Document v67L8xeE1yzKb5gaoobqQJMz6

September 29, 1343 Dr. Ludvig Sektoen, ^Executive Director Satinnal Advisory Cancer Council 21 Vest Hr Street W II >f" ( <J -w p J Dear Dr. Heitosnn Tkanka for your letter of September 27. 1 nay state trad arena tbe various pneunonocsrxlosee, asbestosls rar>3 rent to silicosis in Industrial Irpcrtance. It Is a definite dlaease entirely resulting In disability In advanced, cases. It la characterized by flbrcals which, begins about the tern Inal brcnshlsles and spreads Into the parenchyma of the lung as a diffuse obliterating fibrosis. Chronic fibrous pleurisy and esphysena are essential concomittant reactions. The ambers of persona exposed to asbestos dust in this country is difficult to establish. Host of the cases hare occurred in the fabricating plants of Sorth Carolina and Pennsylvania where the fibrous mineral i3 woven with cotton to produce asbestos bloth, brake bands, and electrical insulation. A considerable number of persona are also exposed in the electrical industries where 'isbestoa* is used in insulating not only wiring but cater arnatures. The U. '3. Navy ha3 had a real problem from the use of asbestos in-insulating marine boilers, electrical Installations and other insulating work. I have always felt that asbestosls probably created no specific predisposition to pulmonary cancer. However, evidence to thB`huntra$y"TOirtinugs"~ter accmuiater In the last * number of the Acerlcan"Journal of Pathology, Hocberger reports 3 new cases making a total of IS in which the two conditions are associated. For this reason I do not believe, that we can afford to neglect the matter ouch longer. Under separate cover, I an sending you two copies each of reprints describing earlier Saranac Laboratory studies of the subject. Sincerely yours. no PRODUCED 01024 `JM - 83 Leroy U. Gardner, H. D. Director .00010237