Document zgaaddY4yD10QLKjBjrkK9B

FILE NAME: Ford (FD) DATE: 1973-1975 DOC#: FD125 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letters to and from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine V.-' to it/ -V- >tr iI W. Dale Compton Vice President Scientific Research Ford Motor Cornpar y 20000 Rotunda Dn-.'fc Dearborn, Michigan 4f ~1 October 23, 1973 Professor Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. Department of Community Medicine Mount Sinai School of Medicine City University of Haw York 5th Avenue and 100th Street New York, New York 10020 Dear Professor Selikoff: I am pleased to advise you that the Department of Community Medi cine has been selected for renewal of the Ford Motor Company Grant for the academic year 1973-1974. Enclosed is a Ford Motor Company check in the amount of $5000 to City University of New York. As previously, the purpose of the grant is to assist and encourage research at the doctoral level. The funds are intended to be used in innovative ways which will help strengthen your graduate research program ir. asbestos toxicology and related areas. Your use of the funds is unrestricted within the general purpose of the grant. However, some or all of the funds may be used for fellowship ourpo3 e s , provided each award is identified as a Ford Motor Fellowship and offers a minimum stipend of $2500 per academic year for the r e c i p i e n t . We would like Dr. Boy Gealer of our Scientific Research Staff. Chemical Engineering Department, to be the focal point for intoraction between your Department and the Ford Motor Company. Dr. Gealar join3 me in expressing our pleasure in being able to continue the support of your research program. Yours very truly, W. Dale Comptoe 009912 cc Chancellor Robert J. Kibbee Dr. Roy Gealer j,. J. Brannon, Corporate Contributions PRODUCED BY FORD 8G00 0253 The sticky note shown below was written by Barry Castlem an and attached to the page immediately following this one along the right margin at the spot marked on the next page with an y ^ ' t-''c v Jmi.uc.ry 11, lyV- Irviny; J. delihoff, i-i.D. co. Com ;u n ity 2!euicin.e IIoui.it S iiv .i School o f M edicine F i l t h /.venue ti-'io. l'.'Oth e r e c t liuv lo r d , 1:ew Yard lO blp Dour Dr. B o lih o if: , hev o r:.l p eo p le u it h in th e Corrpuny ir.v s revienrod you.- l e c t o r o : Deee noor 1j , l> '/j, o u tlin in g t i e in v e s t ig a t io n v h ic h you have inioio'ien eoneornin; p o ssib le h e a lth bnaavds asso c ia te d viral autom obile bruise ru.intonanco and b m le r e p a ir vovlz. We a re i.-u erestcc. j.:i your p r o je c t and ve v o u ld be p le a se d to meet i l l . you to CJ.eeu.es in more c e tc .il hov v;e n ig h '; be ab le to sm -iet in l i e ev alu atio n o l p o ssib le in d icate d enuiroiroentc. co n tro l measures end in providing a d d itio n a l in ib ru a tio n on broJce l i u d u j m a te r ia ls o th e r t i r 'd a s b e s to s . I su g g est t h a t you c o n ta c t mi a t your convenience to d e te rre n e haw ve nay roost c o n v e n ie n tly and p ro d u c tiv e ly p u rsu e t h i s nrow D* ccr.rob'ti. i v i i i lo o i: io r u a r d t o h e a rin g Irani you. With best regards. [J u m .I /4 tJ C? Sincerely, cc: W. D. Comptonv E. Eiehea P. E. Toth Original Signed By Duane L. Block, M. D. 011523 PRODUCED BY FORD cs-: Inter Offtca Scientific R*earch Statt March 8, 1971- To: W. D. Compton cc D. L. Block M. Eumenlk/J. E. Mayer E. Eichen L. Roslinski S. Gratch/J. V. Petrocelli P. E. Toth 009906 Subject: Brake Maintenance Shop Workers Dust Exposure -- Mount Sinai School of ffedicine Investigation The Department of Community Medicine of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York, is initiating an investigation into possible health hazards associated with. respirable particles to which, workers 1" 211E_T.C6 iT-- X'tz . ; :-r. i.r ~ S c " c l -- pl'i.OI' -- 1 -- Sy D. L. Block, M. D.J Director of Employe Health Services, Personnel and Organi zation Staff, and E. Eichen, Manager of Central Laboratory Services, had dis cussed with Professor Irving J. Selikoff of Mount Sinai the possibility of some degree of Ford assistance