Document o9Qj5Yewg9qevrK78E7y9BjBw

r' highlights or heetinc BETWEEN representatives of U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE AND CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS DIVISION W. R. GRACE & CO. August 28, 1969 U.S. Public Health Service Division of tinJfU:minlor!y & Special Services Construction Product1? Dlvici W. R. Grace & Co. L. J. Crally, PhD, Director W. S. Lainlurt, H. D. , Deputy Director H. E. Ayer, Assistant Director J. R. Lynch, Chief Laboratory & Engineering R. H. Ligo, M. D., Chief, Field Studies Branch 11. A. Brown R. E. Schneider 0. F. Stewart D. Lovick * Peter Kostic PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT .11!. Said that ' .-'<::uiry I corr.ey CL ::c iiar 3 satau 'jr Inci.;.' 'H*r '-he -'...-i ttiti is !; known ;o Crnilcy that ahurf.- ts 3 .tut: created by konoli sc , .-c:a-nr; oyi'.sfs and he was aware of- Che problem -:,<i -hat ;'`-s - wish Zonoliae on site prob ir-m. 1. i.n ahu "ors'it.v;;, ton*: truer.; on, cub he . s prohJc- S Libby, .Spr-S.v St .naif/. Cf.'. !!/ iOl'.i is.in .jus t;:: ::.n~ sis .eiy Said cite: nothing in known about site, offsets on cite heels persons exposed so cremol-itc-fisbcsto;; dust, and shoe his divisicn w :iuld like so make a norm! ity study of forme:* employees (such st.udv is b crihed in Lynch's lesser of July 10, 190/1. ^-rpy irrac'v'-n . j;, ordc such study is meaningful, However, a substantial number of employee would have to be involved and certain information (records) vcujd it :vc so be available. He was not sure what prompted Dr. Sclikoff to express interest in the problem, lie speculated that the information may have readied him through a doctor or doctors from the Northwest, familiar with the problem He said that ills division undertakes special studies and projects as site request of state health departments. In our case, they will be working througli the Health Department of die State of Montana. Asked If our South Carolina ore contained cremolite asbestos. Requested raw ore and expanded ore samples from Libby, South Carolina and South Africa. He advised that for the time being, we should keep our discussion: and delivcrations confidential so as not to create undue apprehension. As 1 remember, he said there was no objection in letting those who express inquir know chat "vc arc working witli the U. S.. Public Health Service on the probir Said his group will study the available records and discuss the problem further, then let us know whether a mortality study would be fcasibl "PR. LA I.VHART Said there is a greater incidence of lung cancer among asbestos workers who smoke cigarettes tlian among non-smokers. The point lie made was that we must he concerned with lung cancer as well as pneumoconiosis (dust disease of the lungs). Said his division would consider doing a medical study of present employees at Libby. Briefly, this wou!d involve certain tests, chest x-ray: and examinations of those presently employed; comparison of findings with whatever past records showed, and periodic repeated tesis and x-rays. This would all be done by them,with chcir equipment and at their expense, at Libby. I; PLAINTIFF'S || EXHIBIT n. r.. ay::r Said chat chi'. innin-or method of air sampling, insof-r zr. evaluation uf zilvscos fibers is concerned, has no value. Offered to instruct our pf-cmncl, ac their Laboratories, in Che proper technique of microscopic fiber counting. Said they would he willing to double died: sample fiber counts from time to time. Kxcepc when personal samplers (pumps) are dropped or. otherwise roughly handled, he said calibrating everv six months is sufficient. J. R. LYNCH Said that Ills sampling of the air at the mine and mill ac Libby, and subsequent laboratory analysis of the samples, shoved that asbestos fiber counts were far in excess of the recommended threshold limics. Said that the mechanical ventilating equipment in the Libby dry mill, as he observed it, had many leaks and lacked die velocity to with draw all the dust. The entire system, as he termed it, needed a good tightening up. Said chat cyclone collectors could not be expected to properly do the job. lie recommended bag type collectors. Said that he had observed employees, exposed to dust in the dry mill, not-wearing respirators. When questioned about his statement chat he observed "respirators not of an approved type" being worn at Libby, Lynch snid he couldn't recall the exact circumstances. Said he would like to have a look ac whatever plans wc have for ventilation improvements at Libby and chat he would lend assistance in this regard. Said Chat a program of dust controls, monitoring of work-place air and installation and maintenance of suitable equipment , should be undcrtaken whether or not the USi'llS conducts their studicr-. ; PLAINTIFF'S i EXHIBIT Di'.. lrclt it would 'jo an ideal setup to use Kearney employees as a control group, since they'are exposed to Vurmiculitc but not to eremolitc asbestos. PK:jrs *~P cL(c-~ /.J. PLTSl K0ST1C