Document oe8549KG7RKzGkZ4K6JebEZ4w

6^3 JOGEPI-I L. GOOD'!, M. D. 623 o*hcAn ,v/u::.Ju NORTH CHAnLESTCti. 2. r.. 23400 November 10, 1972 Mr. William S. Simpson, President Pvaybestos-Manhattan, Inc. 205 Middle Street Bridgeport, - Connecticut 06603 Dear Mr. Simpson: This is a review of the meeting in Lyon, France, the subject of which was the Biological Effects of Asbestos. The real purpose and impor tance of this meeting seems to indicate tc me that there is a distinct trend in the thought of people internationally associated with the bio logical effects of asbestos in its relationship to disease, mainly asbestosis, and to a greater extent its significant effect on the individual in relationship to cancer. The translation of this knowledge into future efforts by Raybestos-Man hattan Corporation and its medical personnel in relationship to the scientists, the public, and to the government remains to be evaluated. I think it would be appropriate to discuss the future trends and the course of action that was being taken by all parties concerned in this discussion. At the present time, there is no doubt - ro question - that the biological effects of asbestos leads to asbestosis and to carcinoma of the lung; both' bronchogenic carcinoma and mesothelioma. As far as the different aspects of the effect of different types of asbestos are concerned, all types of asbestos are incriminated. There were papers presented which show that mesothelioma is caused by crccidolitc, amosite, and chrysotile. These particular cancers of the iur.j arc of extreme importance and lately have been given national and in." emotional publicity. Consideration is being given to the i:v eergatiens that we arc pursuing relative to the possibility that other typer of tumors of the body may have a relationship to asbestos e:~osure. Thi ; at the present time is not firm, but there was shown at this particular :v.; eting that there is a trend toward .this direction relative to gasrro-iatecvir.al tumors and possibly other r/pcs of rare tumors, ouch as the pancreas, :pj.ague, parts of the colon, and other parts of the intaV.tin.il tract. Ti.i a point of view which lias not l.acn previously recogiiiucd. the bre... . . .:o.,e and medical implications of this j.-r.rticulnr type ol environmental on - sure is tu.treineiy imno riant because wo r.o.v see iho implications :; : ..uitional publicity affecting ail Oi*^2iii7 ol fciiO ho ay, a I iu n$ twic* .-.i" tio ircsj/ivacoiry i5vst.;jvi o. major primary organ of ilu: lad/ wine'.: ' ffectecl. The company's con cern, i1'- pui'i ic's concern, anil the eo's concern, tin riinrovrrrrt i,i'i J* C1 * *' (i > < 1 in j i | c i1,11 n yr nm.i n, mnv-j. in linin' rv<-fl liy 11. i - |, 111, t - in ijuiiiM'.il Imtu:..Lr y ami iii.'in.i .p'lru-nt c.n.. .t bl imu.oiii.iiel y roiogittr.e the importance of such releases in the press. (More) I I don't think personally that the public relations approach is now the answer to the specific problem of our industry. 1 think that it is going to bo better to spend more money on environmental controls of the dusts, with strong emphasis on housekeeping, of the fumes, and of the gases of which industry has ^'encountered. I feel that no matter what the circumstances are the problems relative to the biological effects cannot be neutralized or washed away by any types of releases or types ox public programs. / industry must recognize that governmental introduction into the field or into the workplace and the recognition of the hazards has been es tablished.- At tliis particular meeting there were several members of the labor movement there, and also members of the international AFL/CiO which were associated with Dr. Selikoff. It is apparent to me that the next major effort will be in the education of the workers. I'was told by Dr. Selikoff and his associa tes in the labor field that we would have to begin educating the worker in a more objective method and''manner. The. workers would have, to he knowledgeable .concerning the absolute exposure at which they were subjected; they, would be abic to look at these counts to see the dust that tliey were exposed to, the length of time they were exposed,_ and accordingito the' requirements of the. OSHA act this information must be provided to the workers. There should be no allusion that the company 'must initiate immediately the development of an educational progrem principally organized by med ically oriented people in a manner to pro -cr.Vy inform management, foremen, and employees of the uses, biological effects of asbestos, and what is being done to control this" asbestos exposure. 1 say this primarily because I have head recently in other industries that they have had hysterical episodes among employees as to the instances of asbestosis in plants. This is created duo to press releases, public hysteria, and public pressure. V/e will begin to see a situation or a demand from the union and pressure from the public to do something about the situation. Plans should be developed relating to immediate steps that should be taken as to the environmental controls and to medical programs. A complete medical program for the entire corpo ration is a must. ^ I think there is some real hope though to reestablish the very cause of these carcinomas because it begins to appear that them ore some other causes associated with asbestos that precipitate these carcinomas and other changes that occur in 'me clicc.s of the asucstos lioei*. Perhaps, it is the liber itscit, p_rnaps, it is m --omc r .u-oc.ta.ted trace irvatr-.l tnat attaches itself to,the asbestos fiber. A t.ignifleam papo- by Dr. J. C. hlcDcinald stated that he \.c > able .o con: .`ol :h.. effects of as bus to sis aii'i < ?. rcenugeuesi:, if ll.: i.