MSSM ESL CUNY - Inhalation Hygiene Progress Reports 1969 - 1976

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Inhalation Hygiene Progress Reports

1969 - 1976

Published at The Environmental Sciences Laboratory

Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York

New York, New York 10029

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES LABORATORY MOUN T SINAI SC H OO L O F M ED ICI NE O F THE C I Ty UN I V ER SITY O F N E W YORK

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Environmental Sciences· Laboratory

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M'M INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

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°lOF"""Q FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

of The City University of New York

J oint Health Research Effort Starts For Insulation Men

Panel of experts meets in New York to discuss Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program. Fronf"liifr to Iiglif:.Mr:"Jobe; Dr .. Selikoff; Dr~ James," Dr. Brown, :Mr. Hutchinson.

The Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program (IIHRP), already well under way, represents the nation's first cooperative effort by an international labor union, industry, and science, consulting with government to undertake a health research program for industrial workers. This fact emerged at a public discussion of the program by a panel of experts at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York. (See page 4 for excerpts from the discussion.)

The program is budgeted at 3362:-500 for the first year and is jointly financed by the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. and Johns:'tram-ille Corporation. The Sprayed

Mineral Fiber Manufacturers Association also is supporting and cooperating in the venture. The program is expected to run five years.

Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Director of Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory and Director of the IIHRP, said the primary purpose of

"the combined industrial hvciene and preventive engineering re;e~rch program i3 to deyelop improved methods that will minimize exposure of insulation workers to dust and fumes encountered in their jobs. The U.S. Public Health Service's Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health will provide- consultation "and technical assistance. "

(Continued on page 7)

trying J. Selikoff, M. D., Program Director Vol. 1 No.1 Sp .. in1l1969

IIHRP Advisory Council

Sees New Masks,

Hears Other Progress

Rapid progress on important projects to reduce on-job dust exposure was reporte~" at recent meetings of the Adyisory Council of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program.

Council members were given details of on·site inspections at 30 construction sites and fabricating shops in various parts of the country by an industrial hygiene team (see stOry on page 8). -

New Respirator Developed

Dr. Fred L. Pundsack reported development of prototypes of a new face mask respirator that is efficient, comfortable and disposable_ He showed Council members some of the new masks. Tests at the U.S. Bureau of Mines laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pa., showed the masks to be efficient in fr!terin 3" dusts of the type encountered in some ilisI11h;':~b ,:"-~"'"k.

The mask, samples of which aI''' being field-tested in February, is in


Dr_ Pundsack shows new mask

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Insulation Hygiene

Progress Reports

from the

Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program

Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. SelikofL M.D .. Director), Mount Sinai Sch;ol of 11edicine of the City University of New York, New York, N.Y. 10029

Advisory Council of IIHRP

Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. Program Director and Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D_ Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y.

Albert Hutchinson, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

J. B. Jobe, Vice President, Johnsl'l'lanville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Fred L. Pundsack. Ph_D. Vice President Research ~nd Development, J oh~s-Manvine Corporation, New York, N.Y_

George W. Wright, M.D. Director ~f Ivledical Research, St. Luke's HospItal, Cleveland, O.

PURPOSES OF THE INSULATION

INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

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1. To -develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work.

2. To disseminate knowledge of, these improved methods of' . dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

Help Wanted! Current work practices in the in

sulation industry \yere adopted at a time when it was not suspected that dust exposures in this trade might involve some risk. It is now known that health hazards have been present, under certain conditions, in association with such practices.

Although these problems are recognized, there is also evidence that as dust exposures are sharply decreased, health hazards can be minimized or eliminated. It is therefore entirely logical that work practices now be re-examined, and so modified or altered as to reduce dust exposure, and still preserve their industrial effectiveness.

This will require hard work, diligence and persistence. But above all, it will require ideas and ingenuity!

,We want your comments, your suggestions, your advice. A good start has already been made; almost 14,000 workmen in the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers have written about their observations concerning'dusty work conditions. Their suggestions are now being analyzed. Contractors and manufacturers are

adding the results of their practical experiences-these will be invaluable to our industrial hygiene engineers.

There is vast knowledge and skill in this industry, among its craftsmen. its superyisory personnel and its leaders. We need the help of all. IIVSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS invites your thoughts now, fo at the outset of the Insulation In- .J

dust:ry Hygiene Research p'rogram. From time to time, as the engineers ~ make suggestions for the consideration of the industry, we will welcome your analyses of the proposals, to ensure that they are practical and to everyone's benefit, labor and contrac-tor alike. At other times, those of YOU who are able will be asked to ~erve on special advisory groups to study particular problems and suggest solutions-your participation ~'ill be valuable. .

In the next several years, all of us -Industry, Labor, Science, Government-must contribute the unique resources which we each have, so that health hazards will be removed from this important and essential trade-LJ.S.

Joseph R. Shrode (pointing) of Pasadena, Tex., international organizer for the A~bestos Workers Union and Johns-Manville contract manager C. E. Foster of Houston Inspect ashestos-sprayed' girders and insulated duct-work at Houston construction site. They helped the IIHRP team's on·site survey. (See story on page 8)

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Advisory Council Sees New

Masks, Hears Other Progress (Contirwed from page 1) and manufacturers' representatives,

are being organized to seek solutions effect a total filter, he said. Further, to a number of problems: he added. the exhalation valve on • Design of a power saw for old-type ~asks probably will not be shop and field use, with self-neCessary on the new mask contained exhaust and dust

Dr. Pundsack said the prototype control. was designed, following a survey of • Improved materials packaging_ union members who complained that • Mixing of cement under field old-type respirators 'were too heavy, conditions., blocked vision, caused excessive • Respiratory protective equip-sweating and made breathing difficult. ment. For these reasons, the survey showed, • Design of field shops with respirators were infreqUently used. effective dust controls. Dr. Pundsack said the new mask was • Disposal of wastes. designed not just for efficient filter- The concept of the task force ap-ing, but to be comfortable, light in proach to hygiene problems in the weight, to provide good visibility, re- insulation industry was defined by duce sweating and permit the wearer Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Advisory Coun-to breathe no=ally. ' ',' " cil Chairman.

Fi.eld tests, he said, would reveal «As sources of dust exposure are whether any further design adjust- 'identified and studied by our engi-ments have to b~ made: before the, neers and 'scientists, task forces of mask goes into-general production., industry-labor personnel will be He and other Advisory Council memo' fo=ed to review the practices in bers e:lc-pressed the h~pethat, li11 union'" , 'questio-n and to help propose suit· members aSwelf'as': other workers' in, able modifications." he said. "In dusty trades,,;'Yould:'us~~ th~ masks 'as ',some cases remedi~ will be readily soon as they become: av.ail3bI~;'i;·";·'" ',' evident and immediately at hand. In

"Task forces':~, comprisi?g.s1£W~, "~others; extensive design and developunion cr3ftSiiien:~:supeivisoiy person-" ':,'meritwill be required. Both 'ends of neL contractors~"':representatives;~m~~." the'spectrum. are anticipated and will pany engineers,::~onsu1ting,' , 'i::,'beappropriately handled. , ,

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\! Herbert Levine (of the Asbestos' Spray Corporation, Newark, N. J.), representing the Sprayed 1fineral Fiber Manufacturers Association, InC., presents check for support of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program to Dean James of Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Selikoff is at left.

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"Recommendations of the task forces will be carefully scrutinized when made. First, they will have to pass the test of effectiveness in significantly reducing dust hazards from the particular operation. Then they will be field tested under working conditions to ascertain whether they are feasible, economical and suitable for commercial application in the industry. Cost analyses will be made and considered. and no recommendation will be ~pproved by the Advisory Council unless it is both effective and practical."

Dr. Selikoff said that task forces will be utilized in these other operational areas: Dust control in hand sawing operations; housekeeping on the job and in the shop; packaging and storage of materials; removal of old insulation; special problems of shipyards; personal protective clothing; personal hygiene facilities; health maintenance surveys.

Additionally, he said, appropriate industry-labor teams ""ill be assigned as other important problems are identified and considered.

IIHRP Will Work' Closely' With PHS >:

As an essential part ~f the ~ula~":' tion Industry Hygiene Research Prtr ' gram CIIHRP) , close cooperative working arrangei:nents-' have' been' initiated between scientists associated with the program and authorities of the U. S. Public': Health Service (PHS). ;." .

Under the guidance and direction of the PHS Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health, the experience and facilities of the Bureau's National Center for Urban and Industrial Health in Cincinnati have been made available to the llHRP. Scientists from the IIHRP and the PHS met at the research laboratories of Mount Sinai in New York 'on October 3 and October 28 and at the PHS facilities in Cincinnati on November 4. They reviewed and discussed the latest dust sampling equipment, methods and laboratory procedures for analyzing samples.

The IIHRP group visiting the Cinci=ati center included Dr. W. J. Nicholson, Dr. James Leineweber, Carl Berkley, Alfred Spenney, Ralph D. Hindmarch and Donald Bailey. They met with Jeremiah Lynch, How· ard Ayer and other PHS personneL

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Experts Discuss Insulation Industry Research Program

The reasons for, and objectives of, Dr. SelikoJJ: For the last six months the new Insulation Industry Hygiene we have already been working dlli-Research Program were discussed by gently in initiating the appropriate principals in the program at a meet- steps that have to be taken. For ex-ing at Mount Sinai Scho'ol of Medi- ample, Dr. Fred Pundsack, who is cine during October (see story on in charge of Research and Develop-page 1). Dr. George James, Dean, ment at J ohns-Manville's research Mount Sinai School of Medicine, laboratory, together with some of our chaired the discussion, and other par- scientists, Dr. A. M. Langer, Mr. C. ticipants incIudedDr_ Selikoff, Pro- Berkley, has been concerned with the gram Director; Dr •. Murray . Brown, development of a new type of respira-then Director: '·.Bureau of, Occupa- tory device for those circumstances in tional Safety ana Health, U.s. Public ,the insulation trade in which other Health Service; Mr. Hutchinson of methods will be inadequate and the Union,. and Mr. Jobe of Johns- where personal protection will be re-Manville Corporatiori·. quired.

Following .are-relevant comments Mr. Ralph Hindmarch has joined by participants at. the panel discus- our laboratory staff as an industrial sion: ' ,'-' .. ' hygiene engineer and is now regularly

Dr. fames: Rep~esenting the Mount visiting various construction sites in Sinai School, of, Medicine, I. would New York and other parts' of the like to say thaCin this era, medical country to carefully review all the in~titutions and universities must be trade practices which will have to be relevant to their times. They not only corrected. :Mr. Duncan A. Holaday, have to do~ducational programs, one 'of the country's leading indus-::ervice progi-ams~' research programs, trial hygiene experts, will be joining but they have to do them in fields us shortly. Dr. W. J. Nicholson is which are significant to the life and coming to us from the Watson Labe-health of Anierica.:'· ratoI)' of Columbia University, and

In this particular mstance, we have other scientists and engineers are be-the problem. We' feel that we in this ing recruited. We have organized an institution have the ability to develop advisory committee to our laboratory, solutions. And;!.under Dr. Selikoff's and have laid out the outline of this leadership; I..f~Tptetty sure we'wilL program. With the; exeellent' cooperation. , of All. of this adds up to the fact that these gentlemen:?;who:', are. rip here;,,:I . we are looking very carefully at every think he·will:have"every. opportUnity·, siiigle thing that an asbestos worker to achieve~si;iccess~.in· the: Dear ':future. ... does in the construction industry in

We might ;£SK~nr. SeIikoff to tell. the United States. The exposures to about some of;the~s'teps wbichhe which these men are subjected are hopes to take' iii the very near future being defined and the trade condi-to implement;:thiS.J>rogram. tions which make for dust in this

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Dr. James

we are undertaking the necessary engineering program to eliminate the dust hazard and make the trade safe. There are about 18,000 union insulation workers in the country. There are probably the same number of non-union insulation workers. But there probably are around 75,000 other workmen in the construction trades who also apply insulation as part of their work, such as bricklayers, roofers, and others.

We are looking at the entire insulation problem so that we will end up

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DR. SEUKOFF Dr. Selikoff

with a program that will allow protection and safe work not only for Mr. Hutchinson's union men, but for all people in the construction industrv.

'Dr. fames: Thank you very much.' Dr. Brown, since you have played a major role in getting this program "" . ":;:~:' underway, and since the United StateS, ", <::. Public Health Service as part of the " Department of Health, Education and ~ -Welfare has a responsibility for the ." ..... ~-... investigation of health problems in .... ---the nation, would YOU tell us about the events leading up to this program and what you hope might come from it?

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Dr. Brown: We should all be proud of this day. In 1965 we prepared a. report for the Surgeon General, which was done partially by stafI and partially by outside consultants. It has been labeled the Frye Report, because Bill Frye, the Chancellor of LSU's medical campus in l'\ew Orleans, was the leader of the group. In

~~~~¥~~~~~~"ll :£i~\~i:£~!~~:::;~~~~·.~·.t,-.~ health or his life for the privilege __ of earning a living. . .;·41}~


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Excerpts From Panel Discu'ssion by Experts On' Insulation Industry Research Program

(Continued from page 4)

This didn't pack any wallop at the time, People doubted it. They said to me. "\\'eIL labor's J;I1ore interested in hazard pay than they are in protecting their workers. Industry is more'interested in profits than 'they are in helping their workers and protecting them.~ They didn't see any basis for the statement.

\\Tell: we're sitting here today, a short three years later, and here you see the partnership in effect as we laid down in our report. We said that every level of government could find common cause with industry, labor, the a.cadernic community, and with the professions. ,

Here we see these groups put together. This is not talk anymore. We aren't just saying what we're going to do. Labor has put its money on the line. Industry has put its money on the line. Mount Sinai has put its facilities on the line: And we, to the extent the expertise" of our shop can be ueed, are putting 'ourselves on the line. We're doing everything we can to encourage this, action program. And, please remember it is actionoriented. This is a' program designeil to protect workers by reducing the amount of dust, by immediate appli- ' cation of what we know, and by developing knowledge'.as rapidly as possible 'which will lei:td to this_

Now there's been, a great -reduction in asbestos dust expol!ure throughout industry over the last tiventy-five or ' thirty years_ But, what ill being said here is that this isn't fast enough or good enough, and that the evidence is beginning to pile up that we must go to lower levels ,than we have

Dr. Brown

achieved so far. And to do so in this particular trade is going to be hard, but nevertheless there are pra,ctical things already in sight which I hope Dr. Selikoff is going to mention before he's through here today.

Dr. fames: It's appropriate to hear frulll ~,1r. Albert Hutchinson, the President of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers.

Mr. Hutchinson: Thank you, Dr. J ames. Our Union once again is pioneering to achieve better health protection for our members. The importance to Union' members of this new Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program is shown by members' contributions which amount to some $150,000. This, with similar industry funds, provides monies for the engineering and scientific research necessary to understand and prevent

Mr. Hutchinson

on-the-job exposures that can create health risks.

One of our problems is that we only represent about 25 percent of the people who actually apply insulations. And this is one of the reasons why I think that this program will be of great benefit; what we find here can be shared not only with the other trades, basic trades and the subtrades that work with us on these jobs every day, but can also be taken into the non-union element.

It is our hope that, as this program progresses at Mount S~nai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory, other unions in related trades will join with us in supporting such important practical re:earch.

Dr. lames: Now we'll hear from J. Burt Jobe, who is the Vice President of Johns-Manville Corporation,

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Mr. Jobe

without question the largest producer of insulating material in the United States.

Mr. lobe: We in the asbestos industry have long been carrying out our responsibilities in our mines and plants for reduction of worker exposure to excessive dusts and other hazards that are inevitable consequences of an industrial society. In this new and unique =dertaking with an international union and with medical science, we are extending our concern to those who work with asbestos and other products under conditions that may generate unnecessary and undesir"abk exposures.

We know from a great deal of study carried on in our own plants and mines that efIective controls can be devised, and that when these environmental controls are accepted by both management and labor that the hazard can be greatly reduced. EfIective health and safety practices cannot be imposed by management on workers who are not interested in observing them. Neither can they be imposed by organized labor on a management unwilling to adopt them and make them part of standard working procedures. For maximum effectiveness the controls have to be usable and accepted by' all concerned. We think that this is a real opportunity for the workers and the industry to join hands and we're very glad to be a part of it.

Weare impressed by Dr. In'ing Selikoff's proposals that will combine the science of medicine with the skills of the engineers to identify and define health hazards associated with insulation work and to develop technical and working procedures that

(Continued on page 6j

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Discussion Excerpts


will reduce and eliminate these hazards. We are confident that knowledge acquired through this program \\ ill be applicable to other industries and other occupations. We hope the trail.blazing program being inaugurated here today will encourage other segments of industry to provide needed support for such research.

Question: Dr. Selikoff", are you going to be mainly concerned with asbestos dust, or will you be looking at other kinds of dust? And I see the word fumes used here.

Dr. Selikojj: We are going to insure that the insulation workers, whether of this" ~union or of others, will be free of e:q>osure to all dust and fumes, so far as it is possible, beCause some of the other insulation materials used contain materials which we now know to be hazardous. And we think it's safer" that a foreign material not be inhaled by anyone eyen if we do not at this point recognize a significant" hazard_

Question: Dr: Seliko:ff, 1\>ill part of this study deal with others in the areas of this construction?

Dr. Selikojj:"rn"asense, yes. But in another sense: We feel that when we successfnlly control the dust produced by the ,insulation workers in the process of" applying insulation, We . will simultaneously remove any hazard which might occur as a result of any dissemination of these dusts beyond their imm~iate confines. So that solving thiS immediate problem, we simultaneous1iso1ve any potential problem which may~exist even though these are less well}efined.

Dr. James: W11af'about the others in the construcUon . .in'dustry, carpenters, plumbers,StCam'fitters, welders, and laborers, the . architects ?

Dr. Selikojj: W;' ~re not sure that the dusts which subject the insu~ation worker to hazard might not also have some slight hazard or additional hazard to other' :worJanen in the construction industif.::'Again, we feel that as we contI:ol' the insulation worker's dust we simultaneously control any potential exposure to any of the other trades in the construction industry. And we, feel, too, as Mr. Hutchinson mentioned, that the measures we will be able~ to design and apply for the construction worker are going to be later applied and adopted

by many other trades that produce dust in their work.

Dr. Brown: We've been puzzled for a number of years by the fact that the Bureau of Old Age and Survivors Insurance data indicate exce5"ive deaths for construction workers, a very high risk trade, quite apart from accidents. We have puzzled over this. \Ve've speculated too that these people are exposed to unusual stresses. They work in climatic conditions which are rough, and they are under all sorts of stresses that the rest of the population aren't. But it is a significant portion of our total population.

Certainly we can't lose anything by improving the control of dusts of all kinds to which they're exposed.

Question: I -would like to know what is being done now to keep dust levels down, especially with the workers who work in direct contact 1\ith <i lot of dust and things?

Dr. Brown: Well, Dr. Selikoff has some very positive steps planned. We want to emphasize there's a great deal of research going on. But what we're talking about here is the practical method of how you control dust.

We think the industry in general has done a rather good job of reducing dust levels in the manufacturing process. This is done primaril r by ventilation techniques, which is what we do in the dusty trades generally. Because we have lacked kilOwled!!e as to the exact amount of asbestos ~dust that can be tolerated we have had to go blindly here on the assumption that the dusty trade standard was

somewhere about right and was a good thing to use. '

Dr. Selikojj: I'll add a little bit to what Dr. Brown says. \Ve are not really concerned with dust counts, and we're not really concerned with getting it down to 100 million particles or 50 million particles or one million per cubic foot. We want to so reorganize trade practices so that as far as possible no dust is created.

Dr. James: If 7 or 8 percent, which is about one out of twelve, of the I;

working force is in the construction industry, and therefore is potentially exposed, this goes a long way to 'f! making this a general matter. Also there is the fact that" more and more of our environmental hazards seem to be acting in concert. If you have cigarette smoking and you have air pollution and you-have asbestos dust and you have' respiratory virus illness, all added together, this can mount up to a significant degree and cause much serious illness and disability. Whereas, if you can reduce one or the other of them you can then reduce the hazard.

And so we can attack the things we know how to attack as we learn how to do it. Certainly disea~es like lung cancer and pulmonary emphysema are two of the most rapidly growing diseases in the United States, tw.o of the real epidemics, if you want to call them that. in the recent decades. with no indication 'that the peak has' been turned. Anything that can be done to reduce the insult to the lungs and reduce the incidence of respiratory diseases should be done.

Members of the Asbestos Workers Union install pipe covering in Oyster Creek generating station now being built at Toms River, N. J. Site was visited by IffiRP team. (See story on page 8)

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Joint Research Effort (Continued from page 7)

importance of the research program to the Union membership, he said the Union's contribution to it is financed by a special assessment rather than through regular dues payments.

Dr. Selikoff explained that much of the research is being: conducted in the field by a team of industrial engineers a~d hygienists, while analytical work is conducted af the Environmental Sciences Laboratory.

Dr. Selikoff said the program consists of a national survey of current trade practices, primarily among insulators in the building construction field; quantitative measurements of dust exposure to determine how much inhalable dust is released into the air by various operations; qualitative analyses of mixed dust samples to determine what types of dusts are released, and their comparative effects on health. Specific aims of the program reviewed by the panelists included: the development of improved 'i\-ork practices for the industry to minimize dust· exposure, design of appropriate ventilating and exhaust devices, improved respiratory masks, better housekeeping procedures, and definite work rules and methods of personal protection;

Dr. Selikoff explained that, like all workers exposed to a dusty occupational environment, those in the insulation trades in·the construction industry run a .risk of c~ntracting respiratory disease. However, there is no precise ·information on what constitutes a dangerous concentration of mixed dusts; or~ of any particular dust. In' recent. ~: years· the greatest attention has heen focused on asbestos dust as a:he3.Ith·hazard when inhaled in excessiw":Cpiantity ·over a' protracted tinie/'j'ienod. The . most common disease .. luizard is abestosis, one of the class ~fC!iseases known as pneumoconioses. ExcesSive inhalation of almost any type of dust can cause a type of pnetJ?loconiosis. Additionally, it has been: :reported that the inhalation of asbestos dust increases the risk of lung cancer.

"The problem I:; ~ serious one for insulation workers at present. However, since we have discovered and defined this risk. it has also become evident ·that it c~n be removed. That is the purpose of this new program. Moreover, analysis of the problem made it evident that today's solution is the proper one," said Dr. Selikoff

IIHRP Hygienists Study

30 Construction Sites

Industrial hygienists Ralph D. Hindmarch and Alfred Spenne)' have completed on·site inspection studies at 30 construction projects and fabricating shops in the east, midwest, south, and southwest sections of the country.

Samples of mi..-.::ed dusts were collected and information was gathered about work procedures, Mr. Hindmarch reported to the IIHRP Advisory Council, adding that he and Mr. Spenney received full cooperation from both union and management representatives.

On the basis of their observations, the Council is now moving ahead with plans for more detailed sampling and analyses in regard to various field operations in the beginning phases of insulation and fabrication. It is expected that two sites in the New York-New Jersey area will be selected for close study.

"',IT. Hindmarch said he and :Mr. Spenney studied these job operations during their field trip: installation of block and pipe covering; installation of fiber glass blanket and pipe cover· ing; installation of mineral wool blanket; cutting of pipe covering, block and blankets (including calcium silicate, fiber glass, mineral wool, and foam glass); mixing and applying various cements; opening cartons of insulation of all types; cutting and installing polyurethane; installing spray-on insulation.

The hygienists made on-site studies in the following locations: N ew York City, Long Island, New Jersey tJ ersey City, Toms River), Texas (La Porte, Houston. Texas City), Missouri (StLouis, Kansas City) , Louisiana I Baton Rouge, New Orleans), and Illinois (N aperviUe, Kincaid, Wood River. Alsip).

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Members of UHRP Advisory Council joined hygienist team in visit to Oyster Creek generating station construction site in Toms River, N. J. Observing a sawing operation are Drs. SelikofI, Hammond and Pundsack.

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Science, Labor, Industry on. IIHRP Advisory Council

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Mr. Hutchinson (left), Dr. SelikofI and Mr. J obe, three of the six members of IIHRP Advisory Council, discuss function of electron· microprobe equipment with Dr. Arthur Langer (seated), staff mineralogist at· Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory.

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A six-man Ad\~;ory: Council, rep- ·>·-.~d A~bestos Workers; J. B. Jobe, resenting science,labor and industry, Vice President, Johns-Manville Corwill meet regularly -to. provide. con-poration; Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond, suItation and leadership : for the In- Vice President, American ~ancer Sosulation Industry Hygiene Research-·· ciety; Dr.· Fred L. Pundsack, Vice Program. Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Pro- President, Research and Development, gram Director, is. chairman. Johns-Manville Corporation; Dr.

Other members of - the Advisory George W. Wright, Director of Medi-Council are: Albert E. Hutchinson, cal Research, S1. 1-uke's Hospital, General President, International As- Oeveland.

" sociation of Heat and Frost Insulators

Dr. Hammond Dr. Pundsack

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Joint Research Effort (Continued from page 1)

Participants in the panel discussion October 14, 1968, included Dr. Selikoff; Dr. George James, Dean of rdount Sinai School of lVIedicine: J. B. J obe, Vice President of J ohns~ Manville Corporation; Albert E. Hutchinson. General President of the Asbestos Workers Union, and Dr. lvIurray C. Brown, then Director, Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health, OSPHS.

Dr. James, former New York City Health Commissioner, said the research "will produce knowledge and benefits that can be applied far beyond the particular occupations represented by the insulation workers union."

Dr. Brown defined the role of the Public Health Service as that of "catalyst for this precedent-making program. The federal government can provide leadership. Much of the actual work can and should be done by industrial concerns, unions and private estabIi~hments such as Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory."

Discussing industry's part, Mr. Jobe cited experience in manufacturin~ which shows that effective health and safety practices depend on cooperation between management and labor. Such practices canr';'ot be imposed by management on workers who are not interested, nor imposed by organized labor on management unwilling to make them part of standard working procedures, he said.·

Mr. Hutchinson of the Union hailed the program as "a welcome culmi-. nation of our continuing consultations and meetings with scientists, Public Health Service officials and industry representatives." As evidence of the


Dr. Wright

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Environmental Sciences Laboratory

""O\l1'lT Sily-f/

~l~ INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

o ,,0 O(OFMI:.Q

FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM


frving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Director

Vol. 2 No. 1 Spring 1970

Mixing Bag Tests Are Successful I I I I

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Attending the trial of plastic cement bags at Glens Falls, N.Y., are from left to right, W. J. Nicholson, IIHRP Program Coordinator, G. Metzler, Johns-ManYJl1e Field Superintendent, B. E. Mullen, ].;\1 Contract Supervisor, W. Anaguostopulos, Asbestos Workers Union member, J. O. Collins, J-M Research, and W. A. Waller, J-M Contract Estimator.

Mt. Sinai Holds 4-Day Course For Scientists

The Mount Sinai School of Medicine has announced a four-day postgraduate course for physicians and and other scientists on the health ef· fects of asbestos. The full-time course, to be <riven from June 15 to 18, 1970,

• will i;clude a study of working con· ditions in the asbestos industry as well as clinical aspects of asbestos· related disease.

The curriculum for the courSE; will include a detailed analysis of the clin· ical findings and industrial hygiene

aspects of asbestos-related disease, with emph~is on diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

The course, directed by Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, will have a faculty of over forty experts, including Drs. E. Cuyler Hammond and Harry Heimann of the IIHRP. Other participants will include Professor Rene Dubos of Rockefeller University, Dr. Paul Kotin, Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and

(Continu.ed on back page)

One of the most common and also one of the dustiest operations faced by an asbestos worker-hand mixing of asbestos cement--can now be con- . trolled by new mixing techniques.

Tests were made by IIHRP personnel of a new plastic bag for asbestos cement that can also be used for enclosed mixing. These tests showed dust levels could be reduced to 1/6 that of standard mixing methods. In this new bag, which was described in a previous IT\'SULATION HY· GIENE PROGRAM REPORTS (Fall, 1969), water is added directly into the bag and the mixing is achieved by kneading the bag_

The cement bag trials were held during boiler insulation work in Glens Falls, New York, on October 29, 1969. Bags with the two types of water inlet were considered for trial and the most feasible one was tested at that time. This hag utilized a corner entrance flap through which the bag could be filled using a hose.

Methods Compared

During the trial, comparisons were made of mixing techniques using a fast-setting, hydraulic finishing cement containing 15, percent asbestos and non-hydraulic cement containing approximately 50 percent asbestos. The hand mixing was done in a tub large enough to; hold one bag and dust levels were measured at the breathing zone of the worker.

The data, summarized in the following table, indicate the clear utility of the plastic bag as a dust control ·measure.

Mixing Method

Tub Plastic Bag

Hydraulic Non-Hydraulic 46 flcc 10 flcc

7.5 4.4

Dust samples were collected only for the. total mixing time which was

(C ontinu.ed on center spread)

:~: '.

Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports

Yol. 2 ND. 1 Spring 1970

from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irying J. Selikoff, M.D_, Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the -city University of New . York New York, N.Y. 10029 '


Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. Program Director and Chai=an

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D. Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y.


J. B. lobe, Vice President, JohnsManville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Fred L. Pundsack,·Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Development, Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

George W. Wright, M.D. Director of Medical Research, 51. Lu~e's Hospital, Cleveland, 0.· .

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PURPOSES OF THE . INSULATION

INDUSTRY· HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

W. J. Nicholson (left) and W. B. Reitze (right! discuss the use of a high volume air sampler with Dr. S. Holmes, Secretary of the Asbestos Research Council in England.

IIHRP Personnel Inspect European Building Sites

William B. Reitze and William 1. Nicholson of Mount Sinai have returned from visits to construction sites, shipyards and laboratories in Great Britain and continental Europe. Invited to study work practices in England by the Asbestosis Research Council, the IIHRP team extended their visit to sites in Holland, Germany and Denmark.

Emphasis was placed during the trip on studying those dust reduction techniques that might be adapted for u~ in this country. Particular emphasis was given to England because of the extensive research work of the Asbestosis Research Council and its member companies and because preparations were being taken prior to the introduction in May, 1970, of strict government asbestos control regulations.

In England, visits were made to the Turner Brothers and Cape Asbestos Corporation factories, Newalls Insulation, a Newcastle shipyard, and the Gloster Saro Corporation, a distributor of spray asbestos and ceramic fiber insulation. In addition. a visit to the Pneumoconiosis Re~ search Unit at Penar:th, Wales was made;

In Holland. visits were made 'to Hertel Insulation in Rotterdam. and the de Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen.

Spraying Differs One notable difference observed

between practices in the U.S. and Europe was the restricted use of spray asbestos. Its use in Europe, and particularly in England, was less extensive than the U.S. and when used, the material was applied at night· or when other trades were not working on the site. Moreover, in some circumstances, dust control during spray applications was ~effected by a predamping process that reduced dust levels to 1/250 of those measured without predamping.

In commenting on the usefulness of the trip, Reitze remarked that it was very helpful to have seen the dust collection devices on power tools, especially hand tools, as well as the spray predamping equipment.

"Moreover, the difficulties experienced by some parts of the asbestos industry in confo=ing to the implementation of strict regulations clearly indicate the need for action now by industry and labor in this country to reduce worker exposure levels to a minimum," he said.

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Bag Tests Successful ( C on.tinlUa)

virtually identical in each test (7-9 minutes for tub mixing 8-10 for bag mixing). The levels are high, but it must be realized that cement mixing is not a continuous operation.

The data obtained for the standard mixing method are comparable to those obtained by William B. Reitze, Director of IIHRP Field Studies, for the mixing of cement in various field conditions. In those cases, which range from hand mixing in small buckets to the large.scale mixing used in power house \ insulation work, dust levels varied from 25 to 62 fibers per cc.·

Problems Easy. to.. Solve.

While it is clear, that a very dusty operation can he-controlled, two difficulties of the present plastic bag were observed during the trial. Some bag damage, in excess of that experienced with paper bags" occurred during shipment of the plastic bags. Moreover, bags containing 35 to 50 pounds of cement, were difficult to handle when the necessary water had been added. '

Following the- Glens Falls trial, Fred L. Pundsack, Vice President for Research and Development of J ohnsManville Corporation, expressed his pleasure at the dust reduction capability.

"The two problems observed during the trial can be easily solved. We will investigate the use of different and stronger bag material and we can design a package of more suitable weight. The redesigned packages will be available for both field and marketing trials in the near future," he said.

An example of extensive tarping used on the Wodd Trade Center prior to spraying the (outside of girders' and spandrels.

New Spray Methods Used On World Trade Center

Rising on the west side of lower Manhattan are the no story high, twin towers of the New York PDrt Authority's World Trade Center. The towers will be the world's tallest structures.

Needless to say, unique practices are necessary in all phases of design and construction. For example, to keep elevator space to a minimum, three local elevators will operate in one shaft at different levels.

The size Df the buildings has also dictated unique practices for the application' of sprayed mineral fiber.

Special enclosur;'procedures have been developed to prevent dissemination of asbestos into the air of N.Y. City while spraying the outside of the girders and spandrels. To prevent loss at the bottom of enclosures, all tarps extend through the window areas into the building.

During the spraying of ceiling joists, the spray area is sealed from other work areas at the elevator shafts as well as from the outside at the building perimeter. '

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Continuing Effort

Efforts to improve methods of spraying insulation material at the World Trade Center are part of a continuing effort to improve spray procedures in all buildings.

William B. Reitze, Director of IIHRP Field Studies, di~cusses spray asbestos problems with spray mineral fiber manufacturers, plastering contractors, general construction con· tractors, and members of the N.Y. Department of Air Resources.

In discussing efforts to control the unwanted release of asbestos and other insulation dusts, both on and off job sites, Dr. Irving Selikoff, IIHRP Director, stated, "Some progress is being made. Proper procedures have been specified in broad terms, but they must be implemented with specific action on all buildings. Clean-up of waste is still a very serio ous problem everywhere. Work on the World Trade Center shows some of the things that can be done. We hope progress on the spray problem not only continues there and elsewhere, but accelerates."

"

N ew Electron Microscope U sed to Analyze Dusts

IIHRP Staffer

Wins Honor

The Environmental Sciences LaboratorY of Ii'fount Sinai School of Medicine has rec~iyed a second electron microscope to be used exclusively for the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, The instrument, capable of magnifying 480,000 times. was installed in the laboratory durin'g Kovember and has received continuous use since.

The electron microscope is used to determine the size distribution of asbestos fibers in occupational exposures and to measure the amount of asbestos in the atmosphere around various types of insulation work.'

To J1 easure Fibers

The measurement of the number of fibers in all size ranges in construction dust is important. Standard sampling methods measure only those fibers longer than 1/5000 of an inch in length. This may account for only 1/10 of the total number of fibers present. If the ~orkers' health experiences are to be related meaningfully to their dust exposures, accurate ultramicroscopic data must be obtained.

In the case of many air samples, the presence of other particulate matter prevents the use of light microscopes to measure asbestos fibers of any length. Only by ashing the sample to remove the organic matter, dis· persing the residue on a sample grid, and scanning with,the electron micro~

'··~:~~fi~:S:,:- -Course' for'scientists

( Co-ntViuecl)

Dr. Marcus Key, Chief, Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Public Health Service.

Participants will be shown construction practices by James Mul· hearn and Jack Novak of the Asbestos Workers Union. Plant and mine visits will be arranged throui!h the cooperation of }olms-Manville Corporation.

A detailed brochure describing the course can be obtained from: Registrar, Page and William Black Postgraduate' School of Medicine, Klingenstein Clinical Center, 1450 Madison Avenue, Room 621, New York, N.Y. 1002~ •

scope, can one hope to obtain any data on this difficult problem.

In addition to the industrial hy. giene work, these data will be used in a joint study by the Environmental Sciences Laboratory and the New York City Department of Air Resources which was described in the Fall 1969 PROGRESS REPORTS.

How it Works

In describing the operation of an electron microscope, Arthur N. Rohl, IIHRP mineralogist, made a comparison with a standard television ::et. "In a TV set an image is pro· duced by a high energy electron beam striking a phosphorescent screen. The position of the electron beam on the screen is controlled by the voltage on deflection plates within the tube. In the case of the electron microscope a similar beam of high energy electrons is produced which passes through the sample to be stud. ied. It is directed and enlarged by magnets within the microscope, strikes a similar screen, and produces an image which can be photographed."

Duncan A. Holaday, a member of the staff of IIHRP, has been honored as the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Health Physics Society.

Holaday was honored not only for his recognition of the problem of exposure of uranium miners to radon and its daughter products and for his technical contributions to the art of monitoring such exposure, but also for his efforts in achieving a highly significant reduction of that exposure.

Trained as a chemical engineer, Holaday served with the U.S. Public Health Service from 1943 to 1968. He joined the industrial hygiene program of Mount Sinai this year and is in charge of several task forces directed toward reducing dust levels in the asbestos industry.

His immediate concern is to coordinate IIHRP activities with efforts in the safety appliance industry to' obtain an efficient and comfortable disposable respirator. He has recently been named to head an American Standards Association subcommittee setting standards for disposable respirators.

Arthur Langer (left) and Arthur Rohl, IIHRP mineralogists, analyze consu"uction dusts with the new electron microscope.

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Vol. 2, No.2 Summer 1970

from the

Insulation Industry Hygiene Re~ean'h Prop:r.am

Editor: W; J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (In'ing J. Seli-

"" koff. ~I.D_, Director), Mount Sinai School of :\fedicine of the City University of New York, New York, KY. 10020 ,


IrYing J. Seliko:fI, M.D. Program Director and Chairman


Albert Hutchinson, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washinp:ton, D.C.

J. B. J obe. Vice President- Johns~'lunville Corporation, Ne~ York, N.Y.

Fred L. Pundsack. Ph.D. Vice President, Research ~nd Development, Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

George W. Wright, M.D. Director of Medical Research, St. Luke's Hospital, Cleveland, O.



1. To develqp improved methods for minimizing expos,ure ohnsulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these' improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously" and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

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(1. to r.) New York's Mayor Lindsay, Commissioner of Air Resources Robert N. Rickles, and "Environmental Protection Administrator Jerome Kretchmer discuss the new spray orders at City Hall. "

NYC Leads USA-Sets Rules For Spray

(Continued from 1st page)

the World Trade Center engineers and their general contractor, Tishman Construction Company."

The interim orders will remain in force until adoption of final regulations following public hearings. The hearings are to be held within six weeks, according to Jerome Kretchmer, newly appointed New York City Environmental Protection Administrator. The new rules include requirements that

(a) any spray area be completely enclosed by tarpaulins,

(b) the area be vacuum-cleaned after application, and

(c) insulation in air circulation plenums or ducts containing asbestos be coa"ted with a sealant to .preclude erosion of asbestos-colltaining material into the air of the building.

(See page 3 for complete regulations. )

Some Contractors 11-1 ade Effort

Dr. Robert N. Rickles, New York City's new Commissioner of Air Resources, emphasized the need for spe· cific procedures that are enforceable and noted that voluntary measures to

reduce environmental exposures were not uniformly followed.

"Some contractors," he added, "made an effort to contain their spray operation." (See Spring 1970 issue of Progress Reports for story on World Trade Center.) "Other operators, however," he went on, "made only minimal efforts at containment. We also found that cleanup of waste was a serious problem everywhere, with workers of all trades being exposed continually to the debris of spray fireproofi:ng insulation."

Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, IIHRP Director, endorsed th~ City regulations. "The technology for safe application of sprayed mineral fireproofing material exists,'" he said. "However, the utilization of app'ropriate containment and cleanup techniques must be uniform throughout the industry if we are to succeed in solving the health problem of mineral fibers in urban air.

"It is of importance, too, to note the Environmental Protection Administration's concern with coatings of air plenums in buildings already in construction since it wishes to insure that air in ventilating systems not be contaminated by foreign material."

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INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

°lOFM<'<:> FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

This asbestos worker is applying insulation in the unventilated and confined space of a ship's engine room. Note asbestos-containing material on his overalls.

NYC Leads USA - Sets . Rules For Spray

In a historic~Ctiojj,- the Environmental Protection Administration and the Department 'of Air Resources of New York City have promulgated interim orders governing the spraying on City construction sites of any insulation material 'containing asbestos.

First Such Action

The orders went ·into effect April 13. They detail the steps that mnst be taken by spray contractors during application. These steps will minimize exposure to spray applicators, to other construction workers on a job site, and also to the general population living or working nearby.

This action by New York City is the first such in the United States. It brought to fruition a cooperative effort by Mount Sinai School of

Medicine's Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, New York City's Department of Air Resources, and various industry groups which began last summer.

As part of this cooperative effort, a joint program of asbestos sampling and analysis was initiated by Mount Sinai and the Department of Air Resources last July. At the same time the Sprayed Mineral Fiber Manufacturers' Association and the New York City Plasterers' Association met to establish industry safety practices and control procedures for spray application. (See Fall 1969 issue of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports.)

In addition, consultation on various aspects of the problem of spray insulation took place between IIHRP staff and building owners, architects, general contractors, and, especially,

(Continued on next page)

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Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Director


Shipyards Tour Shows Hazards to Workers

- . Air samples taken from ship compartments in eight shipyards of the Gulf Coast are now being examined for asbestos fiber content in the New York laboratories of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program.

Two scientist investigators, Dr. Harry Heimann and Mr. William B. Reitze, secured the samples during a recent two-week tour. They visited yards at Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, New Orleans, Pascagoula, Mobile, Jacksonville and Tampa.

They carefully inspected aircraft carriers, destroyers, Navy supply ships, con~ainer ships, and tankers.

Arrangements for the tour were made through the cooperation of the United States Department of Labor . and the International Office of the International Association' of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers.

Other Workers Endangered The handling of asbestos insula

tion products presents a health hazard not only to the insulation workers but also (because of the confined ar~) to the allied shipbuilding trade workers_

Dr. Heimann and Mr_ Reitze found that the three most serious hazards appear to be

L the extreme dustiness during removal of old insulation

2. an almost total lack of ventila-tion in confined spaces .

3. the spread of dust from work areas into other regions of the ship.

Methods to remove old insulation with a minimum of dust production are receiving top priority consideration by Mount Sinai's engineers.

The design of a typical ship includes many small compartments

(Continued on last page)

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C<;>ating Process Developed to Control Product Dusts

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Experimental chamJ>er in :which new coating process is applied to prevent dust from shaking looSe from various' asbestos-containing· materials. A section of pipe covering is seen. Coating is.sprayed.oui. of nozzles .on.ring; .. : >.:

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A new '-coating 'j>ioi:!esS::has b~. reduce sources of dust at construc-. d~veloped tOp'ry!.en:t;)I~·from ~hak- tion job sites. ing loose from'j>;ar!0us. asbestos-con~" . Dr .. Hurley said the coating, which taining insulation"matenaIs asthby consists· 'of a wax-like substance are jarred '?~g:~l:ipII1eni: or han- ~: mixed with water, is easily and dIed on the JoK,,";;-~·;·'-~·,,;,. quickly applied through a uniqu~

The process . consists' of applying gun-type device. It dries by itself a microscopically thin coating of a within 10 seconds and contains no wax-like material to:'Qpen sections of toxic materials, he said. such products .. ··as " pipe covering,. :The material is slightly tinted to elbows and··blocks.,:.~The 'coating is' proVide visual proof that the surfaces pressure-sprayea-·.<>.p:the products be- of the insulation products being fore they are.:'packed in shipping shipped are covered, he said. containers. .'0;':,:-.\:' Originally developed as a corrosion

Develope~'-;;("t1~:new technique, inhibitor for various metals, the coat-which is still being improved, is ing reduces abrasion betw-een items :Elmer B. Hurley, a research associ- in a shipping' container. This further ate at the Research and Engineering prevents production of dust. Center of the Johns-Manville Corpo- Dr. Hurley said research was un-ration in FindernCi ~ew Jersey. De- derway to package the coating mate-velopment of the . process resulted rial in aerosol containers for use on from the Insulation Industry Hygiene job sites where insulation products Research Program's overall effort to are cut.

Solid Waste Gets IIHRP Attention

Procedures for controlling and eventually eliminating possibly harmful dusts produced by solid waste materials on construction jobs are getting attention from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program (IIHRP) .

As a first step, IIHRP representatives met recently for a discussion of the problem with federal and New York City officials.

"The problem is more than one of controlling dusts from insulating materials," said Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Director of Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory and also of the IIHRP. "We are concerned with the total population exposure to dusts that one sees from the great variety of material on every construction site."

Joint Study Discussed

The March 20 meeting saw agreement on the desirability of a cooperative federaI-IIHRP project to study and reco=end ways to collect, transport, and dispose of all construction wastes.

At the meeting for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare were Dr. Marcus Key, Acting

. Director of the Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health; Russell Cummings and Jan Campbell of the Bureau of Solid Waste Management; K. L. Johnson of the National Air Pollution Control Administration, and Gerald Hansler of the Bureau of Consumer Protection and Environmental Health Sciences. Also participating were Austin M. Heller, Com-' missioner of Air Resources of New York City, Dr. Selikoff, and two members of ~e IIHRP's Advisory Council, J. B. J obe and Dr. Fred L. Pundsack, both of Johns-Manville Corporation.

"I feel we have be.,oun action that will bring significant results to this serious problem," Dr. Selikoff said. "In New York City alone 2;000 tons of waste a day arise from construction work. Four million men throughout the nation are involved with some phase of construction. The presence of federal and city officials at this meeting is indicative of the magnitude of the problem and the concern for it."

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Insulation worker Bill Sheppard gives ~ staff consultant Duncan Holaday his onthe-job reaction to new r~pU::'to::-

"There, is condensation in cool Results of Union sUrVey weather and leakage around the

mask_" .. :" \ .' '--:'.~;.~.. .. (ConftnuedJ_ ·c'..., '. . "Most masks are designed to filter .'-, - "'-. - .";""'~~'., :_., visible size dust particles_ They are

gardless of a mask's e.ffi~iency, it was of no use in filtering dust of micro-too seldom worn, even on dusty, jobs, . scopic size.." . primarily because of discomfort and "Awkward to breathe through and interference with breathing_' This par- impossible to wear in some areas ticular finding stimulated the IIHRP, . _ due to closeness of work.. Also tends' eHort to develop an. effiCient.and ac~' . to obstruct full vision_" ceptable mask that would': be 'worn_' :;:~ : '. Worker dissatisfaction with avail-

More than 12 OOO.'~~ers an_"abl~ masks fell into these categories: swered the. qu~tionnillre:; nearly:c~-::>:', . 8,700 of them replied -to the specific -": Discomfort 37% questions about evaluation .of the Interference with breathing 21 % masks_,About5,OOO_m.en.3ound.the_~· Problems with filters 14% masks unsatisfactory;: some 3,700 Unavailability of masks or thought they were satisfactory. How- replace~ent filters. 7% ever, the fact is that those' who said __ .. Inconvement to work WIth 7% the masks were "satisfaCtory" did not Interfer.ence with vision 6% use masks any more often than did IneHectiveness ' 4% those who did not find:,them "satis- _ Condensation problems 2 % factory.~'. Only 4 percent·(&the work-· No problems with existing ers said they always wore:amask at a masks 4% dusty job and alnlost 30~cent said they never used such P~?~ection.

Here -are some comments by union members that helped IIHRP scientists as they sought to develop an efficient and effective mask:

"On a hot job the ga:uze may be-._ come saturated with sweat very early in use and the dust ·particles. soon adhere to the mask, making breathing difficult."

Results of the survey have been analyzed by scientists and hygienists associated with the IIHRP. In designing the new mask, they realized two essential features were important: 1. The mask must be acceptable to insulation workers-:-in terms of comfort, breathing, vision, eHective filtration, etc.; 2. EHectiveness must be measured in terms of keeping out fibrous dusts.

Hygienists Visit West Coast Sites

Two industrial hygienists associated with the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program have completed the second phase of a cross-country survey of insulation industry trade practices_ Particular emphasis on the trip was given to observing conditions in shipyards.

William B. Reitze and Ralph D. Hinclmarch visited private shipyards in Seattle and San Diego, and U.S. Naval Yards in San Francisco, Long Beach and San Diego. They also visited commercial' and industrial sites in Detroit, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles to study how industry conditions and practices on the West Coast differ from those in other parts of the United States which had been previously visited. The application of insulation materials by unions other than the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers also was studied for possible health hazards_

IIHRP industrial hygienists have previously visited construction proj· ects and fabricating shops in the east, midwest, south and southwest sections.

Wayne Kelley, International Organizer for the Western States Conference of the IAHFIA W, and local union and industry representatives accompanied the IIHRP team. Dr. William Nicholson, IIHRP Program Coordinator, and Duncan Holaday, a staff consultant, joined the team in the Los Angeles area.

Field Tests of Mask ( Continued)

out improvements for the disposabletype respirator. When this has been done, further field tests are planned.

"We are trying. to develop a mask that is both acceptable and eHective, because one factor is no good without the other," said Dr. Irving J . SelikoH, Director of the Environmental Sciences Laboratory at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and Director of the IIHRP_ "No mask is eHective if it remains in the tool box or clothes locker."

The field trial was under the direction of Duncan Holaday, a consultant to IIHRP. Assisting him was Dr. William J. Nicholson, Program Coordinator of ~e IIHRP, and George Reimschussel of Johns-Manville Research and Engineering Center, who is working on the mask design.

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Vol. 1, No.2-Summer 1969

from the


Editor: W. J. NicholsOJ;l, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences La·boratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Director)' Mount Sinai .School of J\'1edicine of the City University of ~ew York, New York, N.Y. 10029

Advisory COUJ;lcil of IIHRP


E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D. Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y_ " ':


J. B. Jobe. Vice President, JohnsManville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Development, Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y. .~ .

George W. Wright,· M.D. Director of Medical Research, St. Luke's Hospital, Qeveland, O.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of 'dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption,

Scientist and Occupational Health Expert Join IIHRP

William J. Nicholson, Ph.D., has been appointed Pr;g:ram Coordinator for the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program. Announcement of the appointment was made by Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Program Director,

Dr. Nicholson will supervise overall coordination behl'een on·site sampling conducted by industrial Iqgit:nists, the laboratory analysis of field samples, and the task forces organized to seek solutions to the particular problems of the insulation industry. He also will serve as editor of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports.

Dr. Nicholson joined the program this year after having served for eight years on the staff of the Watson Laboratory of Columbia University where he directed research in molecular biology and also worked on instrumentation for the automatic detection of abnormal and cancerous tissue cells. He is a graduate of the University of Washington where he held Atomic Energy Commission and University Graduate Fellowships.

In referring to his appointment, Dr. Nicholson emphasized that it is particularly important for academic scientists to become involved in the direct needs of society. "The ivory tower of the university ~o longer exists. To me, this program is important and exciting because it offers the opportunity to apply the tools and knowledge of the sciences to the practical health problems of construction workers and the general population."

Dr. Nicholson

Duncan A. Holaday, a veteran in occupational health work, has joined the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program as a consultant to several task forces studying specific health problems of the insulation industry.

Among his first responsibilities are the directing of field tests of respirators developed for use by insulation workers, and the selection and testing of a feasible, self-contained air supply mask.

