Document mBmOp86wvYz5M0rgZB7mwJOnk

FILE NAME: Kaiser Gypsum (KG) DATE: 1972 Feb 4 DOC#: KG011 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Calibria Asbestos to KG RE Asbestos Toxicology & Gov Regulations with Attached Literature RE Asbestos in Calidria Products SSSSTOS THE DISCOVERT COMPANY V CARBIDE CORPORATION MINING & METALS 0IVISI0N P.0. BOX 579 NIAGARA FALLS. N.Y. 143Q2 TEL: 716-285-3311 February 4, 1972 Mr. R. W. Grlgg Commodity Purchasing Manager Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. Kaiser Center - 300 Lakeside Oakland, California 94604 Drive Dear Mr. Grigg: Walt Fitzpatrick has asked me to reply to your letter to him dated December 27, 1971 concerning asbestos toxicology. As we discussed all of your questions cannot be answered directly because federal regulations have not been finalized and/or explicitly defined. We are in the process of preparing a lengthy Corporate "position aper" on asbestos, its uses, controls, etc. We hope to complete he paper by April; however, for expediency, I will answer your questions to the best of my personal ability. We will keep you advised of new information and send you a copy of the final Corporate document. There are two separate federal agencies which have recently issued revised or proposed regulations concerning asbestos (copies attached). The Department of Labor through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued "emergency" regulations lowering the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for asbestos from 12 to 5 fibers per ml of air greater than 5 microns in length, and eliminated the total dust count as an alternate TLV. These regulations apply to employees handling asbestos in your plants as we*II as users of your products. On January 12, OSHA also published "proposed rule making" in the Federal Register, Vo I. 37, No. 7. The EnvironmentaI Protection Agency (EPA), under the 1970 Clean Air Act, has issued proposed standards which would govern emissions from plants and certain job sites. These standards will be reviewed in Oakland, C a lif o r n ia ' March and will not be enacted until later this year. Of major mutual concern is their proposal to prohibit the spraying of asbestos or products containing asbestos, without regard to the amount of asbestos contained. We feel that the intent is to ban only the spraying of asbestos insulation and the gross negligence which has been inherent with this operation. We will prepare comments for the EPA and hope to get a favorable definition of "spraying" to fit the intent of the current proposed ban. The comments below are in conjunction with the numbered questions in your letter. I. Calidria Asbestos SG-210 is chrysotile asbestos, the same as Canadian grades 7RF, 7TF and 701. The biological effects and basic mineralogicaI or crystalline nature are the same. I have enclosed a copy of "Airborne Asbestos", a report Issued by the National Academy of Sciences. It fully explains the health hazards and discusses them in an objective manner. 2a. Unless you have enough local ventilation to prevent fiber counts at breathing zones from exceeding the OSHA TL V , respirators should be worn when handling dry asbestos. The handling of pastes containing asbestos should present no problem. No dust will be generated once the asbestos fibers are wet with water or resin. Respirators should be worn during dry blending operations unless dust counts indicate levels below 5 fibers per ml greater than 5 microns long. 2b. ' Technically, when asbestos is heated to 700C it is converted to forsterite, a non-toxic mineral. Emptied bags and other waste incinerated at temperatures above 700C should presumably not emit asbestos fibers to the atmosphere. Because of inherent unanswered questions, we would not recommend this method of disposal. Emptied bags and other waste could be placed in large plastic bags and disposed of in land-fill operations. Under current and proposed regulations the latter method may be most practical and acceptable. Waste bags may be of interest to a local paper-maker but we have not explored this possibility. 2c. The type of respirator required depends on the dust levels to which an employee is exposed, see article 1910.93a (c) of the enclosed OSHA regulations. Your operations would probably require no more than the respirators referred to uaxiand, Cali fornia in sub-paragraph (2). For comfort and efficiency we would recommend Willson's Model No. 1009 with R-520 filter or M S A 's No. 86432 with type "H" UItra-fiI t e r , both of which are approved by the Bureau of Mines. 