Document mnbKbVBBJaj0nR9KqrXpQRkO

m ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION '660 i. Street N N /Vasn.r'gto'' 3C 20C36 202:223-1335 26 February 1974 Irving J. Salikoff, M.D. Mount Sinai School of Medicine^... Fifth Avenue and 100th Street - :iew York, :i. Y. 10029 ^ -Li.' Dear Dr. Selikoff: Thank you very much for being with the Association's directors and technical committee members this past Thursday. Your remarks and those of Dr. Dill Vicholson ware informative and served well to "improve communica tions between the scientific community and industry". I am confident that our visit could have continued for several hours with benefit to all through searching discussion of the problems involved in the asbestoshealth issue. Time did not permit inquiry into some of the questions that our members wished to address to you. In accord with your kind offer, I enclose a selection of those questions for such comment as you might wish to make. Again, thank you for being with us. We have strengthened our lines of communication. Our Association will continue to follow your dedicated work related to the asbestoshealth issue,,as we know you will seek, with industry, to find answers to the complex problems that we share. . S' R. H. Mereness Cxecutivo Director eg Enclosed: Questions ALV 0002042 A ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION '660 L Street N A Aasrurgtsn 3 C 20036 202: 223-1885 QUESTIONS 1. In recent months, some reports in the press indicate that you now feel crocidolite is more hazardous than chrysotile. In your opinion, is this true? Should there be different standards for chrysotile and crocidolite, as well, perhaps, as for amosite? 2. Statements have been made by individuals from the Environmental Sciences Laboratory at Mount Sinai that EM-sized asbestos fibers are as harmful as light-sized fibers. Do you have any solid evidence that this is true, considering Stanton's research indicating that fibers in the sub-micron range are not harmful? 3. What is your position with reference to the continued use of asbestos-containing filter media, such as' filter sheets, used in both parenterals and ingested products? 4. '.vhat is your estimate of the yearly total of mesotheliona cases in the United States? How many of these do you think are asbestos-related? ALV 0002043 r QUESTIONS / Page 3 8. You have been quoted as saying that asbestos-related disease car. be contracted fran very minimal exposure to asbestos -- one or two days, for example. Do you have evidence that this is really a serious problem or has your position been exaggerated in the press? 9. Do you believe that asbestos is the only cause of mesothelioma? Are other possible causes being investigated by the Mt. Sinai Environmental Laboratory? 10. You have predicted an epidemic of mesothelioma among World V?ar II shipyard workers. How many actual cases are you finding or are you aware of per year in this industry? / 11. You have talked of the two- or three-fiber Time Weighted Average of the insulation workers, but have said little about peak exposures. Isn't it likely that these are of even greater importance in the causation of disease than the medium or low average exposures? Are you undertaking any investigations in this area? ALV 0002044 i