Mr. Holaday comes to the IIHRP from the U.S. Public Health Service where he served for 25 years with the Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health. During this time he was Chief of the Occupational'Health Field Station in Salt Lake City for 14 years and later served as Deputy Chief of the Bureau.

His experience has included the organization and direction of intensive studies of health hazards in specific industries, particularly those associated with uranium mining. He is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal of the Public Health Service and the Distinguished Service Award of the Health Physics Society.

"Occupational health problems created by the use of insulating materials are m£!nifold and their solutions will not be simple," Mr. Holaday said on assuming his appointment. "However, the fact that industry, labor and scientific groups are concerned and are cooperating to reduce the hazards is assurance that practical answers will be found."

Mr. Holaday

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ouNTSI""

~l~ INSULATI'ON HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

°lOFMcQ" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

of The City University of New YoM:

IrvIng J. SeJikoff, M.D .. Program Director Vol. 1 No.2 Summer 1969

New.Mask Undergoes Field Test

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They're not of ~ '17 of IAHFIA W field testing ';;:.~ew type mask. Each mask' different though they look alike. From left to right: Alan :Miller, Edward R. G~t_ . James Hupp~, 0 .• :'.··· ..

.. ____ .. _. ___ . ___ . ~··;~r~.2:~j~~ _____ ·.~ ...... ___ ._.~_ .. . _.J __ ~ .. _. _ .• __ .:.-_'- .

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. Union. ':S,urvey Shows Current lvfasks'-'Have Drawbacks

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"HELPP' ~~~(r~::·._ ~': "Try to convmce'the.men the mask-:

is all important..'~.,~~Z~: .'.:~':' . "A good respirator' can aid our

program greatly_":;;~~i;C-These co=ents~pretty much sum

up the feelings that· thousands of insulation workers-' have about respiratory protection '-equipment. Most workers find maJor- drawbacks in currently available masks.

Because of this reaction to present respirators, scientists of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program gave priority· to development

'of a new mask that would-be both effective and acceptable to .msnlation workers. Such a mask is now, in the field-testUig stages of development. (See story at right.)" ,' •.

The quotations were among responses to a survey of the nearly 18,000 members of the International Association 0'£ Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos W orkers~ Union members were asked by questionnaire about their personal use of masks and how they rated their effectiveness.

An important finding was that re(Continued on center spread.)

Science moved out of the laDoratories and onto construction sites in April when insulation workers, members of Local 17 (IAHFIA W) in the Chicago area, were called upon to playa key role in testing a new type of respiratory maSk to protect against on-job dusts.

Union members were asked to give their personal evaluation of the acceptability of three yariations of a face mask especiaIIy . designed by scientists and technicians associated with the Insulation Industry Hygiene. Research Program: (IIHRP) _ The:·· project was given top priority when it was learned from a uriiom~-jde sur-. ', .. _ vey that presently.: 'aVailable tn.asb: _ :. were not much used-on'the job. ·:.::s:L,.

The survey showecl-'union ·mem-.·· ~,.' hers· had manymany'':good reasons for not liIqng~d' therefore not wearing-present ·;masks.. Responses;, offered many suggestions that were incorporated into .,the :design of the new mask. (See story. at left.) .

Although the long-run objective of IIHRP is to enminat'? the generation of asbestos and other dusts on job sites, it was considered important . ·ri:te~lllwhile to develop better protec-·· tion against breathing dusts unavoidably created by working with insulating materials_ It .~hoped the newly developed mask, already checked out for its filtering efficiency with ilie U.S. Bureau of: Mines, will have broad applicatiorim-oilier industries where dusty work.is unavoidable.

Three Models of Mask Tested Three models of the experimental

mask were worn on three successive half-day work periods by Local 17 members working on ilie SIOO-million addition to Co=onwealth Edison Company's Dresden Nuclear Power Plant at Morris, Illinois. Each worker gave his evaluation of each mask, and IIHRP scientists then began analyzing these comment; to work

(Continued on center spread.)

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Successful Saw Tests ( Continued)

for the trials was the cutting of cover· ing for 6-inch diameter pipes. The cutting of this commonly used material can be especially dusty as the dust is generated by the saw blade 3 inches above the surface of the saw table. When cutting with no dust collector, this dust spreads out from the cut, bounces against the table, and is dispersed into the air.

The two systems of dust collection tested were the high velocity -system of Hoffman Industries of New York City and the high volume system of The Torit Corporation of St. Paul, Minnesota. Each system used highly efficient bag filters but differed in the mode of collection from the saw. .

The Hoffman system' used a 2·inch collection pipe that directs an airflow along and then' away from the saw blade at velocitieS exceeding 10,000 ft./min. This speed exceeds typical, blade velocities. of. from 3,000 to 5,000 ft./min. This high velocity air stream not only rem~ves all material from the blade, but draws the dust prodnced above the table down the saw blade and into the collector.

The trials of the Hoffman' collector were held at the Forrest Company plant in HoustOILand conducted by William B, ReitZe, Duncan A. Holaday, and William r;:-Nicholson of Mount Sinai's Insulation~' Industry Hygiene Research Program; : .. .

lo,OOO-fold Redu.crion

Vic~'f..z;;; ~e dust collection equipment of The Torit Corporation are Roger ·E. Cunningham, Executive' Director of the illinois Regional Insulation Contractors Industry Promotional and Educational Program, Richard Bennett, Chicago Sales Manager of The Torit Corp .. Gerald McMahon, Director of the Illinois Insulation Contractors Apprentice Training Program, Frank R. Chase, Vice President of Torit, and Leo Pierce of Torit.

tor. The ':dust at this point was mostly heavy particles which would fall to the floor and produce general housekeeping problems. But of most importance, at the breathing zone of the saw operator the dust level from very fine particles and fibers was reduced to 1/2Oth of that which existed with no collector.

Joseph R. Shrode, International Organizer of the International Association . of Heat and Frost Inscl.ators and As-

pressed with the effectiveness of the dust collector. I've been in the insulation trade for many years and during that time have seen a large number of fab shops and job sites. Some of these locations had dust collection systems, usually of the home-made variety. While certainly useful, their efficiency in no way approached that which I saw today. There was just no dust at all." '

They found from. dust counts made bestos Workers Union, who operated The Torit high volume system was

tested on a Forrest saw at the Appren. tice Training Facility of the Chicago area Local 17 of the IAHFIA W die rected by Gerald McMahon. The Torit system is similar to that designed by several dust collector companies. IIi this method a large volume of air is collected from the area beneath the saw table and by 1- collector mounted above the cutting ~ea. In typical cases 1,500 to 2,500 cubic feet of air are collected per minute.

20 inches from the" cut that dust levels the saw during the Houston trial com-could be reduced. aver 10,000. times .'. mented on the efficiency of the dust from those wiuch~ts with lU}.::collec- l.-· collection system. "I was really im-

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The cl:tting of 6' diameter pipe covering, with =d without the use of a dust-collector.

The Chicago trial was conducted by William Reitze and William Nicholson of the IIHRP. Mr. Roger E. Cunningham, Executive Director of the Illinois Insulation Contractors Industry Promotional and Education Program, partici- ' pated as an observer. Dust counts were taken with and without dust collection facilities operating during the cutting of calcium silicate.asbestos and on other in~nlation materials. Again it was

(C(mtinu.ed. on center SPTI'ad)

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'Y ou Can Live Without Them' (Continued)

Sanborn. Their efforts were guided, extended and reinforced by General President Hutchinson, Secretary-Treasurer Haas, President Emeritus Sickles, and the loyal and capable staff of the International office. But the credit belongs, too, to the membership of these two locals, each man who patiently and diligently helped complete the research which led to the discovery of the unusual and extraordinary cigarette smoking effeC1=-

Starting on January 1, 1963, the two locals began to keep a careful eye on all their members, but particularly on the more senior members, those who had entered the locals from 1910 to 1942, and who, by 1963, already had more than 20 years in the trade. There were 370 such men. It was determined that:

87 men had never smoked cigarettes regularly.

By November 1st, 1969, only one of the 87 men who did not smoke cigarettes developed lung cancer. Among the 283 who had a history of' cigarette smoking, 35 developed lung cancer!

Lung Cancer Jan. 1, 1963

to Nov. 1, 1969

~;::: ::;,;:uette smoking 87 1 Cigarette smoking.. 283 35

370 36

It seems obvious that insulation work and cigarette smoking don't mix.

What should be done about this situation? Four recommendations are warranted:

1. Minimize or eliminate exposure to insulation dusts on the job_ This is the goal of the IIHRP. and will be done with the help of labor and the indus-

283 had smoked cigarettes. . try, including locals of the IAHFIA W

The locals have since observed what and contractors of the ICDNA through-has happened to these two groups of. . out the country. A harbinger' of what men, the same in all respects (age," . will be done is demonstrated by the work experience, etc.) except that one, improved table saws reported on smoked cigarettes· and' the other did .. - page 1. not! The experiences of the two groups" .. 2. Asbestos workers who do not have been instructive. . . . smoke cigarettes should never start.

FIGURE 1.'

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>- 2,000 Z < ;:,: o o o o o a:: ILl a.. ILl I<r a:: :J: I<r ILl D

1,500

/,000

500

TOT AL DEATHS-EX-CIGARETTE SMOK~S AGE STANDARDIZED DEATH RATES

. BYYEAR$ STOPPED SMOKING

NEVER SMOKED.

REGULARLY

3. Those who now smoke cigarettes should stop immediately. This is true ev·en. if they are retired from the trade. Dust remains trapped in the lung and cigarettes will be harmful. While it is too early to tell yet the full beneficial effect of stopping smoking among as·

. bestos workers, there is reason to be-lieve this may be considerable. Dr. Hammond has found, for example, that among American men in general stopping smoking significantly decreases the risk of lung cancer, and the longer one goes without smoking, the greater the decrease in risk. In fact, 10 years after stopping, the risk is little greater than that of men the same age who never smoked cigarettes! (See Figure 1.)

Cigar smoking and pipe smoking have at least so far not been associated with any increase in risk of lung cancer among the members of Local 12 and Local 32. Cigarette smoking is the culprit.

4. Regular examinations should be scheduled. This is important for men who started in the trade twenty or more years before and especially important for those 20-year men who smoke cigarettes or ever smoked cigarettes regularly, even if they have stoppecL

These precautions won't cure all 'the problems in the trade immediately, but promise to bring one of the most important ones under controL They are feasible ~d practical, and their introduction will be a tribute to the pioneering research of the Asbestos Workers Union .

:1 Selikoflt I. J "'t Hammond.. E.. C. and Churg, J .. Asbestos exposure, smoking and neopla.sia... J OUIlla!

of the American Medical .Association VoL 204... pages 106·112, April 8, 1968.

Successful Saw Tests (Continued from back page)

j demonstrated that by using properly engineered duct work dust collection could significantly reduce operator exposure levels.

At the conclusion of the trials, Howard Forrest stated his pleasure over the succ'essful outcome. "We have had available on our saws a 5 or 6 inch outlet to which high volume dust collectors can be attached. In addition we will provide on'all future saws th; appropriate ducting for attachment to high velocity systems. Moreover, the owner of any present Forrest saw can obtain the necessary attachment from us if he wishes to modify his present saw .. "

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Vol. 1 No • .c. Winter 1969


from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Lrboratory (Irving J. SelikoH, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, New York, N.Y. 10029

Advisory Conncil of IIHR.P

Irving 1. SelikoH, M.D. Program-Director and Chai=an .

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D. Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y: . "~"' .

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Albert Hutchinson, General President, 'International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

J. B. Jobe, Vice President, JohnsManville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President Research and Development, J oh~s-Manville Corponi.tion, New York, N.Y.

Georo-e W. Wright, M.D. Dn:ector of Medi~al Research,. S1. Luke's Hospital, Cleveland, 0:' ~-

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PURPOSES 'OF'THE INSlJLATION

INDUSTRY, HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

1. To develop improved methods for' minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their. work. 2. To disseniliiate knowledge of these' lmproved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward theiruniversai adoption.'

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Engineer Robert B. Black of the Oregon State Board of Health. changes a personal sampler filter on a worker: during the study of conditions in the insulation industry. (Photo courtesy of the Oregon State Board of Health)

Oregon State Health Board Studies Insulation Workers

Several research programs directed to diagnosis of the health problems of insulation workers are in progress throughout the country in addition to

- the program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. A particularly thorough study 'has 'been that of the Enviro=ental Health Section - of the Oregon State Board of Health.

Studies of the working conditions of Local 36, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Union, were conducted by Mr. Robert Black of the Environmental Health Section. In this study personal air samplers, collecting air from the breathing zone of workers, were used ,to measure the atmospheric concentrations of asbestos fibers during -various operations.

As an example, the tests showed that cutting amosite blanket with a textile saw produced an atmospheric concen· tration of 16 fibers (over 5 microns in

- length) per cubic centimeter. Tearing asbestos cloth by hand resulted in an . atmospheric concentration of 43 fibers

"'-~-::---.--'r .. ..- __ ._~~_4_

per cc, while cutting asbestos cloth with a textile saw produced 8.2 fibers per cc. Health is Checked.

The Enviro=ental Health Section has also conducted limited studies of the health of the members of Local 36_ From chest X-rays 18 of 103 workers were found to have conditions that could be related to asbestosis. In studies of pulmonary function they also found that lung efficiency,bf asbestos workers decreased with age significantly faster than that of a comparable group of nonasbestos workers.

In co=enting on the Oregon program, Dr. Irving J. Selikoff 'stated that it was particularly gratifying to have state agencies take interest in the health problems of asbestos workers. "The'_ ' .. ,.: ::~::~ Oregon studies, which corroborate our_:,- . __ own, point to the need for rapid action .. _ to reduce dust exposures in the insula- . _ '_, tion trade. The magnitude of the proh- .. __ :~,c/_,,; lem is great, but through the coopera-", .c,·. c; -.~"d-~ tion of governmental agencies with '.:' -:.,.:F'::: labor and industry we will be able to "::;"":::~;;~ obtain meaningful solutions sa on." .: f~[t:.:

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Environmental Sciences Labor8tory

OUHTSI,y

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°lOFM'i;.<;)" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Joseph R. Shrode. International Organizer of the IAHFIA W, Caude R Foster, Contract Manager of the Houston lohns-Manville office, Guy F. Cusumano, Sales Manager of Hoffman Industries, and Howard C. Forrest of the Forrest Co. with the Hoffman dust collector used during the Houston trial.

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Saw ··Dusts Cut To A . Trace . .

By Two' New . Collectors Dust produced by cutting with nand

saws can be virtually eliminated 'in the insulation industry! This was the conclusion following trials of two dust collector systems during September and October by IIHRP perso=el .

Dust from hand saws was early identified for priority action by the industrial hygiene program. Twenty-five saw manufacturers were contacted and' asked if they provided dust collection facilities on their hand saws. None indicated he did. and among thenegative replies, one manufacturer even stated, "An efficient suction system would require more ducting ~tc., than' would be practical to build into a machine."

Fortunately, among the saw manufacturers, the Howard C. Forrest Co. of Houston, Texas, a major supplier to the insulation industry, was concerned

about dust exposures from sawing operations and made his facilities and saws in Houston available to the IIHRP for a dust collector trial

Two dust collection systems were selected for trial, each differing significantly in design. Dust levels were measured with and without the use of collectors during .the cutting of calcium silicate-asbestos block and half-round pipe covering.

Far Below Limit

In each case, the dust collector reduced the asbestos dust exposure of the saw operator dramatically indeed, to levels less .than l/lOth that of the currently proposed"asbestos threshold limit value.

The material felt most representative

(Con.ti.nued on back page)

Irving J. Sellkoff, M.D., Program Director Vor. 1 No. <4- Winter 1969

Cigarettes, Asbestos Don't Mix

By Dr. Irving J. Sclikoff -

Director, IIHRP

There are a number of problems which asbestos workers face as a result of the dusts to which they are exposed. It is clear that the best way to solve these problems is to greatly decrease or eliminate the dusts-and it is to this task that the IIHRP is dedicated.

Nevertheless, it is now evident that one of the .principal hazards-lung cancer--can be sharply decreased' by a simple measure-stopping the smoking of cigarettes! This is true, of course, among adult men in general, but it is ESPECIALLY TRUE OF ASBESTOS WORKERS. There is something particularly dangerous about the combination-insulation work and cigarette smoking-that creates a risk much greater than either one by itself, or even the simple addition of the two.

All men increase their risk of developing lung cancer if they regularly smoke cigarettes-for asbestos workers, this increase is tremendous. We have calculated that an asbestos worker who smokes has 92 times the risk of dying of lung cancer as yompared with a man who neither smokes cigarettes nor works as a pipe coverer.].

Local 12 and Local 32 Research

Asbestos workers throughout the country owe a debt of gratitude to the members of Local 12 (New York) and Lod-a~ 32 (Newark), IAHFIA W. The names --or Terence McConnell and the late John Bogovich come immediately to mind, as do those of James Grogan, Howard Barnett, Edward Kellner, Nicholas Lucich, William Sha=on, James Mulhern, Jack Novak, George Rider, Raymond Rider and Edward

(Continued on center spread)

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B. M. McBrient of Wat~I~Kit·chener Insulation Limited, demonstrates the bag he designed for dust· free self-contained mixing of asbestos insulation cement.

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Bag Tests Planned .... (Continued) .. .. : ....

If all goes well in the field t~ asbestos cement in the new bags will be marketed by J ohns·Manville . in the U.S. and Canada.

Mr. McBrien says he became con- . cerned about dust hazards forinsulation workers after learning of the work of Dr. L J. Selikoff, Director of IIHRP, and attending some meetings where the problem was discussed.

The idea for the new bag came to him as he sat beside a swimming pool watching his small daughter play in the water with a plastic bag ·which once contained sugar.

"It hit me like a' flash," he said. "Why not pack asbestos cement in waterproof bags, find a way to add water, and mix it without opening the bag?"

To test his theory, Mr. McBrien constructed. a small model using one of the sugar bags and the valve from an old beach ball. He filled the bag with asbestos cement, sealed it, added

water ~d kneaded. The r~tilt was well·mixed. asbestos cement..

On the basis of that test he had bags made up in 50.pound size for use on the job. At first there was a problem with splitting of the heat sealed. seams. This he solved by having them tightly sewn. Since then, Mr. McBrien has used the bags without problem on a number of jobs.

"If the wet asbestos cement can stand overnight you can add water the evening ~efore and the stuff mixes itself," he explained.. "Where speed is necessary the bags are

.kneaded by hand." Dr. Selikoff; who has discussed the

development of the bag with Mr. McBrien, co=ented: "I think this suggestion illustrates a very important aspect of lIHRP. Many people in the asbestos industry have the expe· rience and the imagination to make significant contributions to our health research program. We need and weI· come their ideas-and each will be given careful consideration. I hope we are seeing only the beginning of this type of cooperation."

Electron Microscope of Value in Dust Analysis

The problem of dust produced. duro ing the mixing of insulation cements used to finish pipe, boiler and simi· lar work is getting top priority from scientists and industrial hygienists in the Insulation Industry Hygiene Re· search Program..

An important tool that scientists are using is the electron microscope which is valuable in analyzing dusts. An lIHRP team recently began sampling dust levels produced during the mixing of large batches of finishing cement.. The first sampling was done at a power house being built on Staten Island, N.Y.

It was quickly learned that con· ventional dust analysis techniques, using a regular light microscope, ",oilld be inadequate. Many fibers collected in the dusts are too small to be seen in a light microscope, which can only magnify images 500 or perhaps 1,500 times.

However, using the electron micro· scope of the Mount Sinai Envirori. mental Sciences Laboratory, Dr. Arthur M. Langer, Head of the Min· eralogy Section, was able to count these fibres. This was possible because the electron microscope can produce ma",onifications of over 30,000.

Spray Controls (Continued)

ing and modifying those work practices of the heat insulation industry that contribute dust exposures to workers. It is gratifying that the fire· proofing industry as well is now taking very positive steps to reduce onthe job and environmental exposures to insulation dustS."

Herbert Levine, President of SMFMA stated that the speed of action demonstrated·by all members of the SMFMA and the Plasterer's Association was truly amazing.

"A fundamental program such as this is usually hampered by reticence on every~me's part," he said. "But in this case, there was an unusual display of frank and open discussion with all parties participating in a vigorous, constructive debate of the issues. In this cooperative atmosphere, stimu· lated by Dr. Selikoff, we were able to accomplish much in a very short time."

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Field Trials Set For New Mask Designs

An analysis of the results of the disposable respirator trial by the Chicago based Local 17 of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulation and Asbestos Workers on April 8th and 9th has been completed by IIHRP personnel.

The results indicate that the newly designed light-weight filter material, in addition to being effective in removing respirable fibers, provides satisfactory breathing conditions. However, the face piece design used during that trial will require modification to provide better vision and a more comfortable face fit, particularly about the nose area. '

Ducan Holaday- of the IIHRP . pointed to some of the difficulties in

the design of an' effective respirator face piece. .! t' .. ~ .... : .

"It is not hard to make nuisance dust respirators that are comfortable as they do not require a highly effective filter element or an especially tight face seal," ,he said. ''However, when you are 'concerned about dust with some hazard such as asbestos, both the filter element and the face seal of the respirator must be highly efficient. We now have one good filter elenient, and I'm confi dent we will -soon' have a face piece design thai' is both effective and comfortable_", '"

Research Goes "F ;;;;;~rd . '

Using the conu:i:tents of the insulation workers who participated in the trial as a bask for a new design, additional developmental research is being conducted by::Johns-Manville Corporation 'and];rHRP personnel to overcome the ,deficiencies 'of the· pro- , totype mode1~:,:A:':.seCon~ 'respirator ' trial has been, sch'&luled for :the faJI to test the 'ne~ ~moael now ~ imder' development. Moreover, it is anticipated that respirators from two additional manufacturers will be tested at that time. . ,;~.~,~::, ::. " -

In discussing. th~' ;~pirator trial, Dr. Fred Pundsack,.: Vice President of Johns-Manville~" declared, "The respirator research, begun by us under the auspices of the industrial hygiene program haS already borne fruit. We have an effective filter material. Moreover, Dr. Selikoff's definition of the problems of asbestos workers and our initial efforts have stimulated others to design disposable respirators that can be tested for effectiveness and acceptability by workers."

Dr. Eisenbud Mr. Heller

City, Mt. Sinai Monitor Air At Building Sites

Merril Eisenbud, Administrator, Environmental Protection Administration, and Austin Heller, Commissioner, Department of Air Resources, City of New York, have announced the establishment of a j oint study by the Department of Air Resources and the Environmental Sciences Laboratory of Mount Sinai School of Medi-i cine to survey asbestos levels in New York City air_ ,

Sampling will be conducted by Departmenf.of Air Resources personnel

_ at existing New York City monitoring stationS.and other sites located in the vicinity . of high rue construction, demolition, and factories .using asbestos as raw materiaL

Analysis of the samples will be done at the Enviromental Sciences Laboratory using optical microscopy as well as electron microscope and electron micL"oprobe techniques.

A Guide for IIHRP

The program will allow the Environmental Sciences Laboratory to monitor improvementS,.in insulation industry practices and thus guide the IIHRP in its program to eliminate all hazards in the trade.

A finding of areas with significant amounts of asbestos in the ambient air will help the Laboratory pinpoint

sources of inadequate dust control so that appropriate engineering programs can be devised.

During initial stages of the study, particular emph.asis will be given to determining the asbestos concentrations about construction sites during the spraying of insulation on ceilings and girders.

Encouraging Steps

In discussing this use of asbestos, Dr. Eisenbud declared, "It is encouraging to learn of the steps taken by the Sprayed Mineral Fiber Manufacturer's Association and the New York City Plasterer's Association. If effective, these measures can go a long way to reduce .~the dispersal of mineral fibers into the ambient air of New York."

Mr. Heller mentioned that =der funding by the National Air Pollution Administration, New York has the responsibility to determine the type and amount of pollutants in its air and to reduce those pollutants to acceptable levels.

"Clearly, asbestos is a pollutant of significant concern and exposure of the general population must be reduced to a minimum," he said. "This study will dete=ine the magnitude of the problem and define those sources requiring remedial action."

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Text of the New Spray Rules:

Four examples of trade practices the new rules ban: (top to bottom) Spraying without any containment at all; Inadequate tarping; asbestoscontaining debris uncleared up; and spray material that has been allowed to fall down on to construction equipment.

1. Before the start of spraying operations all Boor areas shall be swept broom clean. Before the application of asbestos-containing material commences, the floor of the area shall be cleared of all objects, mate· rial and equipment other than that employed in the application of the asbestoscontaining insulation or all objects, materials, etc. shall be covered with plastic or plastic·coated tarpaulins in a manner that precludes the subsequent dispersal of asbestos particulates.

_ 2. The entire floor, or the part of the floor to be in-sulated, shall be enclosed with plastic or plastic-coated tarpaulins in a manner which shall preclude the escape of asbestos-containing material from the enclosure. All interior open areas, such as elevator shafts, stairwells, etc. shall be enclosed in a manner which shall prevent the escape of asbestos-containing material from the working area. "Stack effect" of the shafts, stairwells, etc., shall be considered in providing proper enclosures. An enclosure will be considered satisfactory only if visible insulating material cannot escape from the enclosure.

3. Wet asbestos-containing material which has fallen to the floor shall be immediately swept up and placed in a container having walls, bottom, and a tight cover strong enough to resist tearing or breaking under normal handling conditions and clearly marked as containing asbestos waste. The contents of the aforementioned containers shall not be transferred to another container, but the container shall be placed directly upon a vehicle for disposal at an approved site.

4. All floors will be vacuumed shortly after drying. The vacuum cleaner shall contain a strong, single-service, disposable inner bag of durable material which shall be removed from the vacuum cleaner and tightly sealed. The bag shall then be placed in a container of the type described in paragraph 3, which shall thereafter be placed on a vehicle for removal and disposal at an approved site_

S. The materials used to form the enclosure shall be thoroughly vacuumed upon completion of the application of the insulation in the area. The entire floor area, all ledges and surfaces including tarpaulins upon which waste insulation material may have fallen, shall then be vacuumed or revacuumed before removal of the enclosures.

6. Enclosures shall not be dismantled until the area has been thoroughly vacuumed after completion of spraying and cleanup.

7. All areas used for opening bags containing as· bestos insulating material andl or. charging of hoppers shall be ~pclosed in such a manner that asbestos-containing insulating material shall not be permitted to ·escape from the immediate area in which such activity takes place.

8. Signs shall be posted outside enclosures warning persons of the hazard of entering the enclosure without appropriate mask and other apparel.

9. All persons involved in the spraying of ashestos at the site must be furnished with Bureau of Mines approved respirators for pneumoconionic-producing dust and must be furnished with suitable coveralls which will be left at the site and thereby preclude the removal of asbestos from the site. No person shall be permitted in an area in which asbestos spraying or handling has taken place until final vacuuming referred to in paragraph numbered "5" herein, unless such person is furnished with and wears a Bureau of Mines approved respirator for pneumoconionic-producing dust and coveralls of the type described herein. Facilities shall be provided and procedures instituted and supervised that preclude the removal and dispersal of asbestos· containing material from the construction site on the clothing or other appur· tenances of persons leaving the area.

10. Any plenum or other structures coated with asbestos-containing insulation which is intended for use in the circulation of air in the building must be thoroughly cleaned of all debris ana waste insulation. All applied asbestos-containing insulation within. a plenum or duct must be coated with a sealant which precludes exposure of the asbestos-containing material to the circulating air.

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Insulating pipes with asbestos-containing material m so confined a space as this adds to the danger of breathing the dust_

Confined Spaces Add Yet Another Danger

The Insulation Industry Hygiene Program has found answers to a number. of problems in the asbestos insulation industry_

Coated calcium silicate pipe covering and block, plastic mixing bags, and proper use of dust collection devices are some of the solutions_ All contain the dust at its source and all significantly reduce worker exposure to asbestos. ,

Portable Exhaust Systems Some insulation work, however,

presents problems n.ot easily solved by containment at the source. Shipboard work, both application and tear out, and covering steam lines in confined tunnels are two such types of work.

When there is poor ventilation in such work areas, removal of dust is made difficult and temperatures may rise to much above 1000 F. To these

twin problems, two complementary solutionS are now being studied by IIHRP engineers-the use of portable exhaust systems· and selfcontained air supply respirators.

Cool Air to the Face In the confined space of a tunnel,

the use of an exhaust system at a nearby manhole can reduce both the dust level and the working temperature. In many cases, easily obtainable and inexpensive exhaust systems of less than 5000 cubic feet per minute capacity would suffice. IIHRP engineers and industrial hygienists will be pleased to assist any contractor or union having specific problems associated with tunnel work.

Aboard ship, some use is made of portable 101v-volume exhaust systems, designed .principally to control fumes from welding operations. These sys· tems, however, are i.qeffective in

Shipyards Tour Shows Hazards

(Continuea from 1st page)

. with little natural ventilation. When the ship is in operation,. the air in these compartments is changed by means of a forced ventilation system. :p But during construction or rebuilding, it remains stagnant. Fine dust and fibers put into the air by .fitting " and handling calcium silicate block or amosite blankets remain suspended for hours.

Special Techniques Needed Dust generated by hand sawing OJ:"

fitting asbestos block can easily fall two or three· decks through gratings. The fibers thus deposited throughout an engine room may contaminate a ship for months. Here the use of drop cloths or boxes to contain the dust can improve conditions measurably.

Some of the methods being developed by the Insulation Industry Hy-

. giene Research Program for controlling asbestos dust at land-based building construction sites can be used aboard ships_ It is evident, however, that further special dust control techniques will have to be developed for the protection of all craftsmen in shipbuilding trades. Hence, the priority now being given to these problems by the IIHRP.

changing the large volume of air in most ship compartments.

In some spaces having large volumes of air, exhaust syst,ems of sufficient capacity to maintain clean air are either too costly or impractical to use. In these cases the solution may lie in self-contained batteryoperated air supply respirators.

These respirators-far more comfortable to wear than standard ones -not only provide almost absolute respiratory protection from dust, but provide a cool stream of air to the worker's face. Batteries and motors have already been developed of sufficiently light weight as not to be objectionable. Several later models are under study by the IIHRP and full details and descriptions will be forthcoming in a future issue of Insula· tion Hygiene Progress Reports.

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OUl'lTS(,A,t


°lOFtA'i.<:;)'< FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Available· S6on-. The Disposable

Respirator~'.: -'. . . ~.~~t.::'.:·:~·~:.'·" ~ "

At last-adequate r~;U:~t~ry pro:·: tective devices will soon: be 'available -to insulation workers~-:Several com~ panies are now producmg ~disposable respirators which w:ill.l:J0$:prpvide . protection and be acceptable to work- . men. . : . .:.. ;.~'~'>.-'::~-1'.:.::~"~':~:~'':~'~: </','

In one t~·t'~~d~~t~ i;;'ili~ ·Insula-

Irving J, Selikoff, M,D~ Progr.am Director

Vol, 2, No.3 Fall 1970

.; ........

tion Industry Hygiene Research Program (IIHRP) "or:'a c':eo=ercial model manufactuied, .bY:,the Minnesota Mining' ana ManUfacturing Co.,· the worker acceptan~~;j\ras~~ery high, Favorable co=entson:such matters as breathing:ieSistZn~;;weight; interference With ··VisioD~:::ana: comfort exceeded un£avorab1~';nes:~bf:i:hree oi,·nr:~·~'J~ Selikoff (r.) .and'"Dr.-Y Suzuki' (2d ·r.) of Mount Sinai"s Environmenl8l '.'. foUr to?ne.. ~!.~~o.~,.-teS~;.with this . Science5·flaboratory'addressed the' participants of the post graduate course on uhe5tos. ',.

respirator' n.emonstrateditsability to •.. ~;~~.:.- .' ;'.: :;f~iI:~~~:" ... ;·:~::,I~~·;~:~:;~~~·· !;:;§:-::.:·;~i.~.i~,~::~~};:~~:~· .. ' meet ~~ ~5~~~2k~~I~t7.ds~<~·::;.:::?:;~~i:~: Warld's' First·· Course -.';~:,.: .. ~-:.--Other CommerciaZ'Mo-dels·~ . . ' : .:": /~~:-~'~~'~ ':. , :";:~::. '.;':". .. _. .. . .. '0 ., •. :.",-. '" .' ... ~"':~ .':' ..... ..' .,~ ·~'·-"'-ri·: ...... - ........ - . . .'"-.- .... -.. "":.: ..

In add;ti6i'~i~'Tili~~¥~1¥;li~;:~~:. ·,~.~~5~SS;'?":· iri~ '~soest6's Effects . :: .. :~ . . ready field.t~ted,<ih~;.'JIHW·:;will:.~·",~';.-:-;;Xf;~~;):'~'.:::·;;. ·.c.:';:;;:~d;·f'-".'·. .' ...... .. soon be field 'testil;ig:oth_eiii;;iJII~mercial: -'.As"·'a~hlstoric first-iIi. :occuPational .. ~nd environmental circumstanCl'is was . models for:use:.m:-asbesios .. inSulation· . medicine The Mount...SinaLSchooLoL_ also-discnssecL ,'-'___ ._'_'.~_ .. _____ .. _ work. .,~. ~~:;';>·'"':.;l·l'di''Z';;~':..:'.'::' '.: Medicin; presented a four-day post· The full spectrum of problems fac':-

The tortuOUS-](Hl~ey~to-a ~~er- graduate course during June on all ing the insulation worker was pre-cially available disposabIe~~prrator aspects of the health effects of as· sented including description of insu-began at Mount·'Sinai!s;~~onmen. 1(estos;';TJie course was given to 43 lation operations ei[>ecially contribut-tal Sciences La.b?~~oty;, nearly two .. 'physi~iap.S and scientists from all re-. . ing to high dust levels. Industrial years ago,:cAt::a::n:ieetirig,:1h~:q,:with"'.:gioris,;oHhe U.S. ana six.other coun- Hygiene procedures found to reduce safety equipmerit~mariufai:tui-ers, the:' ;_. ~tiies~'mcluding England.;.cWales, Ger- .. these levels such as the use of efficient ~eed for fesp~~~~~.sii,i!~~~:I,tor..use,,:_:::'~anY~ilncl Canada ... 'i.:';"'~r\::.;.'·-... } .. -;.dust. collec~ors, .p~astic cement hags" .. III the construc.t;Io~:@d~'>.~:~<l par- '. ';,The,;program was under.J:he drrec· coated calClum silicate block, and a~: ticularly in'ID.s1i1.aR..?n:.,.;~~i- ''':;W:~P~~::::,.:, tio~~?OH~Iofessor Irving:J~~Se1ikoff, propriate face respirators w~_.~;'.-

::;:.U~;!t~;~ :~S~'~·;·;:'~~~!:r ~r~pj~aL Sci· ~:;::t~d~2in sElt' . ".;.;", .. ,~'L;~;~~~~:"''T,;:!'' I" ,. All, tI-Le"Worker's Problems .

Becauseofihe .exti-eme'.:(lifficultY,::~:~ :-:.;:,.!;,,'. . '. .;.., The course included neld tri~· ~~ of operating·:i:· gQ.9d 'i:eSpg~t.or:~main~ :~~.2:.' .:Ex,:te~~y~ presenta~ons~were made see the application of the=al insula-tenance 'progi:am'~oii~:B!.o:gStruction":: and:'discussions held on all f:1inical, . tion material at' both large and Small sites, single.use r~piiafors<,,:werea:' ... asp~cts'cif asbestos disease ~cludi~g construction sites in New York and necessity. Moreover,many··states reo .'0:. panentmanagement, x·ray dIagnOSIS, New Jersey, arranged by Jacob No-q~ired that only U.S~.:.: ~ui-'eau of c pulmonary function analysis, and pa- yak and James Mulhearn, Interna-Mines approved .reSpirat~rs.he used.. thology .. Epide~iology of as~tos- tional Vice Presidents of the Asbestos

(Continued .on. page.thT.ee.) . related dISease III both occupanonal (Continued on page two.)

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Vol. 2, No.3 Fall 1970

from the

Insulation Industry Hygiene Re· :;earch Program

Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving .J. Seli· koff, :M.D., Director), Mount Sinai . School of Medicine of the City Uni· versity of New York New York. N.Y. 10029 . ..:.._~"~~:' '.' :. -

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A(IvisoryCounC??-(~r~ ~ • ," . ':-.• ~ ... -;!" •

Irving J. Seliko:£t_M.D~: Program Director and Chairman .-... , -.~

.. ~:~~;g;.~~ .. :~.~:' .'.::.'- --", E. Cuyler Hammond," Sc.D .. Vice President, American CaDcer Society, New York, N.Y~· ~';{2~~:,-

Albert Hutchins~~Gen~ral President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators' and Asbestos Work~rs, Washin:rton:,;'D.G. .......

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J. B. JODe, ViCe",Pr~ident, Johns· Manville Corponitibri;' New York,· N .Y: ,_. . ~~.··~~-:~~~T:·~~·1 ... ·~·

Fred L PundsadS~_P.h:i( Vice President, Research 'aria':': Development, Johns·Manville "Cprporation, New, York, N.Y..:};:;~:;-:~i. ,~_ ,_ .. _ ..

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PURPOSES OF'THE -:.~

INsuLATION" "<'"

INDUSTRyjfyGIENE'<:' -RESEARCH:'P,ROGRAM ~

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1. To . develop' improved methods for: minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encoun-tered in their \vork~ . '

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2. To dissemmate knowl-edge of these 'improved methods' of 'dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice .' and assistance toward their universal adop~ion.

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World's First Course in Asbestos Effects

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(Continued from first page.)

Workers Union. Visits to the world's largest asbes

tos mine in Quebec, Canada and to an asbestos manufacturing plant in Manville, New Jersey, were arranged through the cooperation of the Johns· Manville Corporation .

.-1. Day in the Lab Th~~ ~terested in th~'l~oratory

aspectS of asbestos sampling and extracting from tissue and.' air as well as electro? microscopic studies 'of the pathology of lung tissue'"reaction to inhaled asbestos fibers spent a day in the 'laboratories of Mount Sinai School of Medicine's EnVironmental Sciences Laboratory.

Each day at lunchtime speakers discussed broad aspects of environmental and occupational health. One of them; Dr. Rene Dubos, Professor of Pathology and Microbiology at Rockefeller University".-spoke on -"Ecological PerspectiveS .' of the 1970's~. - .

Fra:nk and Open Dis~ussion Dr:,Douglas H. Lee, . Assbciate Di

rector of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and Dr. Marcus Key, Chief; Bureau of Occupational Safety and' Health of the Public Health Service, were other ..~ ':":..:.-

Prot Rene Dubos (c..) asbestos disease course.

featured speakers. Dr. Selikoff commented with pleas.

ure on the diversified background of the participants and on the frank and open discussions held among themselves and with the faculty.

Unions Sponsor IvI.D.s "', "We had physicians sponsored by

local unions of the Asbestos W orkers," he said, "representativeS.-of, the National Insulation Contractors Association, and medical directorS of asbestos manufacturing companies all meeting together ~ith a single: purpose-to improve the healt40f the asbestos worker. ':':

"It's also, noteworthy thai:'-"more than a dozen registrants were repre· sentatives of the 'Public Health Servo ice or various State Departments of Health. This demonstrates . an in· creasing awareness by fedenil·· and state agencies of the multiplicity of problems facing Asbestos W ~rkers."

What The cidsi Said~'

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<The most info~ati;e'" c;~i I have ever attended."-H~· Blej~r, M.D., California Dept. of Health. ..

"Enjoyable and stimulating."".-W: '. '::::~ Smither, M.D:,Medical Director,· _" .. d

Cape Asbestos Co~; London. " ,:~:~,;,,, .. ,. ~

M.5:pc:o,a:::·n ;,i;,,;,:ttl: ... <I gional Medical'Piogram.;·~jf;~"';

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Disposable Respirators Will Be Available Soon

(Continued from first page.)

But no Bureau of Mines schedule existed that was suitable for disposable respirators. Hence no approved models were commel'cially available.

In the research towards the goal of making disposable respirators avail-. able, the IIHRP has helped arrange field tests in which members of Local 17 in Chicago of the Asbestos Workers participated by wearing respirators and giving their observations of the desirable and undesirable features of the devices. These trials and results were extremely helpful in assisting manufacturers .. to devise equipment which is as Unobjectionable as possible and still 'e:ffective_

Bureau 0/ Mines Criteria An important recent development

has been the action of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in issuing a schedule listing criteria for approval of disposable single-use respirators. _.This approval' schedule' lists. essentialrequirements which. respirators must meet. .A..mong th~ .. requirements are efficiency of dust removal, resistance

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.. A hattery·powered air supply respirator is worn hy Duncan Holaday during efficiency tests. For this test two air-sampling pumps are attached to his belt.

to breathing, and adequacy of face fit. The criteria insure that all respirators will give' adequate protection.

Another significant development now taking place is the preparation of an American National Standards Safety Guide for protection against asbestos-containing dust. This standard is being written by a subcommittee of the American National Standards Institute's Committee on Respirators.

When to Wear Them The subco:ri:unittee, chaired by

Duncan Holiday of the IIHRP, is composed of representatives of regulatory agencies, the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators, the Insulation Contractors Association, respirator manufacturers, and research and university groups.

The standard developed will detail circumstances in which respirators should be worn, and also give guid. ance ill selection of respirators and any 'information which is necessary for the operation of a respiratory protection program..

Certain operations, however, produce sci much dust that more pro tee

. tion is reqUired than can be obtained by half-mask respirators. One such condition is the tearing out of insulation aboard ship in confined spaces.

-.-... _ .. -'._-- - .... --.. ~-.--- .. -.•. -.... -. . Air-Conditioned!

A battery-operated device which supplies :filtered air to the respirator and is suitable for use in extremely dusty conditions was recently tested

.. by the' IIHRP at the World Trade Center in New York... This equipment was developed by. Prof. William Burgess at the Harvard School of

. Public Health working in coopera. tion with the. American Iron and . Steel Institute.

It is not yet commercially available, but many units have been constructed and are being tested in several industries. The device is lightweight. and will operate for eight hours on one battery charge. Full field tests are planned and will be reported on in a later issue of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports.

.--- HELP WANTED

-AGAIN

There is a reservoir of talent, knowledge and expertise in the insulation industry, that has barely been tapped-that of the Asbestos Worker. His knowledge of problems and perhaps solutions that he has found effective should be avail· able to the entire industry.

In the development of practical solutions for the dust problems in insulation work, comments and suggestions of members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers have been of prilne importance.

In field trials of respirators, dust collectors, or new cement mixing methods, the effectiveness of each procedure was tested against the experience of the men involved.

In future issues of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports we would like to feature comments, suggestions, and ideas of asbestos workers throughout the country.

We welcome your help. We need your help. Please send any comments or suggestions you may have to me at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

L J. Selikoff, M.D. Program Director

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The hattery pack and air filtration unit of the air·supplied respirator. This respirator is for use only in extremely dusty conditions..

Plastic Cement Mixers Are The Next Thing

Dr. Fred 1. Pundsack, Vice President for Research and Development of J ohns-ManyilIe Corporation, will market their line of asbestos cement in plastic bags beginning in September.

These bags will allow water to be added and the cement to be mixed inside the bag. A previous study by the IIHRP demonstrated that dust levels could·be reduced to one tenth that of standard tub or bucket mixing methods.

