Document jBozVGV0a8XJgdB75Y9NjGd9p

FILE NAME Insulation Contractors & Distributors ICD DATE 1970 May DOC ICD010 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Article from Walls and Ceilings Trade Journal Sprayed Asbestos Viewed with Growing Alarm Sprayed Asbestos Viewed With Growing Alarm Careless spraying of asbestos insulating and fireproofing material is an pollution problem that has become a serious health hazard Dr. Irving J. Selikoff professor in medicine and environmental medicine Mt. Sinai School of Medicine warns . Regulations should be stringent rapidly prepared and quickly enforced Dr. Selikoff contends His dramatic presentation at the Las Vegas convention of the IAWCC and many personal appearances since have produced a sobering shock upon his audiences since much of his material is backed with dramatic slides scientific expenments and results of his intensive investigation of the problem Dr. Selikoff says that one out of every 4 or 5 asbestos workers dies of lung cancer The very fine mineral fibers are found almost invariably in the lungs of per- sons autopsied in New York City 07412| Once the fibers get into the lungs there is no way to remove them and they cannot be dissolved he main- tains Dust counts taken during spraying jobs show on the order of 20 times the normal amount of dust in the air he says . Entire buildings are sometimes for contaminated life because asbestos fibers are left loose on are columns and beams and these dead spaces pipes pipes often used as return air ducts for the building's circulation system which exposes occupants of the building to con stant peril A means has been found observes Dr. Selikoff for minimizing the circulation of loose particles in wrapped asbestos coverings but no thoroughly satisfactory method of control for the spraying process has yet been perfected Until such a means is determined the only procedure which can save large segments of the population from serious resperitory problems is to keep spraying areas well protected and dampened and use the most careful housekeeping procedures in clean and removal of loose material Workers are warned to use protective masks at all times to always apply ma- terial away from prevailing winds and to carefully wash both their bodies and clothes as soon as possible after exposure Exteriors of buildings should be thoroughly covered Even at best however contends Dr. Selikoff these are interim measures for no thoroughly safe method has yet been found to control the hazards involved in the application process since after the material dries loose particles are free to thoroughly contaminate large areas both in and surrounding a building thus treated I urge manufacturers and industry to view this threat seriously and find immediate means for con- trolling the hazards to millions of innocent citizens cee, Formerly INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONE OF WALD & CEILING CONTRACTORSES Formerly Re, Contracting Contracting Plasterersgand~ a Lathers International Association : a iv: