Document v66x564R5EXZXax9vEjmGJVLY
FILE NAME Manhattan RBM
DATE 1974
DOC RBM062
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Memos RE McGill Study of Asbestos Safety
Garments
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TO TO
DIVISION
as3
LOCATION
Messrs
P. G. G. J. F. M. W. W. S. 1. H.
Dolan
Dolan Maclachlan
Oliver
Simpson
Weaver
March 1 1974
The Dr.
final Gibbs
report on Phase I of the
in response to questions questions
McGill study
I raised are
sets
John
of photographs Magenheimer has
not one
reproducible by
set I have the
Xerox other
and comments by attached Two are available
I call 11 and are to
your particular attention to the
recommendations on pages
essential if the products
12.
Engineering improvements are
asbestos standard
be acceptable under the existing federal
of Plant 2 referred to in Dr. Gibb's report has
The management
fiber concentrations in the
been advised that airborne asbestos
of men wearing asbestos garments in their plant
breathing
zones exceeded the
threshold limit value of fibers per cc for an
which
day hour work
day and that concentrations over 10 fibers per cc
level exceed the excursion
of 10 fibers por cc permitted for a
minute period by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety
Administration standard were also observed
improvements
Immediate
action
insure to
in
the
that
form of engineering
M products comply
John H. Marsh
_
Attachments
Mes rs Messrs Messrs Messrs Messrs .
J. J.
J.
J. J. T.
Magenheimer
Trainor
BF
ORGANIZATION
COMMUNICATION
Raybestos
Advanced Research
DIVISION
and
Laboratory
LOCATION
TO
J. H. Marsh - Bpt
DATE Marc4 h 1974
SUBJECT McGill Study
I have discussed the possible direction of continuing work at McGill with
Dr. Gibbs He has a number of interesting proposals relative to the
distribution of fiber size and fiber geometry to carcogenicity This type
of be
project would involve significant expenditures for information
of value at some indeterminable time in the future
This work
which will should be
done but M is not in a position to fund this type of project from
to completion
I would think that M should definitely participate
type of research as a member of AIA ATI or just as an interested
initiation in this party
We do have access to the test chamber at McGill and a good working relationship with Dr. Gibbs We also have a problem in that we know that safety garments are capable of producing unsatisfactory dust counts We have documented the problem with Dr. Gibbs and he could document the solution either in the field
or using the dust chamber
The only possible solution for conventional fabric
inside of hoods and the outside shoulder area such
not exposed to open asbestos fabric
appears to be aluminizing the that the breathing zone is
However filled Novatex has demonstrated its low dustiness for which safety
garments appears to be a perfect application
Besides a decrease in dust counts .
- during use I'm sure that the Novatex would decrease the asbestos contamination
of workers clothing after the safety garments are removed
I discussed the possibility of aluminized conventional with M. Scowcroft a
months ago he felt that it would be too expensive and also make the hoods
hot
He thought an increase of chemical surface coating would help but I
think this would be satisfactory
few too don't
The use of filled Novatex does pose an additional problem in that the fillers
themselves are capable of producing poisonous gases upon thermal decomposition
e.g. neoprene could produce hydrochloric acid or possibly phosgene and nitrile
could give off hydrogen cyanide gas
I have asked Dr. Gibbs about testing
fabrics for emission of these gases at a McGill laboratory
His initial feeling
was that they could do it but he is checking into it further
I would recommend then as you suggested in your memo of 3/1/74 that M. Scowcroft
and J.
Hawkins
consider
immediate engineering improvements of
commercial aluminized and filled
conventional fabric Novatex as per J.
However we should produce a
Trainor's memo to J. Orzechowski of 3/4/74
.
RM
J. H. Marsh March 5 1974
McGill Study Pg 2
Bpt
I would recommend with respect to McGill that we Y
examine the dustiness of various filled Novatex
1
Use the mitt tester to
samples from Novatex
in the field the new safety garments - either
2
Request Dr. Gibbs to test
conventional or Novatex
for poisonous gases at McGill and at 3 Examine the possibility of testing
other possible locations
investment lag until suitable samples
4 Let the program specifically money
have been produced
John J. Magenheimer
d
CC --
J. T. Trainor
a
MG MG Scuccift Scuccift
JHM
00705
-
632
INTER ORGANIZATION COMMUNICATION
Raybestos Raybestos RaRyabyesbteosstRaoybesstos
ManhattanManhat Raybestos
Manhattan
Raybestos Raybestos re
Raybestos
an
ManhattanManhattan
NORTH CHARLESTON
NORTH CHARLESTON S.C.