No Extra Equipment Needed

The bags used are suitable for use with conventional bag-filling equipment. Thus they can be introduced industry-wide with no additional inyestme~t in plant equipment.

The IIHRP has made available to all manufacturers of asbestos cement, samples of the bag used by J ohnsManville as well as information on the effectiveness of its use.

"Experience Valuable"

Dr. William J. Nicholson. IIHRP Program Coordinator. stated: "The cIea~ benefits to insulation workers will only come through industry wide acceptance of this mixing method. As in any variation of trade practices, practical experience will undoubtedly have much to contribute in the rapid introduction of this important safety measure."

Charles Collins, President of Local 30 of the Asbestos Workers Union, cutting calcium silicate block during the powered hand-saw trials at the Hoffman Air Systems plant in Syracuse, New York.

Saber Saw May Answer The Sawdust Problem

The insulation application trade has a sawdust problem_ The handsaw-most commonly used tool by asbestos workers-generates significant dust, and such saws cannot yet be fitted with suitable dust-control devices_

Tests Show Less Dust

As an alternative to extensive

handsawing, the IIHRP is currently investigating cutting devices which can be fitted with portable dust control units_ One such unit offering possibilities for dust reduction is the saber ·saw. Preliminary tests have shown that a saber saw fitted with the proper blade and appropriate dust collector can reduce the level of dust produced when calcium silicate materials are cut.

These early trials also demonstrated that only heavy-duty saws would be suitable. Currently studies are under way to determine the right combination of saw, blade, and dust collector for standard cutting jobs.

Don't use Han~ jar Band

Because of the size of existing dust collectors, the use of a saber saw thus equipped would be limited to powerhouse work and on industrial sites having well-localized insulation ap. plications.

A plastic mixing bag containing asbestos cement being filled with water through a valve at the top of the bag,

A word to the wise: powered hand saws should not be used as a substitute for band saws which can be equipped with dust collectors of greater efficiency (see Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports VoL 1, No.4).

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OI.ll'lTsI,y


a ,,0 O(OFt.\<.Q FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM


Good Housekeeping . Challenge to

Insulation Industry The annual meeting of the Na

tional Insulation Contractors Association (NICA) held in Dallas, Texas, October 4-8, 1970, was a landmark occasion for the insulation industry. At it the NICA approved the estab- .. lishment, in cooperation with the Asbestos Workers Union, of three national insulation industry funds.

These were the Industry National Development Fund, the National Apprentice and Training Fund, and--of special importance to the health of the workers-the National Health and Safety Fund.

Health and Safety More than one day of the four-day

program was devoted to Health and Safety. :Mr. AThert E. Hutchinson of HHRP's Advisory Board and President of the Asbestos Workers Union, spoke of the Union's determined efforts ill the past decade to promote safety in the trade and pledged continued cooperation with industry and scientists to achieve this.

Dr. 1. J. Selikoff and Mr. W. B. Reitze of the IIHRP reviewed the health problems that had been found among insulation workers and many of the available measures that have been developed to control them.

Challenged the Industry Of special interest was a discussion

of "Occupational Good Housekeeping" by Mr. Donald Bradshaw of the Owens-Corning 'Fiberglas Corporation.

In this speech, Mr. Bradshaw, who is Chairman of NICA's Occupation.al Health and Safety Committee, challen<Ted the asbestos industry, both corrtractors and workers, to implement safe working practices and introduce safe materials throughout the industry.

(Continued on page two)


Vol. 2, No.4 Winter 1970

The problems of shipboard insulation work being discussed at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Commander Barboo, U.S.N., is at head of table, Commander Lawton, U.5.N. (No jacket} on his righL Dr. Selikoff is far left, with Dr. Pundsack of 10hns ~lanYille nat

to him.. .

The U.S. Navy Joins Battle With Shipyard Dust

The u.s. Navy is shortly to introduce a set of procedures to reduce insulation dust exposure in naval shipyards. Prospects are excellent that they will help solve this complex problem in ship building and repair.

The procedures were outlined by Commander Samuel Barboo, U.S.N., at a meeting held October 15 in Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory. He is Head of the Industrial Environmental Control Branch of the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Barboo traced the Navy's quickened interest in the problem to a Conference held with Dr. Selikoff of the IIHRP two years ago, that reviewed health hazards of shipyard insulation workers.

Five Procedures Also at the meeting were Com

mander George Lawton, M.C., U.S.N., Director. Industrial Environmental Health Division. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Mr. John O'Neill, Consultant, Bureau of Labor Standards,

U.S. Department of Labor, and representatives of the commercial ship. building industry, the insulation manufacturnig industry, and Mount Sinai's Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program.

Commander Barboo described the proposed Navy procedures for insulation applicfLtion and rip-out, including the following:

1. a program of health surveillance for all asbestos workers including annual chest x-rays;

2. substitution, whenever possible, of other materials for those containing high percentages of asbestos;

3. mandatory use of respirators where warranted by conditions;

4. enclosure of ship areas undergoing insulation work and exclusion of other trades whenever possible; and

5. adoption of work procedures de· signed to reduce dust exposure.

(Continued on page four)

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from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving ]. Selikoff. ?\I.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of 1Iedicine of the City University of f\.ew York, New York, N.Y. 10029



E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D. Vice President, American Cancer Society, Ne\r York, N.Y.

Albert Hutchinson, General President, International· Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

J. B. Jobe. Vice President. Johnsl\bnville Corporation, Ne,,; York, KY.

Fred L. Pundsack. Ph.D. Vice President, Research ~nd Development, J ohns·]\1anville Corporation" New York, N.Y.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encoun-tered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, pdvice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

Th~ Plastic Cement Mixer is Becoming

The "In" Thing Several manufacturers of asbestos

cement products are developing plastic shipping bags in which the cement can be mixed.

Follo\ying their introduction in the T;nited States bv the J ohns-Mansville Corporation, other manufacturers of .::..:~c::;::'s cements were apprised of the merits of in-bag cement mixing by Dr. Irving 1. Selikoff, Director of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program.

Mini and iVI axi P aks To date, the manufacturers' re

sponse has been gratifying. Several have put product development programs into operation and one manufacturer, Ryder Industries, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, has already marketed "?\1ini-Pak" and "1'1axi-Pak" kits of plastic-bagged cement.

Each Ryder kit also includes a plastic glove for mixing and a strong cardboard box that can be used in lieu of a bucket.

The concept of plastic mixing bags was discussed favorably by panelists at the recent National Insulation Contractors annual meeting, where several contractors stated their desire to use this mixing method.

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Good Housekeeping Needs Workers'

Cooperation (Continued from first page)

Of the contractors he asked. "We are all quick to' defend our' individual positions as contractors but are we really taking the necessary practical steps of good housekeeping now so obviously necessary in our industry for the health and safety of our m;n and also all other persons at the jobsite or in the shop?"

The Individual Essential To the worker he pointed out that,

without effective involvement of the individual, occupational health good housekeeping cannot be achieved.

"A man is obligated to take practical care of himself," he said, "to educate himself in health protection, and, through good housekeeping practices, to protect all other men at the j obsite."

Unity and Uniformity In calling for uniformity of action

in putting into effect safe work practices .and safe materials, Mr. Bradshaw pointed· to the role of the lriternational Union. "Through this body," he said, "unity and uniformity of action are possible."

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A "Mini·Pak" of asbestos cement marketed in a plastic mixing bag by Ryder Industries of Dallas, Texas. No dust flies out during mixing .

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This plastic "tent" fitted over a Cape Asbestos Company turbine controls dust during .ripout and spraying operations. The small portable vacuum exhauster seen on the left prondes negative pressure inside the "tenL"

Anti-Dust Crews Trained - With Special Vans

Specially trained insulation demolition and rip-out crews using newly developed techniques and equipment -including special vans fitted with change rooms--are.now operating in Great Britain.

The Cape Asbestos Corporation of London has instituted the program in order to minimize the exposure of workers to insulation dust.

Details of the program were reviewed with IIHRP personnel by Mr. Alex Cross and Dr_ Walter Smither of Cape Asbestos. This was part of the continuing program of cooperation between insulation industry scientists and engineers in other countries and the IIHRP. Both Dr. Smither and Mr. Cross visited Mount Sinai during the summer - to study dust control measures developed here.

Change Rooms and Showers

Each special van contains a "clean room" for taking off (and later putting on) street clothes and a "dirty room" for putting on (later taking off) work clothes. Shower facilities are available for use after work.

The men working with the unit are trained in the latest techniques to minimize dust production. Moreover they use all necessary personal protection equipment and clothing. This includes plastic or nylon coveralls and air-supplied or face respirators, when appropriate.

During the removal of old insulation material. the work area is completely enclos-ed and other trades are

excluded. Material to be removed is extensively wetted and localized exhaust systems are used whenever possible to minimize dust spread.

Minimum Dust Exposure

This program now introduces on land measures similar to those used for insulation removal aboard ship. (See story on page 4 on insulation work in British Naval shipyards)

Dr. Smither, who is Medical Director of the Cape Asbestos Corporation, emphasized that the workers in the special crews will not eXllerience greater dust exposure than those applying new insulation.

"The procedures ahd the protective equipment available to these men reduce their dust exposure to a minimum," he said.

A new disposable dust·mist respirator. It weighs only 1% oz.

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New Dust-Mist Respirator Put On the Market

A new disposable dust-mist respirator was introduced by the Safety Products Diyision of the American Optical Corporation on October 26.

The commercial ayailabiIitv of the first effective disposable r~spirator culminates two years of effort on the part of the IIHRP to obtain a respirator suitable for insulation workers. (See Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports, vol. 1, nos. 2 and 3, and vol. 2, no. 3.)

90% of Dust Excluded The disposable respirator an

nounced by American Optical has been awarded a United States Bureau of Mines approval under Schedule 21B. Under this approval schedule, certain respirator efficiency standards must be met.

These includ~ lack of penetration of dust through the filter material, low resistance to breathing with standardized loading, and little leakage about the face seal.

It is this last standard that, in general, limits the efficiency of approved respirators. Under Schedule 21B, the face seal must exclude 90 per cent of the dust from a standardized aerosol.

Six Points in Favor The most important features of the

American Optical respirator are: 1. a new fibrous filter- medium

that is highly efficient, 2. a larE!:e effective filterinE!: area

to pr'Ovide very low resistance to breathinE!:.

3. a weight o~iy 1% ounces, 4. a foam-face·sealinE!: gasket that

is efficient and, ~in~ addition, improves wearer comfort,

5. a malleable metal frame that permits the wearer to adjust to the contours of his face_ and

6. two adjustable harness straps to allow a good fit of the respirator on the face.

Worker Acceptance Other disposable dust respirators,

manufactured by the Minnesota Mining and ivIanufacturing Co. and by the Welch IVlanufacturin!! Co. have been field tested by the ~IIHRP for worker acceptance.

Also under development are models by other manufacturers, includinp: Willson Products Division of ESB Inc.

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A down-draft cutting table attached to a portable vacuum-cleaner designed by Mr_ Carl lfangold, Head, Industrial Hygiene Branch, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The legs are removed for carrying_ (Photo courtesy of Carl Mangold, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard)

The British Navy Too IS

Battling Shipyard Dust An extensive program for reducing

insulati0n dust exposure to w.orkers has been put int.o operation at the Royal Naval Shipyard, Plymouth, England. Its operation was studied by Dr. Harry Heimann, Dr. William J. Nicholson, and Mr. Duncan A. Holaday of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, who visited the shipyard in September.

The program Wa.!? developed and implemented by Dr. Peter G. Harries, Surgeon-Commander, Royal Navy. He designed it to isolate dusty operations, reduce dust production during insulation work, and prevent, as far as possible, inhalation .of asbestoscontaining dusts.

Supplied-air Hoods Isolation of dusty operations (such

as rem.oval of old insulation) is accomplished by sealing compartments where possible or by use of plastic tarpaulins. The men doing· removal and clean-up w.ork wear plastic coyeralls and supplied-air hoods.

For work which creates less dust than insulation removal does, nylon coyeralls are used.

When removal is complete, the area is cleaned by the use of vacuum lines or portable cleaners and final

washdowns. Air samples are taken to insure that the clean-up has been thorough before the area is opened for further work.

Concern for pers.onal protective measures is further seen in the req~irements that asbestos workers on arrival remove their clothes, then proceed to another room and put on work clothes, clean sets of which are supplied daily. At the end of the shift, coveralls are vacuumed, work clothes are removed, and the workmen take showers before donning street clothes.

Dust Respirators Required

. -Yarying degrees of respiratory protection are required, depending on the work being done. In addition to the supplied-air hoods, self-contained air-supply respirators are available for removal operations, clean-up, and waste collection work. For installation of insulation materials which contain asbestos, approved dust respirators are required.

In some circumstances, where appropriate, insulation material containing no asbestos has been substituted. In other circumstances the asbestos content has been reduced.

u. S .. Navy Joins Battle Against Shipyard Dust (Continued from first page)

Mr. Carl Mangold of the Industrial Hygiene Section of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, detailed some of the procedures that are now standard at that yard.

Overalls at $1 Each Disposable overalls, costing ap

proximately $1 per pair are used as a routine matter. A downdraft r.utting box for hand sawing has been found to be particularly eifective and is well received by the workers. Extensive use of portable vacuum cleaners has reduced much of the unnecessary dust exposure in confined areas.

Mr. O'Neill emphasized the need for a solution to the health problems of insulation workers and said that a set of regulations applicable to the shipbuilding and ship repair industry and also the construction industry is under consideration by the Department of Labor.

Committee Appointed At the end of the meeting a com

mittee was appointed to draft a unified approach to the problems .of shipboard insulation work.

It includes representatives of the Navy, the Department of Labor, the Asbestos Workers Union, the commercial shipbuilding industry, the insulation manufacturers, the insulation contractors, and the IIHRP.

Asbestos refuse collected in polyvinyl plastic bags which are sealed and removed from the ship. This reduces a major source of asbestos dust and simplifies clean-up. (Photo courtesy of Carl Mangold, Puget

Sound Naval Shipyard)

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°lOFt"'''-'V FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM


SPECIAL ISS.UE This issue of Insulation Hygiene

Progress Reports contains a report given by Mr. Donald Bradshaw to the 1970 Annual meeting of the National Insulation Contractors Association at Dallas, Texas. It begins in the next column.

In his call for "good housekeeping for good health", Mr. Bradshaw enumerated responsibilities of insulation contractors, general contractors or owners, government authorities, unions, workmen, and manufacturers in the drive to achieve work safety.

What Progress Has Been Made

As he is Chairman of the Health and Safety Committee of N.r.C.A., his remarks take on special significance. They illustrate how far the insulation industry has progressed since the first publication of the health hazards of asbestos insulation workers in 1964 by Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, and since the beginning of the Insulation industry Hygiene Research Program two years ago.

Safety PrG,{:tices

The talk, which is illustrated by IIHRP photographs, well summarizes many of the safety practices developed by the IIHRP and others. We look forward to having those practices already developed become standard on all job. sites, and to finding appropriate solutions for those problems still remaining.

.-__ AND NEXT: __ -.

The next issue of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports will discuss, among other items, the precautions to be taken in the use of fibrous glass products and the potential hazards associated with volatile adhesives us~d in insulation work.

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Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Oi",ctor

Vol. 3, No.1 Spring 1971

Insulation Contractors Call for "Good Housekeeping"

By Donald Bradshaw What do we mean by "good house

keeping" as it applies to our industry -the insulation contracting industry -in the context of the theme of this annual meeting? It means the dedicated practice of handling all materials We use so as to minimize and ultimately eliminate all hazards to human health.

What hazards do we face? Already this morning we have been addressed on the human body 'and its anatomical aspects which can be affected adversely by the use of specific materials common to our industry. How, therefore, can we adapt ourselves to the handling of our materials in a safe and acceptable manner?

Almost thirty years ago the United States was faced with the large-scale development of radio-active fissionable materials, arid the handling of these materials required housekeeping methods and safeguards almost beyond comprehension prior to that time. It was done and done successfully because it had to be done successfully or the consequences would have been swift and severe.

A Practical Perspective

Over the past tWD to three years housekeeping in our industry has taken on a very new and significant meaning to us as. we have become aware of the magnitude of certain occupational health hazards. At this point we are striving to maintain a practical perspective on the performance of our work while we actively move forward to reduce and eliminate, where possible, the causes of the occupational health hazards.

What, then, is good housekeeping? It is the removal of those causes. Since, at this time, the source causes are an inherent part of the materials we use in our industry, we must exert our best practical efforts towards con· trolling the use of the materials so as

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1fr-. Donald Bradshaw, Chairman of the Health and Safety Co=ittee of the National Insulation Contractors Association. He is also North California District Man. ager of the Supply and Contracting Division of the Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, San Francisco, California.

to make the working enviFonment as health-safe as possible.

'Recently we have seen the imposition of r.igid controls in New York city on the application of structural fireproofing protection containing health-hazardous materials. How do such controls relate to everyday practices in our industry where some similar materials are used in a differ-ent way? -

RESPONSIBILITIES OF INSULATION CO:NTRACTORS

We are all quick to defend our individual positions as contractors but are we really taking the necessary practical steps of good housekeeping now so obviously necessary iri our industry for the health safety of our men and also all other persons at the j obsite or in the shop? We have two major areas of health

(Continued on second page)

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Yol. 3, No. 1 Spring 1971

from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, :M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, New York, N.Y_ 10029

Advisory Council of IllIRP

In~ng J. Selikoff, M.D. Program Director and Chairman


Albert Hutchinson. General President, International As;ociation of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

J. B. J obe. Vice President, Johns· Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Fred 1. Pundsack. Ph.D. Vice President, Research ~nd Development, J ohns·Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

George W. Wright, M.D. Director of Medical Research, St. Luke's Hospital, Cleveland, O.




Vinyl-coated calcium silicate insulation, developed in cooperation with the IIHRP, greatly reduces dust generated during Ehipment and in subsequent handling by workers .

Five Groups Each Have Their Responsi bili ties

(Continued from first page) protection to control:

1. The inhalation of known hazardous insulation material dusts which lead to respiratory tract and lung congestion and disease; and

2. The inhala'tion of vapors or absorption through the skin of liquids which are .harmful to health, and which are found today in a number of adhesives and some surface finishes.

Our responsibility is to: 1. Organize the performance of

the work so that the best available practical health safety can be followed;

2. Provide the facilities and equip· ment which will minimize and, where possible, eliminate, the presence of harmful dusts;

3. Avoid the use of known highly toxic materials in favor of safe ones when available, or ones with the lowest toxicity;

4. Educate our field and shop men in the most effective use of facilities and equipment so as to afford maximum protection for themselves, and see that they are used correctly;

5. Select materials and methods which provide the maximum safety when being applied.

6. Promote the development and use of health·safe materials throughout our industry; and

7. Support the apprentice training programs in the teaching of good housekeeping practices for the health·safe handling of aJl industry materials.

How should we implement our responsibility?

The Dust Problem

First of all, the harmful dust problem. Let us start in the shop.

See that all materials of a harmful nature are handled so as to control all dust. Some materials are now being coated to reduce dusting in handling. Use a large commercial vacuum cleaner with disposable filter . bags to sweep up all powdered or crumpled material.

When bags of insulating cements are broken, carefully repackage them in plastic bags and vacuum up all spilled material.

Where shop fabrication occurs see that your men wear approved masks -U.S. Bureau of Mines or betterand be sure that an adequate and effective dust collection system is used which discharges the material into bags which can be sealed for disposal.

Improved Saws A new mask is expected to be avail

able by the end of 1970 with a filter medium developed by Johns-Manville and Mount Sinai, and the face piece engineering by Wilson, Welsh, and others.

Keep alert to improved saws which reduce dust. Have disposable bags suspended from frames and deposit scrap and waste material into these bags which must be sealed before disposal. Store fabricated material in lined cartons or containers before shipment so as to contain the dust.

All this seems like a massive undertaking but when you think it through

(Continued on third page)

An, efficient yacuum cleaner used to clean up fallen material can greatly reduce air· borne dust leyels.

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The use of an efficient collection system attached to table saws reduces dust. See Vol. 1, No.4" of Progress Reports for results of band saw dust collector trials.

A high-velocity collection port located . under the bed of a saw. Air velocities as . high as 10,000 feet per minute can be generated to collect loose asbestos dust.

Cements Must Be Mixed Under Dust-Controlled Conditions

(Continued from second page)

and follow it out, it is just good housekeeping by any method of measuring, coupled with necessary health protection.

The same fabrication procedures as outlined for the shop fabrication should be followed. Today we are improving high velocity dust collecting equipment which can contribute most significantly to the control and elimination of dust, and such equipment is being adapted to field fabrication saws.

The fabrication shop should be enclosed either in a building or in an enclosure of polyethylene so as to prev'ent the wind from scouring all the dust out of the shop and depositing it over the j obsite area_ Bagging of dust and scrap is necessary, as in the shop, and approved masks must be worn by all people working in the shop area.

All possible fabrication of harmful dust-producing materials should be carried out in the jobsite fabrication area, and the floor and fabrication tables should be vacuum cleaned frequently.

In The Ba.g Mixing The mixing of cements should be

done under dust-controlled conditions, or the new "in the bag" mixing method used.

The remov~l of old insulation requires special attention, and should be done with the care necessary to contain the dust and scrap material throughout the process.

Hazardous cloths should be cut, not

torn. What about the point of applica

tion fabrication which often requires the sawing and shaping of material for closure pieces or special configurations?

Blowing in the Wind This is where our good housekeep

ing falls apart on certain types of work. Way up on the sixth level of a power plant or 120 feet up in the air on a refinery tower, the exposure to our man may not be too great if the wind is blowing away from him, but with the aid of the wind we neatly deposit a fine blanket of material· over a wide area.

To make templates of complex shapes to be sent to the fab ~hop is a lengthy and costly process, so we must devise portable compact enclosed work booths with bagging facilities for dust and scrap and contain all such work at these points. Power saws are now being developed with self-contained dust collectors.

Change facilities on jobs enable the men to change clothes at the start and end of work and, with the improvements being made in throw-away clothing, we are approaching the time of slip over covers which will keep the dust out of the working clothing.

Toxic Vapors, Liquids Practices of beating dust-forming

insulation into place and sinking tie wires into the insulation should be discontinued. Contractors should instr!l.ct their men to wear masks whenever hazardous insulation material

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dust is in the air. A contractor may be found negligent if this is not required.

In the area of toxic ,~apors or liquids the potential health problems are more easily protected by the selection of materials presenting little or no hazard. Where toxic materials must be used, they should be applied with good ventilation and the men, in confined spaces, should be provided with low-pressure air face masks.

Rubber gloves should be worn at all times. Containers shouIa always be kept closed when not in use.

The responsibilities of the contractor in the area of industry health protection, and the steps he must take in discharging them, result from the position of certain materials he uses in the performance of his work. It is very apparent that should it become possible to remove the causes in the materials we use, then our good housekeeping and working practices can be modified extensively.

OWNERS' RESPONSIBIUTIES In the sense that we are consider

ing the occupational health of our industry, the general contractor's or owner's responsibility is basically one of an understanding of our housekeeping obj ectives and the reasons for them. He must cooperate with us in the actions we must take in providing us with the necessary working areas, and if essential, remove other crafts from our working area for specific periods of time,

He should not impose any restraints on the performance of our work which would prevent the economical installation of the materiaL

GOVERJ.'i'l\1ENT AUTHORITIES' RESPONSIBIUTIES

Here we look at all levels of gov(Continued on fourth page)

~ .\.: II ~~l;~'~ .... -.. :: .. -.· .. ·-.. .c .. -"~·I Asbestos workers of Local 91 field testing new disposable respirators of Minnesota Mining and .Manufacturing Co. in an amo~ite pad shop.

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Large amounts of dust generated during conventional cement mixing expose asbestos workers imd spread throughout the site.

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The mixing of asbestos cement in a plastic bag during IIHRP trials.

The Individual Worker Must Prudently Lead The Way

(Continued from third page) ernmental authority, from city to federal, and ask ourselves: Are we going to let government agencies control our business in the field, or are ,Ye going to control it otir!5elves?

"\\1 e have seen rather sudden and drastic local controls imposed on the structural 'fireproofing industry in New York city because the industry itself was not organized to take appropriate preventive measures. Legislation in the Health & Safety Construction Act and the Walsh-Healey addendum on material specification sheets faces us at the federal level.

The Daniels bill, if passed, will be much stiffer than the Walsh-Healey bilL

Worthwhile Progress Are we, as an industry, capable of

organizing ourselves before the governmental agencies do it fDr us? In my opinion, we are making some really worthwhile progress, but we still have quite a lot to accomplish.

We have a common body throughout our industry and that is the international Union_ Through this body unity and uniformity of action is possible. Such actions must be responsive to our industry's needs and costs and must be well conceived.

If we ourselves default in our responsibilities then surely the governmental agencies will quickly assume our responsibilities. In summary, we are saying that the government should do only what we ourselves,

union and contractor, are unable to do.

I have already touched on the role the International Union can play in promoting singleness of action throughout the nation, but the responsibilities of the Union, both at the International and Local levels, extend into several other areas.

UNIONS' RESPONSIBILITIES 1. To promote the understanding

and acceptance of good housekeeping occupational health concepts at the membership level;

2. To stimulate the merTIbership to follow good practical safeguards necessary in the industry;

3. To represent the industry in unity with the contractors at the area level whenever there are inquiries or investigations into the health hazards of our industry, and not take unilateral action which could hurt the industry; and

4. To support regular health examinations for the membership and to sustain a continuing awareness of good housekeep. ing procedures.

INDIVIDUAL WORKERS' OBLIGATIONS

Without the effective involvement of the individual worker. we cannot achieve occupational h~alth good housekeeping. In fact, we hope and

A Man Should Take Care of Himself

-and Others

expect he will prudently lead the way. What do we mean by prudent?

Well, we cannot make every jobsite a " I " b c ean room, ut we cannot expect a, man to over-expose himself un· necessarily to harmful dusts either by his own action or because of lack of equipment.

A man is obligated to take prac· tical care of himself, to educate himself in health protection, and, through good housekeeping practices, protect all other men at the jobsite.

MANUFACTURERS' RESPONSIBILITIES

All of us can quickly see that good housekeeping in the field and shop has a price tag to the insulation con· tracting industry; and the cost of this tag could be increased considerably by future possible legislation. To remove the causes is to cancel the price tag and we, as a contracting industry, should give every support to the development and use of nonhazardous materials.

This price tag is not a two cents per hour contribution to support an occupational health program. It is the cost effect of carrying out good housekeeping practices in the field, the impact of which is no small matter.

Good housekeeping? Yesl Why? Good health is good sense. Where? Everywhere . When? Now. How? By the methods outlined and

to be developed. Thank you gentlemen.

Bagging of waste material prevents asbestos dust dissemination about the job site and into the general community .

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VoL 3 No.2 .- Summer 1971 '.

from the"'-'

Insulation Ind~s-ti;T'~·:E~·gie~e· R;~ search J>rogram . q -: .:.,.. .' ·r·,

~':':. ....:--Ed.it~r: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D.,-:Published at th;· . .Environmental Sciences LaboratcirjrL{lrving. J . .'Seli~., koff, .M.D., Director)~.· Mount .. Sinai, .

..5chool of MedicIDe:~Lthe ·CityUni.:~ versity of N,ew·Y· . New "y .

., ' .. N.Y:-:J.OO29 ... :3

FlorIda ~ S cien tists ' ..

oin IIHRP,_ Study Dust: Collection

Send in Your Own" ..Experience of

:: . ·Adhesives . . .

:.,~ Dr: Irving. J. Selikoff has:m' . (C.ontin.ued froT4 first j)age) nounced that scientists from Flonda . . ." Institute of Technology will partici· asb~~~": dust an'a' ~i~~~tte smoke

in the. Insulation Industry By. ..are particularly harmful.together..We giene Resea:rch Program. :With 'funds as yet have no knowledge of the ef. provided by·:·the. InternatIonal As50' feciS' :on . health of" adheSive" fumes clation of Heat and FDrest Insulators in· coiriliination with. eithei"~bestos'~ ' .• ~

tu~t~:i~f:~:~::t:fl~;!~~: . d~~~~t~~r~~ gla~/;·~~L:.:'::·~~~~~.· ;teIi:is::::suitible,:'~for use·ID.:=confined Inforniation.T.hat Is :A1Jailabze.'·: .. ~~~ •. ;';..>

:.s" aces""'"~uCh~:as:'=aboaia-S1llff~>~:'=:- . «Th~.-:prob1~· ~:~CQ'm'poillidea' bj~~~.: ~

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.,J~I'h.e-:·researili.?-~ be:~·dir~t"'ed by the' fact-7that no' Use .is -:made of 'In'!:''': • ;.i:ajun~f ;Proleisor,:r:ee··:Websi"e~ ... -?~ . "foIDuifirin-'.:.easilY· . .:available". on" .. the2 _ .:~.:he) . - . ·.OttO::f edqr;. ~ur·. <: niaterials~used~' . ..It.L'u'>, •.. .?-'-'-=., .. u<uoo

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'::~:l'osure of .:,..,.,. .... . ,~ to ,dustS arid·~fiiIiies:· "'.u ' ... v '.L.U::,,,,;, r :~. ~/tered.in th~ii%Oi-k. '::' .'- '. ~. '". - - .:"...::.5"~--=!", .. ~; ... , "" :;"2: To . dissemjnate: . . . <edge of ····tb~~·: .. . .

methods {)f.: .. aust· 'control '. wherever . thbynay be ap:-plied advantage.?~l1- ~~.~::

. to offer coopera:t:I.~m, . ;~~a assisurriciti().ward ·~·UIriversai ad~tio~"

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Asbestos Workers

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New Standard Is Que~tioned FOJ;

Asbestos Workers (Contirwed from third page)

IIHRP scientists are making these facts known to governmental agencies responsible for setting standards_ They have also voiced strong objections to the setting of standards which would' allow continued danger to men in the insulation industry.

uAnd Wluit to do About Them!:.'. There is a further problem in .con-

. nection with the use. of TL V 5o •. In- the

. , .. past,. dust concentrations have. seldom ':VI e were- told what to do about health. hazards;' said Jack Novak (2nd R), here'. Seen . been measured"'"on'constructio'n sites. drscusslng the Occupatioruu Health Hazards course.for. union,,:inem.bers with Dr .. SelikofE

'·~-"h~~e~~~~:iO;;;:'··-'~\~?;~;~~~~~\~~:'~~¥~~~tirit6~t¥f~~:i~~E·.·· · ., -~,:·':.:E~~~~~:"SI:S .' :~i:_!m:_.~~.~~li~iE;~-_~tli.:.~.~~C.~.' .. ~.~.~ .. :.?L,~up~.~{.;~.· .. ~.".-.;.1~~i.;.~ .•. : .. i.:' __ :'~:""'~"

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'·:l.:2S":':di:fferenn-UIUonsatlended. the. five-·· ....;.day..:-course::Fiank Hess ,of.. L:>cal 4

,':" Bu:ffal~~NfY;;':-and. Bud Maupirr;"of, .:Local'.: 27~_, Kansas .City, ,Missouri,

,:.~~ere: p.articipatiD.g, asbestos 'w~rke~ • . ' On:e'YziTtMi-:Problem .. :~?::.:..:",.,

·~':".Ari:.~advis~ri'~ committee of:. labor· lead'ers ' for' . the course inCluded., among. others:,' 'Andy Hass,. Secre-tary;:.and. Jacob Novak, Vice. Presi- ,

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deD.~ . of-the International Associa- " tion 'of Heat":and Frost Insulators .... : and Asbestos' Workers; Anthony --" Mazzocchi, Leghlative Director,. Oil_~ Chemical, and Atomic' Workers; 'c " Frank WaIlick"Automobile Workers; -.:.. and Marco Vestick of the United Steelworkers.

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Note that these two asbestos workers, member.! of Local 32, are. wearing personal air samplers (ree arrows) while c'!tting asbestos board. ~

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. In co.=enting on the course, Jack Novak said, "One of the most impor· tant aspects of it was that, not. only were health hazards clearly described, but we were told what 't~ do about them. And this included not only on the shop Roor and at the construction site, but in the state legis· lature-and even in Congress."

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~~~ INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

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IIHRP meets with Local 12 on Health and Safety; (L to R.) Dr. Nicholson, Dr. Kay, Mr. Holaday, Dr. Heimann, Mr. Haas, Dr. Selikoff.

..-______ SPECIAL ISSUE, _____ ~

First Union-IIHRP Meeting on Health and Safety

Health hazards among insulation workmen are now recognized and underst(}Qd. They are related to dusty conditions in the industry. Research in the past two years has provided much information on how these conditions can be controlled or eliminated ..

Determining these facts, however, is only one side of the coin. Correctj:ng the situation is at least as important. To do this, review of the problems and consideration of remedies by all concerned "'ill be helpful. Accordingly, a series of meetings in various parts of the country has been organized by the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers at which engineers and scientists of the IIHRP are meeting asbestos workers and contractors to analyze what can and should be done now to make this important industry safe for the men who work in it.

The first such meeting was held in New York City July 8, 1971, with members of Locals 12 and 91. Representatives of area contractors were also in attendance. Because of the broad interest of the questions covered, highlights of the discussions are published here. Mr. Nick Lucich, President of Local 12, opened the meeting •

Nick Lucich: It was good of all of you to come tonight. It was good of the Local 91 members to come. I see contractors iIi the audience. We are pleased to welcome them.

We know whal Dr. Selikoff stands for. We know that since the Doctor came into the act, the widow of any boy who passed on was able to get some compensation and those of us with crippled lungs could also be taken care of.

We know what he has done in trying to clean up the trade. We're going to hear something about that

tonight. I thp.nk you all for coming. Doctor, I turn the meeting over to you.

"Especially Worthwhile"

Dr. Irving f. Selikoff: Thank you, Nick. This meeting to review health and safety practices can be especially worthwhile. Weare at the crossroads on the journey to a safe work environment.

Hence this review and discussion can be most effective in providing guidelines for future action by the

Irving J. Se/ikoff, M.D., Program Director


Insulation Industry Problems Can

Be Solved Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program and by you, the union memo bers directly involved.

On the platform with me tonight are the members of our occupational health and industrial hygiene group. Dr. Harry Heimann was formerly Chief of the Division of Occupational Health of the U. S. Public Health Service.

Uranium Mines Hazard

Duncan Holaday is our senior industrial hygienist, and was in charge of the Western Field Station of the Public Health Service. He is well knov;n. for his important w.ork in defining the health hazard to uranium miners on the Colorado Plateau.

Dr. Kingsley Kay came to us from the Government of Canada to whom he was Chief Scientific Con~ultant. Finally, Dr. William Nicholson is a physici.st who joined the IIHRP two years ago and has been coordina'ting most of the activities in the program.

Tonight we will be discussing the practical-practical in the sense that we will review what should be done, and what can be done. There have been serious problems in the insulation industry, but I am confident they can be solved. There are several reasons for my optimism.

Reasons for Optimism

The first reason comes from a review of the data in Table L L117 men of Locals 12 and 32 were' examined and X-rayed. Of the 34<> men who worked less than 10 years in the trade, only 10% had any change characteristic of asbestosis on their X·rays, and these changes were smalL

Even in the 10-19 year group, few changes were of serious consequence. In other words-what causes lung scarring takes a long time and requires much dust.


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VoL 3, No.3 Fall 1971

from the


Editor: W. J. "'Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. SeIikoff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of t~e City University of New York, New York, N.Y. 10029


Irving J. Selikoff, M_D. Program Director and Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y_


Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Development, Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

George W. Wright, M.D. Director of Medical Research, S1. Luke's Hospital, Cleveland, O.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work.

2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

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Dr. Selikoff with Andy Haas. "We will see that work on health and safety con· tinues," Mr. Haas said.

(Continued from first page) Therefore, today's . disease is the

result of practices of 20, 30, or even 10 years ago. Work conditions then, in terms of dust, were bad. On many jobs they are still bad. But, just for that reason, we can look 10 great improvement.

There is a second reason for optimism_ Just as there is much room for improvement, much has been found that can signiEcantly reduce the dust exposure.

The Unpleasant Facts

However, before we go to the prac· tical solutions, let's look again at the problem, the data which point to the need for urgent correction of conditions. The facts are not pleasant.

Briefly, the facts are these. There were 632 men who were

members of Locals 12 and 32" on January), 1943. Knowing each man's age in 1943, we could calculate from standard mortality tables how many of the 632 should have died by Dec. 31, 1962.

The calculations were made by our colleague and co-worker, Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond, Chief Statistician and . Epidemiologist of the American Cancer Society.

From all causes, 203 dea'ths were

expected of those who had reached 20 years of work. In fact, there were 255. In addition, seven men died be· fore reaching this "time of risk."

More than 50 men died who should not have died. Looking at Table II, we can see the causes of these "excess deaths": 45 died of cancer of the lung, trachea, and pleura where only six or seven were expected; 12 died of asbestosis although none should have died; and three times as many died of cancer of the G. 1. tract as were expected.

Results of continued observation of the 370 men still in the locals on Jan. I, 1963 up to 8 days ago, June 30, are shown in Table III. They represent a catastrophe. They have changed the entire course of our research.

No Dust, No Disease It is no longer enough to get ad

ditional health facts. Nor is it of primary importance to determine exactly how asbestos acts on cells or proteins and enzymes in the body.

In a situation in which one of every Eve dea·ths is due to lung .cancer ana almost three in ten' to gastro-intestinal cancer, mesothelioma or asbestosis, correction of the conditions is far more urgent, because "no dust, no disease".


Tabl .. 1 X-roy Changes in Asbestos Insulation Workers

Onset of % % Asbestosis (grade) Exposure (yrs.) No. Normal Abnormal 1 2 3

40+ 121 5.8 9:4.2 35 51 28 30-39 194 12.9 87.1 102 49 18 20-29 77 27.2 72.8 35 17 4 10-19 379 55.9 44.1 158 9 0

0-9 346 89.6 lOA 36 0 0

1,1 I7 51.5 48.5 366 126 50

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5 Ways Cement Dust Can Be Controlled

(Continued from second page) This is the direction the Insula

tion Industry Hygiene Research Program has taken.

I would like Dr. Nicholson to list some of the results of that program before we open the floor to a discussion of any problems and questions you may want to raise.

Dr. William J. Nicholson: Since most of you will have kept up with the progra~ through our reports in the ""reen sheet in The Asbestos

o • th Worker, I will only mention e maj or sources of dust and solutions that have been indentified to control those sources.

How to Control Dust

The mixing of cement, either in pails or in 'troughs, is one of the dustiest operations. It can be controlled by in-bag mixing in plastic bags.

Dust collectors on band saws can do wonders. Collectors can even be attached to powered rotary hand saws or saber saws.

The use of a downdraft cutting table can significantly reduce dust when using an ordinary hand saw.

Calcium silicate block and pipe covering can be coated with a thin plastic film to reduce dust during blocking operations. Comfortable, disposable respirators have been developed for use in circumstances where complete dust control is not practical.

How To Prevent Spread

The use of drop cloths, plastic bags and vacuum cleaners to collect waste will prevent the spread of asbestos throughout the construction site.

These are solutions that are practical. They can be implemented with a minimum of additional expense. If followed, they can reduce to at least

one tenth the dustiest exposures of insulation workers.

(There followed a demonstration with slides a.rul photographs of the various practices which lead to dusty conditions, and for which remedies have been worked out. Many of these .l:.c:ve appeared in the Insulation Hygiene Progress Rep<Jrts.)

Dr. Selikojj: These things can be done. Bul I suspect that less than full implementation of these procedures has taken place.

Is the Letter Correct? The other day I received a letter

from a member of your Local. It states that many employers pay

only lip service to health and safety. Few respirators are available, and they only cheap ones. Cement in plastic bags is never used because of the few pennies extra cost. The letter closes with the comment, "Only forceful legislation coupled with stiff fines will help. The $ still reigns supreme."

Is this correct- If so, what should we do?

Bill Fitzgerald: You can get a respirator from most contractors. I wear a respirator. But we don't know which are approved and which aren't. We don't know which are the best to wear. What is the s'tory?

Dr. Selikojj: Three years ago every ll;sbestos worker in the country was asked about his personal use of respirators - and their suitability. The results showed that only 4% of the men always wore respirators even when they though't the job was dusty.

The Problems Reviewed There were good reasons for this.

Available respirators were uncomfortable, hot, and interfered with breathing or vision.

Table 2

Expected' and Observed Deaths Among 632 Asbestos Workers

Exposed to Asbestos Dust 20 Years or longer (1943-19621

Expected

203.5 36.5

6.6 9.4

20.5

Observed

Total deaths: all causes Total cancer: all sites Cancer of lung, trachea, pleura Cancer of stomach, colon, rectum Cancer all other sites combined Asbestosis . All other causes

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255 95 45 29 21 12

148

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Table 3

Mortality experience of 632 members of IAHFIAW, Locals 12 and 32

January 1, 1943 to June 30, 1971

Cause of death

