Document nYJoRr6kZEJBMKwKXzOm5yX1

c Asbestos Mining As^c^iON'^|^i|^ 5*0 g*and-alle est -- sunt l_/ % H u"tc 4, out ^ Tahpkoee J15-6731 November 16, 1964 fflr. m.'J. Wessel, President, Quebec Asbestos Wining Association, Black Lake, Quebec. ' BRIEF REPORT (NON-SCIENTIFIC) RE CONFERENCE ON BIOLOGICAL ZFFZCTS OF ASBESTOS HELD IN NEW YORK,GCTOBER 19, 20 and 21, 1964 As you well know, the above Conference was spons'or.ad by the New York Academy of Sciences and the chairmen of the Conference were Dr. L.J. Selikoff and Dr. J. Churg of The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. It was easily noticeable that, at the opening of the Conference on Monday morning, there was a feeling of uneasiness about the pre-conference articles which appeared in the press in USA and Canada. It was also apparent that the medical exports from Great Britain and other "European countries were fully aware of this pre-conference publicity. The first session began with an expose on the asbestos materials in modern technology. This was one of two sessions where someone (N.w. Hendry) from a member company of our Association was invited to present a paper. This contribution dealt with the occurrences and major uses ofasbestos throughout the world. Emphasis was placed especially on the differences between chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite. Following this introductory discussion, several papers were presented on the occurrence of asbestosis and dust measuring techniques. It was pointed out that the enormous rise in production and industrial use of asbestos : during the past fifty years has resulted in widened exposure to asbestos dust from an increased number of workers. Dr. Selikoff indicated that in a study of some 1,500 asbestos. r--1. - PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT QA-106 City of Balt. v. Keene Corp 3att. Cty. Circ. Ct. :ase No. 84 268048/CL 25639 lOOt insulation workers in New York - New Jersey metropolitan ares, *t had been found that, during the past twenty years,.. - sixty of them had died of lung cancer, probably a compli cation of asbestosis, said he. Many other workers revealed that they were affected by asbestosis. Obviously, Or. . Selikoffs conclusion was that health and lives were endangered by their occupations. ' Or. W.J. Smithers from England also reported an increasing incidence of lung cancer in certain factory workers located in London. A certain Dr. Thomson from Africa also reported that, in a survey made among urban dwellers in Capa Town, South Africa, and Riami, Florida, the results showed an increase in the occurrence of the cancer of.the pleura, probably due to inhaling of asbestos dust as a new form of air pollution. In our ooinion, some of the conclusions drawn were based on probabilities and lacked certain important distinctions as to the origin and type of asbestos bodies. During the afternoon session, there was a bit of an incident* that took place.lt had been discovered that three press releases (one for each day of the Conference) had been prepared in advance under the apparent authorship of the New York Academy of Sciences public relations department end were available at the press desk near the Confertnce Hall. This, together with the pre-conference articles, created a great deal of discontentment, so much so, that the British delegation registered a very strong protest during the after noon meeting. This protest took strong exception to the sensational tone of the press releases prepared for public consumption. These releases, was it stated, pieced emphasis on those aspects of the papers'presented for which there was the least scientific backing and which seemed calculated to arouse unjustified fear among the general public. The statement on the sensational summaries of the deliberations of the Conference prepared in advance of the actual presentations met with applause and agreement by at least 90JS of the delegates. The subject came up again thi next day in the form of a resolution, at which time Or. Selikoff had to speak in defense of the Academy for its method of handling the publicity on the Conference. The objection was especially bitter against the headlines of the press releases. They went like thist a) HICH INCIDENCE.'OF CANCER .DEATHS FOUND .AS5S5TQSMMQRKERS: ASBESTOS IN ENVIRON --- .DWELLERS * -.V r of Bkiuv. Keen^oTT? cty. Circ. Ct ^` F915S !! ^wt ">--*ivwyj ^fluir/h-r~-mrm rr^y ^Vr-TV-'-V^v,^5i?rs r- *\* * '-rr fakyf*' :u^v; W& .