DIVISION
and
LOCATION
Marsh TO
Mr. John
DATE March 6 1974
SUBJECT
McGill Study of Asbestos Safety Garments
I have studied the Asbestos Fiber Release From Safety Garments report
by Dr. G. W. Gibbs of McGill University which was received along with
your letter of March 1 1974.
A report of this type must be carefully
critiqued to be of value
I would be remiss if I did not advise that
overall the research was poorly done and I am disappointed in what the
report is in
could 1
British
British
sampling thCeULITE 09 ADVA For
comparison to what it
Procedure
Procedure
Used
CULITE
CULITE
CULITE
3
SOM .
.
been v
been ADVA
been
SOM Length
ADVAbeen
ADVA
09
.
Length
and counting
NIOSH procedure
SAFETY
SAFETY -
SAFETY
should have
been
used
Several differences may introduce new variables
NIOSH
thinks that their procedure is superior particularly dissolving
the membrane
2
Unidentified Fabrics
Of the 45 tests conducted 29 were on unknown materials
M
material was compared against unknown products
been very easy to identify these products to the
It would have extent of
knowing the weight finish etc.
They were identified as
uncoated
Some coatings are difficult to distinguish and I
question in plant 1 whether the unknown fabrics were treated
3 4
Sampling Technique
Filter over the coat but under the hood and unobserved pg )
It is important to know how long the filter was under the hood
etc.
We do not know the source of the dust Dr. Gibbs implies
it may come from the hood
M Treated Fabric Was Dustier
M 71-1173 was treated with an adhesive to hold the dust and
lint in place
Visually the cloth is very clean
The McGill
report indicates it to be about twice as dusty as unknown
uncoated fabric
I question this could samples be crossed up
or 1173 not actually used A serious problem here
T
N. PLAINTIFF'S
f
wee ee
TTT Tenet mem amg et ae enmy mrmmarmt RTD
TEER OL WS TE TRUi
et ren orem mes
nm
: Mr. John Marsh
,
-2-
March 6 1974
5 6
High Counts At Plant 2
A count of 26.2 from a safety garment sounds unreal
If this
count was of dust
obtained the It would take
operator is working
severe abrasion and
count of 26.2 from a garment
in a visual cloud -
abuse to obtain a .,
NECETTARily
NOT NECETTARily
Miscellaneous Areas
Table A
Table
.
A
Table A
Table A
Table 6
Calculations are not correct for Dates of survey are incorrect
C3
in many cases
. VERL
aoe
Only one count given
Footnotes about of the report
suits
are
not related
Eviously Eviously
|
.
eit * wil
to the rest
> 4 weeks - 112.3 is incorrect
I do not think that the report is worthy of being published in its present ,
form
If the dust originates from the hood I would recommend that M offer a
more highly coated product for this use
A product of this type could
be made available immediately
I think my comments may be of
would be glad to discuss them
help
with
to Dr. him on
Gibbs in future the telephone
work
and I
jje jje
jje =
u
John Hawkins
ch
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ae
Fou EF STO
Cant
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WINE
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0064300643
INTER ORGANIZATION COMMUNICATION
Raybestos Manhattan Raybestos
Raybestos Raybestos Raybestos Raybestos - Manhattan
. oo
RaybestosManhattan
Manhatan Manhattan
Advanced Research
DIVISION
and
Laboratory
LOCATION
J
Mared- Mared- Mared- MaredTrendell Trendell Trendell Trendell
To
T. Trainor - Trumbull
McGill McGill
1
SUBJECT
Size Distribution of Novatex Fibers
J. Marsh's memo to you of 6/6/74
+
DATE
6/17/74
I discussed the above memo with John last
opinion concerning the work being done at proposal
week in order
Edinburgh and
to give him my
Dr. Gibbs research
What I wanted to point out to John was the fact that at the present time
the relationship between the inhalation of fiber This is demonstrated by the fact that Dr. Holmes
and disease is not understood in his letter to Mr. Hills
used phrases likely to be expect the problem
If research
such as
the effect of fibers must have been ... not
very hazardous must surely ... and one would The work at Edinburg will help to increase our understanding of but we cannot expect it to state that Fortex fibers are safe is continued in this area we might expect sufficient information
in five to ten years but one study is not enough
This means that Dr. Gibbs
study of Novatex fiber size distribution would at best give us a feeling
concerning the problems with Novatex material
The previous study at McGill has shown that filled Rovatex releases fewer fibrils
than treated conventional
Filled wet processed material is in all liklihood
the safest asbestos textile possible with present technology both from production
and use standpoint
An awful lot of research will pass under the bridge before
this statement is modified
M is faced with a number
demand significant capital
by
I feel that we have a
present technology towards
of diverse asbestos dust problems all of which
expenditures at a time when capital is hard to come
responsibility to use this capital and the best making our products safe both for our workers and
our
. customers
Considering these factors I think the proposed study at McGill is ill timed If however Dr. Curtiss at NIOSH wished to study fiber distributions I think it
:
would be to our advantage to cooperate
.
