Document zbb6VBw1E5xVRyn3p8MkbLjya
FILE NAME: CTFA (CTFA)
DATE: 1973 Oct 11
DOC#: CTFA018
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Minutes - CTFA Subcommittee of SAC on Asbestos in Talc
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Trie 'Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc.
1625 VE STREET, RW ,, WASHINGTON, D. C, 20SCS 2G2/333-ZOTO
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James K, Merlt frtumn
Norman F, Estro, Ph.Q.
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Sefenst
October' 11, 1973
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CFA SUBCOMMITTEE OF SAC OK ASBESTOS IH TALC
The first meeting of the CTFA Subcommittee cf the Scientific Advisory Committee, en Asbestos in Talc, was held on October 4, 19`73 at the Colgate Palmolive Research Center, Piseataway K.J. Those in attendance were;
Mr. 'George Sandland, Bristol-Myers Products (Chairman) Dr. Murray Bardiek, Chesebrough-Ponds, Inc. Dr. George Cohen, 3ristol-Myers Products Dr. Christopher Costello, Colgate Palmolive Company Mr. Salvatore Di Bianca, The Mennen Company Mr. John Facq, Colgate-Palmolive Company _ Dr. David Hamer, Johnson & Johnson Mr. Pay R. Krammer, Whittaker, Clark and Daniels Dr. Devfitt Fetterson, Johnson & Johnson Dr. Robert Rolle, Johnson 4 Johnson Mr. Fred Roesch, Whittaker, Clark and Daniels Dr. Joseph P. Slrako, Jr., Colgate-Palmolive Company Dr. John Travers, Avon Products, lac. Mr. Ronald Takupcin, Kolmar Laboratories, Inc.
The meeting began with a discussion of the optical microscopic method for detecting asbestos in talc, which was published in the Federal Register of September 28, 1973,
The method, as written, is not completely reliable and discriminatory, since fibers other than chrysotile might fall within the critical range of refractive indices used. Cellulose fibers, for instance,would be counted according to the method guidelines.
It is estimated by at lease two academic sources, that the running of a single sample would take at least six hours for a count and a tenta tive identification. The tedium effect pn the person counting is obvious.
Several experts including Walter McCrone agree that there are probably a total o f 20 microscopists in the United States who would be sufficiently qualified to do the analysis.
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CTFA SUBCOMMITTEE OF SAC ON ASBESTOS IN TALC
It was generally agreed that with some modification the methodology could "be strengthened to yield a more reliable identification and measure ment
A major consideration in the method is the extremely small sample, one milligram in size, whichj one must ^or e over for several hours, then based on the nature of this miniscule sample, make, a judgment on a 20 ton lot. Bearing in mind the fact that most talc is produced by a con tinuous process, the reliability of a one milligram sample is poor, even if taken from a composite of several samples, since homogeneity of the sample is extremely difficult to achieve without changing fiber length.
A discussion of the step scanning X-ray diffraction procedure fol lowed with a description h y Joseph' Simko of the method which was developed at Colgate. In contrast to optical microscopy, the X-ray'method has a lower limit'of detection of 0.5%. It is considerably more reliable for discriminating chrysotile and tremolite and uses a 500 milligram sample, thus providing much greater statistical assurance that the sample is representative. It takes about 3 hours to run including manual compu tation of results.
It was agreed that we run a "round robin" teat using six samples of talc from several 'sources-in the United States and including Italian talc. Bob Rolle, agreed to furnish a set of samples which will be "seeded" With tremolite and chrysotile using a special technique to assure homogen eity. These are intended to assist in optical recognition and to estimate reproducibility of procedure.
The following eight volunteered to test (or heve tested) samples by optical microscopy (Fed. Reg. 9/28/73) and those designated by asterisk will also test by the X-ray diffraction step scanning-method used by Colgate.
Dr. Dr. *Dr. Mr. *Dr. Mr. Dr. Mr,
Murray Berdick, Chesebrough Bonds George Cohen, Bristol-Myers Products Christopher Costello, Colgate-Palmolive Company Salvatore diBianca, The Mennen Company DeWitt Petterson, Johnson & Johnson Fred Roeach, whittaker, Clark and Daniels John. Travers, Avon Products, Inc. Ronald Yakupcin, Kolmar Laboratories, Inc.
George Sandland will prepare, code and distribute the samples to the above list of persons.
It was also agreed that George Cohen will contact Pfizer to encourage participation in the work of the Committee,
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CTFA SBC0MKII1TEE OF SAC OT ASBESTOS I N TALC
The Committee wishes to approach the evaluation o the EDA proposed
optical microscopic with an open mind and recommends withholding the
critical commenting in these notes until a fair evaluation through
the "round robn,`jis completed.
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Following the meeting, several members of the Committee visited the instrument facilities at Colgate to see the X-ray and optical units.
ffe wish to thank Dr; Costello and Colgate for permitting us to use their facilities for this meeting. Dr. Costello also offered'to accomo date us for future meetings.
Respectfully submitted to the Scientific Advisory Committee,
f*j*e-/ M cy. J h &0-i-> v
George W-.-'Sandland, Chairman
GWS :dd cc: 2?. Reisbexg - Carter Products
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