-;> ' ' * JtT ^^**4*^ '- -l:-T.*- ': T?."/' V. <*. 1. *...- JC Xtl . * 'v. c - /s b) ASBESTOS LINKED TO SEVERAL RALIGNANCIES) RAY PAVE WAY TOR CIGARETTE-INDUCED CANCER c) SCIENTISTS CITE CROWING ASBESTOS HAZARDS) ASK FOR SAFETY REASURES AND FURTHER STUDY Fortunately no newspaper reproduced these articles. It must be pointed out that sons very well prepared papers were presented, especially on the 2nd and.3rd days. One of these papers presented by Dr. A.C. Vigliani of University of Rilan on asbestos exposure in Northern Italy was especially interesting, since it showed considerable reduced occurrence of asbestosis and pulmonary malignancy in local asbestos workers as compared with those of Ehgland. It must be added that Dr. Selikoff and his associates gave fl vary lively presentations of their papers. Dr. Cartier was . able during the second day of the discussion to briefly ' indicate differences in the frequency and type of pulmonary neoplasia among Canadian asbestos mine workers. Up to that moment, the discussions as a whola had been clouded with a certain pessimism. Fortunately, at the dinner held in the Academy building on Tuesday evening, Dr. J.C. Gilson did a masterful job in presenting a complete picture of the asbestos industry throughout the world. He pointed out that the asbestos industry had in its balance sheet, not only items on the debit side but considerably more on the credit side. He gave a lively description of the growth of the industry in rscent years and its Importance in tha life of people in every country of the world. His remarks brought all tha previous discussions in their true parspectlve and from then on, the debate was much mors friendly and co-pperative. One of the statements brought forth by Dr. Gilson in a later discussion, was that the increasing occurrence of . cancer among asbestos workers was ironically, a reflection of their improved working conditions and longer life span. It is obvious that today, tha medical profession knows more .... about, cancer and as a result, the latter is diagnosed and . ' recorded as such in the case of more people with a normal life span. It was pointed out that lung cancers caused by. inhalation.of . asbestos^dust-,appeared twenty to forty, yearsc-r^;'-1 Salt. Cr.tyB.8Clt-ircv.* Ct. co Case No. 84 268068/CL 256: Seotember. 1993 '>> tssto y >.**93 after onset of expoaurej therefore, the incidence ahould eventually drop_ sharply, ainca improvements in working eonditiona and preventive maaauraa hawa baan takan over tha paat twenty yaars. In hia paper givan towarda tha and of tha Conference, Or. K.W. Smith of Johns-Manville Corporation, etatad that it waa important to find out which kind of asbestos fibres would be more or less harmful within tha human body; in addition, tha geographical location of the asbestos deposit seems to ba an important factor to tha incidence of the disease. Attention ahould ba placed on certain impurities or contaminants associated with various typas of asbestos fibres. Distinctions should also ba mads in tha definition of asbestos workers and environmental working conditions. . . In ending (Hr. Sabourin pointed out that^ although the medical experts from Quebec had not bean asked to actively participata in the Conference, i.e. present papars, thei.* records as well as those of the various asbestos mining companies were opened to any scientist interested. Us do not wish, 'said hr. Sabourin, to impose oursalves but we feel that wa have a great deal of experience to offer in this Tisld, since our records dats as far back as 1927. The undersigned knows that the advice given by Dr. Sabourin was well taken and that everyone in the audience was aware of his knowledge and competence in the field of pneumoconiosis, etc. Mr.Sabouttn has advised that he would submit a more complete (scientific) account of the various exchanges that took place during those three days withi'n and without the premises of the Conferanea nassrs. A.L. Penhale Ceo.W. Smith K.V.lindell J.O. Cby E.A. Boadway wJ.A. nain. R.S. Coleman P.A. Meyer Paul-A. filtaau Asbestos Corporation Ltd, _ Bell Asbestos Mines Ltd. ~ Canadian Johna-Manvilla Co,,Ltd. Canadian Johns-Manville Co*, Ltd, Carey-Canadian Mines Ltd. Plintkota Mines Ltd. National Asbsstos Mines Ltd. Nicolet Asbestos Mines Ltd. rValt:Balt. Cty. Circv.- ct. Cc Case No. 84 268068/CL 256 Seoteober. 1993