Lung cancer Pleural mesothelioma Peritoneal mesothelioma -Gastro-intestinal cancer All other cancers

Total cancer = 188 Asbestosis All oj}er causes

Num- Per ber cent

85 20.0 7 1.6

20 4.8 40 9.3 36 8.4

32 7.7 205 48.2

425 100.0

In 1968, Mr. Hutchinson and I visited the Public Health Service. We then reviewed these problems with safety equipmen't manufacturers in a series of meetings.

The last meeting with nine manufacturers was held on October 9, 1969, at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Disappointed with the then slow progress in preparing new models, the IIHRP undertook independent development of respirators and filter materials, in cooperation with J ohnsManville's Research Laboratory.

Following the 1969 meeting, the Bureau of Mines began developing criteria for single-use disposable respirators. These criteria may be published this summer.

Standard For Protection

Duncan Holaday Was appointed chai=an of the 288.3 Committee of the American National Standards Institute which has written a standard for respiratory protection against asbestos dust.

So, while the road to a comfortable, effective respirator has' been long, it appears that we are nearly there. And Duncan Holaday has been the skillful guide we've followed.

Duncan A. Holaday: The basic problem with respirators is that anything worn on the face is, ill some degree, uncomfortable. Reusable ("standard") respirators, approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines for protection against asbestos under its old schedules, have been available for many years.

Individual Fitting

The common types all have a halfmask face piece and should be individually fitted to insure a proper seal to the face. Because of the small filter area, they have relatively high

(Continued on fourth page)

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Bill Fitzgerald asks: "Which respirators are the best to wear?"

(Continued from third page) resistance to breathing, which is particularly objectionable to men who may have impaired lung function.

They require maintenance (filter change, cleaning, strap replacement, etc.) to insure continued proper functioning. Unfortunately, maintenance programs are very difficult to operate in construction work and, for practical purposes, do not exist_

For these reasons, we have been working with respirator manufacturers to develop single-use respirators which can be discarded at the end of the shift. A new approval schedule has had to be promulgated for these new appliances, since their like has not been tested before by the Bureau's respirator service.

At least three man ufacturers are working to produce such respirators and one of these has a device approved under the old schedule.

New Respirator Schedule Due

The other two should be available shortly after the Bureau of Mines publishes its new schedule for disposable respirators. We have been told that it will appear in Julybut I won't guarantee this date.

The cost per day of the singleuse respirators should not be any more than the cost of operating a maintenance program for re-usable respirators.

Frank Brady: You show in the green sheet one that looks like a surgical mask .. How much protection does that give?

Duncan Holaday: Surgical masks cannot be relied on for good protection_ They are not designed to filter out fine particles and 'the face seal is highly variable. They are better than nothing, though.

The respirator shown in the green sheet was not a surgical mask, even

though it may have looked like one. That particular respirator is made of a high-efficiency material 'which provides good protection.

Glasses Get Fogged

Don't confuse lightness (for comfort) with flimsiness.

Frank Suraci: What good are any of these maSks to anyone who wears glasses? In five minutes your glasses are all fogged up.

Duncan Holaday: With a good face fit, this would not be so much of a problem. Anti-fog dope is available at safety supply houses. I have used this and find it helps to prevent fogging.

Fitting respirators is an important part of a respirator program and should be done by an experienced person.

Several to Choose From

Several respirators should be available for selection, as no single model face-piece will fit all men.

R..udy Perich: I bought a mask. It seemed secure on my face. I took it home and found a spoonful of block iri it.

George Boylan: What do you mean by a good face fit? How does a man know if he has one?

Duncan Holaday: For reusable respirators, one can take off the filter cartridge, cover the inhalation orifice with the hand and breathe in. If you have a proper fit, you will not get any air.

A single-use respirator is harder to test. If the iit is bad, leakage 'will usually occur around the nose; here, if you blow hard, you can feel warm air at your eyes.

Having another man make a quick inspection of your respirator will also help.

Let's Get Back to Cleaning Up The

Workplace Nick Lucich: It all boils down to

the fact that we already have three masks that can do the trick for liS,

light and comfortable. Let's get them on the job_

Dr. SelikofJ: Right, Nick. But remember-although respirators are valuable, they are no substitute for safe work practices. Let's get back to i-;'-

cleaning up the workplace. Nick Buratovich: We know the

effects of the dust. We are now at the point of desperation. I will take the responsibility of picking out a mask. It is wonderful to know that we can get over 90% protection_

Does Water Affect K-Factor?

In 'the past, we saw a lot of dust and we did some 'things to try to control it. One of them was to take a block and dump it into a 50-gallon drum filled with water.

I was told that this was not to be done because it would affect 'the k-factor of the' block. Is this true?

Dr. Nicholson: A very brief wetting would not affect the k-factor, although a more extensive soaking could. But there is a better solution to this problem. '

Frank Suraci: Is there a way to reduce the dust on the block before it goes to the field?

Dr. Nicholson: Yes, the same result that Nick Buratovich achieved by wetting can be obtained by the use of a plastic or wax coating on . the block, applied by the manufacturers. No manufacturer uoes this at this time, although Johns-Manville has developed ,;pne process that is suitable.

Coating Must be Mandated

The problem comes, in getting every manufacturer to apply a coating. No one company wants to do it alone because of the extra cost of ' the product. It must be mandated by ~."'::>';,oiIJ!"',;!II agreement or regulation and its use , required by asbestos workers_

Art Boylan: Why not have state .. ' inspectors give citations for dusty, conditions? They give citations for

(Continued on fifth page)

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Frank Brady: "How much protection?"

(Continued from fouth page) faulty ladders or other safety hazards. Why doesn't the state come into the picture?

Dr. SelikofJ: I once asked each man in Locals 12 and 32 how many times he himself ·had seen a dust inspection on the j ob_

The more than 1,100 men asked had had over 4,500,000 work days of experience. Eight dust counts had been seen from 1915 to 1963.

Ralph Drinkard of Local 25 recently asked 75 men in Detroit whether 'they had seen inspectors take dust counts on the job. Not one had.

6 Men to Check 120,000 Places

The fact is, the states just do not have the manpower to provide effective inspection. For example, in New Jersey at this time, there are six industrial hygienists in the Department of Health responsible for the conditions in 120,000 workplaces_

It's not surprising that no inspectors are seen.

We need a specified set of procedures required by law or by union .agreement. Then you men yourselves must help do the job of policing. The Great White Father in Washington, or Albany, or Springfield, or Austin, or Boston has lots of other things to do, and doesn't get to them all. If a job doesn't have safe equipment or safe materials, you are putting yourselves at risk.

We "\'till all have to work at getting the safe materials; equipment, and procedures required.

We've Come aLong Way

I'm ready to join you any time in meeting with federal, state or local officials to establish appropriate regulations. With the new Occupational Safety and Health Act, this would be

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a good time to do it. Ton:z. Viscovich: In the past, no

one knew of approved respirators. We have come a long way.

Let me move on to another field where respirators probably cannot help-that is adhesives. I've read where kids sniffing glue have had brain tumors, some kinds of cancer, and kidney damage. What is the effect on us of the adhesives and the glues that we use?

Dr. Kingsley Kay: Organic solvents are used in most adhesives_ These chemj.cals act primarily as anesthetics causing central nervous system depression manifested by visual disturbances_ mental confusion, fatigue, nausea;' vomiting, difficulty in locomotion, and, finally, if concentrations are high enough, unconsciousness.

Workers Made Accident Prone

Naturally, the exposed worker who is affected by 'these substances becomes potentially accident prone.

As enzyme systems in the body respond to the insult of these materials by augmenting their destruction, adaptation is frequently experienced.

Nevertheless, this adaptive mechanism has its limits, beyond which the basic toxic nature of such solvents begins to take effect.

Another aspect of the inorganic solvents is their effect in defatting skin and interfering with lipoproteins of the mucous membranes.

In heavy concentrations, pulmonary effects may ensue. They are usually irritating to the eye, and corneal damage is always a possibility. Cirrhosis of the liver and kidney damage may also occur in excessive exposure.

A special reference should be made to the interaction of many

George Boylan: "What is a good face fit?"

Frank Suraci: "What about fogged glasses?"

organic solvents with drugs and alcohol. It is well known that solvents and alcohol interfere with each other's metabolism.

As a result, normal intake of alcohol may result in increased effects due to reduction in the normal rate of alcohol metabolism, caused by the solvent.

Workers continually exposed to solvents should have special medical advice where drugs have to be taken.

Apart from 'the solvents, some high polymers and additives used in adhesives can be sensitizing to produce skin reactions and asthmatic attacks.

Interaction With Asbestos

It will be understood that workers who· experience adverse effects using adhesives should have continuing medical supervision_

Tom Viscovich: What is the interaction of solvents or the polymers with asbestos?

Dr. Kay: It is not known whether solvents, high polymers and additives commonly used in adhesives interact with asbestos in its action on the lung. Obviously, materials that affect 'lung tissue stand a chance of intensifying each other's action.

Most adhesives are intended for use under conditions of good ventilation. What seems to happen is that they are frequently used in whatever conditions exist on the job-for as long as the men caD. stand the exposure.

Everyone's Responsibility

When labels call for good ventilation, the employer should provide adequate equipment_ It is surely everyone's responsibility to ensure working conditions appropriate to the precautions on the products handled.

Tom Babich: There are so many (ContiTULed on sixth page)

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Nick Lucich~ "Let's get them on the job!"

(Continued from fifth page) solvents, We feel like we're involuntary guinea pigs. One time the boss accused me of being drunk. I was weaving all over the floor and he said, "Have you been drinking?"

"No, just smelling this stuff."

A dhesives V ary Widely Are ·there any adhesives we can

use that are less toxic than others? Dr. Kay: Adhesives are generally

formulated for a particular job, so the ingredients vary widely. Virtually all the materials in use today contain organic solvents.

Though there are some differences in the toxicity of different organic solvents, switching solvents is a less satisfactory answer than good ventilation.

Frcmk Suraci: Proper ventilation is not practical. It is not the fault of the employer, nor ours. It is just not practical on a construction job.

Duncan. Holaday: I hesitate to accept the statement that it is impossible to .. ventilate areas where adhesives are being used. I agree that it is diffi cult.

Difficult, But it is Done The U.S. Department of Labor

regulations covering shipbuilding and ship repair require that ventilation be used for all surface coating work in enclosed areas. Ships have many compartments which are hard to ventilate, but it is done.

Similar regulations should apply to all construction work.

The Department of Labor regulations published in the Federal Register, April 17, 1971, which apply to all federally assisted construction work, state that exposure of employees to inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption or contact with any material or substance at a concentration above those specified in the "Thresh.

More Than 70 Kinds of Fibrous Glass Used in Insulation

old Limit Values of Airborne Con· taminants for 1970" of the American Conferel)ce of Governmental Indus· trial Hygienists shall be avoided.

The Ducts Problem It will require some ingenuity and

work to control vapors of adhesive solvents-but it is possible.

Ray Ryder: Ducts are another area of the problem. We have a problem in this city with ducts lined on the inside with :fibrous glass and I don't know anyone who ",rill guarantee that the glass will never enter the air stream.

The use of this stuff is new and its effects haven't yet showed up in

Nick Buratovich: "We're at the point of desperation,"

pipe coverers. The State won't change the specifications.

Doctor, what can you do to have a study made of the hazard of this material?

Dr. Selikoff: The problem is potentially an important one. There are more than 70 different kinds of fibrous glass used in insulation products. They are different in size and have different chemical compositions.

Tests on Animals To evaluate each would be an im

possible task. We have tested three different kinds in animals. Nothing happened with two, but the third produced cancer.

Moreover, fibrous glass is manufactured with a variety·· of binders, resins, and oils, the biological effects of which are unknown either alone or in conjunction with fibrous glass.

In addition, the effects of the glass you inhale today will probably not

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become evident for more than 20 years, just as with asbestos.

No one suggests that glass particles in your lungs are good for you, and since recent studies by Dr. Cooper have shown that air contaminated by dust from fibrous glass insulation materials contains fibers fine enough to enter the depths of the lungs, these materials should be used only in such ways as to keep them from being inhaled.

New Air Pollution Code

A similar problem occurs with sprayed plenums used for return air. Here asbestos, rock wool and other materials are in direct contact with a building's air supply.

In New York City we have not been allowed to analyze air in buildings in which this has been done. We may be able to do this when the City Council passes a new air pollution code.

Tom Viscovich: Doclor, one thing seems funny. Men in their forties and :fifties are dying of lung cancer. But those in their si:>..'ties and seventies die of something else. What is the reason for this?

Started Smoking Young

Dr. SeZikofJ: Your observations are very sharp, Tom. The answer is that lung cancer is strongly associated with cigarette smoking, especially in asbestos workers.

Not many men in the United States began smoking cigarettes until after W orld War I, and those that started did so while young. We are

(Continued on seventh page)

Tom Viscovich: "What's the effect of adhesives?"

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Reducing Dust Levels is Key to The Whole 'Problem

(Continued from sixth page) now seeing the result.

The young men who began smok· ing cigarettes in the 20s and 30s are now coming down with lung cancer after 20, 30 or more years; the older non-smokers do not.

In fact, asbestos workers who smoke run more than 90 times the risk of dying of lung cancer than men who neither smoke cigarettes nor work with asbestos do.

Pete AlpJWno: You say one out of five died of lung cancer. Was there something special with them?

The Key to the Problem

You mentioned the association with smoking. Is there something else we can do to prevent disease? Dr. SelikofJ: We have discussed prevention of disease by reducing the dust levels. This is the key to the problem.

However, this will be of most benefit to those now entering the industry. Of equal importance is the question of what can be done for those who have been in the industry 10 or 20 years or more. Here, too, we have some optimism.

1. Asbestosis can be delayed or minimized by reducing dust levels; we talked about that.

2. Since smoking greatly increases the incidence of lung cancer, switch to a pipe or cigar, if you have to smoke at all. Only a small effect on health has been found from either.

3. With respect to dust already in the lungs, research at Mount Sinai is being conducted on how to inactivate ·that dust. A chemical has been found that will inactivate silica dust already in the lungs. We hope to do the same for asbestos. Dr. Robert J. Schnitzer in our laboratory has discovered some chemicals 'that inactivate asbestos in test tube experiments, and animal' studies are noW under way.

4. Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of chest or abdomen, has never been cured. Almost 10% of the deaths of insulation workers are from this disease.· Research now being done at Mount Sinai, and the estab-

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Pete Alphano: "What can we do to prevent disease?"

lishment of a treatment center there, give rise 'to hope. We are testing new drugs and new treatments. Some success has already been achieved, both by Dr. William E. Smith in our animal research laboratory, and by our chemotherapy team for patients. This is now one of our research priorities. A cure must' be found to help men who get this disease in the 1970s and 1980s, even while we con'trol dust exposure, and prevent future cases, in the 1990s.

Nick Lucich: Cases of mesothelioma were so rare in the past that

Tom Babich: "Are any adhesives less toxic?"

Ray Ryder: "Ducts are another problem."

when a pipe coverer got it, it was something special.

What is the number of cases today?

Dr. Selikoff: The first modern report on mesothelioma came from Mount Sinai Hospital in 1931, written by two of my teachers, Dr. Paul Klemperer and Dr. Coleman B. Rabin. In the next 30 years we saw only three cases. That's how rare it was in the past. .

In the last eight years, however, we have had more than 25 cases, many from Locals 12 and 32. Because of its association with asbestos, mesothelioma is now compensable as an industrial disease. But this is small consolation. Compensation IS

no substitute for a man's life!

Studies Being Continued Ray Ryder: If a man comes down

with cancer of the llmg, is there any chance of similar problems developing in his wife or children?

Dr. SelikofJ: This is a worry to us. Dr. Muriel L. Newhouse in London found cases of mesothelioma in family members of asbestos workers. Presumably, this was from the dust brought home by the worker on his clothes.

We have been looking at the problem here in New York. So far, fortunately, the data look reassuring. We are continuing these studies.

I would advise, nevertheless, that work clothes always be changed before going home. Dr. Victor Baden

. of our staff has taken samples of dust from the air in the houses of

(Continued OlL eighth page)

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(Continued from seventh page) pipe coverers. Asbestos and glass fibers were found.

Pete Alphano: JM has a cement that contains no asbestos. I think Carey also has one. Is there any problem with these cements?

Dr. SelikofJ: We don't really know. They all contain mineral material that has no business being in a man's lungs. You should use the same care with them as with the asbestos ceo ments ..

Non-Asbestos Cement il} Plastic

Mix them in plastic bags. I know .of two manufacturers. Johns-Manville and Ryder Industries' of Dallas, who sell non·asbestos cement in plastic bags.

George Semonovich: To summarizetonight's meeting, it is clear that we need

1. good housekeeping, 2. dustproof materials, 3. muscle to demand that action

be taken. It remains for us now to get this

done. Will we get any help from the Occupational Safety and Health Act?

Dr. Harry Heimann: The new Occupational Safety and Health Act is a good one and, if adequate money is appropriated by Congress for the law's implementation, all workers, including asbestos workers, could expect to benefit from it by a marked reduction in accident and sickness resulting from their occupations.

First Come, First Served

However, it looks as if funds appropriated will be much less than are needed for proper implementation. As a result, it will be a matter of first come, first served.

For 'this reason, the union rank and £Ie must begin to exert pressure in the right places, so that the funds are used to benefit their own safety and health.

Incidentally, Senator Williams and Representative Daniels, who introduced and' strongly promoted the Bill, are from New Jersey. They, and the congressmen and senators who supported them, deserve much credit.

The bill contains the provision that standards for harmful physical agents, such as asbestos will assure "That no employee will suffer material impai=ent of health or functional capacity even if such employee has regular exposure to the hazard dealt with by such standard for the period of his working life."

Jack Novak: "The workplace must be made safe for pipe coverers."

"Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."

Whether this will come true or Hut will depend on how Labor and Industry meet their responsibilities, on what you do. .

Jack Novak: It was interesting to hear the data on the number of state inspections. Asbestos workers have had to tc>.ke care of themselves in the past and, if necessary, we will in the future.

Now We Need Action!

The Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Safety and Health Regulations for Construction can give us some of the muscle we need.

. Rudy Perich: "Problems with respira· tors."

But if these new acts are not properly enforced, we ourselves ·will see that the results of the IIHRP research get into the workplace.

One thing is certain-the workplace must be made safe for pipe coverers.

Andy Haas, General SecretaryTreasurer : You all know President Hutchinson's view on health and safety and how he has done so much, as has the entire Executive Board, to eliminate the severe hazards from our industry. Research is under way and much has been discovered. It is now necessary to have action, to get a safe workplace.

The asbestos industry National Health and Safety Fund has been slow in getting off the ground, but I can assure you that we will see that action on health and safety proceeds, and rapidly.

It's just too important to our members for it to stop.

SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS

FOR CONSTRUCTION

The following regulation is applicable to all federally funded construction (Federal Register, Vol. 36, page 7349, April 17, 1971):-

"1518.55 Gases, vapors; fumes, dusts, and mists.

(a) Exposure of employees to inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or contact with any material or substance at a concentration above those specified in the "Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970" of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, shall be avoided.

(b) When engineering or administrative controls cannot be employed to reduce or eliminate the exposure, protective equipment, as required in Subpart E of this part, shall be used."

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O\Jt<T 51;'"

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~l~ INSULATION HYGIENE .PROGRESS REPORTS

°lOFM'i;.Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Dust produced by use of an unventilated band saw. Without the back lighting used here, much of the dust would not be visible.

Cutting pipe with band saw equipped with high·velocity, low·volume exhaust system. Compare absence of any air· borne dust with that shown in uncontrolled cutting (picture left.)

Shipyard Procedures Guide Helps All Insulation Men

The Winter 1970 issu~. of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports announced a joint effort by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, the U.S. Navy, the Department of Labor and insulation manufacturers and contractors to control , . shipyard asbestos dust exposures.

As part of that effort, Duncan A. Holaday and William B. Reitze of the IIHRP prepare<! a procedures guide for shipyard insulation application and removal. Because of its relevance to all insulation work, portions of it are given in this issue of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports.

A complete report was presented by the authors ar the International Symposium on Safety and Health in Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing, at Helsinki, Finland, on August 30, 1971.

by Duncan A. Holaday

and William B. Reitze

The general goal in all insulation work should be to maintain a clean environment.

Measurements of concentrations of asbestos fibers ("dust counts") in the atmosphere can be used to identify sources of contamination and to point out deficiencies in control methods. Primary reliance for control of exposures, however, must be placed on faithful observance of operating rules.

Control of Asbestos-Containing Dusts by Use of Substitute Materials Substitution of materials contain

ing reduced proportions of asbestos or no asbestos at all, is becoming more common in ship construction. Before ·a material is substituted for asbestos, however, two questions must be carefully considered: a. Has the substitute material been

tested? 1£ not, it may turn out to be of the same or greater hazard than the material of known hazard. This sort of thing has hap-



Here Are Some of Many Ways to Reduce Dust

pened in other environmental situations.

b. Does the new material meet engineering specifications and will it perform adequately under conditions of use?

Materials containing reduced amounts of asbestos have been used in the following applications:

a. Blanket and pad filling Substitution of the proper types of other pad fillers not only reduces asbestos dust during fabrication and installation but also tends to lessen the problems during subsequent "rip-out". Additionally, asbestos cloth which has been treated with a dust suppressant is available and its use should also be encouraged. There are reports that much less dust will be produced.

b. Pipe covering and block Serious consideration should be given to those products containing lower amounts of asbestos fiber. Several British firms have introduced asbestos-free calcium silicate block and pipe covering. To date, however, this material has not been adequately evaluated in the United States to determine how it will perform in use.

Reduction of Du~t by Changes in Work Methods

a. Mixing Asbestos Mortar This operation has usually been done at the job site. While the time spent in mixing is quite short, considerable dust is produced. A tested method of control is to mix the mortar dockside under controlled conditions and package the mixed mortar in several containers for transportation to the job site.

Mortar is also available packaged (Continued on second page)

(,



from the


Editor: ·W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D.,

Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Sellkoff, M.D., Director); 'Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, New York, N.Y. 10029


Irving J. Selikoif, M.D. Program Director and Chairman

E. Cuyler HaTIlIDond, Sc.D., Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y.


Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Development, Johns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of 'these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their. universal adoption.

:.

Procedures Used at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

(Continued from first page) in several sizes of plastic bags which have a spout through which water is introduced. Sufficient wa· ter is added to moisten the mortar; after premixing, the bag is opened and the remaining water added. The carton in which the bag is packaged may serve as a mixing box and waste container.

b. Pre-cutting.pipe covering and block in the fabrication shop Hand-cutting of pipe covering and block should be kept to an absolute minimum.. Bend sections, pipe cover lengths, and blocks, should be cut in the fabrication shop on exhaust-ventilated equipment.

How the Navy Does It

At the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, cut sections are dipped in water and then packed in plastic bags which are labeled to identify the location where they are to be used. The cut sections are still damp and relatively dust-free when they are applied and the plastic bags are available for use in collecting wastes.

c. Pre-scoring blocks Insulation blocks should not be scored at the job site. Blocks which have been pre-scored by the manufacturer can be purchased, or standard blocks can be scored in the fabrication shop by

.'

....;;...;;,;;;=== ........ High temperature mortar packed in plastic bag. Water is added to bag through spout and mortar moistened before opening. The moistened mortar is removed as required and mixing completed in shipping container. All wastes are placed in container and sent to disposal at end of shift.

using an exhaust-ventilated gang saw.

d. Insulating pipe assemblies in the shop Some pipe assemblies are quite intricate and are troublesome to lag while jn place. A satisfactory method of doing these jobs, particularly during ship repair, ·which is employed by the Puget ~ ~ Sound Naval Shipyard, is to re-move the assembly in conveniently sized sections and transport them to the shop. Here the old insula-tion is remoyed, any necessary repair of the pipes performed, and the ·assembled section relagged.

Relag in the Shop Not only is dust dispersion reduced, but it is much more convenient to re-Iag the section in the shop than when it is in place shipboard. Any insulation which is damaged during transport and fitting is repaired after the sec· tions are in place.

e. Hand-cutting at job sites Some hand-cutting at job sites is unavoidable. However, dispersion of dusts by these operations can' be minimized. A portable dqwndraft table is used by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. This table has folding legs so that it can be carried down companionways and set up conveniently to the work. A small industrial vacuum cleaner is the source of exhaust. Scrap is dropped into a plastic bag and a·


Procedure used at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for handling bend sections. Sections are cut in fabrication shop, dipped in water and placed in plastic bag. The bag is then labelled with the job·site description.

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Dampening fibrous glass blanket filler before cutting. Note lateral draft hood in which fabrication is done.

(Continued from second page) drop cloth is placed on the deck under the equipment.

f· Fabrication of Pads and Blankets Pads for valves and machinery should be fabricated in the shop whenever possible. Amosite has been largely replaced by fibrous glass filling with covers of an asbestos cloth which has been treated with dust suppressants. As an effective means for suppressing dust dispersion and collection, the fibrous glass blanket is unrolled, dampened and rerolled. This procedure insures that all the blanket will be dampened. The blanket and asbestos cloth shapes are cut in the lateral draft booth.

g. Housekeeping and Clean-up Essential parts of a dust control program are housekeeping and clean-up procedures. Meticulous attention must be given to reo stricting the spread of dust and larger wastes. Use of a drop cloth under a work area vividly illustrates how much waste would be distributed over the general area or to lower decks if one were not used.

Areas should be cleaned up at the lunch break and the end of each shift, using an industria.! vacuum cleaner to collect dust and small scrap.

In all possible instances, workmen should clean up their own areas. Where work rules prohibit this, the clean·up crew should be under L~e direction and supervision of the insulation foreman to insure that proper attention is given to this important subject.

Reduction of Dusts by Use of Local Exhaust Ventilation

a. Ventilation of Large Power Tools-Band Saws Extensive use of band saws both in dockside fabricatiOI)_shops and, on board larger ships such as aircraft carriers make emissions from band saws a major source of asbestos dust. Control devices for such saws have been known for years and are relatively sim· p~e. Conventional low·velocity, l:u;:!::'·volume systems, using a negative pressure baghouse for air cleaning, are practical in a fixed installation fabrication shop. Because some degr~e of portability is desirable in a temporary shipboard fabrication area, a high-velocity, low·volume dust collection unit IS desirable for

Portable down·draft table developed by Puget Souncf Naval Shipyard for use shipboard. Lightweight industrial vac· uum cleaner is used as the air mover. Note plastic bag for scrap and drop·· cloth on deck.

such use; it may also be suitable for fixed installations. The air mover is an industrial vacuum cleaner which pulIs about 50 cubic feet of air per minute past the saw blade at velocity of more than 10,000 feet per minute. This system is a very efficient dust collector. Units such as this can also be designed to control dusts pro· duced by table saws and gang saws.

b. Ventilation of Hand Power Tools High·velocity, 10~v"lolume collec· tion systems control dust emissions from most small power tools adequately. Saber saws for cutting pipe covering and rotary

saws for cutting asbestos cement board are well controlled with these systems.

Control of Number of Workmen Exposed

a. Scheduling Work

of Insulation

~tandard industrial hygiene practlces call for insolating operations which contaminate the atmosphere with toxic materials. Areas where insulation work is beino- done under conditions in whi~h dust might be created should be isolated by non-flammable curtains or other means. Whenever possible, work should be scheduled to minimize the numbers of other tradesmen in the area. Ship construction operations are more read~ly scheduled than are ship repaIr or ship-breaking jobs. However, every effort should be made to keep the number of men exposed at a minimum. In particular, rip·out of old insulation should always be isolated and, if necessary, performed on an offs~ift. Trained' workmen supplied WIth proper protective equipment should always be used for rip·out work and it should be scheduled for rapid completion.

Personal Protective Equipment In addition to dust suppression and

dust control procedures, personal protective equipment is often necessary to reduce exposure and limit the spread of contamination. The equipment described below is used in control programs. a. Protective Clothing

Protective clothing is required to keep contamination confined to the work areas. One method is to issue disposable coveralls which can be removed when leavino- the (Continued of! fourth page/,

Use of dropcloth to contain wastes and facilitate clean-up.

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A small industrial vacuum cleaner being used by a Local 62 asbestos worker for clean-up_

(Continued from-third page) work area or some time prior to entering the locker room and placed in plastic bags for disposal.

Resin Impregrwled Paper

A satisfactory type of protective clothing consists of resin impregnated paper coveralls. These are inexpensive and rea·dily disposable. They prevent spreading contamination to laundries and eliminate pilferage. They are worn for one shift, then removed and placed in plastic bags for disposal with other asbestos-containing wastes.

b. Respiratory Protective Equip~ ment Occasionally some operations generate so much dust that it is virtually impossible to maintain satisfactory atmospheric concentrations of asbestos fibers and respiratory protection must be provided to the workers. A variety of respiratory protective equipment is available from which devices suitable for various situations can be selected_ American

. National Standard Z88_3-1971, Safety Guide for Respiratory Pro-tection Against Asbestos-Containing Dusts (obtainable from American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10018) should be referred to for detailed information.

Invisible Dust

It is emphasized that unsatisfactory amounts of respirable dust can be present in the air even though conditions are not visibly. dusty.

1. Air-supplied Respirators Extremely dusty jobs, such as ripout of old insulation where dust concentrations are very high, require use of ·air-supplied respirators which will deliver c1eflIl, dust-free air to a facepiece or hood. Two general types are available: air-line and self-

Saber saw equipped with high-velocity, lo ....... volume exhaust system.

powered. a) Air-line respirators in which air .is supplied to a hood, helmet or facepiece give the greatest degree of protection. Air is fed to the facepiece from a compressed air-line. The air source must be located in an uncontaminated area and if the source is not specifically designed for breathing purposes, a temperature sensing alarm must be installed on the compressor or a carbon monoxide monitoring device must be installed in the air-line.

Disposable Hood

Anti-freeze compounds should not be used iri the compressor system; .water vapor must be removed by dessicant and oil mists removed by a filter. A plastic, disposable hood has been developed by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for situations where a very high degree of protection is required. This hood and other similar ones are available commercially. The airline should be fastened to the hood with a quick-disconnect :fitting.

Self-powered Respirators

b) Air-line respirators connected to a compressed air supply 14nit movement, and this limitation can be troublesome. Self-powered respirators do not impose such limitations, but they do add to the equipment the workman must carry and they also require careful maintenance.

2. Particulate-filtering Respirators There are several types of particulate-filtering respirators. Those with a half-mask facepiece are considered most suitable for use by insulators. Only those approved for protection against asbestos dust by the U. S. Bureau of Mines should be used. These devices are recommended for use in situations where the atmospheric concentration of asbestos fibers is at relatively low levels. All the recommendations for res-

pirator-fitting, training of workmen and maintenance, detailed in Z88-3-1971 should be followed.

a) Reusable particulate-filtering respirators A variety of reusable particulatefiltering respirators are available_ To insure proper fitting, several different makes should be avail-able from which the \\;orkman can select one. No one model respira-tor facepiece will fit all faces. Routine maintenance is absolutely necessary to replace clogged filters ". and leaking inhalation or exhala-tion valves. Unmaintained respirators produce a false sense of .~ ,; security.

Maintenance Troublesome

b) Disposable particulate-filtering respirators Operation of an adequate respirator maintenance program can be troublesome and, if only a few men are involved, impracticaL Disposable respirators are available which are designed to be worn for no longer than one shift and then discarded_

Education and Training No dust control program can be effective unless worh."1Ilen and supervisors understand the hazards associated with the jobs, the sources of the hazards and the reasons for following recommended procedures carefully. Understanding is only obtained by education of personnel and training in correct operating procedures. For an education and training program to be successful, both management and labor must be concerned and participate. As with all s-afety programs, it is essential that first-line supervisors be interested in and cooperate in the work.

The harmful effects of neglect of procedures for controlling asbestos dust are not apparent for many years. Therefore, it is more difficult to convince workmen and supervisors of. ~ the necessity of following rules for ~. ~ working with insulating materials than if more obvious physical haz- _ ~ ards were involved_ " .... Education in hazards associated with use of insulating materials and instruction in correct work practices should be included in apprentice' training programs.

PHOTO CREDITS: Pg. 1, I.I.H.R.P.; pg. 2, Ryder Industries and Puget Sound Naval Shipyards (P.S.N.S.); p. 3, P.S.N.S.; pg. 4, I.I.H.R_P, and P.S.N.S_

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e\.lt<TSi-v

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o{OFtJ>~Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Mr. Howard Forrest cutting pipe covering in test of new, economical dust _ collector (far left.)

N OW Available: An Effective Economical Dust Collector

An effective, economical dust collector is new available for use with band saws, other powered equipment, and fer general cleanup.

Environmental tests made on it at the Howard Forrest Co. factoryT Heusten, Texas, demonstrated the efficiency 'Of the system. In these tests,

. made during the cutting of five-inch diameter pipe covering, airborne asbl!stos levels remained well below the new emergency standard for airborne asbestes dust.

High-Velocity Collector The measurements were made in

an enclosed area designed te represent a typical fabrication shop.

All measurements, taken at various locatiens in the room and in the breathing zene 'Of the saw operator, showed dust levels to be less than 1 fiber/milliliter (longer than 5 microns) during 50 cuts on the material over a 10-minute peried of time.'

The collecter developed by Howard Forrest is of the high-velocity type. It gains its effectiveness by establishing an air stream along the saw blade

having a velocity several times that of the blade. As this air stream is directed to the collector, virtually all asbestos debris is carried along ..

To Sell For Less- Than $400

For the past two years, following earlier tests that showed this collection method to be especially effective (reported in Vol. 1, No.4 of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports), all Forrest saws have been equipped with an inlet pipe to which a high-volume collector ceuld be attached.

What is un~que about the Forrest collector is the low cost. It is designed te sell for less than $400, a fraction of the cost of a small band saw.

From three separate tests made by IIHRP staff members, and from the results of similar tests supplied by contractors, it is clear that power band saws can be effectively ventilated. In all cases where efficient collection systems have been installed airborne asbestos levels have remained below 2 fibers/ milliliter during operation.


Vol. 4, No.1 Spririg 1972

Labor Department Sets Asbestos

Standard An emergency standard for con

trolling occupational expesures to asbestos was announced by the Department of Lab.or on Dec. 7, 1971.

Acting under the provisions of the Vlilliams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the Labor Department established a limit of 5 fibers (longer than 5 microns) per milliliter 'Of air fer the time weighted average concentration of airborne asbestos to which a worker may be exposed. (See page 4 for details). Certain' provisions of the emergency standard are of particular importance to insulatien workmen and contractors. It is now mandatory that asbestos cements and mortar be mixed in closed bags, that all waste be disposed of in sealed containers, and that vacuum cleaners be used for cleanup.

Standards Long Urged

Tests by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program of the use of plastic bags for the mixing of cement have demonstrated their feasibility. In-bag mixing can reduce atmospheric dust levels to 1/10 that found when the cement is dumped in a trough or tub for mixing.

It is expected that such procedural requirements will be expanded in the_ permanent standard which must be issued before June 7, 1972.

Procedural standards have long been urged for adoptien by the IIHRP. The use of plastic mixing bags, dust collectors en powered toels, adequate cleanup, down-draft cutting tables, and coated asbestos block all reduce workers' dust exposure

On Jan. 12, 1972, the Department of Labor published in the Federal registe~ a proposed permanent standard for asbestos dust. This publication is the first step in the process of adopt-ing a final standard. Written and oral __ ---\ cemments have been solicited _ bv t~-- \

(Continued on. l-·-- - J

:'£iCIZA

-- .


Vol •. 4, No.1 Spring 1972

from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D.,

Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University cif New York, New York, N.Y: 10029



E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y.

Albert Hutchinson, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.c.

Fred 1. Pundsack, Ph.D. Viae President, Research and Development, J ohns-1'1anvilIe Corporation, New York, N.Y.


I.N:tiUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGMM


2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied . advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

_"'~r •. ,,-~ .. -~-~.: --.

Four Single-.U se

Respirators to

Choose From In this issue of Insulation Hygiene

Progress Reports disposable respirators from four companies are described. Each of these will provide useful respiratory protection for asbestos workers during virtually all insulation work. Spraying of asbestos, !1cnVF:ver, or removal of old insulation will require air-supplied respirators. . The emergency standard promul

gated by the Department of Labor requires respiratory protection when certain airborne dust concentrations are exceeded. See Section (a) of the Standard (page 4 of this issue).

When to use a Half-Mask Type For atmospheres containing not

more than 25 :fibers per milliliter (greater than 5 microns in length) over an 8-hour average, or more than 50 :fibers per milliliter over a period of 15 minutes, a half-mask respirator approved under Schedule 21B of the Bureau of Mines or a valveless respirator providing equivalent protection shall be used.

The four respirators shown here satisfy the criteria of the emergeny asbestos standard. In addition, a Bureau of Mines Schedule for valveless respirators will soon be published. In preliminary tests, each of these respirators met the standards of that schedule or of Schedule 2IB.

These Require No Maintenance To obtain the respirator info=a

tion shown here, all respiratory equipment manufacturers were invited to submit descriptions of their single-use respirators for t1;lis issue. Four responded and we print their replies.

Single-use respirators were developed for the specmc purpose of making available protective devices which do not require maintenance. They are intended for use during one shift or one day and are then to be discarded.

To be eifee<tive, however, they must be properly fitted and worn in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The variety of respirators shown here will allow a workman to choose the type that is most acceptable to him and best fits his face.

Initially, local safety equipment supply houses may not have these respirators in stock. However, purchasing arrangements can be made by writing directly to the manufacturers.

How Makers In alphabetical order, here are de

scriptions of available reopirators, as sent to us by their manufacturers:

AMERICAN OPTICAL CORPORATION

The AO R1050 respirator will utilize a :fibrous :filter. element of large area to insure both a low resistance to breathing and a large storage capacity for retained dust particulate.

A malleable metal frame attached to the periphery of the :fibrous :filter element will pe=it the respirator wearer to shape the element to :fit his face.

A soft gasket composed of a cIosedcell plastic foam attached to the periphery ·of the :filter element will seal the respirator to the wearer's face.

The respirator's head harness consists of two loops {)f elastic strapping attached to the respirator's periphery at four separate points (two points on each side of the .r:espirator).

One loop of the head harness is positioned around the back of the respirator wearer's head, above his ears, while the other loop is positioned below his ears.

The respirator will be introduced to the market as soon as it has been approved.

M. A. Bousquet Product Manager Respiratory Protection American Optical Corp. Southbridge, Mass. 01550

, "...,...""'. ""' .... =s ... _"',.""., ... _:!iS. ......... ~ .. ·IF...-.:-t.~'f~~!1l' .. ~:;'<!3l!!!EII!!I!!~· ~"''''''.j'''.='''. :r-...;::., .. _ ...... ____ ~ •. ~ -.. ~

)escribe their Various Respirators

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MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING

The MMM No. 8710 is a low-cost (S.50) single-use valveless respirator which has been tested extensively in the laboratory and in the fielc.

It was field-tested by insulation workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wa.shington; at the Todd Shipyards in Seattle, Washington; at the World Trade Building in New York City; and at various other construction locations.

It is also being used in the Apprentice Training School of Local 17 in Chicago. All field tests have shown overwhelming acceptance from a comfort standpoint.

The MMM No. 8710 is currently available on a test basis, only, but production is being expanded as rapidly as possible and it should soon be available in most parts of the country. It will be distrib~ted through Safety Supply Distributors.

