Document gbJy01okE8Zb0rrmM4NzEByX9

TO: Ms.. HG. FROM: -#186, G. R. Krug . SUBJECT: Asboato^ and Concor. .J &'catl -pj> CXJT^X Dacombor.23, 1968 1 . Based upon increased ndvarne publicity and medical attention ..given to health effects of inhaling asbestos dust, yxq feel it is appropriate to fntailiariza you with terminology,' current- medical and legal approaches qnlTjutr Company approach relating to asbestos. Terminology Aabestasls is a form of pnoumoconiosis, which means any ahange in the lungs induced by prolonged inhalation-of duat particles. - . ... Asbastosis 13 a form of pneumoconiosis caused by the'prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a generic name applied to a group of fibrous minerals composed of long flexible fibers, that can ba subdivided longti- tudinally into filaments of very small diameter. *'" '' * The asbestos minerals ar.e silicates and they belong 9ither to : *J\ \ the serpentine or to the araphibole group of minerals. Tho most important variety is Chrysotilo (white asbestos), of. A IN ; - serpentine group. This form is the prime type usod by us. Other important forms are amanita (brown) and crocidolito (bmx*)"'^ r\ O --1 .'<w ..United States Gypsum Company cJ -2- cJ both of which belong to tho amphibole group. Only one of our plants, uses one of these. * * Most of the chryaotilo comes from Quoboc, though smeller amounts are produced In Vermont, Arizona end California. Africa is the source of ali of the amoslte and most of the crocldolite. Australia and Bolivia supply smell quantities of crocldolite. L. .V _ % - ' '' The following medical terms ere' often used in relationship to lung disorders and asbestos: Pulmonary Fibrosis - A progressive dogcnorotion of the lung walls of undertermLnod origin loading to deficient aeration of the blood. In othor words., the chemical function of the lungs (exchange of gasses) is impaired. Mesothelioma - Is a rare malignancy which infiltrates the lung cavity or the abdominal cavity, spreads rapidly and Is incurable. Carcinogen - Any canccrVproduclng Substance. Asbestos is believed to be a carcinogen or carcinogenic agent. GP031 0T03 COPY RETAIN CD G V -3 Current Hodlcgl rmd Lngnl Annroncha9 ,,m Extensive study" of the relationship betyocn degree and length of exposure and the development of the lung diseases, has been documented by the U.S. Public Health Service in the 'textile industry. One alarming feature of at leastxva studies, reported in tne British Journal of Industrial Medicine, is the fact that persons living in the vicinity of mines and mills processing asbestos have, developed mesotheliomas without any occupational oxpeoures. While several of the published studies relating asbestos to lung cancer are impressive, tho group studies mado by.Dr. Irvins S.' Sellkoff have probably had the greatest impact on the general public. He indicates asbestos industry and users may possibly bo causing widespread carcinogenic air pollution. The navs media has picked this up and played it to the hilt. Our previous concern had always :bccn asbestosis which requires exposure to large dust concentrations in excess of 5*000.OCO particles per cubic foot over a period of several years. The cancer scare, which cay or cay not be well founded, opens "a whole new area of concern. The indication is that certain peoplo are predisposed to lung cancor end such agents as ' ' : COPY RETAIN,!; Gp?V & /0(.o k o <;o / -4- tobacco smoke, asbestos dust, and about 18 others, etc., find a fertile ground for growth and destruction, ; i* One major asbestos producer, based upon some members of the t ? medical profession, takos the position that lung cancer and asbestosis take about 20 to 2? years to develop and that there .;*- is no risk to the general- public. It is acknowledged that 'V -V asbestos workers who smoke have .S^jtlmes the incidence of lung . ' * cancer as the public. It is felt that asbestos workers who do ' not smoke have no greater incidence of lung cancer than the ` ' general public. The theory here being that asbestos cay act as a holding agent of othor harmful dusts, mists or Eases without ; asbestos itself'being harmful. It ia our understanding that the American Conference of Govern mental Industrial Hygienists has reduced the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for asbestos dust exposure from 5 million, particles per cubic foot (m.p.p.c.f. ) to 2 million particles per cubic .foot effective in 1968- Company Acnroach. American Mutual Liability Insurance Company is just completing airborne and settled dust studios Qt all Company properties using asoestos or other toxic ingredients. COPY RETAINED 5- - Department 186 is presently In the p^ocoas. of recommending nn . overall' Company hygiene program to Management which, will include such, items as: . Establishment of Threshold Limit Values for all toxic dusts. Where TLV's arc excoededj despite all practical steps boinG ,takon to reduce same, u'S. exposed employees shall tie required to wear approved respirators. `This will entail a com prehensive daily cleaning procedure on the part of the Plant so each expound employee is issued a thoroughly cloanod unit each day. - v.. 2) At those locations uhara toxic dusts oro known to be in use, dust samples will be taken and anallzed frequently until ovorall dust hacard levols are established. Then a normal fixed tost cycle will be followed for monitoring purposes. 3) No new uses of asbestos should be Introduced into our plants without first clearing through Dapart- l meat 186-2, Loss Prevention Hangar. -* Annual X-rays, as roquired in Genaral Order Bulletin ' 4--6-B, shall be taken. .`X COPY retained . ***. o "> -6- o 5) It is urged, if'at nil possible, that only non-snolcerr, bo hired for areas of asbestos exposure. Rocnrding present personnel, cmolcors should bo relocated to less hazardous exposures, where fensiblo. If Management approves the hyGiana program, your obligation win -:>/L r.t' *. f, *./*V be to assure that any uses of asbestos or other toxic dusts with in the plants, comply with our Company, approach and that each i and every operating facility bo made aware of the foregoing. Attached is some background material which, will illustrate the magnitude of tho problem Qnd confusion that exists. We will keep you abreact of any major changes that occur.. Any articles you nay happen upon should be sent- to Department iSo-G, Loss Prevention Manager. We feel this subject is too controversial to be sent directly to each plant by us for fear It may get into the hands of parsons who will misuse or misinterpret It. IQLQ HOtiO GRK:plb Att. Distribution: AIL General, Manufacturing and Production Managers; G.H. Huntley, V/.W. Hollo:ray and C.P. Kipp. COPY RETAINED c0; 5 * o*