Document om9zmom3oOgv98ED3OaMe2oXD

Department of Environmental Sciences M. O. Varner Manager 'v0 December 13, 1977 V'Cr n n (0 CK- ^ ren.&s 13-N`_77_ From M 0 Varner Copied tor; K.W.Netoon Mr- M- 0- Varner Building _ K> '-Cr-f. yiAj'Aicsxc./ Society for Occupational and Environmental HealtKr | PLA1NTIFF'SEXHIBrr Conference in Washington, D.C. December 4-7, 1977 SOEH held a conference, titled "Occupational Exposures to Fibrous and Particulate Dust and Their Extension into the Environment," in Washington, D.C., on December 4-7, 1977. Dr. Joseph Wagoner, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA presided over and ran the affairs of the conference. The sessions were chaired by union leaders. Dr. Selikoff and co-workers, and NIOSH representatives. As Mr. Nelson indicated on the advance announcement sheet, it was indeed a "stacked deck." I did not make any statements during the proceedings, particularly after observing the treatment "outsiders" received. For example. Dr. Malcolm Ross of the U.S. Geological Survey was responding during the first day's discussion period to some exaggerated claims (made by Dr. Anderson of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine) concerning asbestos exposure and lung cancer by citing specific data which showed such claims to .be fallacious. As soon as Dr. Selikoff (serving as moderator) sensed what Dr. Ross was going to do, he shouted angrily into the mike, "I did not give you permission to say anything like that" and cut him off. Several other similar incidents occurred to mute any poter.uj.al alleged objectivity of the conference. Dr. Selikoff did provide a very grim conference with one of its very rare humorous episodes; while introducing Cynthia Robinson (NIOSH), he said "If you can't hear her - I will press the speaker with pleasureI" Cynthia Robinson (NIOSH) reported that the IARC Monograph (Vol. 14, 1977, p. 80) presents evidence which shows that all forms of asbestos have been shown to be carcinogenic. She also claimed that seven cases of mesothelioma have now been found in Canadian chrysotile miners. She reported the latest findings on the current NIOSH study of mortality patterns among asbestos workers. A rate of 1.9 cases of mesothelioma per 10,000 asbestos r v ASARCO tncc'po-ated 3-22 So: res '.Vest, Salt Lake C.tv. Utah 84tt9 (801) 262-2459 ASARCO ALV 0012260 # -4- Dr. M. Kuschner (Stonybrook University) served as a discussant and provided one of the few objective criticisms of the NIOSH 'and Selikoff-controlled studies. He questioned, "Is it fair to use the total mortality figures for the U.S. as a control group?" He cited the lack of low level dose response in all the asbestos carcinogenisis testing as convincing evidence of a threshold level for carcinogens. He criticized the results (excessive lung cancer deaths) of the epidemiological studies reported during the conference as "overly simplistic" in that carcinogenisis is actually a multi factorial process and can occur only in a damaged lung, in that cigarette smoke must irreparably damage the lung before cancer can be caused by excessive occupational exposure. He also noted that pleural plaques are invariably associated with excessive exposure to asbestos by most researchers; however, if this is so, "Why do those with the least exposure get the greater amounts of pleural plaques?" In support of this thesis, he cited a study control population without any known asbestos exposure which was rated to have 30 percent pleural plaques. Some minor controversy erupted over talc, beryllium, fiberglass, etc. but the extent of debate and discussion was limited. At the end of the conference. Dr. Wagoner chastised the industry repre sentatives for not speaking out more in the sessions, and instead, taking their case to specific individuals out in the foyer. Consider ing the heavy-handed manner in which the proceedings were run, this criticism was wholly unwarranted. These proceedings clearly indicate that the CPSC intends to ban as many asbestos-containing products as is possible, that OSHA intends to tightly regulate asbestos (all- forms) as a Class I carcinogen, that EPA will soon be issuing national emission and air quality standards for asbestos and that FDA and MESA fully intend to further tighten regulatory controls for asbestos as well. They appear to be using asbestos to get their "team-work act together." LDW/bjs Lowell D. White, Ph.D. Environmental Scientist c ASARCO ALV 0012263 -4- Dr. M. Kuschner (Stonybrook University) served as a discussant and provided one of the few objective criticisms of the NIOSH 'and Selikoff-controlled studies. He questioned, "Is it fair to use the total mortality figures for the U.S. as a control group?" He cited the lack of low level dose response in all the asbestos carcinogenisis testing as convincing evidence of a threshold level for carcinogens. He criticized the results (excessive lung cancer deaths) of the epidemiological studies reported during the conference as "overly simplistic" in that carcinogenisis is actually a multi factorial process and can occur only in a damaged lung, in that cigarette smoke must irreparably damage the lung before cancer can be caused by excessive occupational exposure. He also noted that pleural plaques are invariably associated with excessive exposure to asbestos by most researchers; however, if this is so, "Why do those with the least exposure get the greater amounts of pleural plaques?" In support of this thesis, he cited a study controlpopulation without any known asbestos exposure which was rated to have 30 percent pleural plaques. Some minor controversy erupted over talc, beryllium, fiberglass, etc. but the extent of debate and discussion was limited. At the end of the conference. Dr. Wagoner chastised the industry repre sentatives for not speaking out more in the sessions, and instead, taking their case to specific individuals out in the foyer. Consider ing the heavy-handed manner in which the proceedings were run, this criticism was wholly unwarranted. These proceedings clearly indicate that the CPSC intends to ban as many asbestos-containing products as is possible, that OSHA intends to tightly regulate asbestos (all- forms) as a Class I carcinogen, that EPA will soon be issuing national emission and air quality standards for asbestos and that FDA and MESA fully intend to further tighten regulatory controls for asbestos as well. They appear to be using asbestos to get their "team-work act together." LDW/bjs Lowell D. White, Ph.D. Environmental Scientist c ASARCO ALV 0012263