Curtis A. Thorpe ldarket Supervisor Occupational Protection Products 3M Center St. Paul, Minnesota 550101

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SAFELINE PRODUCTS CORPORATION

The new. single-use valveless dust respirator to be marketed by Safeline Products will be identified as the Safeline 5350 Single-Use Dust Respirator.

It will be equipped with a fibrous filter unit of exceptionally large area, so that it will have a very low breathing resistance and will not be plugged rapidly by retained dust particles.

It will contain a formable metal frame attached to the outer edge of the illter unit which will allow the user to shapi the illter unit to fit his face. A soft gasket made of a closedcell plastic foam attached to the outer edge of the illter unit will ~eal it to the face.

The respirator will be equipped with a simple head harness composed of two loops of elastic strap. Lengths of the straps are such that they will insure the respirator is properly sealed to the face and yet comfortable to wear, whether the user has a small or large head.

The ends of the elastic straps of each of the two head harness loops are attached at separate points of the respirator to insure that the respirator is properly balanced .on the user's face. This respirator will be marketed after it has been approved.

_0 ••

George L. Cochrane Sales Manager Safe1ine PlOducts Box 550 Putnam, Connecticut 06260

THE WELSH MFG. COMPANY

The Welsh 7165 is a compact, easybreathing, disposable respirator for dusts. It is unusually compact, and yet has a large filter area for outstanding efficiency and ease of breathing.

Economical: The 7165 is inexpensive enough to throwaway ·daily.

Bureau of Mines approved: Meets the stringent Schedule 21B.

Company and wotker acceptance: Extensive field testing has brought approval from major U.S. companies and from workers.

Easy fit: The 7165 is soft, nonirritating, and conforms readily to the face. A soft aluminum band may be formed to nose and cheek contours for a positive seal. In addition, fully adjustable head bands provide good respirator-to-face contact without undue pressure.

Compatible with safety glasses: The compactness, light weight (less than 2 oz.), and the contoured fit allow safety glasses and goggles to be worn comfortably.

Day-long comfort: The large, wraparound filter, and low inhalation and exhalation resistance give a constant circulation of' air. Cleaned, cool air comes in through the filter. .Hot moist air goes out through the exhalation valve.

Welsh Manufacturing Co. 9 Magnolia Street Providence, R. I. 02909 Phone: 401-351-3400

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Excerpts .from The New l).S. Asbestos Dust Standard

The New Emergency Asbestos Dust Standard"published in The Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Labor includes the following;

(a) The 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentration of asbestos dust to which employees are exposed shall not exceed 5 fibers per milliliter greater than 5 microns in length, as determined by the membrane filter method at 400-450X magnification (4 millimeter objective) phase contrast illumination. Concentrations above 5 fibers per milliliter, but not to exceed 10 fibers per milliliter, may be permitted up to a total of 15 minutes in an hour for up to 5 hours in an 8-hour day.

(b) Engineering methods, such as but not limited to, enclosure, vacuum sweeping, and .local exhaust ventilation shall be used to meet the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section. Where such engineering methods are not feasible, or do not otherwise reduce the concentrations below those prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section, respiratory protective devices shall be provided and used in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.

[Paragraph (c) deals with respiratory protection, respiratory maintenance programs and conditions under which specified types of respirators must be used. The main impact of the section for asbestos workers is made clear in the story on page 2, column 2, of this issue.]

(d) (1) When an employer has employees who are exposed to asbestos dust exceeding the limits preScribed in paragraph (a) of this section and the exposure results from the operations described in the remaining subparagraphs of this paragraph (d), the employer shall comply with the requirements of these subparagraphs relating to the operations involved. The requirements of this paragraph are in addition to those prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) All hand- or power-operated tools which produce asbestos dust such as, but not limited to, saws, scorers, abrasive wheels, and drills shall be provided with local exhaust ventilation and dust collectors in accordance with the American National Standard Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exh-aust Systems: ANSI Z9.2-1971.

(3) Employees exposed to the spraying of asbestos or the demolition of pipes, structures, or equipment covered or ins).llated with asbestos shall be provided with respiratory protective devices in accordance with paragraph (c) (4) of this section.

(e) Asbestos cement, mortar, coatings, grout, and plaster shall be mixed in closed bags or other containers.

(f) Asbestos waste and scrap shall be collected and disposed of in sealed bags or other containers.

(g) All cleanup of asbestos dust and blowing shall be performed by vacuum cleaners. No dry sweeping shall be performed.

Labor Department Consults Both Labor and Industry

(Continued from first page)

Labor Department and the final standard will take notice of these.

To this end, hearings will be held on March 14, 1972, in Washington, D.C., at which labor, industry and other interested parties can supply information relevant to the final standard.

Commenting on the new emergency standard, Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Direc-

tor of the IIHRP, praised the Department of Labor for promptly acting on the request of labor unions and establishing an emergency standard for asbestos dust.

"The recognition of the occupational hazard of asbestos and the specification of safe means for its use is extremely important," he said. "We have here a good beginning, but much more must be done to establish a safe environment for asbestos workers."

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Workers Played'a Maj or Role in New Standard

The Asbestos Workers Union, the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, and industry played important roles in the promulgation of the new emergency asbestos standard and in demonstrating the need and feasibility of some of its provisions.

The effectiveness of plastic bags for mixing cement was first published in Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports (Vol. 2, No.1). Adequate cleanup and housekeeping have long been advocated.

The need for an effective single-use respirato.r was first emphasized by President Hutchinson of the Asbestos Workers Union to the U.S. Public Health Service as long ago as 1968. Tests Made by Various Locals

The current availability of these respirators and their acceptability for use in the new emergency standard has followed extensive work by the 11 HRP, respirator manufacturers, and the Johns-Manville Corp., which developed the first prototype of a disposable respirator.

Field testing of different respirators by a number of locals of the Asbestos Workers Union was especially useful in achieving suitable respirator design.

Of particular importance has been the cooperation of Local 12, in New York, and Local 32, in New Jersey, in participating in a health study of asbestos workers by Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

This research, along with a related industrial hygiene study of the work environment of Asbestos workers in the New York and New Jersey area has indicated that a serious health hazard exists in the insulation industry at dust levels of 12 fibers/milliliter, the Threshold Limit Value effective before publication of the emergency standard. Drive for a Permanent Standard

In fact, there is question whether the currently proposed emergency standard of 5 fibers/milliliter is adequate. (See Vol. 3, No.2 for a discussion of this question.)

In a continuing drive to assure a safe permanent standard, both the staff of IIHRP and President Hutchinson of the Union will appear to testify in the hearings required before promulgation of a final standard, to present data pointing to an appropriate standard.


O\ll'lT Sl,y

~,~ INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

.0 ,,0 °l OF tJ>,-Q


of The City University pi New York

Extensive Hearings Held on Asbestos

Standard At hearings held by the Department

of Labor from March 14 through March 17, an asbestos dust standard of 2 fibers (longer than 5 microns) per milliliter was proposed as an 8-hour time weighted average by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and by the Department of Labor's Advisory Committee on Asbestos Dusts. (A milliliter [ml] of air is about a thimbleful.)

Additionally, a short-term IS-minute ceiling of up to 10 flml was proposed as long as the 2 fI ml 8-hour average was not exceeded.

The current emergency standard for asbestos promulgated on Dec. 7, 1971, is 5 flml for an 8-hour day wit'h five 15 minute peaks of 10 flml permitted during a working day.

StrIcter Standard Urged

Support for reducing the standard to at least 2 flml was given by four members of the staff of the IlHRP, by labor union representatives, by various medical personnel, and by a goveIT\ment official from Great Britain who discussed the British adoption of a 2 flml goal for asbestos work.

IIHRP testimony was submitted by the program director, Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, and by staff members, Dr. William J. Nicholson, Dr. Kingsley Kay, and Duncan A. Holaday.

This testimony included documentation of the severe disease experience found with occupational exposures to asbestos.

Evidence was cited that among one group of insulation workers, for example, of those who died, one in 5 died of lung cancer, one in 10 of gastrointestinal cancer, nearly one in 10 of mesothelioma, one in lOaf other cancers, and almost one in 10 of asbestosis. Approximately 40% of these deaths were attributed to occupational exposure to asbestos.

The research of the IIHRP on the (Continued on third page)

r

Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Director Vol. 4, No. 2 Summer 1972

Francis Perez of Mount Sinai's Environmental Sciences Laboratory some of the more than 10,000 replies received by. the IAHF1AW survey of dust counts observed in contruction work.

analyzes on their

Asbestos Workers Survey Shows Few Dust Counts

Asbestos dust counts are seldom done in the construction industry.

This is the conclusion of a survey made by the In.ternational Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers of all its members.

10,000 Insulation Workers Reply Over 10,000 replies were received

by the Asbestos Workers Union to a questionnaire .asking details concerning dust counts seen on construction jobs during 1970 and 1971 by its members.

The replies received to date represent over 4,000,000 man-days of work. During this observation time, only 247 dust counts were seen, nearly half of which were in shipyards.

Few Dust Counts Seen The results have been analyzed ac

cording to local and state. Table I gives the detailed results by region and type of construction.

Type of construction

Table I Man-days

per dust-count

United States Commercial 26,600

6,570 Shipyard

Commercial Shipyard

Canada 11,050

8,400

Only one in forty asbestos insulation workers saw even one dust count on the job, during 1970 and 1971. This was less than one dust count per day, on the average, for the U. S. and Canada in these years.

These results, demonstrating the limited surveillance of asbestos dust levels in the construction industry, are understandable in terms of the limited number of personnel available to the Department of Labor and the state departments of health.


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from the



Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Director) ,. Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, NE;.w York, N.Y. 1002<)





Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Development, J ohns-ManviIIe Corporation, New

York, N.Y.




2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of' dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

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Andrew T. Haas Duncan A. Holaday

Haas and Holaday Worked on Proposed Standards

General Secretary Andy Haas of the Asbestos Workers Union was· appointed by Asst. Sec. of Labor, George C. Guenther, as one of five members of the Department's Advisory Committee on Asbestos Dusts. Additionally, Duncan A. Holaday of the IIHRP served as one of three Review Consultants on Asbestos to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NlOSH).

The Advisory Committee prepared recommendations regarding the proposed asbestos standard for consideration by the Department of Labor.

Other members of the Committee included Edwin Hyatt of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Dr. Joseph Wago.ner of NIOSH, Jack Baliff of the State of New York Division of Industrial Hygiene and Issac Weaver of Raybestos-Manhattan Corporation.

Major Recommendation

The major recommendation of the majority of the Committee was to propose a time weighted average standard of 2 fI m!. In this recommendation, Mr. Baliff and Mr. Weaver dissented, stating that a 5 flm] standard would be adequate.

Other provisions of the standard

considered respiratory protection devices, protective clothing, work practices, warning labels, monitoring and records, and medical surveillance.

Special concern was expressed by Andy Haas over the confidentiality of medical records. As proposed by the Advisory Committee, only government physicians and medical consultants and physicians designated and authorized by the employees shall have access to the medical records.

Procedural Standards

As a Review Consultant to NIOSH, Duncan Holaday recommended adoption of extensive procedural standards to reduce the need for constant surveillance by inspectors in enforcing the proposed standard.

He also· urged that a series of manuals detailing recommended practices for controlling exposure to asbestos be produced. The manuals would cover shipyard work, general construction, and various factory operations.

These manuals could be produced by a committee composed of labor, management, and government representatives. (Such a manual for shipyard work was described in Vol. 3, No.4 of Insulation Hygiene Progress Xeports.)

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Government Agencies Act to Protect Building Air

-A Jacob Novak, of Local 12 presents awards to Harold Romer (right) and Morris Stoltz (left) of the Department of Air Resources of New York City.

Harold Romer and Morris Stoltz of the New York City Department of Air Resources have been given awards for their efforts in controlling spray fireproofing operations in New York City ..

The awards were presented on March 21, 1972 by Jack Novak, International Vice-President of the Asbestos Workers Union on behalf of the NYC Building Trades Council.

In the presentation ceremony, Novak cited the Department of Air Resources officials for their diligence in enforcing regulations to prevent the dissemination of spray material throughout construction sites, into the city's air, and into the air streams of public buildings.

New York City Set the Example

In 1970 New York City took the lead in the nation and promulgated stringent regulations controlling the application and use of sprayed fireproofing material. (See Vol. 2, No.2 of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports.)

Subsequently, on Feb. 25, 1972, the use of asbestos in spray fireproofing was prohibited in New York City.

Other cities and states that have also banned this procedure include Phila-

delphia, Boston, Illinois and New York. A similar ban is in proposed regulations of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Of importance in the early New York regulations was a provision which remains in effect for all sprayed inorganic material. It requires that any insulation material within a plenum or duct be coated with a sealant to effectively prevent exposure of the mineral material to the circulating air of the building. if the possibility of erosion into the air exists.

Clean Air in Buildings

Harold Romer of the Department of Air Resources emphasized the importance of such measures. "Indoor air pollution is of special concern to us," he said.

",\\'e want to assure that nothing is introduced into the air of public buildings by the air supply system. We know very little about the long term effects of the many materials now being used. New York citizens should not be used as gUinea pigs. to find out."

In addition to the use of spray mineral fiber in lining the return air plenums Of buildings. the question of the use of fibrous glass for lining aIr supply ducts has been raised.

Hearings on this procedure have been held in several states. One took place on March 2, 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia and another on April 21, 1972 in Memphis, Tennessee.

At the Georgia hearing, Dr. Irving J. Selikoff expressed concern for the possible long range health effects of fibrous glass in human lungs.

He cited the recent experiments of the National Cancer Institute which indicated that fibrous glass, if broken into sufficiently small fibers, can cause cancer in animals. (See story on third page for details of the NCr study.)

He pointed out, however, that such effects had not been identified in humans, and that studies on this question were needed.

Data obtained by the IIHRP which demonstrated that erosion of fibrous glass did take place in some ducts were presented at both the Georgia and Tennessee hearings.

Additionally, the finding of fibrous glass in lung autopsy specimens of New York residents was described.

Industry representatives testified at each hearing that the use of fibrous glass lined ducts was safe and stated that by using proper materials and with proper installation, the fibrous glass would be sealed off and erosion into the duct air stream prevented.

They also cited the absence of data indicating a serious toxicity to humans from the various uses of fibrous glass that have occurred in the past.

Monitoring Staff is Limited

(Continued from first page) At this time the Department of La

bor has approximately 350 safety officers and only 45 industrial hygienists available to monitor over 4,000,000 workplaces.

It is contemplated that this force will be raised by July, 1972 to a maximum of 440 compliance officers and 60 industrial hygienists.

Dr. William Nicholson of the IIHRP pointed to one of rhe ironies of the present consideration of whether an asbestos standard should be 5 flml or 2/ml or lower. "If the dust concentrations are infrequently measured, peak concentrations will be missed and average exposure exposures impossible to determine accurately."

"The most feasible alternative, especially in construction work, is the reliance on procedural standards. These can be 'monitored' by the workmen involved and do not require constant vigilance by a monitoring inspector."

Caution Essential In Use of All Insulation Material

With the promulgation of the emergency asbestos standard, insulation materials containing no asbestos are being used mQre extensively. Substitution of less toxic materials is a standard procedure for reducing health hazards. In certain instances, it has been effective.

Often, however, substitutes may only be less toxic and not non-toxic. Indeed, some can, in the long run, be found to be· equally or even more toxic. Thus, careless use of material, the safety of which has not been demonstrated, can prove hazardous.

Uncertain Toxicity

Here, special concern exists with the increased use of insulation materials made of polyurethane foams. These products have a variable composition, and often contain a variety of fire-retardants, the toxicity of which has not been determined for use in conjunction with polyurethane.

In recent animal experiments conducted at New York University,~ rats exposed to dusts produced by grinding or sawing a polyurethane foam developed both lung cancer and emphysema.

These experiments are only preliminary. The effects seen in animals may not occur in humans, and ·they may not occur with other types of polyurethane. Still, they do give pause.

Moreover, the addition of fire-retardants gives rise to further concern for possible health effects. At times, materials, having low or moderate toxicity in pure exposures, when combined, produce a highly toxic combination.

That some polyurethane insulation products are extremely dusty has been demonstrated in on-the-job tests conducted by the IlHRP in cooperation with Local 32 of the Asbestos Workers Union.

In the absence of demonstrated safety of a particular product, the above results and considerations would indicate that special care be exercised to minimize the inhalation of any dust from these materials.

Concern for Small Fibers With respect to fibrous materials

ether than asbestos, data recently reported by researchers at the National Cancer Institute' also dictates caution.

In this work, five varieties of fibrous glass were ground to short fragments

and applied to the pleura of rats. All five produced mesothelioma, although not as extensively as three varieties of asbestos. The finest fibers seemed to be the most toxic, in these experiments.

The NCI scientists concluded that the carcinogenicity of asbestos and fibrous glass (in their animal experiments) appeared primarily related to the structural shape of the materials rather than to their physiochemical properties.

This conclusion could have relevance beyond the scope of asbestos or fibrous glass. It suggests that all insulation products containing inorganic fibrous material, should be used with proper precautions, until more is known about the health effects in humans. Often, such effects are not seen for 20, 30, or more years.

In commenting on this situation, Dr. 1. J. Selikoff, Director of the IIHRP, stated, "We have learned that proper engineering procedures will allow asbestos to be used safely.

"These valuable techniques, developed by capable industrial hygiene engineers, should also be utilized during the application of other insulation material having uncertain toxicity."

1 Sidney Laskin et al., in Assessment of AirBorne Particulates; Edited by Mercer; Published by Charles G. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1972 .

• M. F. Stanton and C. Wrench, Mechanism of Mesotbelioma Induction witb Asbestos and Fibrous Glass; Journal of tbe National Cancer Institute 48, 797 (1972).

HOW TO GET A HAZARD EVALUATION

Section 20(a) (6) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act provides for health hazard evaluation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. A union representative may request such an evaluation by NIOSH On a form obtained from:

U. S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Division of Technical Services

Hazard Evaluation Services Branch

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Different Views on Standard

(Continued from first page) work environment of the asbestos insulation workers was described in which it was found that the time weighted average exposure level during recent years was about 6 Jlml while these men worked with asbestos.

As more than 50 % of the insulation ,:orker's time is spent applying matenals other than asbestos, a 2 flml average for the eight hours wo'rked could easily be achieved in insulation work.

Because of the limited prospects for surveillance of the many workplaces using asbestos, especially those in the construction industry, procedural standards were urged by the IIHRP staff, :to supplement the "number standard" being considered. Industry View

The lowering of the asbestos standard, to below 5 flml, was, however, contested by industry sources as being excessively costly and u=ecessary.

Clifford Sht::ckler, speaking for the National Insulation Contractors Association and the National Insulation Manufacturers Association, stated that to meet even a 5 U ml standard in the thermal insulation industry would be prohibitively costly.

Other industry sources, including representatives from Certain-teed Products, Union Carbide, the American Asbestos Textile Corporation, and Raybestos-Manhattan, stated that a 5 flml could be met. Dr. F. L. Pundsack, Mr. J. B. Jobe and Mr. H. B. Moreno, J ohns-Mansville vice-presidents, stated that the proposed warning label for asbestos products was inappropriate and unnecessarily destructive to the industry. They also claimed that 5 fI ml was feasible but that implementing a 2 flml standard presents engineering and economic problems which would shut down shops and result in . substantial unemployment.

Dr. George Wright, a medical consultant to J-M declared that 5 flml was a safe level for chrysotile asbestos exposures. In support for this p0-sition, he emphasized the results of a study sponsored by the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association of the health experience of Canadian chrysotile asbestos miners.

Details of this study were supplied during the hearings by Dr. J. C. McDonald of McGill University who believed that a 5 flml limit would provide adequate protection for chrysotile asbestos miners.

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Workers, Scientists Hold 3 Talks on Health Hazards

On July 14 fuo'ugh 16 three meetings were held by west coast locals of the Iriternational Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbes-tos Workers. .

In Long Beach, San Francisco, and Seattle insulation workers and ·their wives, as well as Contractors, state and federal government personnel, and members of other shipyard ·and construction locals met to hear Dr. !n>i.'lg J. Selikoff, Dr. WIlliam J. Nicholson and Mr. Duncan A. Holaday discuss some of the results of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Re~ search Program. .' .

IAHFIA W members were present from locals in Los. Angeles, Long Beach, San FranciscO, Portland, SeattJe, Spokane, Bremerton, Anchorage, and VaiJ.couver, B.C:·...... .

The health hazards ·of insulators were documented by Dr. Selikbff who described the adverse Irlortality experience of the entire ASbestos Workers' Union membership in the U •. S. and Canada. The especially high risk of lung cancer among cigarette smoking insulators was emphasized.

Dr. Nicholson described some of the past work practices that were especially dusty and discussed some of the provisions of the new Asbestos Standard issued by the U. S. Depart-

ment of Labor. Duncan Holaday described numer

ous techniques and materials, developed by the IIHRP and others, that would reduce asbestos workers' dust exposure to a minimum.

Much of the material in these formal presentations has been presented in Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports. Because of the Widespread interest in these topics, a selection of

. material from the discussion periods is published.

Bill Lewis, Local 5: At this time, right now, can you prove that :fibrous glass is hazardous to your body in any way, shape or form?

Dr. Selikoff: We do not know enough about the effects of :fibrous glass in humari beings at this time. The effect of dust. in the lungs usually takes at least 20, 30, or more years to be seen. Asbestos workers didn't begin to wo.rkwith glass until the second World War and not extensively until the 1950's. The health experience of :fibrous glass will be seen in the 1980's and 1990's.

While we do not know what it will do in humans, some animal 'experiments at the National Cancer Institute give us concern. Five varieties of :fibrous glass were tested in animals.


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New U.S. Standard for Asbestos

In All Industries The Department of Labor promul

gated a standard regulating exposures to asbestos dust on June 7, 1972, which became effective on July 7, 1972. This standard supercedes the emergency standard which was issued December 7, 1971, and applies to all industries rather than to construction only.

The standard-• establishes permissible limits for ex

pOsure to airborne concentrations of asbestos :fibers;

• lists methods of compliance; • speci:fies when personal protective

equipment can be, or shall be, used and conditions of use;

• describes methods of measurement of atmospheric concentrations;

• establishes requirements· for moni. toring conditions; and also

• lists requirements for cautionary signs, cleanup, and waste disposal. The standard additionally requires

medical examinations of employees. Records of these examinations must be maintained and be made available to employers as well as the employee.

Records to ~e Kept Records of personal or environmen

tal monitoring also must be maintained and be available for inspection by employees to determine their own exposures.>

On several important issues the Department of Labor established previsions contrary to. those recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Department's own Advisory Committee on Asbestos Dusts. In each of these, the requests of the Asbestos Workers Union were rejected and the Industry position was judged preferable.

The permissible 8-hour time weighted average air concentration is 5 :fibers, longer than 5 microns, per cubic centimeter of air until July 1, 1976, when it will be reduced to 2


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Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports .

Vol. 4. No.3 Fall 1972

from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, N.Y. 10029


Irving J. Selikoff,'M~D. Program Director and .Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y.-

Andrew Haas, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost InsulatorS and Asbestos Workers' Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research' and Development, J nuns-Manville Corporation, New York, N.Y.

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PURPOSES OF THE' INSULATION .


1. To develop improved methods for _ niinimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fuInes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they m<).y be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

... _ ........... J_

Albert E. Hutchinson, 1911-1972

With the death on June 19 of Albert E. Hutchinson from cancer, the labor movement lost a unique individual. He was a man of unusual integrity, a most decent and devoted man. His early recognition of the health hazards of asbestos workers was followed by untiring efforts to improve work conditions for insulators. The national concern that led to ~he promulgation of an asbestos standard 17 days before his death is, to a large measure, the result of his efforts.

In a sense, Mr. Hutchinson's life spanned an important period in the insulation trade. "Hutch" became a pipecoverer in 1928 when he joined the Navy at the age of 17 and was assigned duty as a sailmaker's mate. 1928 was also the year in which pneumoconiosis was fully documented as a risk of asbestos exposure.

In 1939 he left the Navy and joined Local 9 at the Norfolk Naval.Shipyard. This was four years after we had our first infonnation that asbestos work could also cause lung cancer. On moving to the Los Angeles area, he continued working regularly as a pipecoverer until his colleagues in Local 5 selected him as Business Agent. This began his subsequent rise to the leadership of his union, with selection as International President in Chicago, in 1967, as its fifth president in almost sixty years.

Hutch's last year was spent helping to organize the campaign that he hoped would see pipecoverers in the future without risk or hazard. In one of his last official actions, he wrote to Secretary of Labor Hodgson asking that the Department of Labor arrange for at least one dust count for each employer around the country. Unfortunately, his request could not be granted.

We have made progress since 1928. Control measures exist that can limit the exposures of new men who enter the insulation trade. We are spurred, too, in yet another direction, to urgently develop methods to neutralize the dusts that are already in the lungs of pipecoverers, inhaled in the days of inadequate controls, in the 1930's, the 1940's, the 1950's, the 1960's. This research must be carried to a successful completion rapidly, so that all insulators will be able to ayoid diseas~ associated with excess dust. This achievement will be a fitting memorial to Albert E. Hutchinson.

We all-labor, industry, scientists, government--extend our heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Hutchinson and the Hutchinson family. We have lost a friend and a valuable ally in the battle to solve the asbestos problem.

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In Memoriam: With Thanks

The Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program wishes to acknowledge, with gratitude, numerous contributions received to date in memory of Albert E. Hutchinson.

From locals of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos workers:

1 7 9 11 12 16 18 19 24 26 27 28 35 42 46 47 52 60 64 73 75 81 88 95

110 131 132 134 From insulation contractors and other organizations:

The E. J. BarteIIs Company Robert A. Keasbey Company Sherman, Dunn, Cohen & Leifer Burnett-Noble Corporation Catalytic, Inc. P. S. Thorsen Co. Hinchliffe and Keener, Inc. New England Insulation Co. Twin City Industrial Insulation Con-

tractors Assoc. A & K Midwest Insulation Co .. Glen Slaughter and Associates . Carday Associates, Inc. Midwest Materials Co. Insul Coustic Division, Birma Prod. ucts Corp. Shook & Fletcher Insulation' Co." Boston Insulation ContractorS Assoc. Midwest Insulation Contractors Assoc. Johns-Manville Sales Corp.: .. " Central Contract Region, Johns~Man-

ville Sales Corp. - .

From Labor organizatiorls;. United Slate, Tile and Composition

Roofers, Damp and . Waterproof Workers' Assoc.

Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO Texas State Building & Construction

Trades Council International Union of Elevator Con

structors-No. 14 Building and Construction Trades

Council of Orange County Building and Construction Trades

Council of Greater New York International Association of Machin

ists and Aerospace Workers Wood, Wire & Metal Lathers Inter

national Union Midwest States Conference, Asbestos

Workers Laborers' International Union of

North America Sheet Metal· Workers' International

Association International Association of Bridge,

New U.S. Standard Applies to All

Industries (Continued from first page)

fibers per cubic centimeter. In addition, the standard states that no employee shall be exposed at any time to an atmospheric concentration exceeding 10 fibers per cubic centimeter.

The standard was written to cover all industries in which asbestos is used and thus contains provisions applicable to manufacturing plants, as well as construction.

The requirements for air sampling, for example, are much more meaningful for production operations equipped with dust collecting devices which have been shown to be adequate. In such circumstances conditions do not change rapidly and, if the equipment is properly maintained and operated, infrequent environmental surveys are sufficient.

In the construction industry the situation is completely different. Here conditions change not only from day to day but from hour to hour and air monitoring documents only the conditions that existed at the time the sample was taken.

Operational rules were suggested by the IIHRP and others for inclusion in the standard, and were designed to reduce peak exposures to dust. Most of these suggestions are contained in the standard, but they are advisory; not mandatory. Unless air sampling is done, they are not required.

AIl respirators must be approved by the U. S. Bureau of Mines or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Where re-usable respirators are used a respirator maintenance program must be established. Since it would be difficult for insulation contractors (except the largest ones) to comply with fuis provision, it is anticipated that only single-use respirators will be used in construction work. (For a description of such respirators, see Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports, Vol. 4, No. 1.)

Structural and· Ornamental Iron Workers

Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-Cro

AFL-cro From individuals:

Mrs. Joe A. Collins Mr. Carl W. Sickles Mr. & Mrs. D. R. Nobles and Family Mrs. Odile W. Hullinghorst Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Kelly Mr. Norman Pon Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Scott

Safe Practices May Depend on Workers

The promulgation of the asbestos standard on June 7 was an important action by the Department of Libor, as well as an acknowledgement of the existence of a serious health hazard to asbestos workers. We all owe a debt of gratitude to numerous individuals in the labor movement, in government, and in academic institutions who developed the evidence that demonstrated that asbestos standards were badly needed.

However, the regulations, as they now stand, may be of limited use in protecting insulation workers. The justification of a four-year delay in reducing allowable dust levels from 5 fibers/mI to 2 fibers/ml may be questioned. Of even greater concern is the apparent reliance on dust counts as a prelude to the enforcement of control procedures.

The siandard is couched. in interpretive ambiguities. Engineering controls and various clean-up operations need only be aplied "to meet e:rposure limits" or if it can "be reasonably foreseen that asbestos concentrations may

be excessive". This phraseology could create a situation in which no excess dust levels are foreseen, no dust counts taken, and no controls applied. Here, interpretation of the standard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations is of crucial importance.

An especially onerous prOVISIon is the requirement that records of physical examinations prescribed under the standard be made available to employers. This provision is untenable in the insulation industry today.

Good practices have been described. What is needed now is that they be mandated in the industry. Here, insulation workers, through their union, may have to take the first step by requiring safe materials and safe procedures in contractual agreements with employers. Such agreements, once obtained, could be adopted by regulatory agencies and applied to all contractors, union and non-union.

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.... Long Beach audience listens to results of Insulation Industry Hygiene Re

search Program

(Continued from first page) All five produced mesothelioma (see Table I) . In our laboratory three varieties were tested. One produced mesothelioma, while two did not.

These results are in animals. They may not apply to humans. But they do teU us to be prudent-to use fibrous glass wi~ care. It doesn't belong in your lungs.

Table I Incidence of pleural neoplasms

National Cancer Institute (1972)

AAA-C glass AAA-U glass Course glass Pyrex glass Glass wool

ChrysotiJe

% 18 12

4-6 4 4

58 George Hunt, Local 5: You have

been working on what causes asbestosis and how to prevent asbestosis. What have you found out about how to cure asbestosis?

Dr. SelikofJ: So far as treatment is concerned, there is, at this 'time, no way of reversing what exists. There is, however, much that can be done about treatment..

The first thing . is that we have now found . that smoking not <)DIy increases the risk of developing lung cancer tremendously, but it also, for reasons we don't really understand, causes increased lung scarring among asbestos workers. So the first thing you do is stop your cigarette smoking.

Secondly, smoking by itself sharply affects the functioning of the lung. As you know very well, people who smoke, but don't work with asbestos, get emphysema. Not all, but many do, and it may be enough to kill them. When you have asbestos in your lungs, you are subject to one kind of lung trouble, scarring. There is no reason to add a second kind of lung trouble, emphysema. So there are two very good reasons for not smoking cigarettes.

Thirdly, people who have asbestosis generally do not die from the scarring directly. What happens is the scarring decreases their lung reserve. They get along pretty well-pretty well for most things-until they get an ordinary bronchitis or a touch of influenza.

If I had ordinary bronchitis, I would be sick for one, or two, or three days and then would recover. However, because someone with as-

George Hunt, Local 5: Can you cure asbestosis?

bestosis has little reserve, even an ordinary bronchitis can kill him. Therefore, every single pulmonary infection in a man who has asbestosis has to be treated as an emergency, and treated vigorously.

Every Infection is Important With good treatment, you'll respond

well, come through the crisis, and be back on your .feet. But it is critical that you and your doctor know what you have and treat every lung infectionas an important thing.

Also, lung scarring may cause a strain on the heart, which has to pump the blood through the scarred areas. This is called "cor pulmonale". Doctors have many useful drugs to strengthen the heart in such circumstances and to keep it working at maximum efficiency. This is a good reason for pipe coverers to place themselves under the care of competent physicians, for regular surveillance.

Tony Mignano, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Depart-

ment of Labor: Is it possible to do exercises that will increase the capacity of lungs damaged by asbestos?

Dr. Selikoff: The answer is no. In fact, in some instances,it can be dangerous for a man with badly scarred lungs to do too much.

The reason is that the scarred lungs impede the circulation of blood, requiring the heart to work much harder to pump blood through those lungs. This can produce the type of heart disease called "cor pulmonale!'. To ask a man's heart to pump the extra blood needed during exercise through scarred lungs can be asking too much and lead to severe trouble. Ordinary activity or exercise is good for a person, but not peak exertions.

Much more important than exercise-and I hope I don't sound like a broken record-is to stop cigarette smoking.

The Annual Physical George Hunt, Local 5: If I go to

my own doctor and pay for a physical exam, do the results have to be given to my employer?

Dr. Selikoff: If the examination, by your own physician, is for the purpose of the annual physical required by the asbestos standard, the results of that examination must be sent to the employer.

However, any workman can go to his own doctor, for a personal examination, paid for by himself, and have the results remain entirely confidential. Only he would know: Such, however, is not the case with physicals conducted for the purpose of the standard..

Let me review this with you. It is specified by the standard that an annual physical be taken, including at least an X-ray and a breathing test.

(Continued on eighth page)

Bill Lewis, Local 5: Is fibrous glass harmful to humans?

r' .

u.s. Asbestos Standard-The Text Here is the complete text of the new standard for exposure to asbestos dust, as published in the Federal Register, vol. 37, No. 110,pp. 11320-11322, Wednesday, June 7, 1972:

§ 1910.93a Asbestos (a) Definitions. For the purpose of

this section; (1) "Asbestos" includes chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. bestos fibers longer

(2) "Asbestos fibers" means asbestos fibers longer than 5 micrometers.

(b) Permissible exposure to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers --(1) Standard effective July 7, 1972. The 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers to which any employee may be exposed shall not exceed five fibers, longer than 5 micrometers, per cubic centimeter of air, as determined by the method prescribed in paragraph (e) of this section.

(2) Standard effective July 1, 1976. The 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers to which any employee may be exposed shall not exceed two fibers, longer than 5 micrometers, per cubic centimeter of air, as determined by the method prescribed in paragraph (e) of·this section.

(3) Ceiling concentration. No employee shall be exposed at any time to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers in excess of 10 fibers, longer than 5 micrometers, per cubic centimeter of air, as determined by the method prescribed in paragraph (e) of this section.

(c) Methods of compliance-{lJ Engineering methods. (i) Engineering controls. Engineering controls, such as, but not limited to, isolation, enclosure, exhaust ventilation, and dust collection, shall be used to meet the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(ii) Local exhaust ventilation. (a) Local exhaust ventilation and dust collection systems shall be designed, constructed, installed, and maintained in accordance with the American National Standard Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Systems, ANSI Z9.2-1971, which is incorporated by reference herein.

(b) See § 1910.6 concerning the availability of ANSI Z9.2-1971, and the maintenance of a historic file in connection therewith. The address of the American National Standards In-

stitute is given in. § 1910.100. (iii) Particular tools. All hand-op

erated and power-operated tools which may produce or release asbestos fibers in excess of ·the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section, such as, but not limited to, saws, scorers, abrasive wheels, and drills, shall be provided with local exhaust ventilation systems, in accordance with subdivision (ii) of this 5uLr>aragraph.

(2) Work practices-(i) Wet methods. Insofar as practicable, asbestos shall be handled, mixed, applied, removed, cut, scored, or otherwise worked in a wet state sufficient to prevent the emission of airborne fibers in excess of the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section, unless the usefulness of the product would be diminished thereby.

(ii) Particular products and operations. No asbestos cement, mortar, coating, grout, plaster, or similar material containing asbestos shall be removed from bags, cartons, or other containers in which they are shipped, without being either wetted, or enclosed, or ventilated so as to prevent effectively the release of airborne asbestos fibers in excess of the limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(iii) Spraying, demolition, or removal. Employees engaged in the spraying of asbestos, the removal, or demolition of pipes, structures, or equipment covered or insulated with asbestos, and in the removal or demolition of asbestos insulation or coverings shall be provided with respiratory equipment in accordance with paragraph (d) (2) (iii) of this section and with special clothing in accordance with par~graph (d) (3) of this section.

(d) Personal protective equipment ~(1) Compliance with the exposure limits prescribed by paragraph (b) of this section may not be achieved by the use of respirators or shift rotation of employees, except:

(i) During the time period necessary to install the engineering controls and to institute the work practices required by paragraph (c) of this section;

(ii) In work situations in which the . methods prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section are either technically not feasible or feasible to an extent insufficient to reduce the airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers below the limits prescribed by paragraph (b)

of this section; or (iii) In emergencies. (iv) Where both respirators and

personnel rotation are allowed by subdivisions (i), (ii), or (iii) of this subparagraph, and both are practicable, personnel rotation shall be preferred and used.

(2) Where a respirator is permitted by subparagraph (1) of this paragraph it shall be selected from among those approved by the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, under the provision of 30 CFR Part fl (37 F.R. 6244, Mar. 25, 1972), and shall be used in accordance with subdivisions (i) (ii), and (iv) of this subparagraph.

(i) Air purifying respirators. A reusable or single use air purifying respirator, or a respirator described in subdivision (ii) or (iii) of this subparagraph, shall be used to reduce the concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers in the respirator below the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section, when the ceiling or the 8-hour time-weighted average airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers are reasonably expected to exceed no more than 10 times those limits.

(ii) Powered air purifying respirators. A full facepiece powered air purifying respirator, or a powered air purifying respirator, or a respirator described in subdivision (iii) of this 'subparagraph, shall be used to reduce the concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers in -the respirator below the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section, when the ceiling or the 3-hour time-weighted average concentrations of asbestos fibers are reasonably expected to exceed 10 times, but n~t 100 times, those limits.

(iii) Type "e' supplied-air respirators, contino us flow or pressure-demand class. A tyPe "cn continuous flow or pressure-demand, supplied-air respirator shall be used to reduce the concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers in the respirator below the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section, when the ceiling or the 3-hour time-weighted average airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers are reasonably expected to exceed 100 times those limits.

(iv) Establishment of a respirator program. (a) The employer shall es

(Continued on sixth page)

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(Continued from fifth page) tabIish a respirator program in accordance with the requirements of the American National Standards Practices for Respiratory Protection, ANSI ZS8.2-1969, which is incorporated by reference herein.

