Document yr9k4mbqX6Y73N0bQ8bLzpE23

FILE NAME Quebec Asbestos Mining Association QAMA DATE 1978 Nov DOC QAMA156 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION QAMA Bulletin Vol 2 No. 7 A document which sets the stage for asbestos research Results of the study carried out by the Centre de d^'veloppement technologique of the Ecole polytechnique de Montr^'alat the request of the As- sociation des mines d'amiante du Qu^'bec have made it possible to better measure the possibilities and means of developing asbestos research in Qu^'becand to define some future practical guidelines based on expert and objective data and analyses The CDT report realistically outlines the general direction the development of asbestos research should take given the major needs and objectives which the study group has identified and the human and material resources available Working document Without being an absolute guide the CDT report constitutes a most valuable working document parti- cularly for all those concerned with getting a clear picture of the state of research in Qu^'bec In this respect it is interesting to note that the CDT work team has observed the present existence in the university industrial and para- governmental centres of human and material resources which hold great promise as well as an availability and willingness on the part of researchers to participate more actively in asbestos research This indicates that a research develop- ment program can and indeed must be designed in view of the rational use of existing means granted that new acquisitions would progressively increase Qu^'bec's research potential Priorities On the other hand the research priorities as defined by the authors of the report follow a logical reasoning which would be difficult to challenge In fact insofar as the viability of the asbestos industry primarily depends on the capacity to scientifically and medically demonstrate the safety of asbestos products it stands to reason that the essential scope of research should initially respond to this concern New applications or new products would make little headway as long as the reti- cence of users and consumers be- set by unfavourable propaganda on the dangers of asbestos and conditioned to favour substitute products has not been overcome It is not a question of sacrificing innovative research but of giving precedence to research activities which are more acutely called for considering the difficulties which confront the industry in several market areas and which must be re- solved if as was stated in a paper submitted by the Bureau de l'amiante to the Cabinet one wants to pre- serve a major industrial for asbestos production potential Favourable response From this standpoint the observations of the CDT correspond to those made by the industry several years ago as emphasized by the authors of the report who write Our study shows that AMAQ recognized long ago the necessity to create an industrial research centre formed by the asbestos production industry to meet its needs concerning production quality and environmental and health problems Already very actively conducting research through its Environmental Committee and the Institute of Oc- cupational and Environmental Health AMAQ subscribes to the objectives stated in the report and favours the idea of the creation by the industry of an asbestos research and development centre a centre asserting the importance of Qu^'becin the asbestos sector promoting the development of Qu^'bec's expertise in this field and encouraging the expansion of Qu^'bec'sasbestos manufacturing industry LBY ulletin The final report of the Centre de d^'veloppementtechnologique To propose methods of speeding up the process of developing as- bestos research in Qu^'becin order to obtain the best possible performance in an economically viable manner while making optimum use of human material and technological resources available This was the mandate- primary objective of the mandate- given last June to the Centre de d^'veloppement technologique CDT of the Ecole polytechnique de Montr^'al by the Association des mines d'amiante du Quebec AMAO The results of the CDT study are found in a final report entitled Etat de la recherche sur l'amiante au Qu^'becet modalites de son d^'veloppement State of Asbestos Research in Qu^'becand Methods for its Devel- opment Comprehensive Report related activities in the production of asbestos fibre and asbestos ed products The report lists the governmental university and indus- trial laboratories and research centres which were visited and inclu- des in an appendix the detailed questionnaire they were given as well as four papers presented by some of these organizations including one by the AMAQ Environmental Com- mittee Reference Document The CDT report constitutes an important reference document for all those interested in asbestos research in Quebec In the first chapter which is in fact an introduction the authors pinpoint the Quebec asbeslos industry and its place in the world They describe the structure repart presents a survey of asbestos research in Qu^'becand Canada The state of research in Qu^'bechas been synthesized into a series of tables accompanied by a detailed description of the various research group's activities and of available equipment The CDT experts who have summed up investments provided for this field since the early 70's and identified the strongpoints of asbestos research in Qu^'bec have concluded that those available for asbestos research in Qu^'beccentres