Document rBJLvrOGJDXgoq6z3aR403rRa

FILE NAME: DuPont (DUP) DATE: 1965 Nov 29 DOC#: DUP123 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from GJ. Stopps to J.R. McClean, Plant Medical Officer, Maydown Works with Question RE Risk to Men Exposed Prior to Recognition of Cancer Risk Ct A. J. Fleming, M.D.-Wilmington J, F. Morgan-Haskell Laboratory /vtfc-. C - O o Z 2 . 7 November 29, 1965 J. R. McCIZAN PLANT MEDICAL OFFICER MAYDOVN WORKS P. 0. BOX 15 LONDONDERRY Dr. Fleming has passed your letter to ae for a reply on the question of the risk involved in working with asbestos. This is naturally a matter of considerable interest to us since as you correctly suspect a considerable amount of asbestos is used in Du Pont plants largely in the for of pipe lagging. There are many facets to this subject but the two most important are the questions. What is the risk to men who were exposed to asbestos prior to our recognition of the possible risk of cancer? an37 What steps should be taken to protect tne men who are now potentially exposed to asbestos? It is hoped that these questions will be answered by studies which are at present underway. For example, the Division of Occupa tional Health of the TJ. S. Public Health Service baa started an in-plant study to "determine the effects of exposures to asbestos fibers and dust, . . .and to develop medical and environmental . criteria and procedures for the control of the health risks of asbestos workers. Six plants located in North Carolina, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania have been studied." That definitive answers to the questions you raise are not yet possible is underlined by the enclosed copy of the report of the Working Group on Asbestos and Cancer. This is a good statement of the present position and contains many valuable suggestions for tonducting further research. In line with their suggestion we hope to start a study of the health of pipe coverers compared with the health of non-asbestos exposed group within the next few weeks. Since this will be a study of existing medical records it is not expected to take a long time to complete and this should at least tell us whether we have a problem. J. R. MeCXSAV 2 November 29, 1 S6 5 . dlsaasM iliSfifi? Wllc*tlon 1 the knowledge that tha control of . ^*ulting fre# Asbestos lies In ths control of dust end of*workre i S t h ^ i S ? ^ ^ *iTen reducing the dust expSSire Asbestos, this may be done by sultAble exhaust 2 ? b y .tPh5eSUuasei*ofldduusittCrieispai?rbatfotr0s# iw*herheane<xnhadusatt *ventilatilooncat1 ionnot practicable a. i. often tte case i0 handling lniuUSi Jn^hi plwt r*A ^^Safe*SiJaa.W S? I plan to keep you informed of further developments. ' ' *. <=*!. signed .v J. STOPps 0. J. Stopps, N.S. ,B.S. Chief, Physiology Section GJS/dyb Enclosure