(b) See § 1910.6 concerning the availability of ANSIZ88.2-969 and

- the maintenance of an historic file in connection therewith. The address of the American National Standards Institute is given in § 1910.100.

(c) No employee shall be assigned to tasks requiring the us~ of respirators if, based upon his most recent examination, an examining physician determines that the employee will be unable to function normally wearing a respirator, or that the safety or health of -the employee or other employees will -be impaired by his use of a respirator. Such employee shall be rotated to another job or given the opportunity to transfer to a different position whose duties he is able to perform with the same employer, in the same geographical area and with the same seniority, status, and rate of pay he had just prior to such transfer, if such a different position is available.

(3) Special clothing: The employer shall provide, and require the use of special clothing, such as coveralls or similar whole'- body clothing, head coverings, gloves, and foot coverings for any employee exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers, which exceed the ceiling level prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(4) Change rooms: (i) At any fixed place of employment exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers in excess of the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section, -the:-employer shall provide change .roomS-for" employees working regularly at the. place .. "

(ii) Clothes lockers: The employer shall provide two separate lockers or containers for each employee, so separated or isolated as to prevent contamination of the employee's street clothes from his work clothes.

(iii) Laundering: (a) Laundering of asbestos contaminated clothing shaH be done so as to prevent the release of airborne asbestos fibers in eXcess of the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Any employer who gives asbestos-contaminated .::lothing to another person for laundering shall inform such pen:;on of the requirement in (a) of this subdivision to effectively pre-

vent the release of airborne asbestos fibers in excess of' the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this Section.

(c) Contaminated clothing shall be transported in sealed impermeable bags, or other closed, impermeable containers, and labeled in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section.

(e) Method of measurement. AIl determinations of airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers shall be made by the membrane filter method at 400-450 X (magnification) (4 millimeter objective) with phase contrast illumination.

(f) M onitoring-( 1) Initial determinations. Within 6 months of the pUblication of this section, every employer shall cause every place of employment where asbestos fibers are released to be monitored in such a way as to determine .whether every employee's exposure to asbestos fibers is below the limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of "this section. If the limits are exceeded, the employer shall immediately undertake a compliance program in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) Personal monitoring-(i) Samples shall be collected from within the breathing zone of the employees, on membrane filters of 0.8 micrometer porosity mounted in an open-face fiI- _ ter holder. Samples shall be taken for the determination of the 8-hour timeweighted average airborne concentrations and of the ceiling concentrations of asbestos fibers.

(ii) Sampling frequency and patterns. After the initial determinations required by subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, samples shall be of such frequency and pattern as to represent with reasonable accuracy the levels of exposure of employees. In no case shall the sampling be done at intervals greater than 6 months for employees whose exposure to asbestos may reasonably be foreseen to exceed the limits prescribed by paragraph (b) of 'this section.

(3) Environmental monitoring -(i) samples shall be collected from

" areas of a work environment which are representative of the airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers which may reach the breathing zone of employees. Samples shall be collected on a membrane filter of 0.8 micrometer porosity mounted in an open-face fiIter holder. Samples shall be taken for the determination of the 8-hour timeweighted average airborne concentrations and of -the ceiling concentrations of asbestos fibers.

(ii) Sampling frequency and patterns. After the initial determinations required by subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, samples shall be of such frequency and pattern as to represent with reasonable accuracy the levels of exposure of the employees. In no case shall sampling be at intervals greater than 6 months for etnployees whose exposures to asbestos may reasonably be foreseen ·to exceed the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.

(4) Employee observation of monitoring. Affected employees, or their representatives, shall be given a reasonable opportunity to observe any monitoring required by this paragraph and shall have access to the records thereof.

(g) Caution signs and labels. (1) Caution signs. (i) Posting. Caution signs shall be provided and displayed at each location where airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers may be in excess of ·the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section. Signs shall be posted at such a distance from such a location so that an employee may read the signs and take necessary protective steps before entering the area marked by the signs. Signs shall be posted at all approaches to areas containing excessive concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers.

(ii) Sign specifications. The warning signs required by subdivision (i) of this subparagraph shall conform to the requirements of 20" x 14" vertical format signs specified in § 1910.145 (d) (4), and to this subdivision. The signs shall display the following legend in the lower panel, with letter sizes and styles of a visibility at least equal to that specified in this subdivision.

Legend Notation Asbestos. . . . . . .. I" Sans Serif,

Gothic or Block. !J Dust Hazard .. :. :j4" Sans Serif,

Gothic or Block. Avoid Breathing

Dust .......... ;4" Gothic. Wear Assigned

Protective Equip-ment ......... ;4" Gothic.

Do Not Remain In Area Unless Your Works Requires It ............ %" Gothic.

Breathing Asbestos .Dust May Be Hazardous To Your Health '" 14 point Gothic.

(Continued on seventh page)

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Spacing between lines shall be at least equal to the height of the upper of any two lines.

(2) Caution labels-(i) Labeling. Caution labels shall be affixed to all raw materials, mixtures, scrap, waste, debris, and other products containing asbestos . fibers, or to their containers, except that no label is required where asbestos fibers have been modified by a bonding agent, coating, binder, or other material so that during any reasonably foreseeable use, handling, storage, disposal, processing, or transportation, no airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers in excess of the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section will be released.

(ii) Label specifications. The caution labels required by subdivision (i) of this subparagraph shall be printed in letters of sufficient size and contrast as to be readily visible and legible. The label shall sta·te:

CAUTION·

CoNTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS

AVOID CREATING DUST

BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST MAY

CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM

(h) Housekeeping-(l) Cleaning. All external surfaces in any place of emp10yment shall be maintained free of accumulations of asbestos fibers if, with their dispersion,. there would be an excessive concentration.

(2) Waste disposal. Asbestos was-te, scrap, debris, bags, containers, equipment, and asbestos-contaminated clothing, consigned for disposal, which may produce in any reasonably foreseeable use, handling; storage, processing, disposal, or transportation airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers in excess of the exposure limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section shall be collected and disposed of in sealed impermeable bags, or other closed, impermeable containers.

(i) Recordkeeping-(l) Exposure records. Every employer shall maintain records of any personal or envIronmental monitoring required by this section. Records shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years and shall be made available upon request to the AssistaIit Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and to authorized representatives of either.

(2) Employee access. Every employee and former. employee shall have reasonable access to any record required to be maintained by sub-

paragraph (1) of this patagraph, which· indicates the employee's own exposure to asbestos fibers.

(3) Employee notification. Any employee found to have been exposed at any time to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers in excess of the

. limits prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section shall be notified in writing of the exposure as soon as practicable but not later than 5 days of the find

. ing. The employee shall also be timely notified of the corrective action being taken.

(j) Medical examinations - (1 ) General. The employer shall provide or make available at his cost, medical examinations relative to exposure to asbestos required by this paragraph.

(2) Preplacement. The employer shall provide or make available ·to each of his employees, within 30 calendar days fonowing his first employment in an occupation exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers, a comprehensive medical examination, which shall include, as a minimum, a chest roentgenogram (posterior-anterior 14 x 17 inches), a history to elicit symptomatology of respiratory disease, and pulmonary function tests to include forced vital capacity (PVC) and forced expiratory volume at.1 second (FEV 1.0).

(3) Annual e=minations. On or before January 31, 1973, and at least annuaIIy thereafter, every employer shall provide, or make available, comprehensive medical examina·tions to each of his employees engaged in occupations exposed to airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers. Such annual examination shaII include, as a minimum, a chest roentgenogram (posterior-anterior 14 x 17 inches), a history to elicit symptomatology of respiratory' disease, and pulmonary function tests to include forced vital capacity (PVC) and forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEVJ..o).

(4) Termination of employment. The employer shall provide, or make available, within 30 calendar days before or after the termination of employment of any employee engaged in an occupation exposed to airborne 'concentrations of asbestos fibers, a comprehensive medical examination which shall include, as a minimum, a chest roentgenogram (posterioranterior 14 x 17 inches), a history to elicit symptomatology of respiratory disease, and pulmonary function tests to include forced vital capacity (PVG) and forced eXpiratory volume at 1 second (FEVJ..o).

(5) Recent e=minations. No medical examination is required of any employee, if adequate records show that the employee has been examined in accordance with this paragraph within the past I-year period.

(6) Medical records-(i) Maintenance. Employers of employees examined pursuant to this paragraph shall cause to be maintained complete and accurate records of all such medical examinations. Records sball be retained by employers for at least 20 years.

(ii) Access. The contents of the records of the medical examinations required by this paragraph shall be made available, .for inspection and copying, to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, the Director of NIOSH to authorized physicians and medical consultants of either of them, and, upon the request of an employee or former employee, to his physician. Any physician who conducts a medical examination required by this paragraph shall furnish to the employer of the examined employee all the information specmcaIIy required by this paragraph, and any other medical information related to occupational exposure to asbestos fibers.

3. A new § 1910.19 is added to Subpart B of Part 1910, reading as follows: § 1910.19 Asbestos dnsL

Section 1910.93a shall apply to the exposure of every employee to asbestos dust in every employment and place of employment covered by § 1910.12, § 1910.13, § 1910.14, § 1910.15, or § 1910.16, in lieu of any different standard on exposure to asbestos dust which would otherwise be applicable by virtue of any of those sections.

Effective date. Paragraph (b) (2) of § 191O.93a shall become effective July 1, 1976. AIl other provisions of §§ 1919.93a, 1910.93, and 1910.19 shall become effective July 7, 1972. The current emergency temporary standard remains in effect until July 7,1972. (Sees. 6, 8, 84 Stat. 1593, 1598; 29 U.S.C. 655, 657; 29 CPR 1910.4; Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71, 36 F.R. 8754)

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 2d day of June 1972.

G. C. GUENTHER, Assistant Secretary of Labor [FR. Doc, 72-8574

Filed 6-6-72:8:48 am]

I,

I.

Labor Dept. Adds One Good Provision and One Bad

Tony Mignano: Does Exercise help?

(Continued from fourth page)

This is good, but the Department of Labor has added some provisionsone good and one bad.

The contractors must pay for the exam. That's good. But the results of the exam must be sent to the employers, and that's bad. It goes contrary to all existing experience in industry.

Moreover, it is contrary to the procedure established under the· Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act where all examinations of coal miners must be completely confidential with the results given only to the employee and to the Public Health Service.

Not Very Reassuring The Department of Labor has rec

ognized the potential for victimization of the workman. In his prelude to the standard, Mr. George Guenther states, " ... there is no intention to allow employers to abuse medical information obtained pursuant to the Act, to the detriment of employees. Therefore, the administration of the medical records requirement will be closely watched, and, in .cases of abuse, appropriate action will be considered."

That is not a very reassuring statement. I would want more than just consideration. Until this situation is clarified, I strongly urge that asbestos workers consider the consequences of submitting to examinations, the results of which will be sent to their employers.

A Very Important Lesson Mrs. Charles Parker: I would like

to tell you of my husband's case. He had been told to go for his physical examination on the mUltiphasic exam program established here on the West Coast. He did not do so because he knew the results would be sent to his employer. Nine months later, when he finally had to· go for an exam, it was too late! It was. found that he had inoperable cancer of the lung.

Dr. Selikoff: Mrs. Parker has taught us all a very important lesson. One of the great dangers of this potential victimization is that it will prevent people from going for the examinations that they need. This is a critically important point that you have laid your finger on: Any examination program must be looked at carefully by union leadership. Everyone must feel, must know, and must be sure that the results of any examination are entirely confidential.

The Navy Is Stricter Jerry M onath, International Brother

hood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, Local 285: Does the asbestos standard and the monitoring requirement apply to shipyard employees?

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker, Local 5: Concern about exams.

Duncan Holaday: No. The U. S. Navy does not come under the Department of Labor Standards. However, we have found that the Navy generally enforces more vigorous standards. In monitoring, they do a much better job than is done in commercial or industrial work.

Jerry Monath: Can. diatomaceous earth produce mesothelioma?

Dr. Selikoff: No. Diatomaceous earth may contain crystalline silica, which can produce serious scarring of the lungs. However,: at this time we

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Jerry M onath: Do the new standards apply in shipyards?

have no evidence that it will produce cancer, including mesothelioma.

As with all mineral dusts that can enter the lung, we must keep a careful watch.

Cancer-An Early Sign Bill H auston, Local 16: When a

man finds he has cancer it is often too far gone to do anything. What can we ask our doctors to look for when we take our a=ual physical exams, especially in the abdomen?

Dr. SeZikoff: One thing that is quite useful is an ordinary blood count. People who have cancer of the stomach or colon tend to bleed, even in the early stages.

The bleeding can be slow and you would not notice it. But when you have been bleeding for weeks or months, you become anemic and this is a sign to your doctor to look carefully and do some more checking.

This is important, because if you pick up cancer of the GI tract soon enough, it can be operated on and removed. Unfortunately this is not the case with mesothelioma, where we have yet to find a cure. I have hopes that we will, but the research that is necessary to find such a cure is not being done.

Loss of Appetite M aft W oons, Local 29: Is loss of

appetite a sign of stomach cancer? Dr. SelikofJ: Yes. If you find you

have a 10ss of appetite it can be from cancer. You should go right to your doctor.

Ernest Tschopp, Local 16: Can a blood test reveal cancer in any part of the body?

Dr. SelikofJ: No. We've been looking for many years for such a test but, so far, none has been found effective for early diagnosis.

(Continued on the ninth page)

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Bill Houston, Local 16: What are early signs of cancer?

(Continued from eighth page)

Another Method Needed Wayne Kelly, 1ntemational Organ

izer: rm sure you all feel the futileness of this surveillance situation. Monitoring these jobs is an insurmountable task. Another method must be employed. We must look to developing a contractual obligation with the contractors. We must force a safe workplace to come about.

Duncan Holaday and Bill Nicholson have shown us the tools and the methods that are necessary. Perhaps workers themselves could attach monitoring devices to their coat lapels. But whatever procedure evolves, it must be enforced by a contractual agreement.

Dr. Nicholson: Wayne, you have hit upon the heart of the solution, a contractual agreement with the employers. If safe work procedures are' written into a contract, the workmen can easily determine if they are in use.

It would not be necessary to have dust counts taken, either by workers or by outside industrial hygiene groups. No cement should be mixed unless it is done in an enclosed plastic bag. We know that is a safe procedure. No cutting should be done with power tools unless they, are adequately ventilat~·

Many Possible Procedures When dust collectors are installed

on power equipment, they can be tested and, if they are safe, a pressure gauge can be installed on the exhaust duct which will indicate whether there continues to exist adequate ventilation. All the workman

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has to do then is see if the pressure as indicated by the meter, is at a saf~ value. If it is, he knows that he is working in a safe environment. There are many such procedures, and they all can be written into a contract.

Wayne Kelly: If we achieve the necessary conditions through negotiations with our employers, it is going to be reflected in the cost of the job. It will be necessary to have the same procedures applied by all employers, across the board.

Di. SeZikotJ: You can't ignore the role of the Government here. You c.ru;t obtain agreements with your umon contractors but if the non-union shops get off scot-free and don't have to .take the necessary precautions, the umon shops will be in trouble. The Government has to come in and say that every contractor, union and nonunion, must provide safe work conditions.

Get An Agreement Eddie Story, Local 16: Dr. Selikoff,

it would seem that we would be ahead of the game if we started in our industry with the union employers and obtained an agreement on safe work practices. Then we could go to the State and say, "Here's what could be implemented across the board in the entire insulation industry in California. »

Dr. SeZikotJ: Absolutely! In California you have a great advantage. California has an excellent Department of Health. It is knowledgeable, alert, and concerned with this problem. So, too, incidentally, have Washington and Oregon.

Moreover, we have the start of a good model. The asbestos standard

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Matt Woons, Local 29: What about loss of appetite?

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/<~:.;!'-::'!: Ernest Tschopp, Local 16: Do blood

tests reveal cancer?

specifies ·a number of useful procedures, if the permissible exposure is exceeded. All you have to do is to make all those procedures mandatory -without the requirement of a dust count.

A Difficult Question Unidentified questioner: I was

wondering, Doctor, what you would recommend for someone with asbestosis. Would you recommend that they get out of the trade?

Dr. SelikofJ: That's a very difficult question and I can only give you some guidelines from my experience. Each man's case has to be considered as an individual problem. In general, however, unless procedures are developed to neutralize the dust in your lungs, that which is there now is going to do whatever it will do.

li you don't add to it, you will have lost nothing by staying in the trade. I would, therefore, recommend that you stay, but work in safe conditions that add no more dust to your lungs. You will, at least, have a decent job. However, if staying in the trade means adding much more dust to your lungs, that is another story.

Doubly Important Therefore, the implementation of

the control procedures we have discussed today is doubly important. It will protect the new generation of pipe coverers, but it also will allow you to remain safely in the trade.

There's another reason to stay in the trade. If you leave, you will no longer be covered by insurance and compensation. However, if the point is reached where the scarring is so severe that you can no longer work without jeopardizing your health, then you must leave the trade.

(Continued on tenth page)

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nizer: We need contractual agreements.

(Continued from ninth page)

Dust Counts Not Exact Howard lacobs, International Long

shoremen's and Warehousemen's Union: You state that the standard requires only those fibers longer than five microns to be counted. Why not the shorter Dnes also? Are they less hazardous?

Dr. Nicholson: There's no real reason to believe they are less toxic. But they are harder to count, being so smalL So we don't ,try to count them.

We now know that occupational exposures can have 100 times as many 'short' fibers (the ones we don't count) as the longer ones that are counted. This would be no problem if the ratio of short to long fibers were a constant. However, such is 'not the case. The fraction of fibers longer than five microns can vary. by as much as ten times when different exposures to chrysotile are studied.

It is important, therefore, to recognize that·dust counts are only a crude measure of the amount of asbestos present.

Tiny Fibers Stay Suspended Howard lacobs: Would there be a

build-up of small fibers in an enclosed space after some time?

Dr. Nicholson: Yes, there could be a build-up for a' while. The larger fibers would 'tall to the floor sooner than the tiny ultramicroscopic ones. In fact, unless the smallest ones collide with and attach to larger particles, they could remain suspended indefinitely.

Dust Counts Not Exact However, they do attach and are

rem?ved from the air as the larger partIcles fall out. But we have evidence that an equilibrium is reached that has a greater fraction of submicroscopic fibers.

Silica Dust Test Ron Shott, Local 16: How good are

the respirators in filtering the fine dust?

Duncan Holaday: The respirators are tested with a silica dust. Some tests have been done to check them with asbestos but efficiency for ultramicroscopic fiber has not been studied.

Ron Schott,. Local 16: How good are the respirators?

We have, however, good reason to believe they are effective for even the small fibers because these readily attach to the filter material rather than

. pass through the openings. Paul Shebo, Local 16: As I look

about the audience, most of the men have been around a long time and over 90% of those I know are nonsmokers. rm afraid some of the younger members, especially those

Paul Shebo, Local 16: Help workers, in spite of themselves.

who smoke, don't want to hear your facts. We're going to have to find ways to help them in spite of themselves.

Dust in the Lungs Robert Mingram, Local 16: Can

?,ou clean the dust out of your lungs In any way?

Dr. SelikofJ: No, you cannot. All of you sitting in this audience have dust in your lungs. You cannot have been in this trade for any length of time and not have. It's going to stay there and cause more and more scarring, if

nothing is done to neutralize it. ls this inevitable? No. Not neces

sarily. We have a hint now that it is possible to inactivate mineraI dusts in lungs.

Research work in Germany has shown that coal dust in the lungs can be inactivated by a plastic polymer called polyvinyl pyridine-n-oxide. We don't know how it works, but we do know that when an animal inhales coal dust or silica dust, it ordinarily would get silicosis. This can be prevented by this polymer given even after the animal inhales the silica.

This establishes the principle that it is possible to inactivate dusts in the lungs so that they are no longer able to do any harm.

Experiments Encouraging We don't know how to do this with

asbestos. We have begun working in our laboratory in test tube experiments. These have so far been very encouraging, but our work is limited.

This research should now be ' increased; not twice as much not ten times as much, but one hund~ed times as much. There should be a hundred scientists working on this problem, in a dozen different laboratories, right now. Unfortunately, it's not being done.

(Continued 0'; eleventh page)

Howard Jacobs: What about the shorter asbestos fibers?

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r

Ken McGrew, Local 16: Concerned about glue~ and epoxies.

(Continued from tenth page)

The Disability Problem Unidentified questioner: When you

go to Social Security for Disability, you have to be disabled, according to them. Our lungs are our first and worst problem. Yet 'we have to stay in the trade until they are really bad before we get compensation.

Is there any way we can get some Disability and get out of the trade if we begin to have a problem? Do you recommen~ that this be done through our union pension fund?

Dr. Selikoff: Ron, you have touched upon a very important problem. As you know, Social Security only recognizes total ~sability. Many State compensation programs are similarly totally inadequate for compensation of partial disability... Moreover State Workmen's Compensation relies on payments by employers for funding.

In one sense, the contractors are in the same boat as you are. Just as you were unaware that the conditions 10, 20, or 30 years ago would lead to serious disease, so were the contractors. Thus, they could not budget the necessary funds for what is now foreseen in terms of Workmen's Com.pensation or insurance. They are in a tough spot.

The Coal Mine Situation The same situation existed for the

coal mine operators 'in 1969 when we suddenly found that the coal miners in the country were in trouble. If the coal mine operators had had to pay the Workmen's Compensation that was required at that time it would have bankrupted nearly every mine operator in this country.

The situation would have been different had the coal mines paid into

Chet Howell, Local 36: We .have trouble with compensation.

a compensation fund the necessary monies. Had they done it, the whole country would have had .to pay more for coal-a few pennies a ton, perhaps.

They didn't and, since society got coal cheaper, Congress correctly said that the country as a whole owes the coal miners a debt and that the coal mine operators are not the only ones who should pay for this condition.

Therefore, they passed the Coal Mine Act of 1969 which said that the Social Security system-you, me~ and everybody in the country-must pay the Disability for the coal miners. The law is widely applied, liberally interpreted, and of tremendoUs benefit to the coal miners.

Asbestos Act is Needed What we now need is a similar

political solution to your problem. We need the political solution of an Asbestos Act, just as there was a Coal Mine Act. There were 125,000 coal miners employed, so its need is far greater.

George Maynard, Local 36: A bad experience with respirators.

However, one advantage of the coal miners was that they had explosions: 20, 80, or 100 men were killed at a time (some advantage!) That impresses everybody.

You people die one at a time. So it doesn't impress anybody. The country doesn't see it. But this could be made known. There are political representatives, Congressmen, Senators, who are knowledgeable and can understand these problems. Because of the scope of the problem, it can be done only through the Government.

This matter is of such seriousness that I expect it to be one of the important items of your Las Vegas Convention. While it is the Government and the Congress that must act, it is you who must make your needs known.

Charles Luck, Local 7: What studies have been done on adhesives?

Compensation Chet Howell, Local 36: We often

have trouble with compensation. Can you say with certainty that a man died of an industrial disease rather than of something else.

Dr. Selikoff: Yes, in many cases we can. Asbestosis and mesothelioma are directly the result of an insulator's asbestos exposure.

However, in any single case of lung cancer you can't say, with absolute certainty, that asbestos was the cause and not cigarette smoking. All one can say is that because he worked with as bestos the chances are 7 to 1 that the cancer was related to his work.. That's enough for the compensation courts. If the risk has been significantly increased by his job, the death is compensable.

The statistics are as follows: an asbestos worker who smokes cigarettes has 92 times the chance of dying of lung cancer, compared to a man of the same age who neither smokes nor works as a pipecoverer.

(Continued on twelfth page)

....... _' .. ,

(Continued from eleventh page)

8 Times The Risk Further, he has eight times the risk

compared to other cigarette smokers! For this reason, compensation courts have acknowledged that the cancer is highly related to his work, and compensation should be awarded.

Cancer of the stomach, colon, rectum, or esophagus are other diseases where your risk of death has been increased because of your work and the courts have granted compensation. In some states rheumatoid. arthritis is compensable on the basis of increased risk, because people with pneumoconiosis seem to develop such arthritis more than other people.

The significantly increased risk is the essential factor.

A Bad Experience George Maynard, Local 36: I had a

very bad experience with one respirator. It was certified to me as being adequate for these blow-gun operations spraying asbestos. After a couple of hours, the exhalation rubber flapper was completely covered with asbestos mud. God knows how much of that stuff went into my lungs.

Duncan Holaday: You were given bad advice, George. During spray operations, asbestos fiber levels can exceed 100 fibers -per ml. At these concentrations only powered air-purifying or supplied-air respirators should be used.

The replaceable filter or disposable respirators, even though approved by the Bureau of Mines, are for use only in dust concentrations of less than ten times the permissible level (50 fibers/ml now; 20 fibers/ml in 1976). They are' not suitable for use during spray operations, or extensive removal of old insulation.. ,,," :.,

I mi,ght add,:bowever, that all res-

John Barton, Local 7: Where are the plastic bags for cement?

pirators are intended to b~ used for non-routine or emergency operations only. They are not to be a substitute for engineering controls.

Adhesives Affect Nerves Charles Luck, Local 7: I've been

concerned about glue and vapors. We see a bristle brush disintegrate in three days and the hairs in your nose turn to a rubber-like substance when you use these materials. What studies have been done along these lines?

Dr. Selikoff: Dr. Kay of our Laboratory has looked into this. He :finds that very few studies have been done on the adhesives you us~. We do know they can produce a toxic effect on your nerves.

This will affect you as if you were drunk and may lead to a greater risk

,of accidents on the job and while driving home. I might add, that at this time, more than 1 % of all deaths in your union are deaths due to work accidents. The adhesives should be used only in well ventilated areas.

.'

Joe Petrowski, Local 62: How much does the standard really help?

Moreover, we know ·little of their long term effects, either alone or in combination with other materials. If you have some especially troublesome materials you should write -to -the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Technical Services, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, requesting a hazard evaluation.

Plastic Bag Action Needed John Barton, Local 7: You've told

us about plastic bags, for over a year now. Yet, they're not coming out. What is the reason for this?

Duncan Holaday: Economics-and who makes the first move. The manufacturers say cements packaged in plastic bags are not being purchased

Anthony CeraMi, Local 118: Standards must be applied uniformly.

because Gf ,the extra cost, so they use the old bags. The contractors say we can't buy the bags because they are not available.

In fact, they have legally been required since December of last year. However, the limited enforcement of the asbestos standards in construc-' tion work has not forced their widespread use.

John Barton, Local 7: Then the only alternative appears to be for us to refuse to work with cement until it comes in plastic bags.

Duncan Holadcry: That might get some action.

Standards Are Elastic Joe Petrowski, Local 62: If my un

derstanding is correct, the best determination shows the average dust levels in our trade during the past few years to be, in the average day, about five fibers/ml. So the standard will not help that much.

Dr. Nicholson: Correct. The standard, in this regard, will not be of much help. If dust counts were done, some of the peak exposures could be limited and this would help a lot.

But they won't be done; there simply aren't enough industrial hygienists in the country, for one thing. For another, the standards are very "elastic" and largely depend on voluntary compliance.

We already know that in the past two years-when there was an official standard, although not this partiCUlar one-very few dust counts were done. In some states, not a single dust count was seen!

So what is required in a standard that would really help is the specification of mandatory safe work practices, without the need for dust counts .

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~l~ INSU·LATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

o "c; °lOF",,~Q FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM



Voi. 4. No.4 Winter 1972

Convention Issue

Insulators' Health Problem

A Gloomy Picture by Duncan A. Holaday

.....

Worst in U.S.' Insulation workmen have been, and

now are, subjected to extremely serious risks of disability and death from diseases related to their occupation.

The health of' 'insulation workmen Mortality studies have shown inconwas a major topic:of discussion at ·the trovertibly that past exposures of these 22nd Convention' of the International men to toxic substances constitute Association of Heat and Frost Insula- what is probably the most serious tors and Asbestos Workers in' Las occupational health problem we have

. . in our country, both in degree and Vegas o'n September:.11-14.

The first presentation of the results in numbers of people exposed. of the mortality "Study of the entire Data were presented by Dr. Irving

J. Selikoff at the 22nd Convention of membership of the Union was made . the International Insulation and Asby Dr. Irving J. Selikoff. The results _ substantiated ·theea.rlier:experiences _bestos Workers on the mortality expe-of Locals 12 and 32 and demonstrated' rience of the entire membership of that serious hea1thproblems still exist. the Union from January 1, 1967 in the insulation industry· and tha(the. -through December 31, 1971. Some of problems are nation wide. . .~ _ the significant findings are:

1. Of the 17,800 members' of rec-The accompanying article "J:)y. Duri:", can A. Holaday provides sOII].e details' ord on January 1, 1967, 1,092 of this presentation and points to sev- died in the ensuing five years eral unfulfilled needs in the insulation whereas only 806 were expected industry. . .::;:::-;:,~ .. - .' . to have died. 286 excess deaths

. "",';~::;:',~~:;, ".,' -: __ , ' occurred. 2. 459 deaths from cancer occurred

Union Reaffirms .Commitm~nt during this period although only At the conve~tfOIithe 'officers and 144 were anticipated. Cancer

d~legates of the Union reaffirmed was the cause of· 41% of all their commitment to solving the health deaths. . " problems of the industry. General 3 .. In this same group 78 or 7.1 % President Andrew. Haas stated, ,"In of the deaths were due to as-view of the extreme imPOrt.aD.ce and bestosis-a disease which has the health of oUr membership; not . no cause other than exposure to only now, but in the future~ we cannot asbestos. afford to droP. 0.Ur. Health 'Hazard 4. 77 or 7.0% of the men died Program and we-would:.he.most negli-;" from pleural and peritoneal gent and remiss inotir duties if we. did' . mesotheliomas. As these dis-not continue it. :IIr:tact we' must in';:' eases are extremely rare in the tensity it until we:have the' industry,. '.. general population,·· essentially cleaned up so that:oUr niembers.:may':'~~.··.: '" .all of these deaths can be as-work with the full ,"-knowledge:.that. ;~. cribed to exposure to insulation they are protected .. ,and "sate 'from . 'dusts. occupational ~~;;i.':" ." . 5. 213--one .of every five--deaths

In additionto.preSeil.tations to the were due to lung cancer, an ex-delegates by Dr. Selikoff, Dr. William cess of 167 over the number

. J. Nicholson, and Dilncan A. Holaday, expected. a fourteen paneI"-6xhibit was installed These data demonstrate the results describing the results of the IIHRP. of the exposures to insulation dusts to Because of requests by many delegates which insulators have .been subjected. that the material be more widely dis- The picture is indeed a grim one. If tributed, the exhibit is reproduced in only the deaths from asbestosis, 'lung its entirety in this issue. cancer and mesotheliomas are con-

,0-

sidered 29.6% of all deaths were caused by occupational disease. Moreover, as time progresses, it is anticipated that the percentage of excess deaths will increase.

It is pertinent to speculate on the public reaction which would occur if those working with nuclear energy suffered a comparable incidence of radiation-induced deaths. While industrial radiation exposure' may arouse' greater public interest than do other hazardous conditions,. official agencies must regard all causes of occupational diseases with equal concern.

The NIOSH Criteria for a Recom-' mended Standard for Exposure to Asbestos estimates that .there are about 40,000 field insulation workmen in the> United States and 'perhaps another ... 20,000 are employed in maintenance .: .. ,. :, and repair in the . .-chemical, refining,'···· electric power and ;other industries. ", . • These numbers .. may be compared

with those engaged in coal mining (about 95,000) and.·metal mining (about 60,000). Thus we see that insulators are a significantly large group to be exposed to such high risks of injury and death.:· /,~;~~ : ..

. -. ":: .-:~.:,-:,.

Asbestos Standar.d.. a Beginning Some first moves ~a~e been made

by official agencies t~ improve conditionse A standard regulating ·exposures to asbestos was promulgated on June 7, 1972, containing provisions which theoreticaIlY'cShould reduce exposures of insulators to asbestos dust.

. This standard haS several basic weaknesses which, severely limit its effectiveness in reducing exposures in the construction industry. Almost all of the provisions of the standard require that OSHA must· first prove that the stipulated atmospheric concentrations have been exceeded before dust control measures can be required. This means that first an _ inspection must be made and then' there is a time lag of at least a week'-betWeen the


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from the



Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Seliko:ff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, New York, N.Y .. 10029

Advisory Council of IIHRP .',

Irving J. Seliko££, M.D. Program Director and Chairman' ..

... i"~

E. Cuyler Ii~inond, Sc.D~ Vice

President, AmeriCan Cancer Society, New York, N.Y.

AIbertHutchinson, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost InsUlators -~d Asbestos

Workers, Washington, D.G.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research. and. Development, J ohns·Manville ,Corporation, New York., N.Y~ '~.:-~.';~;'-



1. To d~~eiop:;·improved methods for mjnimizing ex:" posure of ffisulition workers ;: to dusts mid fumes encoun:",. tered in the~:wcir~ '.'

2. To dissernii1'ate knowledge of tllese improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice. and assistqnce toward their. universal adoption.

','

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A Call For Action (Continued from first page)

visit of an inspector and receipt of the laboratory report.

In the construction industry where conditions can change hourly, these procedures serve only to record exposures. OSHA has apparently recognized the futility of this mode of operation and is not even attempting to conduct industrial hygiene inspections of insulation work. With about 50 industrial hygienists to cover all industries' it is understandable that OSHA has directed its efforts elsewhere. However, this does not alter the fact that the effect of official actions on reducing the hazards of insulators has been negligible.

Uni(;m and Company Action Such improvements in environ

mental conditions which have taken place are largely the result of actions by the Union and individual companies. The Union, along with the Johns-Manville Corporation, through the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, has sponsored projects which have identified the most hazardous operations; developed some dust control procedures; assisted in development of more useful respirators, and a manual of recommended practices for shipyard work.

The Union has also conducted a vigorous educational program in Industrial Hygiene Progress Repons and in seminars for its members. Contractors have started to use substitute materials (hopefully' of lower toxicity than asbestos) and a few have acquired such dust control equipment as is available.

The situation is that we know we have serious health problems; we have identiiied the largest sources of hazards and have some means of correcting the.m; we have regulations, and we still have unsafe working conditions. Unless a positive program is developed and carried out, these unsafe conditions will continue to exist indefinitely. .

Accept Responsibilities Such a program ·cannot be con

ducted by the insulation ·industry and the Union alone. .

Federal and State agencies must accept their responsibilities to assist the insulation workmen in alleviating all the adverse health consequences of insulation work. It is urgent that the appropriate government agencies consider implementation of the following

programs: 1. Minimization of future insula

tion dust exposure, including development of the additional engineering control measures required.

2. Adequate compensation for dust related disabilities in all states including long term disability and family compensation.

3. Adequate medical surveillance of those workers exposed to insulation dusts. Lives can be saved in this way.

4. Adequate medical care, "'hen required, of· occupationally related disease.

5. Development of a cure for mesothelioma. This could be part of our country's new National Cancer Plan.

6. Development of methods to inactivate lung dusts in those workers already exposed. There is already evidence that this is possible.

In Memoriam The Insulation Industry Hygiene

Research Program wishes to gratefully acknowledge additional contributions made in memory of Albert E. Hutchinson. Previous contributions were listed in Volume 4, Number 3.

From locals of the International Association of Heat and Frost

Insulators and Asbestos workers: 6 14 20

41 53 57 62 74 76 83 84 86 90 98 99

From labor organizations: International Brotherhood of Paint

ers and Allied Trades State Building and Construction

Trades Council of California Norfolk Building Trades Council Operative PlaSterers' and Cement

Masons'-International Association of the United States & Canada

Atomic Trades and Labor Council

From individuals: Mr. Edward Sargawakian Mr. Hoyt B. Gilley Mrs. B. G. Scallon Mr & Mrs. James Hauber To date 92 groups and individuals

have contributed over $5,900 to the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program in memory of Albert Hutchinson

INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

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INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

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E. Cuyler Hammond, &.D. Direeto~, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, American Cancer Society, NYC. St2tistical consultant.

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Kinpley· Kai, .Ph.D. Formerly Senior Scientifie Consultant in Occupational Health to the Canadian government, Ot- . taw&. Toxicologyand industrial hygiene..

Arthur R<>bI, Ph.D. Researeh min<=logist. Dr. Rohl comes to the IIHRP from L"e Dep=tment of Mineralogy of C0-lumbia University. He is responsible for examination and analysis of dust samples.

Harry Heinann, M.D. Formerly, Director, Division of Occupational Health, United States Public Health Service, Washington, D.C. Epidemiological Research Staff.

William J. Nicholson, Ph.D. Recruited to the HHRP from the Watson Laboratory, Columbia University, where he was senior research biophysicist. Head of field stuaies of the program, and editor of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Reporta

Robert J. Schnitzer, M.D. Formerly, Head of Chemotherapy Laboratories of LG. Farben and of Hoffmann-LaRoche. Heads Biological Laboratory research into techniques of dust inactivation.

Duncan A. Holaday, M-A.. C=e to the IIHRP after serving as Chief, Western Field Station, U.s. Public Health Ser,-ice, Salt Lake City. Industrial hygiene and engineering.

William Reitze, B.s. Field investigator in industrial hygiene. Recently retired from the program after making important contributions. Mr. Reitze has rejoined Johns Manville as Manager of Accident Prevention and Industrial H~th.

Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. Director, En,-;ronmental Sciences Laboratory and head of Medical School's Dh'ision of En,-;ronmental Medicine. Formerly, President, New York Academy of Sciences. Directcr of IIHRP.

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ENVIRONMENTAL

OOSES " A ~.~ T~y of ~,. ~Ud ekrtroftk f!'Qu1p.JJl~t iii

utiliud h:r t~ rtaff .r tM IIHRP .t ~ EnnTOalM'ntal Seienoees Lobont= of tI>< M<><mt SbW ScbooI of M..tici ....

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WHEN INHALED THEY READILY ARE TRAPPED IN THE LUNG.

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NORMAL CHEST X-RAY

MINL'lAL ASBESTOSIS

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NORMAL CHEST X-RAY

Most x-rays of pipecoverers appear normal for at 1e2st ten years,. or longer. Indeed? one of 20 has a clear x-ray eVen after-tO yean:.of work.. We do not know why there are these differencei aIDOQC individuals. Ciiaretie smokin, tends to result in somewhat more sarring than would otherwise be the C1Oe, but ui>estoois may occur' even in the absenee of cigarette smoking.

A normal appesring- fUm does not insure that there is no scar· ring; th-e x-ray sometimes does not show rIDe.sa..nt. esped.a.lly the cfiffW!e variety cha=eteri.stie of asbestoois.. In such instan<:es, respiratory function tests may demonstrate some ch.a.nge,. especially after exercise.. Ho-wever,. by and larg~ a norm21 x-n.y is a very satisfactory rIDdIng In an inauJati<>n worker and is a distinct adTaDtage..

MINIMAL ASBESTOSIS

Fine lines. indicative of sarring, begin to appear. OCt..!, as here,. they are neither extensive. nor vuy dense. The. scars tend to appear in the lower portions of the. lungs.. -on both sides, UK! are frequently irregulu- or reticular. As a ruJe, there is more to be found in the lung than can be seen on x-ray. ,..hieh may "'underread~ the sitnatiolL Sometimes. only the covering of the lung..,(the pleura) is involved and the lung itseJf is entirely or largely spared. When thU hapJ><flS "pleunl plaques" are seen on the x-ray. These may become calcified.

The appearance of these x-rays is not abooIuteIy specific: other diseaaes. sometimes give similar flndinp.. Yet when they occur in an .ubestors wurku, the diagnosis an usually be made ...nth ron· siderable ronCidenee, especially by an experienced ph)'llician.. Lung m-Y is rarely necessary and should not be undertaken ~hUy.