are highly qualified and have the enthousiasm needed to undertake all research which a dynamic primary and secondary industry could re- " quire Another chapter is entirely devoted to research needs in Qu^'bec The authors of the report believe these The page comprehensive report was prepared by the project head Laurier Juteau Eng and Professor at the Ecole polytechnique and by the two chief participants Roland Dore Eng and Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Ren^' Dufour Eng and Professor of Mining Engineering In addition to the introduction and the study group's conclusions and recommendations the report contains four chapters which survey asbestos research in Qu^'becand study is prospects and methods of development Fourteen tables and live diagrams illustrate the information given in these chap- ters Numerous Consultations To perform their study the three experts used the services of special- ists involved in various subject areas During its research the team consulted more than twenty organizations interested in one way or another in the asbestos industry and In the usual order the main participants in the CDT study Ren^'Dutour Laurier Juteau project head Roland Dor^'and the Director of the CDT Robert May of the industry at both a Qu^'becand a global level They then bring up the subject of asbestos and health and emphasize that the very strong reaction to all products incorporating asbestos ( ) goes far beyond a rational approach and if it is not remedied by an objective outlook It could considerably limit the use of asbestos fibre Survey The second chapler of the CDT needs stem from factors which have influenced the development of asbestos fibre production and asbestos manufacturing such as adverse publicity lack of coordination in the field of research and the rush to find substitutes etc The fourth and last chapter dis- cusses the objectives priorities orgarization operations and financing of an asbestos research centre the creation of which constitutes the main recommendation of the CDT The creation of an asbestos research centre latives of the bodies involved with is implementation namely the producing companies and representa- tives from the manufacturing indus- try and government in Qu^'bec Financing Main recommendation of the report The main recommendation by the authors of the CDT report on the state of asbestos research in Qu^'bec and the methods of its development is directed towards the creation by the asbestos producers of a research centre designed to concurrently meet the needs of Qu^'bec's economic policies the needs of abestos producers expansion and development policies and the needs of asbestos consumers Major priorities The CDT group considers and recommends that the objectives of the research to which a centre should be devoted They are health research fundamental research en- vironmental research and innovative Centre be based on two main priori research ties First priority An understanding of the properties of asbestos fibre measurement of the amount of fibre emission in the environment by existing and new asbestosbased products and research on methods aimed at its elimination Second priority Greater use of asbestos products in Qu^'bec and innovations in the development Taking into account the existence of several centres in Qu^'bechaving highly sophisticated laboratories and equipment the presence of spe- cialists in various areas of expertise the COT recommends that the research programs to be developed or approved by the centre be implemented depending on the purpose and nature of the work involved by one or another of the various uni- of new asbestos products which could lead to the establishment in Qu^'becand elsewhere of new Industries using asbestos versity industrial and governmental research centres centres which will have previously been identified as rate centres fibre In establishing these priorities the CDT experts point out that because of the impression given the public by an asbestos campaign research aimed at developing new applications and designing new asbestos products is contingent upon research directed towards the healthy and safe handling Furthermore considering that AMAO subsidizes two research or- ganizations already having well- structured activities the work group suggests that the activities of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health IOEH and the Environmental Committee be incorporated with those of the proposed centre of asbestos fibre and its products While suggesting that the creation of the centre be the responsibility of asbestos producers who would be called upon to take up the major part of financing the CDT proposes that financial backing provided by the Qu^'becgovernment equal 30 of the centre's total budget and that the manufacturing industry also make a contribution The sums needed for the centre's operations including the implemenlation of research projects should according to the report be ensured by a subsidy guaranteed in a fiveyear plan and budgeted annually As it is obvious that the budget evaluation is difficult to predict as long as the year programs have not been adopted the authors of the report have nonetheless established a hypothetical budget They estimate that once the centre will have reached normal operating con- ditions its financial needs could amount to about 3 million dollars divided amongst research adminis tration and services and including activities which are at present under the auspices of the Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health