in this investigation* A meeting, arranged by Drs. Block and Selikoff to pursue this further, was held on March 1. Present from Mount Sinai were Drs. Arthur M. Longer and Duncan Holliday. Present from Ford, in addition to Drs. Block and Eichen, were P. E. Toth and L. Roslinski of Employe Health Services, and A. E- Anderson and R. L. Gealer of Scientific Research Staff. The Mount Sinai people indicated that their objective is to sample and examine qualitatively and quantitatively (for asbestos and other materials) the particulates suspended in the air of brake maintenance shops in New York City and to establish the degree of hazard involved through blood analysis, radiographic, morbidity, and mortality studies of an identified group of workers. While they have sampled and plan to sample the air in a large number of shops, only a few samples have been examined t o date. Results were pre sented of a preliminary examination for asbestos of filters which sampled the air during (l) the cleaning of sun old brake assembly and (2) the grinding of new brake linings. Examination b y optical microscopy using the procedure specified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) showbi C.O fi'-ers/c- of zir fzr the first sample ar.i c . ~ - Z -9 fibers/:: for the secc: .. The u n s z . mao cun ^l_.ovz.z.^-- e.zpo^ure vo n < e _ ^ -- **/' but is scheduled to be lowered to 2 fibers/cc. The NIOSH optical microscopy method counts only fibers greater than 5 microns in length. Examination of these samples was also performed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) at Lr.OC'X using t:f pr* .e;nre developed at Mount Sinai (low temperature ashing of m e filter followed by rubbing out on a glass slide and transferring to the TEM grid) and counxzng al_ visi'.--: ar.e'tzz fzoer: -- -- PRODUCED BY FORD 8000 02^7 */ -1  . * rl -.v-Vv'-''-.- W. D. Ccunpton -2- . March 8, 197^ t 0.5-1.0 microgram asbestos/cu. m of air for the first sample and 30-1)0 nrLcro- gram/cu. m for the second (note the different units). The level of asbestos in the ambient air of New York City has been measured in the range of 0.001-0.1 microgram/cu. m. The Mount Sinai people vere particularly interested in learning about the other possible constituents of brake dust, e.g., lead, to guide their studies of health effects on the workers. We provided information on the kinds of substances which could be present, stressing that while nearly 11 brake linings contain crysotile asbestos, the other constituents vary with formulation and thus while a given material may be present at times, it may not be present in the air sample from a particular few brakes. We indicated that brake wear dust may contain not only ingredients initially present in the linings, but also organic and inorganic substances created as a result of chemical reactions of constituents at the rubbing interface, e.g., forsterite forms as a decomposi tion product of crysotile asbestos. Iron, iron oxide, and road dust also would be present. We stated that it would be preferable to classify the workers according to operations performed, since the amounts and types of exposure should be dif ferent in cleaning old brake assemblies, handling new linings and grinding new linings to size. The main interest of the Mount Sinai representatives at this meeting appeared to be to gain information to guide their medical evaluations of brake workers -- no specific active participation by Ford was suggested. R. L. Gealer Chemical Engineering Department A. E. Anderson Mechanical Research Department ao 009907 t} PRODUCED BY FORD 8D00 62^8 S mk& * \J MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE of The City University ofNew York. F I F T H A V E N U E AND I 0 I T H S T I E E T - N E T T O , N. T. H i l l G tptrtm nl /Cemmumty M tdkii April 8, 1974 :* C'U ;* Dr. Roy Gealer Ford Motor Company The American Road Dearborn, Michigan 48121 Dear Roy: Enclosed you will find a brief summary concerning our research over the past year on brake decomposition products. I trust that this is the information you requested. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call me. Sincerely, AML:jm Enc. ^ASV. A IAiitXhur 'M. Laager, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Mineralogy I Ck. \>\jczxD 000237 U3 PRODUCED BY FORD Intar Ottica Sciantitle Raaaarch Statt April 19, 1974 To: J. J. Harwood Circulation copy: W. D. Compton S. Gratch J. V. Petrocelli Subject: SRS Research Grant -- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York Elis grant is being utilized in an investigation of possible health hazards associated with respirable particles of asbestos and other substances to which workers in brake maintenance shops may be exposed. The study includes the com piling of morbidity and mortality experience with such workers (and will include clinical examinations), and the quantitative characterization of the brake dust and work environment. Some results obtained to date are described in the attached informal report provided by Arthur M. Langer, Associate Professor of Mineralogy at CUNY. They plan to continue the clinical studies and extend the dust characterization to the substances which are present other than asbestos. Investigators participating in this work (besides CUNY staff) include Dr. Mary Wolf, post-doctoral student working in electron microscopy and instru mentation; Robert Klimentidis, graduate student working in mineralogy and instrumentation; and Joan Humphries, undergraduate student helping with sample preparation. Chemical Engineering Department ao 000238 tnt PRODUCED BY FORD Brake-Drum Decomposition Products-Current Research Areas March, 197H - March, 1974 The Environmental Sciences Laboratory is currently studying asbeBtos exposure in workmen who repair and service brake-linings. Although the area of investigation focuses on passenger vehicles, we are also in corporating studies Involving large-passenger and commercial-type vehicles as well. It is the purpose of this research to obtain information regard ing asbestos exposure in the automotive maintenance and repair, specifically among men repairing brakes. We will simultaneously conduct retrospective and prospective health studies on such Individuals. We are now gathering data concerning past morbidity and mortality experience. Workmen currently employed in these trades will be examined clinically and followed to determine prevalence and incidence of specific diseases. A cohort of these workmen is currently being developed by our research group. In addition to the human disease experience, we will also include - quantitative characterization of their work environment. Work in this area is currently being done. We have obtained data concerning light microscopic-electron microscopic characterization of dust aerosols liberated from such repair work. We have determined already that, in some instances, a light microscopic observation indicating no asbestos present in the atmosphere may actually conceal sevt.al micrograms of asbestos fiber. These particles are visible only by electron microscopy. We are presently characterizing the environments created during the removal of old brake drums, l.e., "blowing-off" of decomposed brake-shoe dust and the refitting of brake-shoes onto drums by means oi grinding techniques. We have dust counts of the ambient environment, in such localities before, during and after brake maintenance and repair. Some of these levels approach and com pare with occupational exposures to asbestos. In addition to the characterization oi the atmosphere in this envlron- 000239 PRODUCED BY FORD nent, we are characterizing the recovered dust as well. The mineralogical characterization of such materials has been underway for the past year and some interesting information has been already gathered. Some of these are: some asbestos fiber does survive the braking cycle; in some fibers, although the morphology of the asbestos is retained, it appears to be physically degraded; selected area electron diffraction patterns Indicate a great amount of "disorder" in surviving fibers suggesting an interfibril rotation of Individual units; a host of other materials are present in the brake-drum dust which Include a range of silicate phases, only some of which are apparently "crystalline" ; other materials are