2d. Dust monitoring techniques are described in the attached procedure issued by the ACGIH. I have also included suggested equipment and its approximate cost. We would be glad to advise your industrial hygiene personnel and could make dust counts in your plants, at your discretion. Such measurements would be for our mutual benefit, not in connection with any government agency inspection. 2 e . Accidental "overexposure" to asbestos dust does not seem to be a relevant problem if you are referring to a "one time" type exposure. All published studies indicate that exposures must be experienced for long periods, 20-30 years, to cause lung damage or associated physiological changes. 3. This is the most difficult question to answer since we have no data indicating asbestos fiber counts in dust generated in performing the jobs mentioned in your letter. We are collecting materials and equipment to perform tests in our Niagara Falls R&0 labs. We will obtain dust counts during the spraying of ceiling textures and the application and sand papering of joint compounds. If you could send us a typical dry mixture we could include simulated job-mixing of such material in our tests. We would need mixing instructions and at least the approximate asbestos content. The revised OHSA regulations answer your specific questions as foilows: 3a. Article1910.93a (e). 3b. Article1910.93a (d)(3). 3c. Article1910.93a (f) and (g). 3d. Article1910.93a (d)(2). This may not apply to hand sand-papering but would require c Ia r if icat ion. These articles seem unnecessarily restrictive for your appIications but we do not as yet have any data for argument. 4. Per our telephone conversation I would not attempt to discuss the scope of the regulations or interpret their many complexities. There is a hearing concerning the EPA proposed standards in Oakland, C a li fo rn ia Los Angeles on February 15th at 10:00a.m. in the U.S. Courthouse, Room 1501, 312 N. Spring Street. Testimony will be presented by several companies and the Asbestos Information Association. I think you would find the hearing of interest and beneficial and would suggest that Kaiser Gypsum be represented. No advance notice Is required except for those presenting testimony. After reviewing the revised and proposed regulations, you may wish to make comments to the OSHA or EPA. If you do not want to do this directly, we would be glad to incorporate any information you have in our responses. OSHA comments are due by February II and responses to the EPA are due by March 6th. It Is possible that the former date may be extended. Although it seems somewhat out of place, and perhaps unnecessary, I would like to end this with a brief commercial. Your use of SG-210 is appreciated and we look forward to supplying more of your asbestos requirements in 1972. If our original formulating work was indicative, you should be using 30-502 less SG-210 compared to Canadian asbestos. This would redu.ce the total amount of asbestos you use and the amount In the products you sell. We also have asbestos in pellet form and they are essentially free of airborne-type dust. Although pellets would not be amenable to dry-mix, you may want to consider their -e in ready-mix compounds. My apologies for the delay in answering your letter - please let me know if we can be of any further assistance. Very truly yours, /cvb EncIosures cc : W. J . Fitzpa + ''i'",f J . S . Shea ha "CALIDRIA" A S B E S T O S SG-130 AND SG-210 For Tape Joint Compounds Lowers Costs Two Ways CALIDRIA Asbescos acts as a body ing and secondary chickening agenc permitting formulacion of Lower den sity, more economical cape joinc com pounds withouc che sacrifice of per formance. CALIDRIA Asbescos is produced by a proprietary manufactur ing process chac yields unusually high fiber concenc and more complece fiber liberation from che natural bundles. As a result, CALIDRIA Asbestos goes up to twice as far, pound for pound, as commercial grades of as bestos containing large amounts of other filler materials that have no specific desirable effects on tape joint compound properties. Enhances Sandability CALIDRIA Asbescos contains mainly chrysocile fiber aftd is essentially free from abrasive contaminants,such as magnecice and serpentine rock dusc. This composition results in a low dens icy produce, free from con taminants chat interfere with sanding. Improves Uniformity Narrow and well-concrolled parcicle size distribution, low alkalinity and high brightness are characteristic of CALIDRIA Asbestos. These proper ties are consistent from bacch to batch and improve che uniformity of cape joinc compounds using CALIDRIA Asbescos. Reduces Cracking The fibers of CALIDRIA Asbestos behave as an active lyophobic colloid in aqueous dispersion; by this mecha nism CALIDRIA Asbestos increases cape joinc compound liquid cohesive strengch