of Montr^'al and the AMAQ Environmental Committee Schedule The report contains recommendations dealing with the structure and organization of the centre The schedule of operations or critical path prepared by the authors of the report foresees that the centre will reach its normal operations phase in five years time Fields of research After having determined the objectives and priorities of research as they see it the authors have identified the four main fields of Status and structure With regard to the status of the centre the authors have opted for an independent profit organization which would be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of represen- | Bullakin The state of asbestos research > Resources which hold great promise scientific and technical assistance for the mining industry in general Its creation was preceded in 1960 by the setting up of a pilot plant The Testing and Research Laboratory was created in 1961 to meet the common needs of AMAQ mem- ber companies Until present its carried out in Quebec as well as the activities of the Johns Manville Research and Development Center in Denver Colorado Since its inception the activities of activities have centred on fibre At the Government level the re- the centre have mainly focused on classification and production stan- metallurgical mining mineral processing sample analysis and testing and piloting on a indus trial scale Some of this research dardization The AMAQ laboratory is located at the Universit^'de Sher- brooke its equipment which IS valued at 250 remains the has dealt directly with asbestos property of AMAQ and is at the The CAM offices and laborato- disposal of PRAUS researchers ries are located in the Complexe Financing for the laboratory which scientifique in Foy Qu^'bec totalled 578 900 over the last five where more than one quarter of the years is entirely provided by floorspace is set aside for asbes- AMAQ related research The pilot The activities of the AMAQ En- plant uses about % of its tatal vironmental Committee which was port mentions five projects concerning ) the development of a wet process of separating and classifying asbestos fibre Federal Ministry of Energy Mines and Resources 2 the analysis of asbestos fibre content in drinking water throughout Canada Environment Canada 3 the development of methods to reduce asbestos fibre content in drinking water Canadian Centre for Inland Waters 4 national standards for emission space for asbestos and has equip- created in 1966 to protect health control in mines mills and manu- ment used exclusively for processing and analyzing this mineral The sums spent by the CRM for asbestos testing and research totalled 938 477 over the last five years at the work site in the chrysotile asbestos primary industry in Qu^'bec and in Canada as well are also financed by AMAQ The Committee's expenditures for the past three years have totaled 237 300 facturing plants for asbestos ed products Environment Canada and 5 the development of standards with respect to asbestos Canadian Government Specification Board The CRIQ Like the CRM the cherche industrielle Centre de redu Qu^'bec The Committee has a permanent office in Thetford Mines headed by the AMAQ technical advisor The latter coordinates the work of two Ontario Research Foundation Qu^'bec Industrial Research Cen- ter is an organization devoted to industrial research in general with a part of its activities and re- sources set aside for asbestos The CRIQ has been interested in this particular field since 1973 In 1977 it carried out five projects for the CRM and two others for private industry The bulk of its work has centred on the utilization and man- ufacturing of asbestos and its resi- dues subcommittees which are assigned to identify and control harmful agents through the development of new technology and to evaluate the various methods of measuring fibre and their application in the environ- ment Research outside Qu^'bec With respect to research outside Quebec the authors of the report explain that they are not trying to The authors of the report go on to describe the activities of an important Ontario centre the Ontario Research Foundation which they consider to be a first centre in the field of asbestos This non- profit organization created in 1928 offers laboratory and pilot plant services on a contractual basis Its main clients are industry and gov- ernment During the last five years the Ontario Research Foundation has The AMAQ paint a complete picture of asbestos research throughout the The two other organizations described by the CDT team in its as- world since such an undertaking is not called for in their mandate bestos research survey in Qu^'bec However they do briefly describe spent a total of 000 on asbestos research This research has mainly dealt with the measurement of airborne asbestos fibre the evaluation of asbestos fibre and asbes- are asociated with the Asociation Asociatn des mines d'amiante du Quebec which set them up the of some Canadian lab- oratories and organizations whose work has an Influence on research based products and the development of new products and methods of recovering asbestos fibre 6 Research aimed at four key sectors According to the CDT report asbestos research in Qu^'becshould be oriented towards four main fields health environment innovations and fundamental research lack of understanding of the fibre surface tension phenomena that is slowing down technological develop- ment Fulfilling the needs At the