Document pmBQk5Zde6evyNKaXndz04Mx6

FILE NAME: WR Grace (WRG) DATE: February 1977 DOC#: WRG172 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1977 Memo to JC Yang from HC Duecker regarding tremolite 02/12/1996 15:02 6173564SS7 CAMBRIDGE TO: J. C. Yang FROM; H. C. Duecker CC: V. R. Haillon 0. M. Favorito H. A. Eschenb^dh E. S. Wood R. M. Vlnthg V SSHC PAGE 15 DATE: su bject; Tremolite in V e r x i t e 0. M. Favorit, in his memo of February 9, 1977 has raised the question as to whether Verxite may continue to be sold as a food additive because of possible asbestos content, Verxite is produced exclusively from Kearney #U vermiculite and, after expansion, is passed oyer a scalping screen, to remove particles smaller than 1** mesh. Our discussion of the product led us to the tentative conclu sion that even if it were possible to detect a few asbestos particles in the product (by some laborious laboratory procedure), the concen tration would be found to be so low that quantification of the asbestos content would be virtually impossible. Further, there was some question as to whether tremolite asbes tos has ever been found to induce cancer in the digestive tract of man. or animal. We would like to have you assemble all the pertinent literature on the subject over the next four to six weeks, and on the basis of this literature attempt to identify any potential problem with this product. Also, would you please obtain two or more representative sam ples of Verxite for further evaluation. HCDrmlr H. C. Duecker 1500253 02/12/96 15:03 TX/RX NO.4725 P.015