Document zz5jn2R8yX1LkeZMQnvkaBa4B

Alt' m osan a Mui:C3l Di.- October 14, 1991 j AI .CO/' Mr. John Patuski 1166 Abbott Boulevard Fort Lee, NJ 07024 Dear Mr. Patuski: Thanks for your note of September 25 and your offer to be of assistance. In the years since you had your exposures to coke, asbestos, etc., we've gained much more information about the health effects of some exposure. In some instances we've eliminated certain materials or now provide personal protection for employees in order to prevent harmful health effects. Unfortunately, I did not give enough information in my letter about our present study. We learned as a result of earlier work that among deceased Alcoans there was an excess of cancer of the kidney. Based upon the experience of the U.S. population, we expected to observe 34 deaths over the years 1980 through 1987 but 53 were reported. We are now going back to take a careful look at work exposures to determine if any specific exposure could account for the excess kidney deaths. We anticipate having and reporting results of this new study next summer. Medical benefit coverage is not in my area of responsibility. Your concerns related to coverage may be addressed to Michael A. Gambill, Director of Benefits, here in the Pittsburgh Office. A question about improper administration of medical benefits may be directed to Jim Svec at this location. Best wishes to you. Sincerely, HDBrbal (00006. hdb) 752479 0064 ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA ALCOA BUILDING PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15219 1991 September 6 ALCOA Dear Alcoa Retiree: Alcoa is funding a study of the health of persons who have worked in the aluminum industry. The study is being conducted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and supported by the Alcoa Health and Industrial Hygiene Departments. Thi ormation gathering is a step in a larger study of the heal persons who have worked in the aluminum industry. I expe e research to take a few months followed . by in-depth analy t the University. The results of the study will be mad _ lie by the middle of next year. ! i. University researchers will be questioning next of kin of former Alcoans about the health habits to supplement information they haveTbeen able to gather from company records. We have discussed the process of this study with health and safety representatives of-the unions representing Alcoa employees, and we have their full support. Results will be , reported to these representatives prior to release to the ' V^publict I want you to be informed about the study in the event it should be mentioned at a future retirees' meeting. If you have : j .^questions about the study, you may contact the physician at the /* location where you worked. If this location has no physician, L*you may' contact me at the Pittsburgh Office. Sincerely, - i i H. D. Belk Medical Director 752479 0065 4- UA <4Xct/^ ^X-<^D', jAnsy^t ^-7- C^Z< X e&w <a<^e^ Zf ~X- -v~c yX^h**yXet-^p tscJL Uxx PlAtk^u/ J/h Jft ( /L^ /^k? ^^HO^OicM Ao^k^oJ (^_ UjAp AZSZh* l<jf-ct<^) 'AA OWA&t u^c ' }?%*&?< }92^d^d<u frix>p-z^kk~ fau^l Lc Qk t ^ &&*/ ) (p<a/- '4fr 2z^2L <LA<kk~ fc/g. ka> iXnOXe, P^~d 6^i-^ ^sJ^t J K&*^ */A 4&p U" ~U~. % 7*2 A 1%4' ji.fi^o *- X *~1b kUA - ,^'.S% At *~* - ,* _ A^x : jO.Cstt^Ao tS^*L/^cA ^- 4- CaxAA^ ^ky^ppA*_^) ; \; ,.;^W '''\ 1 !h^x> La^L# k U % ^ kf ^ ^ ^ /AnezcJ - //^Tfr/3y%r'r'*,i-c'^ fp> ^ L ^ SKA' ^7^/ '*0 P.5, t C X'UHJ^. 'txxxxl(u,4 t f>e*^ )7A/L-A '(/\ tzAc'Xzx^- 752479 0066