Document gbLzLX4d6zDQpVknxRrN3ym9a

PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT ST0272789 RECEIVED may 1 >' 1987 Business Information Center ">o C K N TS Insulation Peril? Health StudiesSuggest Asbestos Substitutes Also Pose Cancer Risk While Data Aren't Definitive. Some Fine-Fiber Products HaveScientistsConcerned CompaniesQuestion Findings By B.vmts Mlilr Staff Kroner .>/ Tit,. W \> i S'hi t : Jo m.,, Two decades ana thousands of deaths af;er asbestos insulation was found to be a killer, recent hejlth siudies suggest th.,i certain other insulation products, some tunes used as s.bstitutes for astestos. may also present a urg cancer threat. A blue rtbbcn scientific panel assem bled by the World Health Organization is set to consider .oe\t month whether those m:,ter:ais-;:ass fibers. T.inerc' wool and ce'amic-t_.-ed fibers-pose a c.ncer threat to .rhs o; thousa.-.cs of workers -nrld-wiae A decision th.T an;, or all of 'em oo wt>uid fore? the affected .mnnu.se _r?rs to 1 ;hei iheir DmoLr_> as p,'sMir-` mr'.-r ris-.s. I: would ais1" jr'-..;'1ess ter ze- reyila;-,T'j acion in iae i' i tnc - v- v"ere ,.nd sr,,:o. '.iwsu,'.= srtiast a s.t m .w*! u'.c:.!r r.'5-* i;\yr5,.?r! Jus; s-irh ftours mm: c n.se can ner-.tnd tt wr..:' -v^-ure e.-vr -- s to dear. Eut if the <; jest mi r trier I in sa.sttonI fitie's > siuei .isaest 'S t:.use rerf the answer is \s. ' says Phi.in Ha lerlinc. a 1,'r.r. ersity ul Pittsburgh epidemi ologist hired h\ I S. ..asulation prxj.ii'rrs si'',or;)! years ;,en ;n sIl<Jv '.ftetr pnxkrb hazards Mineral-Wool Workers His studies show. Mr Fmerlme told an ir.UTiiation.il scientific conference last Or tober. thill mineral wool factory workers haw ,im increased lung ranrer risk. He a'su loiaid a remit spate of lung rnneei J ilr.nils among glass IiIxt wukers v\|xis<'d I tn inn diameter libers, tni: lie said mm Ii | dal.i were too |iielm\in.iry to dr.iw any so I en:ifir ri)ii. Ins;, ms Sir. Knterline Says he is also i line rued ilxaii . er .line fillers fm ! wltieli illli i! da are sparse Makers of the materials under scrutiny J all defend their produrls1 safety. And re searchers such as Mr. Enierlmc believe liut niiis: currently used insulating prod ucts dun t appear to threaten homeowners and are less toxic than asbestos. Because* of improved plant controls, some indepen dent scientists say. any danger to current plant workers may also be low. Nonetheless, the specter of a health crisis even vaguely resembling ihp asi bestos disaster is sparking a furor in the insulation industry. Company scientjsis are ; scrambling for evidence to defuse Mr. Enlerline s findings; some insulation pro, ducers are building defenses against future damage claims: and the safety issue is at j the hear: of a battle between producers of | competing types of insulation ManviUe Concerned' "There s no question we re concerned." says William Reuze. a health official for Denver-based Manvtlle Corp. Bankrupted by asbestos rel.iied de?;h claims and pum- ;r. e damage awards. Mam ille recentlv nr dered its salesmen of glass-fiber products to certify in writing that they have di vulged Mr. Emerhne s findings :o cus- lomers. Exposure :o asbestos has been linked to fata! lung cancers and other disabkr.g res- pi nil ary cise.'tses. Some iO.OvO death and injur.1 ".aims hat e been filed agsinst Man- ville and other asbestos producers by piam workers, insulators and others. Mosi uses of asbestos are currently banned by fed eral regulations. Glass-fiber and seme other insulation products have lung been known to cause skin rasnes and respirator.' irritation, but such matpruls and asoestos. se\era! scien tists sc.v. also share a potential!,,' fata! 'r: V' ','o:.;:n masses ,'t small. Thai lP-o t I- ,,{W in 'amutn li.'IgS. n:er ,. arce'i: scaT'.ilr :v iune'.ic'l- ;:s r.itli'T ;h..!i . tu . ;;t-*v.:r - ;rv . ^ni-'N*. ..,iig Old .; .r :b:. S' :':'11fi< .rM'er" ,> mm h line -n vil.iti'M. 