during drying. Increased Liquid cohesive strengch greacly re duces che tendency for cracks over nail holes, in chick sections at che cencer of che joinc, and along the feathered edges. Suggestions for Use of CALIDRIA Asbestos CALIDRIA Asbescos can be readily used in your presenc tape joinc compound formulacion. Add approximately one-half che proportion of asbescos you now use. Increase che proportion of calcium carbon ate or ocher inert filler to make up for che lower quantity of asbestos. You may alsobe able co use slightly more wacer in your ready-mix and maincain your presenc vis cosity level. No ocher changes in your Octob*r, 1963 F-42258 CALIDRIA. CELLOSIZ. L'CAU, L'N'IOM C a r b i d e arc tra d e m arica o( U n io n Carbide Corporation. U N IO N C A R 8 I0 E C O R P O R A TIO N C H E M IC A L S A N O PLASTIC S 2 7 0 PARK AVENUE: N Y .N Y. 10017 "C A U D R IA " A S B E S T O S SS-130 AND SG-210 For Tap Joint Compounds Suggestions for Use of CALIDRIA Asbestos (Continued) formulation or manufacturing procedure are required. CALIDRIA Asbestos SG-130 has the coarser particle size; it finds use for bedding compounds or perhaps spackling compound. The SG-210 has the finer parti cle size and is favored for topping com pounds, all-purpose compositions, texture paints, and similar formulas. tv Vi U AJ iT . -> I I 2 -d ! i A Suggested Ready-Mix Tape Joint Compound For Use With CALIDRIA Asbestos Cr u;|lie r s.:. Calcium Carbonnf, No. 1 WKit* fThomptcnn Wdinmnn) . . . . . . _ Mica. P80F (Western Mica). . . .................................................... Clay, ASP-400 (Minerals and Chemicals Philipp C o rp .)......... CALIDRIA A sbestos, SG-210 (Union C a rb id e ).......................... Binder: * UCAR L atex 131 (Union Carbide).................................................. Workability Control Agent: t> CELLOSIZE Thickener, TJC Grade (Union Carbide)............... Drying Control: * Ethylene Glycol (Union Carbide).................................................... Defoamer: " Nopco" PD-1 (Nopco Chemical Company) ............................... Dispersant: ``Daxad" 30 (Dewey & Almy Chemical Div.)............................... B acteriastat: "~ "D o w icid e" A (Dow Chemical C o .) .............................................. T otal Water: about 56 parts by weight per 100 parts dry solids 'Contained solids basis A i-.'r Ports by Weight Dry Basis 2 ? ; . -- Tt- . 61.42 . 21.00 4.00 u .S " \ 4.58 1 *< -V - . ! 'I i- 0 c --/***e--S 6.60' 0.50 / 2 1.00 0.10 0.60' 0.20 / T 7 H ' 100.00 ^ D C T r ie r s I < J 2 CALIDRIA" A S B E S T O S SG-130 AND SG-210 For Tape Joint Compounds Typical Product Characteristics Reflectance (G.E. Photovolt) .......................... Contained m a g n e tite ........................................... A lkalinity (as % of NagO) ................................ pH (5fi aqueous slu rry ).......................... ............ Surface area (B E T ) ............................................. Oil Adsorption (DOP #/100# a s b e s to s )......... Wet Bulk, settled voi. (ml.) 10g/250 m l./l hr. Dry Bulk ( # /f t.3) ................................................ Wafer absorption (wt. % in filter cake) ......... Size distribution (cumulative % retained) Wet Screen mesh size 100........................ 200 ....................................... 325 ............................................................... CALIDRIA Asbestos SG-130 I SG-210 68% 2% max. 0.5 to 0.06 8.5 to 9.5 50 to 60 m^/g. 90 to 100 200 Ito 8 55 to 60 110 to 120 220 5 to 6 62 to 65 5 17 28 to 32 Trace 3 10 to 15 Packaging and Shipping Information Product Form - Opened (finely ground) chrysotile asbestos fiber. Packaging - One P a c k a g e .................................................................................................. P a lle t Weight Carload ..................................................................................................... T ru ck lo ad .................................................................................................. Shipping -- Classification - asbestos shorts Rail point of origin --Welby, California (King C ity, California) CALIDRIA Asbestos SG-130 | SG-210 40 lb. 30 lb. 1,600 lb. 2,000 lb. 1,050 lb. 1,500 lb. TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES It has been known for many years that some persons working in asbestos produc tion were prone to develop a disabling lung disease. In time, this condition became known as asbestosis and was related to exposure to high concentrations of asbes tos dust. With further experience, it was found that men could work with asbestos without development of lung disease if dust concentrations were kept below a certain level. It is now