Document oeGGdrgGx64Y47LK9ROGqkkMg

FILE NAME Talc TALC DATE 1972 June 7 DOC TALC071 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter to US House of Representatives from the FDA rt oy, JUN 13REE 13REE 13REE Pt DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE , DOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ROCKVILLE MARYLAND 20852 1972 Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes House of Representatives Washington D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Sarbanes JUN JUN 3RECD 3RECD 3RECD This is in further reply to your letter of April 19 to Secretary for Legislation of the Department of Health and Welfare concerning containing products the Assistant Education The the Food and presence Drug Administration is aware of the recent concern over of asbestos particles in talc which may be used in food products Since there is some difficulty in identifying asbestos in talc because of their chemical similarity we are now in the process of evaluating the available analytic procedures for determination of asbestos in talc However in the meantime we are moving ahead with analysis of products containing talc with existing methodology for the presence of asbestos particles We are attempting to determine the degree of exposure by the average consumer to products containing these substances We are also preparing a draft for a proposed provisional regulation for the use in foods of talc which is free of asbestos particles Funds for animal studies on the toxicological effects of talc have not been available A memorandum of need is being developed to justify the needed funds for contract feeding studies on silicates including talc The Bureau of Product Safety of the Food and Drug Administration has reviewed the NIOSH document Criteria for a Recommended Standard ... Occupational Exposure to Asbestos and the quotation Mr. Castleman gave from page 3 We are unaware of any type of asbestos product intended for use in the household which could be expected to give rise to such concentrations of airborne fibers that its use would overwhelm the clearing mechanism Since long exposure to levels contemplated by the standard would not be expected to overwhelm the clearing mechanism the level contemplated by the quoted passage must be much higher ponorable Faul Sarbanes Prue ponorable ponrable Prue 2 - 2 ponorable ponorable ponorable Faul Faul Faul S. S. Sarbanes Sarbanes Sarbanes F04 has at the present time no specific regulatory actions underway except the pronibition of use of asbestos as a component of general We are continuing to explore the possibility of azard use garmerts in the home and from othe uses of containing products methods for control of such hazards as are discovered including in consideration labeling construction criteria such as resin bonding our if it should become necessary banning specific as yet unidentified and airborne fibers of products to control likelihood of release of asbestos Thank you for your interest further assistance Please let us know if we can be of Sincerely yours Fred Meyer F. Gerald F. Meyer Director Meyer Office of Legislative Services