'iDi-rs i.i gr->*mg Hans Wei.!, a pulmonary specuiitst at Tul.i'ie '.'mve-sity. jiivs r'list X rays ! iiisulation-pl.m: workers exposed to fine fibers exhibit more minor abnormalities thlin do X-rays of workers exposed In larger fibers. Fine- fiber workers are also showing a pattern ul decreased lung capacity, says Ur. Weill, who cautions lluil his work is prelum ' n.irv Use Is Growing Such warnings come as insulation pro ducers increase fine-fiber oulput largely for products blown under pressure into walls and-ceilings of homes and commer cial buidings. Use of fine fibers is growing because they provide greater insulation than larger-stzed fibers, and at lower cost, says William Sells, presidem of M.uiville's glass fiber division. ' The safety deoate is putting glass fiber producers on the defensive. At a tense twohnur meefir.g last month with Mr. Enter,'mo. he i!;h officials from Mam ilie. Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp. and CertninTeed Corp. challenged the scientist s methods ano facts. They said they hope to prove j '.hit workers' deaths front lung cancer aren't related to fiber exposure, dial they 1 nun instead have resulted from other toxic , i 'ti'ijxiniiJs in the work;j|.ir" nr the er.: ronment. 'Tin; is wluil we are try.ug a, aii'-uii (list; Wln-ther 'lial turns oui 'T net we hme In vr, says Doc..M. a seia-a 'Ml /ll',, ,'-J Pl'i/l 1 iK / a *w riw ,*w a 'i> riiiB riW .ru ^ ;: r-aA-agr' lobulation Peril? Studies Suggest a Lung-Cancer Risk RromSome Products Being Used in Place ofAsbestos I -r - - V.. _____ '-QjDadary'for Union Mr. Fryman acknowledges, however, Ccni&ait'dJfrom. Pint Pape " president Mloweas-Carniag. the na-\ lie lack of definitive health data on In- that the crlstoballte levels detected in the fioo haaanfi Is creating a quandary for Browntag-Ferris study ' exceeded levels larges^ glisj-fiber jsfotfucerf rs and product users. '.`At JhisjBplnf I predicted by manufacturers. As a result, * company'irespanse to Mr! Bnier-; .ven'l taken any position on glass fl- he Ays, Standard Oil recently urged that fadings is exemplified by matures bft;becausejre feelHhe jury, is still puC.N improved frcejnaste.be used by workers tt takes at Its Newark, Ohio, glass-fi ayrJunes Goldei. a health-offidal wltlr' Concerns over insulation safety are also ber{plant. Mr..Knteriloe had found that' aadlonner workers at the plant- it a fewkother pl*nts'~among U he the Sheet Metal Workers International Asfodafion. (hnhe^ther.hasd, Mr. Golden Ays. dnlon oBdah are fepooeraed by the fueling a war between makers of compet ing products.'Take the case of Richard . Munson, president s National Consumer led la fite`giasa*flbetJndus&y-had a _ ' 3uhg-eancer rate 30 lack at data. The'reasoni.'Mfiist'cdendstsV ? Products Marketing Inc., an Auburn. Ca believe that cancers develop 26 yean or' lif.-based company that Mils cellulose- moiraJter their first exposure. Is ionite. Mr- Dpban cays, a team of. more after the first exposure Ufa, carcintygea.'.r^Same of these fibers haven't bees -j based Insulation, a competitor to glass fi ber In the home-Insulation market. hatieoured Newark- i around kof'enougb ft-stud/their effects: Mr. Munson founded and sponsors a fjoliif "back Tour decides In. on human*.lafav-Gdlden.Ay*..CJl. ft ! group called Victims of Fiberglass, which an Effort to determine what cancer-causing Ceramic.fibers are acase !in ipoinl. recently placed advertisements In several >nit> trightAiycbcemged at the,Iacil- Sales of prodedd hslnf dbe'finrdale fibenf: ttyJ Retired sianC-personDd were-quesOoAd forihdiwamt purpose. Mr.iDoban hart boomed since th<mld-1970s^reachlnip an estimated, noo mfiDoo- last fear,,*c- tLS. newspapers'canytng "fcold headlines that read: Consumer Warning - Manmade i wJfh'fhelrown findings reg-ardNiiwirf'jlUat, "OwensOiniing offl- ailesgtd 'Mr. Buteritoe'J findings they '.met ^iwith ,the scientist last moith. Mr.Dobansxid company records sheared sporadic 'use .of asbestos at the Newark plane Joo Kottrcn, the company's medical director,'jxld the. Newark plant M frequently.beenuSedJotest glasi-fiber cortBnt fo fodtstry officials;They tre used C, Asbestos.ufFlbergtass^ Insulation In Your mainly. In linings for industrial furnaces > I Attic .Will Cause lamg Cancer. and u asbestos substitutes, .DcGOj Health research, however, has lagged behind sales. Thus farfibeTtwQ teatjdr,^nlmal studies of the materials' cancer-caus: ting hazards have yielded'mixed.results, i Moreover,' g.ren - me latency ` period for lung cancer. Industry scientists `admo*!-; edge that it may be too early to detect de- Mr. Munson tsalso publicizing the work of a consoltant he hired to measure fiber sizes contained in a blown-lnsulafion prod uct sold by the Valley Forge, Pa.