Document x1x65Nn93xVyBN1GvY2pb4XRy

Johnson DOMESTIC OPERATING COMPANY NEW BRUNSWICK N. J. August 1971 Mr. Barry Castleman Department of Environmental Engineering Hopkins University Baltimore Maryland 21201 Dear Mr. Castleman This is in answer to your letter of July 25 1 The use of talc as a cosmetic extends far back in historical time More specifically Johnson & Johnson has marketed baby powder since 1895 We have no asbestos in our baby powder To prove this we have had extensive analytical work carried out by mineralogists at the Colorado School of Mines by McCrone Laboratories in Chicago and by Professor Fred Pooley at the University of Wales in Cardiff Professor Pooley is associated with one of the teaching scientific groups studying the relationship of asbestos and other inorganic particles to cancer We have no meaningful information regarding baby powder manufactured by other companies We suspect however that the 15 to 25 percent quoted by the newspapers is not based on carefully documented scientific evidence I hope the above answers your questions Sincerely Thomas H. THShelley Ph.D Director Central Research Laboratories Johnson March 7 1972 NEW BRUNSWICK N. J. Mr. Barry Castleman 305 W. Biddle Street Baltimore Maryland 21201 Dear Mr. Castleman First I must apologize for the delay in replying to your inquiry about JOHNSON'S Brand Baby Powder Your card was sent in office mail with some correspondence in usable envelope The other mail was taken from the envelope which was then placed in a stack to be used again Unfortunately it was not used again until this week and your card was discovered at that time To answer your question Johnson & Johnson takes great care in the formulation and production of all its products In the case of JOHNSON'S Baby Powder the talc comes from our own mines specifically selected for the quality of their talc This grade talc is processed in order to free it of impurities through repeated washings Under careful analysis by independent experts the finished product has been shown to be free of asbestos Thank please you for forgive your interest in Johnson & Johnson the delay in replying to your card products and Sincerely SS M.D. Steven Sawchuk M.D. Associate Director of Clinical Research