Document xzr95kqv6154j5nEaNXnL07jE

./ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION, AND WELFARE PUBLIC HEALTH; SERVICE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH 5600 FISHERS LANE ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND 20357 Dr. Eula Bingham Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 APR I 7 1280 .Dear Dr. Bingham: . ...... * The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSKA) adopt a safer standard for worker'exposure to asbestos. The hew'-! standard would eliminate all exposure from new non-essential uses and defineva permissible limit for other exposure at the lowest level ' accurately''measurable by'optical microscopy. (100,000 fibers per cubic meter of air).' For the last 6 months a group of scientists under the leadership of Mr. Richard Lemen has beenreviewing information on asbestos made available since the 1976 NIOSH criteria document was transmitted st'o OSKA. The group reaffirmed that exposure levels below the current standard of 2 million fibers per cubic meter of air--and below the 1976 recommendation of 100,000 fibers .per cubic meter of air--cause several types of cancer and'other lung diseases. .For this reason, the group concluded the'r'e is' no.safe level of asbestos exposure and.that asbestos should be. introduced into the human environment only if no suitable substitute exists. In other words, good occupational health practice under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 requires eliminating any avoidable worker exposure to asbestos. When exposure cannot be eliminated it must be controlled to the lowest level possible. : To further understand the problem of removing all asbestos from the work environment, NIOSH will undertake additional studies: < 1. We will examine the life cycle of asbestos, from mining to fabrication, use, and disposal:1 This work'will identify all points where workers may be exposed to asbestos and simplify enforcement of the new standard. 2. We will produce an inventory of all asbestos products likely to', reach the work environment. This inventory, along with the life cycle study, will help quantify the scope of efforts required to eliminate asbestos exposure. CAPCO JEN 0004.4.40 Page 2 - Dr. Eula Bingham `' 3. We. will'establish a continuing review of the development of asbestos 'substitutes; '^ 'This' should protect workers by encouraging rapid elimination of asbestos uses. -.4;^ 4. We will review laboratory facilities available for accurately --v analyzing'"asbestos since any_new standard will require increased'.- analytical'capability. The asbestos situation in the United States is grave enough to. warrant immediate action. Between 8 and 11 million workers have already been exposed to asbestos since World War II. Tens of thousands of cancer deaths each year are attributable to asbestos. Much of the asbestos that caused these deaths remains with us today and continues to threaten the health of workers. Unless we move immediately to significantly reduce new applications of asbestos, we risk leaving behind an additional legacy of disease and death. Promulgating a new asbestos standard, based on the Work Group's recommendations,, would significantly, contribute to. preventing disease and loss of life from future asbestos exposure. Sincerely yours. Anthony Robbins, M.D. Director < CAPCO JEN 0004-4-41