generally accepted that a man can work a 40-hour week for a lifetime without developing asbestosis if the asbestos dust particle count is kept at or below 5 million parricles per cubic foot of air. This dust concentration of 5 million particles per cubic foot of air is the Thresh old Limit Value for asbestos, and no cases "CALIDRIA" A S B E S T O S S G -130 AND S G -2 1 0 TOXICO LOG ICAL PROPERTIES (Continued) of ashes cosis are believed co have occurred when exposures have been maincained at or below this level, despice large-scale ucilizacion (now approaching one million cons per year in the U.S.A.). This concencracion of dusc is generally noc visible in che average work area unless a beam of light causing a Tyndall effect is present. Usually che dust concencracion muse be from 8-10 million particles per cubic fooc before ics presence is visible in average lighcing conditions. Several years ago, it was reported chat chere was an increase in the incidence of cancerous tumors, especially of che lung, associated with asbestosis. Recencly there have been reports of some cancers occurring in individuals exposed to asbestos dusc, but who have noc developed clinical asbescosis. It is believed by most authorities chat these cases have been associated wich exposures significancly exceeding the Threshold Limic Value. A major manufac turer of asbescos products who also mines asbescos has noc been able co show an in crease in cancerous growths in men work ing where dusc concentrations were main tained ac che Threshold Limic Value. Concrol of asbestos dusc exposure is therefore necessary. The concrol methods are che scandard ones applicable to a varietv of duscy operations. They include closed flow syscems, wee processes where possi ble, and adequate exhaust ventilation where openings in the system are necessary. Pelletizing is somecimes used co improve the handling characteristics of otherwise duscy materials. Where satisfactory concainmenc co stay wichin che Threshold Limic Value is impractical or impossible, effi cient and reliable respiracors are available for the protection of the employee. A pro gram of environmental monicoring in manu facturing operations is highly desirable co determine chat Threshold Limit Values are noc being exceeded. Employees should wear respiracors where dusting occurs in finishing products such as sanding caped joints. Pre-employment and periodic physical examinations of workers are desirable. These should include chest X-rays co in sure chat che worker has no chesc con dition prior co work with asbescos and co determine thac no lung changes are result ing from work wich asbestos. In conclusion, while asbescos dusc in excess of che Threshold Limic Value is potentially harmful, as are many other dusts encountered in industry, it is as readily controlled as other such dusts and it can be used safely with appropriate precautions. a "CAUDR1A" A S B E S T O S SG-130 AND SG-210 For Tap* Jo in t Compounds RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WATER & OIL ADSORPTION CAPACITY OF SOME ASBESTOS PRODUCTS FOR TAPE JOINT ADHESIVE FORMULATIONS THE DISCOVERY COMPANY Sa/es Offices UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION CHEMICALS ANO PLASTICS 270 PA RK A VEN U E. NEW YORK. N.Y. 10017 United States ATLANTA, GEORGIA 3 0 3 0 9 .........................................1371 P each tree St.. N. E . .......................... 404-892-7500 BALTIMORE. MARYLANO 2 1 2 0 7 ............................... Baltway Bldg.. 6 7 0 7 W hitestone R d._____ 301-944-8211 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 0 2 1 9 4 ..........................3 0 0 First Av.. N eedham H gts....................6 1 7 4 4 4 -5 4 0 0 BUFFALO. NEW YORK 1 4 2 2 5 .................................... 3 3 4 3 H artem Rd............................................... 716-837*6450 CHARLOTTE. NORTH CAROLINA 2 8 2 1 0 ................. 6 2 3 0 Fairview R d . .........................................704-364-1400 CHICAGO. ILLINOIS 6 0 6 0 6 ..........................................1 2 0 S outh R iverside P la z a ..........................312-822*7000 CINCINNATI. OHIO 4 5 2 2 7 .......................................... W est S tre e t an d Madisonville R d...............5 1 3 -2 7 2 0 2 0 6 CLEVELANO. OHIO 4 4 1 1 4 ............................................ 1 3 0 0 Lakeside A v e, N .E ............................. 216-621-4202 CUFTON. NEW JERSEY 0 7 0 1 2 ...................................9 3 5 Allwood Rd...............................................201-778-2900 DALLAS. TEXAS 7 5 2 0 7 ................................................. 2 7 1 0 S u m m o n F re e w a y .............................214-631*0010 DETROIT. MICHIGAN 4 8 2 2 1 ....................................... 