I also told John that in my opinion we must notify our customers in the safety
garment industry Dr. Gibbs report
of the should
McGill results at U.S. Steel and
be published as soon as possible
Irco and I
As he suggested would prefer to
have M mentioned as a source of support
We also discussed the fact that M at the present time does not make an asbestos
fabric which is acceptable for use in safety garments
This would put us in an
embarrassing position when the McGill results are published
The obvious answer
as J. Orzechowski and I discussed is to get a filled Novatex on the market
ASAP
00495
00495
N. PLAINTIFF'S
80
J. T. Trainor - Trumbull 6/17/74 Size Distribution of Novatex Pg 2
Fibers
If you have any disagreements let me know
John 9. Magenheimer
d
CC
Marsh J. J. Marsh Marsh
.. Orzechowski
we eae
00496
00496 00496
SOROTHY
SOROTHY
654
RRaa ybyeb steossMat nhao ttans ManhManhatanatManhtattan an
Advanced Research
DIVISION
and
Laboratory
LOCATION
TO
So J. Marsh > Trumbull
DATE
7/15/74
SUBJECT
McGill Study of Asbestos Safety Ref M.Q. Scowcroft's Memo of
Garments
6/28/74
I have read Milt Scowcroft's memo concerning the McGill Study and
I discussed it further with him over the phone on Thursday
Milt has brought out some important points which determining the best approach towards Dr. Gibb's
like to make some comments on this memo
should help in
report
I would
Our contract with Dr. Gibbs for the McGill Study in question stated
as the objective To determine the exposure of man to asbestos
fiber during the normal use of asbestos safety garments in industry
The determination of the specific source of the i.e. hood coat or
mitts is an obvious extension of this study which was not pursued for
a variety of reasons
There was also a lack of proper identification
of the fabrics involved which was my responsibility However the
objective of the report was to determine the dust levels under normal
use and this done in a scientific manner
I agree with Milt's premise that most of the dust arises from the hood Some of it probably does come from the coat and mitts as shown by Bamber and Butterworth Ann Occup Hyg 13 77-80 1970 but I agree that we should work under the assumption that the hood is the problem
I think Dr. Gibbs article can be written in such a way
surface treatment of fabrics reduces the dust levels
the Tribestos treatment and John Hawkins present work I think we can obtain a possible salses advantage from
as to imply that Combining this with on the hood fabric
the article
Dr. Gibbs report will in all liklihood be we can affect is the time of publication and
published The only thing
possibly the tone
Until
the article is published Milt's program of informing his customers will
assist in making this information public
I would suggest that he extend
the caution to the use of any uncoated asbestos fabric for safety garments
A
Once John Hawkins has engineered the textile fabric for the hoods we should be prepared to set up a test to verify the improvements
RM
Jalin John J. Magenheimer
dt
CC
M. Scowcroft - Charleston J. Trainor - Trumbull
N. PLAINTIFF'S
83
Peet 09624
2
Mr. M. Q. Scowcroft
McGill Study of Asbestos Safety Garments
July 24 1974
As John Magenheimer has previously commented on your
June 28 concerning the McGill study I will limit my
to the following
letter of observations
The McGill study confirms earlier British studies showing that in normal use asbestos safety can release concentrations of asbestos fibers in excess of permissible limits
_
There is evidence that aluminizing or otherwise the fabric will significantly reduce the amount
treating
of fiber
released
Asbestos safety garments are necessary of workers in essential industries
for
the
protection
The safety garment industry must take measures to insure
that users inhalation
of of
asbestos asbestos
garments are protected from
fibers and that the use of such
garments does not violate the OSHA Asbestos Standard
M has the knowledge and capabilities needed to lead the industry in the development and marketing of
asbestos safety garments
If there is further delay
we will lose the advantage we now have
Copies of two attached
British
studies
and
a memorandum
from Stephen Holmes
are
Attachments
CC
Messrs
P. G. Dolan J. F. Maclachlan
J. J. Hagenheimer W. S. Simpson
J. T. Trainor
1. H.
John H. Marsh
ro