Document qdErV46Ode5gKZ7KGaDKn10vq

FILE NAME DuPont DUP DATE 1970 Feb 2 DOC DUP186 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Asbestos Conference - Proposal PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT DUP ASBESTOS CONFERENCE It is proposed that a company conference be held on the subject of the possible risk of injury to the health of employees arising out of the use of asbestos and asbestos products and on the means of effectively eliminating the risk Reason for the Conference Mankind's knowledge of the health effects of inhaled asbestos including asbestosis pulmonary carcinoma and mesothelioma has been and is being appraised in the light of new knowledge and evaluation of older facts Standards that have been developed and used over the years for the control of inhalation and its health effects are undergoing reappraisal As an engineering guide for the control of dustiness the Threshold Limit Value of five million particles per cubic foot of air has been useful in reducing the occurrence of cases of the type of pneumonoconiosis known as asbestosis The modern day appreciation of an increased incidence of pulmonary carcinoma among persons who have asbestosis and are cigarette smokers and the recognition of mesotheliomas among persons with histo- ries of asbestos exposures have brought about extensive re- examination of our standards It has become necessary to crit- . ically review and examine the levels of control of dustiness in Du Pont shops Persons having responsibility and concern in these matters representing several of the manufacturing departments have contacted Haskell Laboratory for advice on the levels of fibrous dust control that is necessary and on the methods of evaluating the effectiveness of control measures They and others are faced with the necessity of making decisions involving choices of methods of proceeding Conf ofe thr e Ce onn ferc ene ce The Conference would be expected to have emerged by bringing together people ledge of the asbestos problem with those satisfy the needs that with specialized knowin the Company who bear the responsibility of defining for Plant Management and Departmental Management the needs that exist and of recommending the means of controlling the hazard There has been intelligent concern in this country about the health problems of asbestos since the decade of the thirties This has been apparent from the efforts put forth by the medical profession industrial management labor unions DUP 1141271 6272 DU 058757 ASBESTOS CONFERENCE CONT'D CONT'D government agencies and independent scientific investigators There are experts on each of the major aspects of the problem 1 The mineralogy of asbestos 2. Disease conditions produced by inhalation of asbestos 3 The epidemiology of health effects from asbestos inhalation 4 The measurement and control of exposures to asbestos inhalation 5 Compensation of employees for disease produced by asbestos inhalation The Conference would present an axposition of the first four of these aspects so that Du Pont needs could be recognized and dealt with in a unified manner Structure of the Conference The Conference would consist of two principal parts A A presentation by experts of the facts concerning 1 the nature and extent of the health problem 2 the relationships between degree of exposure to asbestos inhalation and health effects and 3 methods of controlling asbestos inhalation and for measuring the effectiveness of control B the and A discussion among Du Pont personnel representing various departments covering 1 things to be done 2 a consensus agreement on methods In order to obtain the advice and views of experts who have devoted major portions of their time and attention to the asbestos problem in its several aspects it would be desirable to invite scientists and engineers from outside Du Pont to partici- pate in Part A. It would not be necessary for them to participate in Part B in fact advantages are foreseen in limiting attendance at Part B to authorized Du Pont personnel DUP 1141272 52735273 5273 DU 058758 ASBESTOS CONFERENCE CONT'D PROPOSED AGENDA Part A The types of asbestos minerals Mineralogy sources uses quantities used History and description of diseases produced by the inhalation of asbestos Part B The incidence of asbestos diseases and distribution of cases The measurement of asbestos fibers and particles in the air of work places Acceptable concentrations of asbestos in the air in work places Panel Discussion I. The occurrence and use of asbestos and asbestos products in Du Pont operations 2 Should there be a standardized method of collecting and evaluating air samples for asbestos concentrations If so what is the method of choice 3 What should be regarded as acceptable concentra- tions of asbestos in the air in Du Pont work places 4. Medical studies to correlate environmental con- ditions with the health experience of Du Pont workers JPM 2/2/70 3 DUP 1141273 8274 DU 058759