-based CertainTeed. The consultant'found that most of the products' fibers wete small enough to be Inhaled. '' GO H O te^^tevd^any >TtJopl^ to workers through trad! v * - The latency issue is one that has to be ^Wressed," says Edward Horvath, medt- CerulaTeed officials say that (ssulafion workers are only briefly exposed tc such fi bers and thus don't face a health danger. Class-fiber company officials also charge' rs3 --i ro paoT*"er*i?7V ~ PU Tltey're A jii- cai director W ocmmatlonai tjcai^i for Mr.," Munson with running a scare cam standard .01 .Co,. the radon's. largest paign. "It's obvious he has a conflict of In GO oThe ruddy-facedMrpRnterilne Isn't de-> maker of ceramic-based-fiber products, tersed. After the muring;'he noted ;'that Dr. Horvath estimates tt may take several terest," Ays Mr. Sells, the ManvlUe offi cial.';, . ' ' mirjertFwod .producers'were, raising ida-,L years for such cancers, if any* to develop ;ibcre's no question that I have a con 0a3chJectkxBiildiwork. bathettMtheyj a expc^ wtntes. badrt sapp=r.edArir otileekcs sdentlfl- Rarmeri fey Navy ;<>' ' % ^.^^3255^7 Some major u*n of flict of Interest," Mr. Munson Ays. "but a " does Manvllie." As-lor any lung-cancer threat from cellulose-based Insulation, epl- Sjftet SSfSwSSeSdo.rl-Sr ^ ^ ** ficS^S^aashS^np legal i p!e' Trf'^ banned aiptnrd use of cera- demloioglst Enterilne Ays he Isn't aware deS. BfcddS^qufrs^esbeato fl*p' *&**** to a. Nary spokes-,. of spy.evidence suggesting, one, . u Mr. EntersD^e's f^indings on glass man. The move, rays the-spokesman. came after manufacturers voluntarily rela Several Independent saenlists saythal currentheafih data don't indicate that the fiber, ManvQe recently ordered the de beled products io note that In an animat Insulation materials under study pose a an ikttlon of all outdated Insolation safety stuay. sane ceramic fibers had produced lung-cancer threat to homeowners, ;Thf pamphlets, ays Mr. Sells, the company of cancerous timers...... \ unstudied population I'm most -concerned, ficii In asbestos-related cases, large po- Along with a passible `cancer threat.'; about are people putting In Insulation," nlti^'tiainagf iwardaJiad been meted out ceramic-cased fibers pose other health Ays Ernest K. McOgmell. a. toxicologist with, the fede^ Natlonal Toxlcology.Prd; . marts. avT ,* aaw : Houstoirfased wasth-maxiagtment con-^ v-:'b7-?riS: '!"yw-. W-V'* fKhii Regulatory Action Likely ^ c^g^FqfetoStcr^togo^ased P'S 7*?* "b!rs Mfiatever thi case, U.S.; regulatory ie:': don on glass arid other Insulating fibers is1 ISS^TSS&S !"*aM.taw<1^* likely: Richard Umen.-h top' official at the' ommon among ' quarry '.-and tunnel federal National Institute for Occupational kers.`The move, says a USG spokes rkers. Charles E. Fryman. Standard Safety and Health, Ays the agency, based Bk i. rejects sdentlflc concern that smok- ..if might Intensify any lung-cancer threat posed by mineral wool. Plant workers have 's manager, of industrial hygiene. Ays on Mr. Enterline's report. Is reviewing amlc-llber producers are aware of the whether to recommend stricter workplace prtstobailte hazard and have long urged exposure limits. Sir Richard Doll, a lead-' alto been Issued uniforms, the spokesman workers to use masks when removing tag British epidemiologist. Ays he believes sh>*. to prerentybrkers from carrying In ceramic Insulation from furnaces. They exposures to all Insulating fibers should be flation fibers home on their clothing, .have also called attention to the cristoba- held to the same level as exposure to as- bung-eanew deaths in asbestos workers' faimllep'diave been linked to such expo- Jte risk on their labels. ' iestioa. Glass.and other tnsulallnr JSbatj are currently regulated in the U.S. u ao- called -."nuisance,*'.. or. nonfaaiardom.. ST0272791 dusts, v *'.: ain i ' Both industry sod academic tattmOons :. ire planning new studies ofinsulttkas-Bbor safety. Sclentists'whojwitnessed the- is- Tjestos disatter are'latent on averting any ; similar'ragedy,:Says.Jrying. $elltofi,\iQ ' leading asbestos xpot #t: New Tor*V7 [ Mount Sinai Scbool.of Mediclne:-;"AII the^ j resources' we bulh to study asbestos should j be drawn, on bow.'' ^^.: