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FILE NAME Corning OC DATE 1955 Dec 6 DOC OC148 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Memo RE New Health Hazard Research Fine Fibered Fiberglass Products JC.2L CORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION L COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE General Offices Ohio December 6 1955 Attention of Mr. Harold Boeschenstein From Subject Subject Mr. T. S. Rogers New Health Hazard Research t Fine Fibered Fiberglas Products cc Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. M. Briley - Toledo M. Burch - Toledo Kessler - Santa Clara H. Thomas - New York For the first time medical literature now carries two articles which indi- cate that glass fibers can be harmful to human lungs These articles can be cited effectively in health story against them damage suits against us They The articles cannot be refuted can be developed undermine our otherwise but it is possible that a excellent defense The articles appeared in the September 1955 issue of the M.A. ARCHIVES OF INDUSTRIAL HEALTH The author is Dr. W.H. Schepers director of Saranac Laboratories who has reported experiments by Dr. Leroy U. Gardner prior to his death Three types of fibers were tested one of textile type which proved inert and two of Aerocor type Photostats are attached in which detrimental statements are underlined in red Exhibits A & B Because of the exceedingly technical nature of the articles we obtained in- terpretations from Dr. C.S. Bishop Dr. Glenn H. Reams and Dr. Harry Rinehart A ondensed summary of their findings is attached Exhibit C In effect they tell us the articles are loaded with statements that could be damaging in a suit against Corning A defense against these articles can probably be set up by further research Fibers in the Aerocor size range and time exposures to high dust concentrations are involved Dr. Schepers verbally told us his findings indicate that 25 to 30 years of exposure might be needed to develop the harmful lung effects he reports Unfortunately he failed to state this in his articles Our approach would start with measuring the size as well as the quantity of glass particles actually present in the air near various manufacturing and fabricating processes Animal studies properly related to these dusts and dust concentrations would be instituted and correlated with Dr. Gardner's early work and Dr. Schepers recent reports This investigation would disclose ) the degree of hazard in fine fibers if any 2 limits of permissible dustiness or fly and 3 methods of eliminating any hazard actually found In case you decide that such defensive action is desirable I have 15,000 at 5,000 per quarteforr a year research study beginning in <second quarter of 1956 ' RETAIN spic oy,Cp budgeted the Destroy Now WHY FILE THIS