Document vVbx8rqqYaj898ROrGp09QbQw

Crctl.` Pu.\ ;.ev ar.d Gordon Mag, < cc:oBr It, vfl*. In j^piI son v. \ Hidden dangers in the air we breathe Particles of certain widely used mineral substances are so small that they can't be stopped by the excellent filter system in our noses, or by any ordinary means. If allowed * to be present in your home or place of work or business, minute particles of some materials may lodge in your lungs and eventually cause cancer. I I ci i i The first report of lung cancer believed to have been caused indirectly by asbestos fibers was recorded In 1935. Many studies have since been reported In which examinations have been made of or autopsies per formed on persons who have been In direct contact with asbestos, either In the mining and manufacturing phase or in connection with Its many uses as an insulat ing material. There is now practically no doubt that a person greatly increases his chances of developing a really dan gerous disease called asbestosis If he is subjected for a time to the fine asbestos dust that is possibly present within one-half mile of an asbestos manufacturing plant In the country or anywhere within a considerable distance from the framework of a new building that Is being fireproofed by spraying It with an asbestos-based product. (A single major tall building in New York City will receive nearly 5000 tons of asbestos spray, of which a great part floats off into the air of the city. It has been suggested that, for city dwellers, the hazard of lung cancer may be as great from Inhalation of asbestos as from the smoking of cigarettes.) And whQe the symptoms of asbestosis, a non-malignant lung disease, take years to derelop, it would seem at this time that there is a good likelihood that after 20 to 30 years have elapsed, lung cancer will develop In a surprisingly high percentage of the cases. And the as bestos worker who smokes cigarettes regularly In creases bis cancer risk enormously. 50 percent of 3000 autopsies in one study showed asbestos particles in the lungs. Unfortunately, experts have now about concluded that a practical hazard and a definite long-term danger exists, not only for directly exposed persons, but for practically everyone who Is forced to exist on the highly contaminated air found in most urban and some rural areas. Once In the lungs, the asbestos particles remain there throughout life. Even kindergarten chil dren have been exposed. In using asbestos powder with water as a form of modeling clay. The root of the problem Why this comparatively sudden awareness of a danger that must have existed for two thousand years or more? Actually, modern medical researchers had to re sort to the electron microscope In order to Identify positively the minute pieces of "encapsulated" mineral fiber. Many are so fine that they cannot be seen when floating in the air around us. And there are literally thousands of sources for the material in man-made products In our environment. The long fibers of asbestos, like those of cotton and wool, for example, have those qualities required for spinning the material into a thread and thence Into fireproof garments, curtains, shields, ironing board coven, house Insulation, Insulation for electric wires, and the like. The short fiben are mixed with various binders, such as cements and plastics, and the mixture compressed Into pipe coverings, brake linings, clutch faces, roofing and siding shingles, filter cloth, yarns and ropes, plaster, rubber goods, tome paints, siding, paper, and many molded products. Actually, the num ber of products on the market.which contain asbestos is believed to exceed 3000. However, there Is a favor able trend; some manufacturers are now offering min eral fiber material for certain uses that does not con tain asbestos. Fortunately, the great majority of these products utilize the asbestos as a mixer or extender and bind it into some other material where it is not available in the free state, except when the material disintegrates with time and weather. When used in firm mixtures, as in asphalt roof coatings and In plastics, the likelihood that the fibers will separate and become airborne Is greatly reduced, as Is the danger of their being inhaled In harm ful amounts. Protective actions taken Serious research has been in progress for some years to investigate the possible dangers to health that may be PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT JJ/937'X>\ PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT iW'M/Y55 SEPTEMBER 1971 / 29 0 2 21 5 14 ~ r Cctoor :i* n< t *1. 