Document g2nyjnV2mgnZKwb9jz35j155N

FILE NAME: Abex (ABX) DATE: 1964 Oct 6 DOC#: ABX172 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Newspaper Article - Medical Specialists Suspect Asbestos as a Cause of Cancer with Cover Letter to American Brake Shoe Co. October 8, 1964 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT AB- 4 0 Dr. C. C. Blackwell \\ Medical Director AMERICAN BRAKE SBOE COMPANY Chicago Dear Charlies The attached article from the Pontiac Press was brought to my attention by Tom Liegl. Does this call for any special action on our part at our plants in Winchester, Lindsay, Mexico, France -- - should we bring it to the attention of our licensees abroad? /hm cct MBTerry D. K. Rennie SPNY 000398 / m E j H m i A C PRESS. TUESDAY, OCTOEKH 6, 1904 Suspect Asbestos as Medical Specialists a Cause of Cancer .'B y ALTON BLAKESLEE AP Science Writer Much of the specialists' evi dence comes from autopsy stud NEW YORK -- Medical spe ies of men working with asbes cialists pointed a strong finger tos as an insulation material. of suspicion today at asbestos They said it also is possible as a cause not only of lung can cer but also of another ex tremely rare form of fatal human cancer. * * * This cancer, known as meso that dust from products contain ing asbestos might b e exposing people generally to som e risk of cancers. How much risk there might be, they said, they could not tell. 1 thelioma, involves the lining of FLOORING MATERIAL tile abdominal and chest cavi Asbestos is used not only for ties. . insulation but as a flooring ma -- *---------------- --- Iterlal, i n ' automobile brake terials, or possibly from dust ] shoes, and in many other appli raised through normal wear, cations. Ordinary wear and they said. '- , tear, they said,' might lelease dust into the atmosphere. MARKED INCREASE ` . ** * " We had previously found 1 The report was presented to the American Public Health Association by Drs. Irving J. Sellkoff and Jacob Churg of the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and E. Cuyler Hammond, that lung cancer and possibly gastrointestinal cancer were markedly increased in incidence among asbestos insulation workers," they said. ' ' . , Now they also find a marked Sc.D., director of statistical ly high increase among such -research for the American Can workers of mesothelioma, a cer Society. Dr. Hammond is cancer so rare it is not classed 'known for his studies of cigar separately as a cause of death e tte smoking in relationship to in the international classifica- lung cancer. * -* * lion of diseases. * * *' - ' more than 30,000 autopsies in a kTVSUl Oti U U g U b iUViiVC study of the general population mate cancer. , . ^ sponsored by the American Dr. Hammond said one worry 1 Cancer Society. ' is whether a few or even a sin-' HIGH INCIDENCE gle past exposure might se t the Other studies showed a high incidence not only of lung can cer but mesotheliomas among persons who had asbestos particls in their lungs a t the tim e of their deaths, they said. .. ' " It would appear that meso thelioma .must be added to-the neoplastic (cancer) risks of stage for cancer. He said this is a matter, calling for more re- 1 search. . - ' ! ** * '' Taking precautions to avoid' breathing in asbestos dust is-a main protection for industrial, workers, be and D r.. Selikoff said. ' . . . , asbestos inhalation and joins lung cancer (53 Out of 307 deaths) and probably cancer of the stomach and colon (34 of 307 deaths) as a significant compli cation of such industrial expo s u r e s the United .States," them report said.' ` - - . " . The cancers may not appear until 20 to 30 years'after asbes-' to s dust is inhaled'or swallowed,' they said. Since th particles do not dissolve, they .may remain. > in body, tissu e'as. a continuous Asbestos is a mineral, mag nesium silicate, and about 3P; m illion' tons of it are used worldwide each year,' they said. In 1935, worldwide u s a g e amounted to about 500 tons, the researchers said. Tiny, hard particles of asbes tos can lodge in the lungs during ruining, processing and applica tion ,of asbestos-containing ma- As a prime example, they< reported finding 10 deaths due to this form of cancer in a study of 307 deaths among N ew Y ork and Now Jersey building trades union members engaged in using asbestos at least occasion ally as an insulation matrial. By contrast, this form .-of can cer was found to be the cause of death among only three out of SPNY 000399