Document x1zXw6Ex6Z98bDXkNa8yo064g

V A. X. MBOB SA7ZTI& SSCTJRmr .X *;A Qonfldenfcltal ME. A. 0. CLAXZG9 LABOEATOET October 22, 1971 Eft A3BHB03 On October 13, 1971, the attached clipping vas found on the bulletin board in the Carbon Plant. A few minutes later, a briclmason stepped ne in Building 58 and complained at length about the indiscriminate use of asbestos shorts in patching bek^ ing furnaces, fills work is done by operating personnel under the super vision of Mr. Eoqulst. Ha also pointed out a broken sack of asbestos vlth (\a snail aaount of loose material scattered on the floor. I have requested >^ZZKr. Baquist to keep this material in an enclosed container. >--s Mr. Clark cccplalned later strongly that the air in the furnace roons vas ; p ; contaminated with asbestos since the blanket material vas being re-cycled ; : i j through the system repeatedly. ___ Will you please evaluate any problems ve may have dm this regard. ~_A. E. MEKKE AIMjbeh ^ cc: T. B. Bonney, Pittsburgh G. W. Eutton/D. M. Rystrom ALCOA >8755 AsKestos ' Controls Called For ta mi. TIM WmMnston rt WASHINGTON - The. National Research Council has declared that asbestos dust poses a health hazard for the I general public and called for new stringent controls to keep it|< out of the atmosphere. ' Prolonged inhalation of the t dust by asbestos workers tjas ' been linked to the disabling and sometimes fatal lung disease ' asbestosis and to chest and abdominal cancer. ; The council said that because It is unknown how much ' asbestos can be inhaled safely. I It would be "highly imprudent to permit additional contamination of the public environment." In the absence of controls, the report warned that concentrations of airborne asbestos in some localities might approach those encountered by workers in the asbestos industry. ... ; ' The report found that small) amount of asbestos are found in the lungs of most persons but' that there is not enough evidence now to indicate whether it affects health. Asbestos gets , in the air In a number of ways. Some fibers' tre released during the use of , man-made products. In asbestos!. ; cement, shingles and tiles the! ; asbestos is tightly bound and| ' undergoes little abrasion or i wear, but in other products, l such as asbestos cloth, paper ! end spray fireproofing { materials, the fibers are notjf . tightly bound and can escapeIf Into the air, the report declared. , It found spray fireproofing ofj ; buildings "a serious source" ini densely populated areas. ; Another major source is the . dust from the demolition of Industrial and commercialjj buildings where asbestos was!' . used for insulation and in - waTlhlbeoarerdp.ort was prepared for the environmental protection agency by a panel of the: National Research Council's,! committee on biologic effects of-! atmospheric pollution. j| ARCH 18756