccm.prerens.ve asbestos regulations came mio force in 1970 This year an Asbestos Adviser/ Committee was set up by the Secretary of Sta'e for Employment, this committee is reviewing ilio health r.sksfo: w orders with asbestos products and (or the genera: cjbiic.toseeifany further protecoon is needed O A Can Asbestos be used safely? uU Yes Any r.sk -.cm.es ::cm c-_-o'czz -.---Irrg on oabestos ptodjev. wlUv.i car ca _o ,i'+ :o b:cu-.c too -- '~u. * -.* So read`he Safer/Code be.cv; Anc :f yv.; have any further quenes. please ser.a us he coupon. Curadoress is. The Asbestos Infomawr. Comno-ee. ?0 5cx 403. London WiA4QS. The Asbestos Safety Code Avoid creating asbestos dust. Avoid breathing asbestos dust. AT HOME 1. Duap the work if von thir> ycu are to .re^e e let ot dust. we: dust Coes r.oi heco.re curecne and is rot inhaled Z. Damp any dust lh*l blit to (he floor artt p;,-< h up as soon as possible. Place it in a can and seal the bag 3. Work ia a well ventilated space, it po.L.b'.c outdoors, when sowing.drilling ! ling of sandina 4. Uee hand mwi and drille where po^ihic. these produce less dust than power took 5. Renew worn or frayed aebeetos insulators li<e ovendoor seais.hoi pUiei-owersCMis.uor.ng ^lar.ooand sunmenng pads AT WORK: II you: day to-day rcb invo'vos asbn.ros you snould already have been issued Min >n><ruc2ons and. d necessary. appropnaio safety equipment ALWAYS fOLLOW THE SAFETY PR OCEDURIS. 1To.The Asbestos inlotiMoon Comsi.aee.PO 8o*tQS.Lonaon"! UA40& Pfesse send xe feither uilormaticr e-; o;:.ester ar.d hewlih I (If you have a pirticxd: query. p:cCJc pi.r.tin Lhe j space below} y-/query --i -i i ~i --, i -i The Asbestos } Information Committee ! j c_____ *nv - r*:______-- i m : . . -- / r a\ t. CAPCO JEN 0002798