10421 W est Seven Mile R d ... . 7 ............... .313-341-3131 HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 0 6 1 0 3 ........................... 4 1 0 Asylum S L ..............................................203-525*9345 HOUSTON. TEXAS 7 7 0 2 7 ............................................ 3 8 3 9 W est A labam a Aye.............................. 713-621-1000 INOIANAPQLIS. INDIANA 4 6 2 2 0 ................................7 2 0 Broad Ripple Ave....................................317*255*3181 KANSAS CITY. MISSOURI 6 4 1 4 1 ..............................9 1 0 Baltim ore Ave...........................................816-221*2400 LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA 9 0 0 5 8 ......................... 2 7 7 0 Leoms Blvd............................................. 213-583*3061 MEMPHIS. TENNESSEE 3 8 1 1 6 .................................. 3 3 8 5 Airways Blvd........................................... 901*396*5373 MINNEAPOLIS. MINNESOTA 55416 ......................... 3 0 3 3 Excelsior Blvd....................................... 612*927*4221 MOORESTOWN. NEW JERSEY 08057 .......................Route 3 8 and P le a sa n t Valley R d................609-235*6200 NEW YORK. NEW YORK 10017 ................................... 270 P ark Ave................................. 212*551*4641 PHILADELPHIA (MOORESTOWN. NEW JERSEY SALES O F F IC E )................................................... 215-923*3200 PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA 152 2 0................... P*kway C enter. 3 7 5 G reentree Rd................. 412*922*5700 ST. LOUIS. MISSOURI 6 3 1 0 5 .................................... 10 S outh 8rentw ood Blvd............................ 314-7264)324 SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA 9 4 1 0 6 ................... 2 2 B attery S L .................................................. 415-982-1360 ' SEATTLE. WASHINGTON 9 8 1 1 8 ................................4 7 2 6 Rainier Ave.. S o u th .............................206*723-8660 TULSA. OKLAHOMA 741 1 4 ....................................... 2901 South H arv ard ...................................918*742*5524 A it / lia. 135 Pan Am erica ARGENTINA .......Union Carbide inter-A m erica. Ine.. B uenos Aires BRAZIL ............... ........ .. Union Carbide do Brasil S, A.. Sao Paulo. Rio da Janeiro CANADA ................ ....... ......... Union Carbide C an ad a Ltd.. Calgary. Lachine (P.Q.), Toronto. Vancouver. Winnipeg CARIBBEAN ..................... ......Union Carbide Inter-A m erica. Inc., San Ju a n . Puerto Rico CENTRAL AMERICA............. Union Carbide Inter-A m enca. Inc.. P an am a City. Panam a CHILE .............................. ...... Union Carbide C om ercial Chile Ltd.. Santiago COLOM 8IA_______________ Union Carbide C olom bia. S. A., Bogota '``""MEXICO ____ Umearb Com ercial. S. A. d e C. V.. Mexico. D. F., G uadalajara. Monterrey PERU ___ Union Carbide Inter-A m erica. Inc., Lima VENEZUELA.........__Union Carbide d e V enezuela. C. A., C a racas WESTERN HEMISPHERE. _ Union Carbide Inter-A m enca, Inc.. New York, N. Y. Eastern AUSTRALIA ----- ----------- Union Carbide A ustralia Ltd.. Sydney. N. S. W. HONG KONG .......................... Union Carbide A sia Ltd.. H ong Kong INOIA ______ ____________Union Carbide India Ltd.. C alcutta. Bom bay. Madras. New Oalhi NEW ZEALAND .......... Union Carbide New Zealand (Pty) Ltd.. Auckland PAKISTAN ................ ............. National Carbon Co. (P akistan) Ltd., Karachi PHILIPPINES ------------------- Union Carbide Philippines Inc., Manila SINGAPORE ......Union Carbide Singapore Ltd.. Singapore Earoae .M inate E ast, and N orm Africa AUSTRIA ............... Union Carbide A ustria Ges. m bH .. Vienna BELGIUM ........................ Union Carbide Belgium N. V.. B russels FRANCE ................... Union C arbidt Europe s.a.. S u ccursale Franaise. Puteaux-Paris GERMANY ................. Union Carbide D eutschland. GmbH, D usseldorf ITALY ............... .f Umon Carbide Italia S.p.A.. Milan MIOOLE EAST ..........__ ....... Union Carbide M iddle East Ltd.. Athens. Greece NETHERLANDS __....__........ Union Caroide Belgium N. V.. A m sterdam SCANDINAVIA .............. ........ Union Carbide N orden A .8.. Stockholm . Sweden SPAIN ...______ ..................... Union Carbide Iberica S. A.. Madrid SWITZERLAND Union C jrbide Europe s.a.. G eneva UNiTEO KINGDOM_______ Union Carbide U. K. Limited. London. M anchester. Rickmansworth: England A fric a AFRICA (EAST) ..... AFRICA (SOUTH) , Union Carbide Africa Ltd.. NairaOi. Kenya Union Carbide South Africa (Pty) Ltd.. Johannesburg. Capetown. Durban; Republic of South Afnca i i <