present in the dust which are presently uncharacterized. We are currently, and will in the future, characteri^^hese materials by means of electron beam Instrumentation. On the basis of a careful literature search we are convinced that the focus of disease risk, which may be present in individuals exposed to disintegrated brake-drums, should not be centered primarily on the asbestos as an agent. It is apparent that the brake-drum dust consists of a number of silicate phases in addition to a number of inorganic materials Incorporated as "modifiers". Some of these e;g. lead compounds, may have profound biological effects. Exposure to brake-drum dust may Include possible hazards from asbestos, other silicate forms, modifying compounds, as well as the organic binders. Therefore, clinical work-ups of Individuals exposed to brake-drum dust will have to take into considera tion a number of interacting agents. AML:Jm 000240 a a o i ab aaonaoyd SE2G 0008 SB8600 ' 'iA fY ^ ; ; _ -rf-< r^ Y^Tf'2' P f f ^ J * -f^ j YBYY Vtt Y H^r'~e) { /- l h? n * l V 'Y T fo ; ^ y y j j/d /y L j o J r^ J - /^vyCJjjN -T^A^^x/ >* V T / ( ^ .._ ^ ....... s 6 > ^rnA^ - v ^ \ s (r^ L & lti X^nE'j u a ^lS z/}7/ ) -- <^c#y^-^-a^^; > c ^ ^ ^ r\/ijL ^ ) ^ 2. ~- ^ -^yy^X "/^\ --L '^Ul->? -'~'/y?<7 -^~r^ tjy(/-T?Y/b . 009894 PRODUCED BY FORD e c n o 0235 ?A6? K / i * \. . Jf i i i i h * W. Dale Compton Vice President ' Scientific Research September 17, 1974 Ford Motor Company 20000 Rotunda Drive Dearborn. Michigan 48121 Professor Irving J. Sfilikoff, M.D. Environmental Sciences Laboratory Mount ginai School of Medicine City University of New York Fifth Avenue and 100th Street New York, New York 10029 009893 Dear Professor Selikoff: I am pleased to advise you that the Environmental Sciences Laboratory of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine has been selected for renewal of the Ford Motor Company Grant for the academic year 1974-1975. We will be forwarding a Ford Motor Company check in the amount of $5000 to Mount Sinai School of Medicine. As previously, the purpose of the grant is to assist and encourage research at the doctoral level. The funds are intended to be used in innovative ways which will help strengthen your graduate research program in Environmental Sciences. Your use of the funds is un restricted within the general purpose of the grant. However, some or all of the funds may be used for fellowship purposes, provided each award is identified as a Ford Motor Fellowship and offers a minimum stipend of $2500 per academic year for the recipient. We wish to note that this will be the final grant renewal. As you may appreciate, *.e receive numerous university requests for partici pation in our grant program. Therefore, in order to optimize the distribution of our grant funds, we must consider rotation of grant recipients on a periodic basis. W e would like Dr. Roy Gealer of our Scientific Research Staff, to continue to be the focal point for interaction between your Department and the Ford Motor Company.'; Dr. Gealer joins me in expressing our pleasure in being able to continue the support of your research program. cc Dean T. C. Chalmers Chancellor R. J. Kibbee Dr Roy Gealer ----L. J. Brennan, Corporate Contributions SOt'O 0 2 3 4 PRODUCED BY FORD c ll-k. MOUNT SINAI S CHOOL OF MEDI CI NE oj The City University oj New York F I F T H A V E N U E A N D I 0 0 T H S T R E E T * N E T Y O R K N.Y. 1 0 0 3 9 Department oj Community ^Medicine October 1-, I ' 7-i Dr. Roy L. Gealer Chemical Engineering Department . Scientific Research Staff Ford Motor Company 20000 Rotunda Drive Dearborn, Michigan 48121 Dear Dr. Gealer: Thank you very much for your letter ing your check of $5,000 in support Environmental Sciences Laboratory. to us and we are most appreciative. of October 8, 1974, forward of the research of the This will be of great help - I expect to be in Europe, at the meeting of the international union against cancer for much of the rest of October. When I return, it might be of interest to discuss our initial findings of garage maintenance workers, particularly those doing brake repairs and maintenance. Could you call