beginning of the chapter dealing with Qu^'bec's research needs the authors define the difficulties facing the asbestos industry at present They also emphasize the poor reputation given asbestos in some parts of the world as well as the ensuing tendency to use substitute products Furthermore they establish some of the deficiencies which they feel are afflicting the field of research such as lack of coordination insufficient technolog- ical data with respect to product safety a weak innovation sector and Specific fields The fields of research defined by the CDT team are directly associated with the problems which have already been defined According to the report the most crucial problem is that of occupational health Thus health is a primary field of research at the medical and epidemiological level As a corollary to medical and epidemiological research the CDT emphasizes the need to intensify re- search on the work environment and on the safe handling of asbestosbased products The report consid- of L milions 1,5 milions [ milions [ in + Amount Amount 1,0 Distribution of expenditures for each category of Asbestos research in Quebec over the last 5 years $ 694 375 in -'78 ers that this research should deal in particular with dust emission control fibre measuring methods and ways of reducing emission levels and providing for the safe handling of asbestos fibre and asbestos products To remedy the rush to find asbestos substitutes the authors of the report have proposed the development of two other fields of re- search innovatrice research and fundamental research The firsl should strive to find new products using asbestos as raw material as well as new applications for products already in existence However such aclivity cannot be carried out successfully without fundamental research which according to the CDT forms the basis of all technological innovation Research units In the asbestos research centre's organization chart presented in the next chapter the four fields of research are grouped into three separate units 1 Health Unit divided into Epidemiology and Medical Research 2 Environmental Unit divided into Emission Control and Technical Services 3 Research and Develop- ment divided into Fundamental SCIences Technical Innovations and New Applications Information in addition to these three units governing the various types of re search there is an Information Unit which among other things is responsible for promoting research and its financing for publicizing the researchers achievements and for providing public relations on a na- tional and international scale 0.5 F Environment ee oe z : jo 73-74 74-75 Environmet 75-76 I 76-77 a 77-78 Years The report favours the use of existing human and material resources it Canada Poskam Post Canada Postaged Postaged Forcave Third Troisi^me class classe 683 Montreal P.Q. Parallel to their main proposal aimed at the creation of an asbestos research centre in Quebec the authors of the CDT report strongly recommend that research work be assigned to existing university industrial and governmental centres CDT experts prefer this format to that of a centre equipped with permanent laboratories and staffed with specialists in all the subject areas that need to be covered to ensure scale research Favorable Situation If it were not possible they write to identify rate centres where the staff can be exclusively involved in asbestos research or if it were judged impossible to easily promote the creation of such centres it would be deceptive to think that researchers taken individually could carry out project by project the work needed to implement the programs As it happens the situation is completely different Indeed the survey made by the CDT work group indicates the availability of specialists working in rate centres already in existence and the availability in these same centres of highly specialized equipment The group reckons that close to 200 people have already carried out asbestos research in 10 different Quebec centres It estimates the value of available equipment at about 12 million dollars and figures that 000 sq ft of laboratory space can be used at present The authors of the report have also noted the growing interest expressed by universities in all matters concerning health and safety at work Such an interest can only prove beneficial to the asbestos sector In addition they noted the willingness of the interviewed researchers to participate more actively in asbestos research Logical Choice Within this context the report clearly favours the use of existing human and faciltae material resources which would facilitate certain types of research such as technological innovations in which the interests of the centre's members might dif fer It will always be easier as the authors conclude in this chapter for the centre's Board of Directors to decide at a later date to invest in laboratories should it prove necessary than for them to make the reverse decision In this matter is necessary to follow the example of the Pulp and Paper Institute which made its start in a university and later constructed its own laboratories The Pulp and Paper Institute at present has more students registered in graduate chemical engineering studies than any other Qu^'becuniversity Bullakin Sa This BULLETIN is published by l'Association des mines d'amiante du Qu^'bec 1130 Sherbrooke Street West Suite 410 Montreal H3A 2M8 The Post Office Department in Ottawa has authorized postage paid in cash and forwarding of the pub- lication by third class mail