Document yryEJQwa1VGVrnaEkedK53ndX
KoViiber |, J973
AMricta Academy of Occupational Medicine
I would like to share my concern with you about s series of erticits now appearing in the Kev Yorker magatine. Those articles ore entitled, 'Annals c: industry Casualties of the Workplace*'. The author 1* Pout grodeor. h,* perception of Srodeur's purpose in writing this sTies of articles is that he desired that the reader conclude thet any errors, delays, ineptnejs, which he could associate with the esse of Pittsburgh-Csrning in Tyler, Texes, are also associated, in general, with the field f occupetionsl health in the United steles. In order to echieve this purpose, which is not explicitly statti but rather skillfully implied, Irodeur stresses those contributions of the professlocals which can be fsuited or at least auestioned. He has net provided a complete record of efforts in the ease*
The articles take the position associated with the union involved, aaeely that 'Indus trial workers are the victims of a conspiracy designed to suppress knowledge of occupational health hasards and to delay the passage and enforcement of laws to cope Uth then1'. The articles depict the Tyler Pleat of Pittsburgh Coming Corpor ation, In the words of a union official, as the "epitome of what is wrong with the way our country was dealing with the problem of industrial disease". In my opinion, this position is supported only by stretching the truth and in so** case* altering or sitting the record.
S* 01452.IS*
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WV-11058
DUFT 3
Tkt article* allege that tha Tyler Plant fro* its beginning has grossly exceeded the asbesio* dust standards in most ell of its eye rations. On the has is of results surveys of airborne dust in the Tyler Plant prior to 1969, this was net true. There was evidence that excessive dust exposures occurred only at selected plant sites and that these e*cunions in airborne concentration* of dust were not consistent. The saae surveys suggested penai*-'' sible exposures (as calculated by then existing standards] t seat saspHng sites. It was only in 1969 when the Valsh^Healey Stand ards chanted the entire concept of the sttnderd fro* S MPPCF in a people collected by inpinger to 12 fibers pet cubie centimeter collected by filter that concentrations were deemed excessive throughout the plant. At y-'v know, late in 3971 the asbestos dust stancard was further levered by the CSKA Temporary Eaergency Standard for Asbestos to S KSlm?
The TSiclts lead the reader to believe that the scientific world has known the biological response to all forssef asbestos since at least 1964. On the contrary, the effects of Asotite with respect to lung cancer ead aesothelioss were not reported until Septeober 1972* Asosito Is tho type of asbestos used la "I'aibestos", Pitts burgh Coming Corporation's asbestos-com lining therail pipe insu lation. The facts are that in 196S a study reported on ainers exposed to sap*it* in the Transvaal Region of South Africa, where the as*it* used in Unibestos case fron,showed no evidence of either lung cancer or sescrtheHosa being caused by exposure to ftesite dust. This study suggested that aaosite night be a safe
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type of asbestos that could be used in place of other asbestos that had been shown to be associated with malignancies. These facte may have had an influence in the greater demand for amosite that ves experienced, further facts are that it was in Septesher, 1972, several months after Pittsburgh Corning Corporation had closed its Unibesto* manufacturing operations that Seiikoff pub* lished the f,-st paper which suggested a relationship between aces* ite asbestos and malignancies. Seiikoff states in this article that "there has been no evidence concerning whether tht aaosite variety it carcinogenic".
It is because of sy concern ms a Bears Certified Specielist in Oc- cupetionel Medicine, net because 1 happen to be one of the severe! targets of these erticles, that 1 feel a peer review is essential 1?. this case to determine whether or not the professionals involved and the actions taken by Pittsburgh Coming Corporation ware in the best interest of workmen involved in the manufacturing process and also the werknen using Unibestes. Our profession is being libeleusly attacked in the articles and eerehow the record should be set straight. j# therefore, invite the Academy to make an in-depth study into the Pittsburgh Coming Corporation's handling of the health aspects of Vx bestos.
per the convenience of those who will conduct the review, I have provided an annotated time sequence analysis of Unibestos health considerations, which is a synopsis of recoRaeadations made and actions taken. It 4, of course, understood that my complete files
SJ 14S2.1?1
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*t available for revIt* again at the convenience of the reviewers. 2 fcm provided a written suessry ef the thinking that eccoapsnied lit Tecoraendations and the actions. At you cote from this record. Or. Morton Corn* Professor ef Industrial Health and Air Engineering at the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, provided, at my request, industrial hygiene services to Pittsburgh Coming. Or. Corn has agreed to cooperate fully with such a review either personally or by ailing his records available.
The Mansgenent ef Pittsburgh Corning and ayself are ready to assi;t ia any way possible the Aeaeeey's review of this natter.
Very truly yours,
Lee t. Grant, M.C. Medical Sirector
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Bovaober 5, 1973
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Attache is as annotated tine #*ueac ataljrii tad the cepiei of tb* AS.*8 Ituehli i* eh* usury of the rraokisc
am biased vith rccsceesdatloea and accicnt. I particular!* wcjllife* your ecBsenta bc msi*ted iaproveaenta the suaetry.
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