Document z91oyL41wqeXxY1Qa1x2kbd7

FILE NAME: Talc (TALC) DATE: 1976 Nov 5 DOC#: TALC480 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Memo RE Talc-Environmental Problems i k Johns-Manvslle Internal 'Correspondence To: J . H. Swensen 1 Oats: November 5 r 1976 Fronv R . S . Lcm.ar . Copies: Subf^ci: P . Kotin,' su-.-ii. Fsnasr, H. R. E . R . Bettinardi, D, C Ta 1c - Environmental Problems M. Sharratt, ^he attached article from the Wall Street Journal, Tuesday, November 2, 1976, page 8, "Exposure of talc Dust May be Related to Deaths of Workers, Health Unit Says", should be evaluated relative to our Penhorwood talc. Notice that this study was' conducted among talc workers in Vermont at Johnson and Johnson, Engelhard Minerals and Chemicals Corp. and Vermont Talc Co. Although there are considerable differences among these three companies and the quality of the products they mine and produce, all are virtually asbestos-free. That is what makes this article disturbing. Some of these Vermont talcs also contain relatively high concentrations of arsenic which is, I believe, a known carcinogen. As the article states: _ "Scientists believe there may, be something else in the mine environment that contributes to the cancer deaths other than the talc itself.'* Attached, also is'a copy of m y letter of April 22, 1976 to W. H, Ashton at J & J and a copy of the paper by Giovanni . F. Rubino, et.al. "Mortality Study of Talc Miners and Millers" from Journal of Occupational Medicine, March 1976, V o l . 18, No. 3, pp. 186-193. This paper clearly demonstrates that pure talc mineral is not a carcinogen and cannot m any way be related to the asbestos-containing talcs from upper New York State. I believe that comments from Paul Kotin and Ed Fenner would be helpful. . R. S. Lamar ib Attachments all copies