Document e1MdBBzxNXebE2rE4grr3q0RE

PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT DUP-2435 NORTON COMPANY SAFETY PRODUCTS OMSJOM 3000 PLA+RKLD P*<. CRAjVSTGK RI 03930 p*o*c t*an *400 telex 937sm* ' MAT '22, 1981 TO: . FROM: SU3JICT: Users Of AAr-?urifying Inspirator! la Asbestos Environaants John C. Cillespie, Product Hsaa|r , Use of Non-?overed Air-Purlfriar Respirators la Asbestos Savironaents Durist cbe pest eventy years, few substances have generated as eueh controversy as asbestos. It is known now that inhalation of asbestos fibers cay result la potentially fatal fibrosis diseases such as paeusocociosis and asbestosis, or potentially fatal cancers such as nesoeheliesa and lung cancer. Medical evidence indicates chat the fibrosis-type- diseases result frea . inhalation of significant quantities of asbestos fibers. Mare recent evidence indicates chat aesothelioaa and lung eaneer nay result freti inhalation of only siauce quantities of asbestos fibers. It appears also that saoking increases these risks substantially. Sose experts feel that there is no level below which exposure to asbestos would be safe. Considering this, in the'latter part of 1980 NIOSS raised questions about the use of air-purifying respirators by workers in asbestos environaents. As you know, N10SH has approved a wide variety of air-purifying respirators for protection against asbestos fibers; and,, to Unit exposure to a warlmaa of two fibers per cubic eentineter, .OSHA panics use of approved non-powered air-purifying respirators when the eight-hour tlae weighted average (TWA) airborne concentration of asbestos fiber is lass than 20 fibers per cubic centiaeter. SLowcver, because the HIOSB test procedures utilize siliea dost, silice aist, end test aedls other then asbestos fibers, NX05H is questioning whether its approval tests effectively predict the perforaance of respirators for protection against ssbesces. furthernore, the HXOSS tests only deal with the performance of the filtering material and do not take into account the effects of leakage due to poor fit. Although studies are underway to resolve these questions, Norton feels that respirator users and their aaployers should he awere that no noapovered air-ourlfylng respirator totally ellslnates asbestos fibers froa the breachint zone, so chat even with the best respirators, sons asbestos fibers will be inhaled. To obtain the greatest degree of protection where the TVA concentration is less thee 20 fibers per cubic .centimeter, Norton recocsena* the usa*"of~"an"elastomeric half-make or fuli-fae**'<** DU 030434 DUP 0913769 lictea u requirea by OSHA and specified in the ANSI 2S8.2-1980 Standard. It susx be noted that, while questioning the effectiveness of air- . purifying respirators for. protection against asbestos, HIOSH has not revoked any of its respirator approvals, nor has OSHA sought to aodify its standards for exposure or respiracor use. Therefore, since the * Horton 7170 and -74061 respirators, and 7500-6 filters sect or **cted NIOSH approval and performance reqnireaeats for protection against asbestos, their use for that purpose eoaplies with OSSA's- requirtacnts. However, Horton believes that these respirators do net provide the best protection against asbestos available froa air-purifying' respirators and therefore, no longer rceetaends then for asbestos applications. . To isplesent its reeosaeadations, Horton is taking the following actions, effective lsmediately: 1. All Horton noa-high-effieieacy respirators and filters certified by NIOSH for asbestos will be shipped with warning notices or labels which advise that these produets are not recooBaaded fox respiratory protection in an asbestos environaenr, together with a reeosaendation.char Horton 7560 or.7680 respirators.be used in stead. 2. All Horton high-efficiency respirators la the 7580 end 7680 Series and high-efficiency filters 7S00-8, -61, -82, -83, and -64 will be shipped with a warning label advising that: (1) Kesotheliosa .and lung cancer .aay result, froa breathing even snail _ quantities of asbestos fibers, and that saoklng aay 'increase this --'risk substantially; (ii) Ho non-powered air-purifying respiracor totally reaoves asbestos fibers froa the breathing rone; and (lii) Respirators having elastoaerie facepieces and blgh-effielcncy filters (such as Horten's 7580 and 7680 respirators), properly fitted as required by OSHA and specified in ANSI Standard 288.2-1980, provide the best protection against asbestos available froa nonpowered air-purifying'respirators at concentrations where they are permitted for use. We reiterate that, while you are technically* in full cesplianet with present OSHA Standards if you continue to use the Horton 7170 end 74061 respirators or the 7500-6 filters under the use conditions specified in current OSHA standards, Horton reeetsends.against this praetles and reeosaends that you switch to.the Norton respirators in the 7580 and 7680 Series. If you have any questions, please contact a Horton Product Manager for Respiratory Protection. bag DUP 0913770 DU 030435