me at your convenience early in November? With warm regards. Sincerely yours, IJS/mm i r v v r s a s s f l ' m .D. 009891 8000 PRODUCED BY FORD Inter Ottica Scientific Research Staff April 14, 1975 To: T. Cole Subject: Exposure of Brake Maintenance Shop Workers to Brake Dust On April 11, 1975, I received a telephone call from Prof. Irving J. Selikoff, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York, regarding their investigation of possible health hazards associated with respirable particles of asbestos and other substances to which workers in brake maintenance shops may be exposed. He indicated that their examination of brake shop workers is turning up some dis turbing findings relative to health effects (he didn't elaborate) and that some physicians out West had found brake shop workers well repre sented among lung cancer cases. Prof. Selikoff would like to discuss these medical findings with appropriate representatives from the automobile companies and Johns-Manville Corp. at a private meeting in New York in the near future. He therefore asked that his invitation and intention to have such a meeting be brought to the attention of interested parties at Ford. Ti Roy L. Gealer ao 009886 PRODUCED BY FORD 8000 0227 dl- I i Inter Office Scientific Research Staff To: D. R. Coulson June 12, 1975 T. Cole S. Gratch Subj ect: SRS Research Grant -- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York I possible h I ^ r eV V tili2in9 thS 9rant fUndS in itS ^ t i g a t i o n of po sible health hazards due to exposure of workers in vehicular maintenance fiber in " Splrabl ParticJ-es of ^ a k e dust. Measurements were made of asbestos fiber in the air of several such shops in New York City; and lung X-rays oul- monary tests, and blood tests were taken of garage workers. ' P The asbestos fiber concentrations were determined at various dis- o r d J L i T M ffSrent'brake maintenance operations, including the cleaning beveling f S e T 9 " alr ?6 t ' brake llning grinding, and brake lining (' ! nai PTM?1* recognize that vacuum-brush cleaning of brake drums is Preferred to air jet blowing because of the clouds of dust r a L e d by S e t raivert ^ indicated that tact converting to vacuum systems.) larger shops in New York City1 are in associated with^h u" ! perfonned on 93 garage workers (not necessarily ^ , th* 9arages which were air-sampled), and the incidence of ab- of the PUlmDnarY functions' and ^ o o d were assessed. Seme Jc^ion W rkerS reguXarly do brake work while some are exposed only occasionally or incidentally. I the staff 'fe,iaVr ti9atin " h6aded by Dr` Willian Nicholson, a physicist or aetails Jof Lthe resulJ"t*s SoUflatlheScshtud0y1. f Medicine- Or. Nicholson will forward Ann Mackler, a M.S. mineralogist who is working toward her Ph.D degree. is a participant in this wozi.. along wxih CUN: staff m a k e r s , ao l Chemical Engineering fi Catalysis Department 000205 3I-& PRODUCED BY FORD The sticky note shown below was written by Barry Castlem an and attached to the page immediately following this one along the right margin at the spot marked on the next page with an o Inter Of A ^ 2C ' Ffc*M iV fcatlng C orporation ' Ford Cuatomr Servica DWtalon Service Reseercn Center January 21, 197^ Ha. L. B. Bates Hr. J. B. Knausa cc: Subject: Refs R. E. Donley D. S. Fisher R. I. Bice for isbestoa Dust Removal Vacuum Approvals for Asbesm dated November 16, 1973 t R Knauss Memo daxe ^ L. B. Bates note dated Jama i ? 3, -?< jj-- o^Tboi'ns asb6S^os n . - b i - t or r * * " - 4V3 r" - - - je ss s suggestion of using ^ experimented "rssrS-iis y beli079 that " * f J ^ Upon receipt _.n t unit being used for *-" P removing end ^ S ^ ' ^ H s S S s k ~ ^ until such time Rotunda v i U oux R o u n d s supplier, and ^ ... * * U is -"" cleaning brake aa"b^ y^ d probnbly improve the per and/or other attachments v o u l c reconneadations that = o U incorporated will research these ar ar product line. into the Rotunda ecu c i a M d if any testing data that n ,,ould b. i W J " ' ^ at., b. r r o T d , d to Hr. Genera1 Services Qffice the possible incorpora *- r v_y exhibit n \3a , TtVoL' vdlK ( f M ZZ-oZ PP.ODUCED BY FORD