Document v1RBoJL88DRwOD8Qdo0OG1pYm

rr* r? f&Sfa * 7 A* ' v! ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION 1745 Jelforson Davis Highway. Crystal Square 4. Suite 509 Arlington. Virginia 22202 (703) 979-1150 10 December 1979 Mr. William L. Petrie Executive Secretary National Research Council U.S. National Committee for Geochemistry 2101 Constitution Ave. Washington, D.C. 20418 Dear Bill: This is in reply to your letter of December 5 requesting a position statement or reviev; document on asbestos for use at your Panel's first meeting on December 12, 1979. A statement by this Association for the purpose requested is enclosed. i Thank you for the meeting agenda, list of panel membership, and invitation to attend on December 12. AIA/NA will be represented by Mr. Philip Z. Berg, industrial hygienist, of our staff. We would appreciate your keeping us advised of the Panel's progress on this important study. With warm regards, Cordially, B. J. Pigg Executive Director BJP/ws Enclosure CAP CO JEN 0012370 Position Statement on Asbestos by Asbestos Information Association/North America The Asbestos Information Association/North America (AIA/NA) is an incorporated, non-profit organization of 54 firms engaged in the manufacture and sale of products containing asbestos fiber, or in the mining, milling or sale of asbestos fiber in North America. The objectives of the Association are: . To provide industry-wide information on the asbestos-health relationship, and on industry efforts to eliminate problems associated with asbestos dust. To cooperate with government agencies in developing and implementing standards for worker protection from asbestos dust, and for the control .of asbestos emissions into community air and.water. To exchange information on asbestos dust control methodology. . To increase public knowledge of the benefits to be derived from and the importance of asbestoscontaining products. This Association is unaware of any scientific evidence which indicates that asbestos presents an increased health risk to the general public. In most asbestos-containing products the fibers are "locked in" by cement, plastic or other binders; such fibers are not easily released during normal handling and application. Asbestos-related disease today is confined primarily to individuals from occupational and occupationally-related environments, and relates directly to the inhalation of high levels of asbestos dust, in the past. Working environments of. the past cannot be related to present regulated conditions. Medical research indicates that there is a dose-response relationship in the development of asbes tos-related disease. Thus, the asbestos industry is confident that, with proper precautions, asbestos and asbestos-containing products can continue to be used in many industrial and consumer products without risk to the health of people making or using these products. 1 - over - CAP CO JEN 0012371 AIA/NA has followed closely the planning for the National Academy of Sciences' study on the geochemistry of fibrous materials related to health risks. This Association applauds the Academy's decision to undertake this important and needed study. It is viewed as a logical follow-on to the Academy's 1971 study on the "Biological Effects of Atmospheric Pollutants" which has endured as an objective and useful work. AIA/NA pledges its cooperation in support of this new study. 2 CAP CO JEN 0012372