7-U2>Ci '# # q. - * ? Crggfl. V- rn involved. Many companies hive taken certain action dangers Involved, the number of uses for asbestos con ct needed to reduce the hazard. Ax an example, tpeciai tinues to Increase. Even in the home, there are many plastic bap have been developed as containers so that areas from roof--asbestos shingles--to cellar--asbestos water and dry asbestos can be mixed safely to be used Insulation and cemecl. on boiler and pipes--and on R T as heat insulation on the exterior of healing boilers and Ironing boards, where asbestos is to be found In one Cl pipes. New York City, Philadelphia, and the State of Cali fornia have taken action to control the manner In form or another. Asbestos board is much used, and sawing It In the hobby shop puts countless fibers Into the air of a home. a vi U It which buildings are sprayed with asbestos. Rules gov In California a bill has been introduced to prohibit o erning adequate enclosure of the area In which the the use of asbestos or fiber glass ss linings In air duct --* n 1 spraying takes place and cleanup and disposal proce dures have been outlined. Indeed, following the initial systems of new buildings. Lately, talcum powder for babies has been found to i r* P o II action in April of 1970 in New York City, the hazard was considered sufficiently great that the mayor or contain substantial amounts of asbestos particles, and these are of course readily Inhaled by infants and those j dered the spraying of asbestos halted wherever possible who care for them. Talc dust alone presents problems in all construction projects under supervision of the similar to asbestos but tbe risks are not so great. , 11 1 city government; the decision,, at least in part, was based upon testimony presented by Dr. Irving J. Sell- In late 1970, over 100,000 women's coats were manufactured and sold from a blend of melton-type b e 1 koff, of Mount Sinai HosplUQ School of Medicine, who doth Imported from Italy which contained wool, ny Is one of the modern pioneers in asbestos epidemiol lon, and asbestos. While it is almost a practical impos ogy. Based upon work done by his group. Dr. Selikoff sibility to recall the coats, according to Mr. H. Mendel- stated that lung cancer was the cause of death of al sund, an officer of the Internationa) Ladies Garment 4 most 1 out of every S asbestos workers in the city in Workers Union, union members have been ordered not i the past 27 years. ~ to cut or sew cloth containing asbestos. ..... The report, which summarized findingi of examina The main reason why this doth was made and Im tions of 632 asbestos insulation workers, covered a pe ported was because of the cost advantage it might offer riod of 25 yean. During that period, 358 persons in the due to the possibility of a lower Import duty on as i i group died. Of that number, 72 deaths were due to cancer of the lung or pleura. Statistically, In considera bestos material as against other fibers. If you have such a coat--the label will tell--it should tion of normal mortality rates, only about 9 deaths be "taken out of circulation." Family Health reports would have been expected. The danger of mesotheliai that Dr. Sclikoffs advice was (hat one should bury a tumors exists not only among asbestos workers but coat that contains asbestos fibers. t also with others after only "apparently minimal and non-occupational" exposure to asbestos dust, but usually after a long delay or latent period of forty years or more. Fiber glass has also been under suspicion for some time as a cause of respiratory injury. There have been suggestions that it might be harmful in view of Its use In home furnishings and in the ducts of heating and I ' cooling systems. Information available up to this time Opinions differ does not indicate any substantial danger from this cause, though it Is established that "man-made vitreous Ax Is so often the case, there are some who feel that fibers" have become lodged In human lungs. Pending the reasons for concern regarding asbestos fiber inhala availability of further information concerning the pos ) tion are not as well based as they might be. Dr. George Wright, a pulmonary disease specialist in Cleveland, who sibility of hsrm from glass fibers, we suggest that city and state governments and Individuals should not allow 1 has served industry as consulting expert on asbestos, has use of glass fiber In any part of a beating, cooling, or i commented to the effect that some of the concern may ventilating duct rystem of a home, office, or factory. be ill founded regarding the large quantities of asbestos Glass fibers art regularly used In the form of a mat ui . J supposedly pul Into the air from automobile brake lin ings. He stated that "the amount of asbestos fiber used filler In warm air heating tysiemi, but It Is believed that In this use the danger of putting glass fibers of Inhalable size Into the air stream Is not great. In friction material In the United States was estimated at less than five percent of the total In 1965. And the Everyone should be alert to the potential danger that . high heat.of friction destroys the asbestos, converting exists in the handling or use of any articles made ol or I < t It to material no longer having the characteristics of containing atbestos fibers or gfass fibers/ We do not ' mi. asbestos.... "Serious exposures to asbestos fiber can occur In cer know at this time how convincing the evidence by Dr. Wright tending to minimize the hazard from asbestos tain occupational and immediately adjacent environ may be. Our advice would be, in any event, to avoid ments but there is evidence that a low concentration of contact with asbestos in every practicable way, espe asbestos in the air breathed by the general public is not cially in connection with building, heating, and plumb likely to be harmful." ing operations. On glass fibers as a source of skin irrita Even with the Increased awareness of the potential tion, sec Consumer Bulletin, November 1969 :( 30 / CONSUMER BULLETIN 02 215 1451