-lh i .iued . i .e l n. i >v 5 fiber:;. TilO .a of .t., 1.1 ::m. .1 .ill .1- .. ioiaiimtn e,nine is pri- . I.irily mi- .er III St.,'i.e.i .... . i.. (.4._ ..lo-riirillicrl pl'O- eriio:,. ii '-.ms i..,ieve.-iing i) ..*0 tis.i. ,, u fir r :,)..ss ami aluminum oxide procieC'-ii tumors, ru j '.per pm:, sin! by Dr. M. K, Si.'.iitou, in: suiivil > U,'i the use <:! ; in u. my ; '.VfV. .j re i i .on in .".(I vlrblcii lnn|.i:' t-e (:,. i, . lite - I .r l: i. * I' i t ' v rrm- I'ilhlefl li'imi t 111. UmJ lie- Im .1':' the fiber is very iinpu i't<uu ana i i't i >; i: 11 -. i i 11: l:i Jiie i-r.e i,t . `.....in m Iho pruducUtm oi i a rc.-.m- goneois. A paper by Dr. J. G. V/n toner anc! G. Derry talked about the consideration of the eiogical ir. .eh.'.niss.:; J;:u other factors-ti,at were r< !, i cti to ike particular s.ir.e o. the. iiu arm tl.nl .a I,m..vl,'i, : i i a . V */ or to the trace elements, but that there r.ve indications that the fiber sire and shape are important and that mesotheliomas have been produced with fiberglass and other non-asbestos materials. J.n intrapleural experiments ali types of asbestos used have produced me sot'ncliomas in rats. A per centage figure which you might use as a measure is 61% of animals pro duced cancer with crocidolitc, 36% with fmosite, 3*1% with antophyllite, 30% with Canadian chryootilc, and 19% with Rhodesian chrysotile. A great many of the people felt that the trace metals were extremely rele vant. The greatest conclusion of all was that in employment in asbestos, especially the insulation worker, smoking has a greater affect on asbes- tosis and lung cancer than anything else,, and every one of the asbestos workers should stop smoking. 4 / There was great criticism of Dr. Selikofps paper by Dr. J. C. McDonald. He felt that the statistics presented in this paper were not accurate. Kc talked about the insulation workers and bo asked why the insulation workers that were not included in the union were r.ot presented as a part of the study. 1 could go on for hours with various types of difficulties and prob lems they had. with asbestos, but one of the main things I would like to convey to you is that glass fiber is carcinogenic. With a peritoneal irri tation and the addition of beneopyrine with chrysotile. a high rate of inci dences of carcinoma was produced. Chrysotile alone produced a very low incidence of mesothelioma. >* ` In summary, I would say that there are many salient features to the dis cussions that were held at Lyon: (1) There is absolutely a direct connec tion between'chrysotile asbestos and mesothelioma, broncogenic carci noma, and, of course, asbestocis, (2) The union representative was adamant in that there will be a revolution in their particular area bring ing about the necessity 6f industry getting ahead of the problem by intro ducing an educational program that will orient the worker as to what he- . is exposed to. Of course, this must be done by medically oriented pcr-_ 1 | sound so that an aura of hysteria is not created. The facts arc to be presented in a logical sequence in a manner of importance to such an extent that there-will be a complete compliance with die OSKA require ments, and yet, not cause fear among employees. It must show the company's interest in the employees' health and what the company is doing to protect and safeguard their exposure. (3) There will be in-' creasing publications and press roleatscr. related io the significant "epidemic" of mesothelioma and other types of carcinoma of the G. I, tract, pancreas, etc. , ; and then, anticipation of this particular rela tionship should be combatted by educational orientation of the employee. It should be emphn:-.ixeri thru the people vb.c are most at risk are the workers and ihoy should be taught to use rne-ty vlais safely and with con cern. (4) There should be a complete medical program. A complete survey of all the systems including the pulmonary system by u.-e of modern environmental and main -i-u.ea.n; available to us and mat-a regular routim; oduchtiun pr.i,' r> m L>; o.u rdin.n: -l with inis physical exam) >nioin A film strip or a film should be prepared for the ovien- t uio.i i.f the. pt-v/ue, espocieUy since. G.itlA ii gutaiion:. allow the individual to ask for hi a expo mi re, mo r,mount of exposure, and the dust Id v/hh'ii he. ine boon exposed. I Libel; I. thin p I'll;; mi n wit! 1 * i" i i,; nb.nil pm.iter public r-l.i i ! mo by irb.ii m - done, ;;u m-ittui- what -- liinui a public relations man will prodvo, . A public c-duenidom prot'r.-. m . is certainly in order in wltie.h otic can, 1 believe, through the media of television, radio, and newspaper cdccutu the public as to the knnovinnee of asbestos, its uses, the biological effects of r.vtt tslos, its conl.oia, v i i u /rv f 1 - -I - and its indispcnsahility to our modern technological society. It should be stressed that if properly used and properly controlled, it is a perfectly safe, product. J. want to thank you very much for the opj ortunity to come in con- . tact with some of the world's greatest scientists and international esoerimentcrs. I had the opportunity of sitting ne::t to the inves tigator from Moscow who invited me to Moscow to visit his labora tory. I also had the opportunity of having long conversations and discussions with Dr. Gilson, Dr. V/agner, Dr. V/cbstor, Dr. Cotin, and many others with international impor'nnce and found myself readily acceptable at their level. Of course, there is a great deal more to be discussed about this subject, but I certainly donlt think this is the place for it. There are volumes and volumes of infor mation and letters that 1 have read and. have v/itli me, and perhaps, at an opportunity that presents itself \vc will be able to discuss it person to person. T. send my best personal regards to you. . JLG/shl ;. 0138