Document wD821vnGeGEw8zNY1pNY1GVBd

r CCFA^TMENT Or mEALT'-' ^NQ HUMAN SC*VlCtS *v*L'C -tA.*w ;(>,'{ a c*tt :o^*8k Aufuit 25, 1950 ' o4. '_.e o act , HS<uaiN44r>3Tc4i*44"r.(t*l*** cat *4.r:,i:lust NOTICt TO ALL RESPIRATOR MANUFACTURERS The purpote of ths this lertsr is to srprem the concern of the Nitlonil Institute for Oc cupstioaai Safety and Health (MIOSIS regarding ihe uu of au-purtfjriiig respirators against asbestos tad other carcinogenic substances and to anno -not a count of action to address tbtaa concerns. First, ths praaant requirements of 30 CPR^Pirt U prseiudt MSHA/H'CSH Lor Toidia, approval of dust, fumo, and silt rtapiraton for use against asbestos and other carcinogenic substances without follow in, approprlatt administrative proof duxee. Section 11.130(f) of Subpajt K aoatioaa roaplratora with rtplacaabla filters, designed aa respiratory prottetioa against asbestos-containing dusts and mista. Soctioa 11.13000 mantissa singlc-uso dust respirator* designed u roapiratorjr prottetioa against pneumoconiosis and fibrosis-producing dusts, or dusts and mista, including but set limitad to aluminum, asbestos, coal, flour, iron oro, and froo silica. Howttvtr, w ut deeply concerned about the oat of duat, fuse, aad mist rtapiraton, and other air-purifying respirators, against caremogsak: substances. Our ceacarat art based sa two major iatueas 1) tha ability of tha filttr atdu !o sfftctioely remove the carcinogenic aubstance darts* the entire period of use, and Z) the questionable face fit of at least some dust, fume, and mist respirators, particularly the aia(le-use type. Excessive leakage of a tubetance such as asbestos into the respirator due to either ineffective filtration leakage around a poor seal is uasceeptable and present* a potentially serious hasard to the wsartr. The possibility of the dovolopaen* of hog canctr ov mesothelioma, in the ease of ashestea aortmtm^-csnnol ha_lggnmri ai> both fiittu and adequate face anal are questionable. On tho tare of asbestos, the Institute wishes to ttalt that although aabestac can product fibrueis, this offset pales to significance in comparison to tha known human and animal carcinogenicity of this fibrous material. It is net our poaitlos that singiwuee dost respirators win provide adequate protection against the csacar causing potential of asbestos, la tight of tho preset! knowledge concerning tlm carcinogenicity of asbestos, the listing of ashostns as an example of a flbroaie-pecdaetag duat* in Section 11.130(h) can only be viewed as misleading, la the document entitled ^Workplace Exposure to Asbestos) Review tad Recommen dations,* tho Institute concluded that `there Is no asbestos exposure level brlow which clinical effects do net occur) significant disease can occur following very shovt (1 day to three months) exposure periods) worker exposures to asbestos must be controlled to the maximum sxttst passible; aad human occupational exposures to all commercial asbestos fiber types have been associated with high ratta of hag caacsr aad mesothelioma.' DUP 0933913 DU 036473 2 Th* above coacema, focused largely on asuejtos. *! *pp)y to other earciaogeaic substances refsrsncsd is 30 CFR, Part l1. scrttuus ll.l30(a)01 and 11.130(b) n'ar to duit, fume, and mitt rwscirsttre, tiihsr with repleeeabis or reusable filtera, dertgned u respiratory protteiion against duau aueh u arsenic, cadmium, tad chromium, Lido; which are tu"eeted human carcinogens. Section 11.130(d) refer! to reapiratora, with repUetsu.i.;*teeT,itl|ned u retpiratery protection against duit, hsn, tad mists of beryllium and radionueudaa, which eta jnodut cancer. Based on the fact* that tha air-purifying components of these devices /-. tttttd not against the carcinogens thamselees but rathar against other mattriu-a da th filter* affeetiraly remove the earctcogmie agent during thw sntir* period of reeommendod aaw?) tad that thw its* wtli of blot of Utu devices art atrf.ru 1 or istdecuate. wt are concerned about them uto against carcinogenic substances. R spirttors with low protectioe ftctort msy not preside adequate protection against carcinogen*. Accordingly, KIOSK intend* to uadsrtahe t study of the use of air-purifying respirators against asbestos aad otbor carcinogenic aubstance* in as effort to resolve our concern*. fa order to effectively accomplish thia goal, it la anaatial that tha respirator manufacturer! aad albert engaged is rarpirator ratearch provide NIOSH with ail relaraat data la their possession. We herewith request! 1) r all data relating to the afficieaey of your devices Is removing eoataminanti, particularly asy data jarolriag actual tasting agahut eareiaogesic agents; and- U any data pertaining to ealcuXatioa of protactioa factort foe your devices, be emtnee, becaute af thw petaatUl health sssteqosocwh tha Institute behave* that the approval of air-purifying rwapirxton for use against asbestos aad other carcinogens should be heard os their denowstrated affeettveawea aad aot aa a policy adopted whew the carclaofewici!7 of eertaia chemicals aad other auhatar.ee> was usrwcogaiswd. Your ass istract be this very important ajaraameat it vdtaL If yea have any questions please write or telephone (301) 443-3410. Sineerily yours. Special Assistant to tha Director KIOSK, for Testis; asd Certification OOP 0933919 DU 036474