EXTENSIVE ASBESTOSIS

'!be scarrinl' ia much. more intense and is present in much of the lung_ 'The pleurae, too, are involved in many cases..

There is incomplete -corrdation between the 1lDOUn.t of sca.rring _ on x-ray and the rfSlliratory cfifficulty a person mi~ht haye, or the extent of the abnormalities found on the pulmonary function test&.. 'The x-ray may be ~ly abnormal, y~t the individual baa no liifficulty In breatlrinc. Conversely. serious shortness of breath may be present without impres3ive chang ... in the chest x-ny. One cannot pr~ct from the x-ray l1one.

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LUNG CANCER

X-ray examination is at p.resent the only efficient 'way to diagnose the presence of lung cancer, at least in tjme for successful treatment. However~ such dia.gnosis may be somewhat more dif* firolt in asbestos workers,. since the lung scarring which is often also present. may obscure the cancer shadow.

A considerable adva.ntag~ is to be able to compare the suspicious markings with the same arM. on previous x-rays, to see if there has been any change. Therefor~ regular periodic x-rays are essential for pipe: coverers. For those '"With more than twenty years in the trade. even once a year is sometimes not often enough., especially if there is a history of ciruette smoking. Every six months ... ould be better. At most, there .... ould be a little waste of time and mGney, but there could be the saving of a life..

The lung cancers in asbestos workers are, as a group, to a certain extent, different than the usual cancers.. Twtrthirds are in the lower portions of the lune (where more scarring is seen on x-ray, also); ordinan1Yt only one--third are found here.. But, apart from such minor variations,. they can be diagnosed and treated in the usual .... ys. The important thing is early dil.gnosis, if .... e &re

to hope for a cure.

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LUNG CANCER

MESOTHELIOMA

The lining of the chest and the lining of the abdomen is the "'mesotheliumn

" Therefore. when neoplasm affects this tissue, it is l2.bded "mesothelioma"'.

Such tumors generally spread across the whole lining surface .. This fact determines their x-ray appearance - they show a diffuse shadow linin!> the whole chest, en=in!> the lun!>. Usually, they are on one side onlYt and may be accompanied by fluid in the chest ("pleurisy'" or "pleural effusion"'). 'l\nen the lining of the abdomen is affected, fluid ma.y again be found, causing swelling.

X-ny is very efficient in demonstrating the presence of mesothdloma in the chest (pleural). It is so fa.r of little help in dial:Tlos, ing abdominal (peritoneal) mesotheliotnL

Early progress has been made in developing chemicals and drugs to treat these cancers and it is hoped th&t additional research ",,"ill help provide 3: cure.. Therefore,. early x-raY' diagnosis Vtill be a grea.t help in creating the best possible circumstances for treat· ment.

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MESOTHELIOMA

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STATISTICS

.... MORTALITY STATISTICS OF INSULATION WORKERS, 1943-1971

Exposure to insulation dusts usually does not produce disease until many years after beginning work -20,30 or more years. The experience of members of Locals 12 and 32 is therefore of interest.

On January 1, 1943, there were 632 members in these locals. Seven died young, before reaching twenty years from onset of their work. The fate of the remaining 625 men has been studied, and is summarized in the following table:

Expected and observed deaths among 625 members of Locals 12 and 32, Jan. 1, 1943 • Dec. 31, 1971

Expected Observed

Total deaths 288..5 423

Cancer deaths 52.2 189

Lung cancer 1L4 84

Pleural mesothelioma 8

Peritoneal mesothelioma 24

Cancer of stomach, colon, rectum 12.5 41

All oilier cancers 28.3 32

Asbestosis 33

All other causes 236.3 234

The IIHRP is grateful to the Department of Statistics of the American Cancer Society for undertaking the extensive statistical analyses needed to provide these data. Expected deaths are based upon U.S. Xational Office Of Vital Statistics annual rates for U.S. white males. taking age and year into account.

·U.S. death rates not available. since these are rare causes' of death in the general population.

... ~.- ~

STATISTICS

Six years ago it was not known whether the Locals 12 and 32 experience was unique or to be found throughout the country. Therefore, research was undertaken to investigate this question.

On January 1, 1967, there were 17,800 men registered in the International By December 31, 1971, 1,092 had died.

EXPECTED AND OBSERVED DEATHS AMONG 17,so0 MEMBERS OF THE L-\.HFIAW IN THE l)NITED STATES

AND CANADA, JAN. 1, 1967 -DEC. 31,1971

(12,681 members) (5,119 members)

Before 20 years After 20 yearS

Expected Observed EXP"Cted Observed

Total deaths 178.94 211 626.69 881 .. .. ~7

Cancer deaths 26.31 51 117.78 408

Lung cancer 7.03 22 37.39 191

A

Pleural mesothelioma 2 24 :_ :' r -., Peritoneal mesothelioma 3 48

.....

Cancer of stomach 0.97 1 5.65 15 \ -,

Cancer of colon, rectum 2.51 3 15.00 23.

Cancer of esophagus 0.44 2.77 12'·

All other cancers 15.36 19 56.97 96

Asbestosis 3 ". 73

All other causes 152.63 157 509.91 400

COMMENTS

Lung cancer is the most serious health hazard of insulation workers. It may be responsible for one in five of all deaths. among them. However, generaliy it does not occur until more than 20 vears have passed from onset of work. -

r.Iesothelioma of the chest or abdomen is very rare in the general population; approximately 1 death in 10,000. Among pipecoYerers, it is increased more than 700 times. accounting for 7'. of all deaths.

Gastro-intestinal cancer is also increased in frequency but not to the extent as lung cancer or mesothelioma. It is found two 01' thl'ee times as often as anticipated.

Asbestosis - scarred lungs - was responsible fOI' approximately 7'; of deaths. There is no cause for asbestosis Othel' than the inhalation of asbestos dust. Each of these deaths was therefore workrelated.

·U.S. death rates not a\·ailable. since the~e ure rare cau;:eS of death in the general population.

CIGARETTE S~fOKING

Cigarette smoking and insulation work do not mix ..

Research has shown that lung cancer occurs against a background of dg· aretie smoking:

1. LOCALS 12 AND 32:

Total deaths by Dec.31,1971

Expected deaths of lung cancer¥-

Deaths of lung cancer Jan.l,I963-Dec.31,1971

On Jan .. It 1963, there Were 3iO mem. bers of Locals 12 and 32 who had entered the Union before 19~3.

87 never smoked cigarettes

35

1.26

2S3 had a history of cigarette

smoking

133

3.31

2. ALL LOCALS, U.s_AND CANADA:

Total deaths by Dec.31,1971

Expected deaths of Tung cancer'"

Deaths oflung ClIneer Jan.1,1967-Dee.31,1971

There Were 17,800 men registered in the International on Jan~ 1, 1967 .. 11,655 cGropJeted questionnaires rec.ording their smoking habits..

2,066 n-ever smoked cigarettes

73

5.98

2

9,59Qhad smoked cigarettes

596

25.09

134

."·"Based on U.s .. death rates. U.s. National Offit'e of Vital Statistics.

Calculations indicate that asbestos workers who smoke cigarettes have eight times the chance of dying of lung cancert compared to other cigarette smokers of the same age who do not work in this trade.

Asbestos workers who smoke cigarettes have .92 times the risk of dying of lung c:anc-er~ compared to similar men, who neither work with asbestos nor smoke cigarettes.

We have not found significant trouble Vt;th pipe or cigar smoking.

In the absence of cigarette 'smoking, we haye, not found lung cancer to 'be a Vf!ry serious problem among asbestos workers:

Cigarette smoking is not the whole story. however. Mesothelioma and asbestosis occur eyen without smoking9 as does cancer of the stomach~ esophagus, colon or rectum. Therefore, dust control is essential.

Two things do not belong in pipe-coYerers'lungs:

INSULATION DUSTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE.

t4.

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DUST COUNTING Asbestos dust levels in insulation work are determined by tak

ing air samples during the different jobs of an asbestos worker. A small. battery operated pump draws air through a special filter mounted in a collecting unit worn on the coUar DC a. workman... The collecting unit and filter which collects the fille..,. and partides in the air, are taken back to the laboratory for analysis.. &cause they are easier to measure. only those fibers longer than five microns (about 1/5000 of an inch) are counted; smalkr one are known to be present but are not counted.

The asbe;tos dust concentration allowed by the new asbestos standard is 5 fibers (longer than 5 microns) per milliliter of air averaged over an 8 hour day. (A milliliter of air is about a thimbleful)_ Since you breathe approximately 8,000,000 milliliters of air in a working day, the standard permits you to inh..aJe 40,000,000 fibers daily. Moreover, there can be 100 fibers shorter than 5 microns for everyone longer than 5 microns.. Thus.. one could say we have, at this time, a 4 billion fiber asbestos standard.

In actual fact, the numerical value of the standard is of limiW value. To monitor dust levels in insulation work is an insurmount~ able task. For example. the Department of Labor has about 50 industrial hygienists tu monitor over 4,000,000 workplaces for dust and loxic chemicaJs.. Most State Departments of Health have even lesser capability for monitoring. The route tl) a. safe work environment is not dust counting, but impkmentation of m.anda~ tory safe work practices and safe materials.

A An IIHRP industrial hygienist collecting dust sample duringinsulation work in a power house.

B Dust counting is p"rformed in the Environmental Sciences La~ oratory using a phase contrast microscope.

C A typical view, in the microscope, of airborne dust coUected during insulation work..

B

A

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POOR WORK

PRACTICES PRODUCE

DUST

o Cutting pipe -covering with no dust control on a btnd saw.

Asbestos debris await· 0 ing collection on job site.

o Dumping dry asbestos cement into .a trough prior to mixing with water.

Dust generated by cut· 0 ting with a hand saw. The dust on the workman's shoes can he brought from work to contaminate his home.

o Hand mixing of dry ;as...

bestos cement.

A broken bag of ssbes· 0 too cement used as the bot· tom step of a ladder.

GOOD WORK

PRACTICES

. terials prior Wettmg rna to cutting.

1 vacuum A por~~:d~uatedust

cleaner '\\'1 Id be used to filtration shou dust. clean up loose

high v.loc-The use of a band saws

"ty collector .on. ates air~.irluany ehmln borne dust.

tt" g ta-A downdraft c:' gmhand

hIe for use d~~~le vacsav,·ing. A po rovides the

unm .c1ean:fr ~enti.lation. reqUIred . 1 is dISposed

matena Scf:a

Pa plastic bag" o m

"t dust colA high V.IOCI Y po,,"er lector for use on h1U1d saws.

"" of asbestos ce-1I11Xt ;:gplastic bags. men

. of waste The bagt;tng

to disposal..

material pnor

';ingle Use Respirators... These .re suitable for use in asbestos concentrations up to 50 . 'ih-:rs/mmiliter and should be used for the <lustier ioo. during: imWlation of ashes

'OS insu12tion mai..eri.a.1s... They should be worn during aU blodclng or hand cutting op!r3tions 1S e,XC'O:! dust i3 often generated •.

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Air Supplied Re;piratora. These mUllt be nsed: in ubestoo dust eooeenh-aHons above ;00 fibers/milhliters.. However, they w&nld be required only in the moot extreme conditio", such as remon! of old inaulatiou in lIIIlall shipboard compartmeata.

RESPIRATORS

Disposable Filter Respintors. These are suitable for the same conditions as single use respiniors.. They sMuld not be used unless a respirator ml1in tenance program is avail· 1hk Oft the .... ork site.

NOTE: On July I, 1976 the applicable level for which respirators A and B are suitable drops to 20 fibersl milliliter lUId that of C to 200 fibers/milliliter. At that time respiratory protection should be provided at all concentrations above 2 fibers/milliliter.

Powered Air PurifyinJ: Re;pirators. 'Theae are for uae in asbestos concentrations up to 500 fiben/milliliter., and .an- suitabk for the removal of old insulation material or the Sl)Ta:rinr o~ asbestos fiber.

Environmental Sciences. Laboratory

O\l1"TSI.y

~T~ INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

a "c.; O(OF~~<:l FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

of The City University . of New York

Asbestos Standard has Little Effect

Conditions in the asbestos insulation industry have changed little since the promulgation of the Asbestos Standard on June 7, L972. This is the conclusion from a preliminary analysis of the data in a survey of all Asbestos Workers on environmental conditions in their work.

Although the standard required that at least one dust count be done by each employer during the first six months following the issuance of the standard, fewer than 5% of workmen saw such a count.

These results included dust counts made under the auspices of the employers and aiso those by state or federal officials. In fact, a large fraction ofthose dust counts were in Navy Shipyards which have permanent industrial hygiene departments:

Procedures Not Followed

In order to reduce dust concentrations below the established Threshold Limit Value of 5 fibers (longer than 5 microns) per milliliter of air, certain procedures were listed in the standard .. These included the use of plastic bags for mixing cement, vacuum cleaning of asbestos debris, the use of containers for waste material disposal, and exhaust ventilation on power equip-

. ment. Over one-half of the replies stated

that none of these items were usually available on job sites; approximately one-third stated all were never available. In nearly fifty percent of the replies change rooms were listed as unavailable so that dust laden clothes were taken home by many workmen to possibly contaminate their households.

The replies represented observations on over 900 employers and thousands

(Continued on page two.)

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Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Diredor

Vol.5, No.1 Spring 1973

Roy Steinfurth (right). Director of the Health Hazard Program of the Asbestos Workers discusses the statistical work of the American Cancer Society concerning asbestos insulation workers with Herbert Seidman. chief statistical analyst of the A. C. S.

Asbestos 'Workers Health Hazard Program Begins

Roy Steinfurth, formerly Business Agent of Local 45, Toledo, has been selected by General President Haas to direct the Health Hazard Program of the IAHFlA W. This program was developed by the Asbestos Workers at their convention last September and is being funded by a one cent per hour assessment on each member's wages.

All Aspects of Health

The new program will be concerned with all aspects of asbestos health problems, support of clinical and laboratory research, implementation of asbestos dust control technology, educational programs for workmen, and adequate compensation for as~stos disease.

This last issue as~sumes special importance at this time. Procedures, materials, and control equipment have been identified that can reduce dust exposures in insulation work to onetenth that which existed in the past. This existing technology, additional engineering controls to be developed,

and the use of appropriate respirators in dusty work will substantially reduce the health risk of workmen now entering the insulation trade.

It is equally important, however, to assure that those now in insulation work or who have retired and have been disabled by the dust exposures of 20, 30, or more years ago be adequately treated for their disease and compensated for their disability. "

Mixed Picture

At this time the compensation picture is very mixed. A few states have laws that provide reasonable compensation for damage to health caused by asbestos or other dusts. However, in some'states compensation for dust diseases is virtually non"existant and in others totally inadequate.

New York, for example, wiII allow payment in pneumoconiosis diseases (including asbestosis) only for total disability.

(Continued on page two.)

-:c

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Vol. 5, No.1 Spring 1973

from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (lrvi~g J. Selikoff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of .Medicine of the City University of New York, N.Y.

10029


Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. Program Director

and Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice President, American . Cancer Society, New

York, N.Y.

Andrew Haas, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers,

Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President,

Research and Development, JohnsManville Corporations, New York, N.Y.





Asbestos Standard has Little Effect

(Continued from page one.) of job sites and demonstrate that much is yet to be done before safe work conditions prevail on construction sites.

The complete results of the survey with a detailed statistical analysis' will be published in the next issue ofInsulation Hygiene Progress Reports.

Compensation- an Important Issue (Continued from page one.)

Similar problems existed in the coal mining industry and were solved by the passage of the "Black Lung Law" in which the Federal Government, through the Social Security Administration, assumed the compensation responsibility for all coal mine workers.

Mr. Steinfurth spent the first week in his new position with International Vice-President Jack Novak visiting Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the American Cancer Society where all aspects of the various asbestos research programs were reviewed.

Arrangements have been made for Mr. Steinfurth, Mr. NOVak, and Duncan Holaday of Mount Sinai's Environmental Science Laboratory to visit individuals in the AFL-CIO headquarters concerned with health matters and all government departments and facilities that may be involved with asbestos health problems, including, especially, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor and the National. Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

In discussing his new position, Steinfurth said, "Solving the health problems of asbestos workers is such an important task. I'm pleased to be part of that effort and look forward to working with ail insulators across the country to solve our health problems."

Hazard Evaluation Available

Regulations for conducting job health hazard evaluations have been published by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the November 7 issue of the Federal Register.

NIOSH carries out evaluations of potentially toxic substances in the workplace at the request of employers or of representatives of employees in establishments covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Such a representative may be a union officer, a collective bargaining representative, an employee having written authorization from at least two other employees who work in the area where the toxic substance is found, or a single employee in those establishments employing three or fewer employees.

Copies of all final reports of health hazard determinations will be forwarded to the Department of Labor and to the appropriate state agency, as well as to the requesting parties. Each determination will state the concentration of the {oxic substances found, whether such concentrations can produce toxic effects, and the basis for such judgments. . Because a wide variety of possibly toxic chemicals and adhesives,are now used by insulators, we are publishing a copy of the form on which a health hazard evaluation can be requested from NIOSH."

SIX INSULATORS DIE IN ACCIDENT

On December 15, 1972 six members of Local 2, Pittsburgh, were killed in a coke oven gas explosion in Weirton, West"Virginia. Paul -E. Byrne, George M. Crowley, Russell J. Ober, Michael R. Repko, Albert R. Tuttle, and James R. Tuttle were applying insulation to pipe at the coke oven battery when the accident occurred.

Because of the large number of deaths from asbestos dust diseases in insulation work, accidental deaths are often overlooked. In his report before the delegates to the National Convention, Dr. Irving J. Selikoff pointed out that over 1 % of all deaths of insulators are from work accidents. Moreover, for every accident causing death there are many more involving serious physical injury.

The terrible event in Pittsburgh and accidental deaths elsewhere dramatize that Asbestos Workers, industry safety officers, and government officials should be conscious of occupational safety as well as health in insulation work. One cannot be too careful on the job site.

. ~:.-""'" :.. . " :. :' ~ ~--- ,

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

REQUEST FOR HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION

This form is provided to assist in registering a request for a health hazard evaluation with the U.S. Department

of Heahh, Education, and Welfare as provided in Section 20(a)(6) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of

1970 and 42 CFR Part 85. (See Statement of Authority on Reverse Side).

Name of Establishment Where Alleged !-i1'l2';> r rl(s) Exist ______________________ _

Company{,Street~~---------------------TelePhone-----------___ Address City _____________ State ____________ Zip Code _____ _

(manufactu ri ng .. constructi on. transportati on. servi ces. etc.'

2. Specify the particular building or worksite where the alleged hazard is located, including address ____ _

3. Specify the name and phone number of employer's agent(s) in charge.

4. Describe briefly the hazard(s) which exists by completing the following information: Identification of Hazard or Toxic Substance(s) ________________________ _

Trade Name (If Appl icable) _____________ Chemica I Name ____________ _

Manufacturer Does the material have a warning labeI7 _____ Yes _____ No

If Yes, attach coPy of label or a copy of the information contained on the label.

Physical Form: Dust 0 Gas 0 . Liquid 0 Mist 0 Type of Expo~ure? Breathing 0 Swallowing 0

Other 0 Skin Contact 0

Number cf People Exposed Length of Exposure (Hours/Day) ________ _ Occupations of Exposed Employees ____________________________ _

5. Using''the space below describe further the nature of the conditions or circumstances which prompted this re

quest and other relevant aspects which you may consider important, such as the nature of the illness or symp

toms of exposure, the concern for the potentially toxic effects of a new chemical substance introduced into the

workplace, etc.

NIOSH-4 (Cin)

9/72

FOFM APPROVED

OMS NO. 68-R1236

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6. (a) To your knowledge has this hazard been considered previously by any Government agency? ______ _

(b) I f so. give the name a nd address of each.

(c) and, the approximate date it was so considered. _______________________ _

7. (a) Is this request, or a request alleging a similar hazard, being filed with any other Government

agency? (b) If so, give the name and address of each.

The undersigned (check one)

o Employer

o Authorized Representative of employees'"

ii iii (circle one)

believesthata substance (or substances) normallyfoundat the following place of employment may have potentially

toxic effects in the concentration used or found.

Signature _______________________________ Date ____________________ ~~

Typed or Printed Name Telephone: Home __________________ _

{Street Busi ness'

Address City ______________ State _____________ Zip Code ____ _

If you are a representative of employees, state the name and address of your organization.

Please indicate your desire:

Authority:

o o

1 do not want my name revealed to the employer.

My name may be. revealed to the employer.

Section 20(aJ (5) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, (29 U. S. C. 559(a)(6) ) provides as follows: The Sec r eta ry of

Health. Education. and Welfare shall •.. determine following a written request by any employer or authorized representative of

employees. specifying with reasonable particularity the grounds on which the request is made. whether any substance normally

"Found in the place of employment has potentially toxic effects in su<;;h concentrations as used or found; and shall submit such

determination both to employers and affected employees as soon as possible. If the Secretary of Health. Education, and Wel

fare determines that any substance is potentially toxic at the concentrations in which it is used or found in a place of em

ployment. and such substance is not covered by an occupational safety or health standard promulgated under section 5. the

Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall immediately submit such determination to the Secretary of Labor, together

with a II pertinent criteria.

• "Authorized representative of enployees" means any person or organization meeting the conditions specified in 42 CFR Part 85.3 (b) (4) (i). (ii) or (iii):

(i) - that he is an authorized representative of. or an officer of the organization representing. the employees for purposes of

collective bargaining: or

(ii) - that he is an employee of the employer and is authorized by two or more employees employed in the workplace where the

substance is normally found. to represent them for purposes of the Act. Each such authorization shall be in writing and included in the request; or

(iii) - that he is one of three or less employees employed in the workplace where the substance is normally found.

Send the completed form to:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Hazard Evaluation Services Branch

U.S. Department of Health. Education. and Welfare

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

c·

Environmental Sciences LaborsUlIj'

~i~ ~O llfll rf


.OlOFtJ-'i.Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers attending a conference on the health hazards of asbestos work presented by Local 95 in Toronto, Canada.

Health and Safety Meeting Held in Toronto

On Saturday, January 13, 1973, a meeting was·held in Toronto to discuss health hazards in insulation work. Drs. Irving J. Selikoff and William J. Nicholson of Mount Sinai School of Medicine spoke to nearly 200 members of Local 95 about the risks of asbestos work and described what can be done to improve working conditions. Because of the general interest in the health problems of insulation work a selection of questions and answers that followed these talks is published here.

Torn CarS{)n: A few years ago I was doing insulation in a room where painters were spraying. The fumes bothered me and I came out of the room, but, like a dope, I went back in and got this tremendous pain in my chest. They took me to the Doctor and after looking

Tom Carson

at the X-ray, he said my lung had collapsed. Could this have been caused by

(Continued on fifth page)

Irving J. Sellkoff, M.D., Program Director

Vol. 5 No.2 ~7 Summer 1973

International Experts Meet

on Mesothelioma

On April 2 and 3 an international working group met to discuss research' programs for the treatment and cure of mesothelioma. The meeting was held at the National Headquarters of the American Cancer Society under the auspices of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine~A.C.S. Environmental Cancer Research Program. The treatment experiences of several medical centers were reviewed and future research programs discussed.

Cooperation Pledged Andrew Haas,. Asbestos Workers

President, pledged the full support of the Union in any research efforts to find a cure for mesothelioma. He described how nearly 10% of the deaths in the membership of his union were from mesothelioma and that finding a successful treatment for this cancer should

. be one of the priority items of the Fed-eral Government. Similar support for such research work was offered by Jack Solon, Vice-President of the JohnsManville Corporation.

Attending the meeting from Great Britain were Dr. Muriel Newhouse of the London Sch091 of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dr. Margaret Turner-Warwick of the Institute of Diseases of the Chest, London, and Dr. Geoffrey Sheers of the Beaumont House Chest Clinic in Plymouth, England. Dr. Sheers: report on the incidence of mesothelioma in workers, other than insulators, in the Devonport Dockyard was especially disturbing. Here, the frequency 'of cases in painters, electricians, or shipfitters, etc. appeared to be nearly as great as in insulation workers.


F

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,.-



from the


Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, N.Y. 10029


Irving 1. Selikoff, M. D. Program Director and Chairman


Andrew Haas, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Development, JohnsManville Corporation, Denver, Colo.






Also present at the meeting were Dr. Marcus Key, Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. Douglas Lee of the Na-tional Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Captain George Law-ton of the U.S. Navy, and representa-tives of the National Cancer Institute.

Resuits of Asbestos Workers Survey In

Over five thousand members of the Asbestos Workers Union responded to the questionnaire, distributed by General President Andrew Haas in December, 1972, to find out what effects the new asbestos regulations had had in reducing exposures of Asbestos Workers. The important provisions of these regulations as they applied to insulation work were covered by the questions.

One of the mandatory requirements of the new standard was that each work place where asbestos fibers were released should be monitored by December 6, 1972. The number of dust counts seen by Asbestos Workers in the d.iffercnt regions of the United States and Canada are shown in Table 1.

Few Dust Counts Seen One hundred and seventy-one mem

bers observed an air sample being taken; 4956 did not see any such activity in six months. After making all reasonable allowances for unobserved surveys, i,t must be concluded that there has been no major effort to comply with this part of the regulations. ,

By itself, air sampling does nothing to reduce exposures. In this situation, however, it is an indication of the activity of employers or official agency industrial hygienists in complying with at least the mandatory provisions of the regulations.

The distribution of the surveys was noteworthy, Fifty-four, or about onethird of the observed surveys, were reported by the relatively few (165) replies from members of shipyard and

maintenance locals. As many of the members of these locals work in facilities which have an industrial health program, this result is understandable.

In order to reduce dust concentrations below the established Threshold Limit Value of 5 fibers (longer than 5 microns) per milliliter of air, certain procedures were listed in the standard, These included the use of plastic bags for mixing cement, vacuum cleaning of asbestos debris, the use of containers for waste material disposal, and exhaust ventilation on all power equipment. Workers were also queried on the availability of this equipment as well as the availability of respirators and change facilities.

No Widespread Adoption Table II lists the questions and com

plete results obtained in the survey. It is evident that there has not been any widespread adoption of work practices recommended or mandated in the standard. As with the dust counts, the presence of an· industrial health program and stable work location in maintenance and shipyard locals result'ed in a lower percentage of "never" responses to the questions on the availability of change rooms, respirators, and personal protection equipment.

However, across the United States, the standard had little effect in improving conditions in construction work.

Reportedly, there has been an increase in the proportion of asbestosfree insulation being installed, and this

TABLE [ Numberof dust counts seen by inSUlation workers during the period June 7,1972, to December 6, 1972

Region Dust counts seen? Percentage of men

Yes No seeing a dust count

New York-New-England 12 743 1.6 Middle Atlantic 25 755 3.2 Southeast 6 326 1.8 Southwept 18 474 3.7 Midwest 5 935 0.5 Central 18 740 2.4 West 24 509 4.5 Canadian 9 363 2.5 Maintenance Locals 23 38 37.7 Shipyard Locals 31 73 29.8 All regions 171 4956 3.4

...... :'

Few Improvements Seen

may be a positive effect of the standard. However, if substitute materials are used with no regard to control of dust, it is possible that other health hazards can be created. Exposure to high atmospheric concentrations of any inorganic dusts can be injurious.

Along with returned questionnaires, many workmen sent excellent letters describing conditions in the field. An especially good one was sent by Jay H. Mackley of York, Pennsylvania and because of its relevance we are publishing excerpts from it.

Dear Sirs: I hope this letter attracts more

attention than the numerous questionnaires that I have been returning. My seven years of being an asbestos worker, I have not yet seen one precau-

lion taken to prevent dust or any other efforts taken to better our working conditions. I'm a young man with many years ahead of me in the trade. From the few years I worked, I observed there isn't "those golden years of retirement" to look forward to. The few asbestos workers, that do reach retirement age soon after succumb to cancer or a related disease associated with asbestos.

The good working practices, that were suggested in the November journal are very seldom used and some are not even practical. Trying to get the company to furnish a downdraft cutting table for uses during hand sawing and a portable vacuum cleaner for proper ventilation i~ next thing to impossible, we're very lucky if we even have a box to lock up our personal tools.

If we are going to change and improve our working conditions, let's start with a few of them than can be corrected immediately. For instance: have a change

shanty large enough for the crew and well ventilated; most of them are cramped and very dusty. On larger jobs, have adequate wash rooms or at least be given time to clean up. Have a wash machine or vacuum cleaner in the shanty for work clothing, there is no need to carry the dirt home. Have- questionnaires that an insulator could write in his own suggestions that he might think will improve his conditions. Have regulation on dust control that the local can enforce and the journeymen can very well understand.

To use an old cliche "An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure," would apply very well to our trade. I think it would be a lot easier to eliminate the dust and try to clean up the trade-than try to find the cure for lung cancer and all the other dreadful diseases. I hope my letter does· not go unanswered, I'm anxious to read your reply. Thankyou.

TABLE 11 QUESTIONNAIRE-OBSERVATION OF ASBESTOS STANDARDS

In the period June 7, 1972, to December 6, 1972:

1. Dust counts I did not see a dust count done I personally saw one or more dust counts done

. 2. Work clothes and facilities

4956 171

In order not to bring dusts home from the job, special facilities are recommended. Facilities and supplies for clothes change were available:

All the time (100%) 1291 Usually (50-75% of the time) 940 Occasionally (1-49% of the time) 872 Never (0%) 1964

3. Respirators ("masks") Were provided by the employer:

. At all times (100%) Usually (50-75% of the time) Occasionally (1-49% of the time) NEwer (0%)

4. The following materials and equipment were available:

Cement in plastic bags Exhausted power table saws Exhausted power hand saw Vacuum cleaner for clean up Bagging of waste for disposal Drop cloths & collector for hand sawing Portable exhausts for confined spaces

2038 1014 1242

787

Always 570 594 112 203 407 190 125

Usually 549 402

74 136 388 227 154

Occasionally 616 603 176 425 681 513 443

It should be noted that an ambiguity exists in the replies to the availability of exhausted power saws. On soma jobs where there was no use of power equipment the response was "never" as to the availability of exhausted saws.

Never 3252 3004 4125 4127 3439 3943 4150

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Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health

Results from the health survey, conducted by Dr. Irving J . Selikoff and Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond, of the full membership of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers dramatically point to the severe effects of cigarette smoking on Asbestos Workers.

The 17 ,800 men enrolled on January 1, 1967 in' the International were studied through December 31, 1971-11,656 completed a questionnaire providing, among other details, information concerning their smoking habits. The results of the causes of death of all members, listed according to their smoking habits, is shown in Table 1.

Among the 9,590 men with a history of regular cigarette smoking, there were 596 deaths, 134 of which were due to lung cancer. Of the 2,066 men who had never smoked cigarettes regularly, only 2 of 73 deaths were from lung cancer.

Mortality studies of Locals 12 and 32 have been reported which indicated that cigarette smoking increased the risk of death of lung cancer among asbestos

insulation workers approximately ninety times over that of men who neither worked with asbestos nor smoked cigarettes.

The results of the current, more extensive, survey substantiate the earlier data on the added effects of smoking on the production of lung cancer in asbestos workers. However, they also illustrate the importance of not smoking in lowering the incidence of cardio-vascular disease. In the noncigarette smoking group, only 36 deaths from all causes other than cancer were seen where 93 were expected. Most of these other deaths were from cardio-vascular disease which was significantly reduced in the nonsmoking asbestos workers.

In fact, comparing the number of deaths of non-cigarette smoking asbestos workers with those expected from statistical data on the mortality of the general population, it is seen that only 73 insulators died where 112 or 113 deaths were expected during the 1967-1971 period. Forty fewer deaths were seen than expected.

Table I

Two factors account for the improved mortality data of insulation workmen. Firstly, at the beginning of the observation period, most of the insulators were working and thus healthier than many in the general population where many deaths occur in those who are disabled, si",k or otherwise unable to hold a job. This factor usually will reduce the expected mortality over a five year period by no more than 20% from that of the general population.

The second major factor is the absence of cigarette smoking in this group of Asbestos Workers compared with the general population which contains many smokers. Even including deaths that occurred from asbestos exposure (asbestosis, mesothelioma, and 0-1 cancer) these data show that over this five year period of time the effects of cigarette smoking on health is greater than the effects of working with asbestos containing insulation materials.

Expected and Observed Deaths among 17,800 U.S. and Canada Asbestos Insulation Workers,

Jan. 1, 1967-Dec. 31,1971"

No history History of clgaruttB of cigarette Smoking habits

Total smoking" smoking not known

Number of men Jan. 1,1967 17,800 2,066 9,590 6,144 Person-years of observation 86,300 10,163 46,615 29,522

Expected Observed Expected Observed Expected Observed Expected Observed deaths deaths deaths deaths deaths deaths deaths deaths

Cancer aI/ sites 144.09 459 19.92 33 79.58 265 44.59 161 Lung cancer 44.42 2'13 5.98 2 25.09 134 13.35 77 Pleural mesothelioma 26 2 17 7 Peritoneal mesothelioma 51 9 29 13 Cancer of stomach 6.62 16 0.95 1 3.60 8 2.07 7 Cancer of colon, rectum 17.51 26 2.52 4 9.53 14 5.46 8 Cancer of e$ophagus 3.21 13 0.44 0 1.80 7 0.97 6

Asbestosis 78 4 45 29

All other causes 661.54 555 92.67 36 356.67 286 212.20 233

Total deaths 805.63 1,092 112.59 73 436.25 596 256.79 423

'Expected dealhs based upon age specific U.S. mortafl1y rales for While males. disregarding smoking. Lung cancer esllmates based upon U.S. rales tor cancer of lung. pleura. bronc!lus and trachea. calegones 162 and 163. '

"Included 609 men who sm<lked pipes or cigars. • ..... United States data not available, but these are rare causes of death In the general population.

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How much do you smoke?

N 1· one.

The bronchi and blood vessels appear as small round holes in this norrnallung.

A later stage showing larger holes in the lung.

Yzpack?

Small holes in upper lung typical of early emphysema

2ormore?

Many large holes representing far advanced emphysema.

The National Dearing House on Smoking and Health has pUblished a description of some of the changes that can occur in human lungs from various amounts of cigarette smoking. This description of cigarette smoking induced emphysema is based on work by Dr. Oscar Auerbach and Carmine Benante of the East Orange, New Jersey Veterans Administration Hospital and Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond and Lawrence Garfinkel of the American Cancer Society.

Can Asbestos Dust be

Inactivated? (Continued from first page)

the asbestos and the fumes together? Dr. Selikoff: The condition from

which Mr. Carson suffered is known as "spontaneous pneumothorax." That is, the lung develops a leak and ruptures. The air leaks out of the lung and, since it can't get out of the chest, it fills the space between the lung and the chest wall, collapsing the lung.

Stan Roes

~praying Can Be Dangerous This condition can occur to anyone,

bvt it is more likely to occur from irritation by fumes or dust. Spraying, in general, can be an extremely dangerous procedure. If something may be harmful to you, to deliberately spray it into the air makes it worse.

Some of the new epoxy paints can be especially irritating and if there is a little weak spot on the lung, which might occur from scarring produced by asbestos, additional irritation by the . epoxy paints can cause rupture.

Tom Carson: I now notice that paint fumes bother me even more since this happened.

Dr. SelikofI: That's correct. Whenever the lung has been so injured it is left weaker.

Stan Roos: I have a condition called bronchiectasis and have to sleep on the bed with the foot raised. Would I be more susceptible either to asbestos or to various fumes?

Dr. Selikoff: Bronchiectasis is a big word for a condition in which the small airway tubes, the bronchi, are dilated. With this condition mucus tends to collect in the bronchi and, when it does, it can become infected. Sometimes we even have to almost stand a person on

(Continued on sixth page)

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(Continued from fifth page)

John Cook

Insulators'Life Expectancy

is Less his head so that the mucus can drain out. Bronchiectasis can come from childhocxl infections and sometimes it can come from asbestosis.

Joe Mathews: You have raised the question of the possibility of inactivating dust in the lungs. Isn't there something now being done for miners in this regard.

Alex Taggart

Dr. Selikoff: Yes, this was first done at the McIntyre Foundation in 'Ontario for silica exposures. As you know, the silica prcxluced in the dust of hard rock mining is aiso an irritant. The fine particles can get into the lungs and cause scarring as asbestos does, although it is a different type of scarring. The disease that is produced is called silicosis.

In Ontario it was thought that if these miners inhaled aluminum dust, the aluminum would coat the silica particles and prevent them from injuring the lung. The idea of coating the particles to neutralize them is a good one. However, at this time, there is very little evidence that aluminum is especially effective in this regard.

Chemical Prevented Scarring In fact, though, this has led to the

whole idea of such inactivation. In Germany, at this time, studies are under way by a scientist named Schlipkoter who has found that administration of a plastic polymer called polyvinyl pyridine-N-oxide administered in animals either before or after inhalation of silica, can prevent the scarring caused by the silica particles. This clearly establishes the principle that even after dust is in the lungs it can be neutralized.

This is why we believe that for every dust, silica, beryllium, asbestos, or coal, we may find chemicals that can inactivate it. What is urgent at this time is that we get 20, 50, 100 scientists to work on the problem to find appropriate chemicals that can neutralize these dusts in your lungs.

John Beardwood

Effects on the Heart Joe DeWit: Does the dust that gets

into our lungs cause any special kind of heart conditions?

Dr. Selikoff: That's a very gocxl question. Let me tell you of two effects

:,."

that dust may have on your heart. First, the right side of your heart pumps blood through the lungs in order that it pick up oxygen. The blood then returns to the heart and is pumped to the rest of the body where the oxygen is released. When the lungs are scarred, your heart has to pump that much harder, sometimes so hard that it fails. This condition is called cor pulmonale. Heart disease caused by the lung.

We used to think that there was not much that we could do for this condition, because the primary cause was in the lung, but in the last 5 years we have learned that there are ways to. strengthen the heart so that it can do its . job.

The second problem is that when the lungs are scarred not enough oxygen enters your blood so the blood which goes to your heart itself doesn't have enough oxygen. Instead of being 95% saturated with oxygen it might only be 70% saturated. The heart must do more work at a time when it is receiving less oxygen, so that a man with ordinary coronary disease has even greater trouble.

As you know, coronary disease is epidemic in our society today. Let me give you some statistics. In the general U.S. population lout of 6 male deaths in non-smokers is caused by coronary disease. In cigarette smokers the number is lout of 3. Twice as many. This is another reason for you to stop smoking. Not only will it reduce the risk of lung cancer but it will reduce your risk of coronary disease, an even more significant cause of death.

Where Do We Start? Barney MacDonald: Most of your

studies were done in the States. Canada seems to be about 5 or 10 years behind. How do we put the pressure on to get some of these things that you have described. We have no ventilation equipment, no masks, no nothing. Where do we start?

Dr. Selikoff: That's the key question ofthe whole afternoon. Where do we start? Who is going to do' what? How is anything going to get done? .Mr. Kirton, would you care to answer that?

Alfred Kirton, International Vice President: Some things are being done. We just had a meeting in Sarnia with some of the contractors. They told me that in 3 different insulation materials they are taking the asbestos out. That's one step. As I understand it,

I

the manufacturers have been given a deadline to get'it out of all insulation materials or they will be banned.

Dr, Selikoff: That's a good answer. May I add to it? There is no reason why insulation workers shouldn't have disposable masks on the job. They cost less than a dollar a day to use. There is no reason °that you people should be inhaling any of the other dusts in insulation materials. There is calcined diatomaceous earth in insulation materials which can also produce lung scarring. Fibrous glass is another material that shouldn't enter your lungs. It has been shown to produce cancer in animals just like asbestos. You shouldn't have to breathe in any mineral materials. They belong in pipe covering, not in your lungs.

Secondly, is there any reason why every power saw should not be exhausted when an effective dust collector costs only $350.00. The jobs you're· working on cost tens of thousands of dollars. Is there any reason w,hy asbestos cement shouldn't be supplied in plastic bags so that it can be mixed without creating dust? These things may cost a little bit more money but, if all the employers have to do them, it simply adds to the cost of the job and no one is at a disadvantage. Especially you.

Here your International is doing a bang up jobo It has appointed a full time man to work on the problems of health hazards. Roy Steinfurth, formerly business agent of Local 45 in Toledo, now has the job of coordinating all health activities in the International and I am sure he will be able to help you people here in Canada get the things

. done that you need to make the workplace safe.

The employers are not our enemy. They are in this with you and to the

extent possible activity on qealth problelT!s should be joint activity. Their cooperation can certainly be beneficial in solving health problems.

Joe DeWit

Clean lJp lVecessary Joe DeWit: I think one of the main

problems that we have comes from ourselves. If you're working on a job and you start to clean up, the foreman might come by and say, "Look, you're not paid to clean up you're paid to put covering on pipes." So you leave the dust on t)1e floor and meanwhile you're walking through it all the time.

Dr. Selikoff: You're right. Not only do we have to clean up the jobs, in some cases we also have to clean up our minds. The foreman sees dirt on the ground and knows that it will go away tomorrow or the next day. He doesn't think of 20 or 30 years from now when the dust that got into your lungs can cause trouble. That's the problem with all of us, wedon't feel the urgency over something that will happen 30 years from now. We must get to the point that good housekeeping is automatic, so that it is not left up to the foreman.

Jry Lunn: I have the same problem as Stan Roos. I find that I can work in any dust except fibrous glass. If I work with that for 4 or 5 hours my lungs would begin to hemorrhage.

Dr. Selikoff: Yes, we have found tha.t in other circumst;mces fibrous glass can be irritating.

The Lung Clears Up Paul Pasztor: If a person has been

smoking for 10-15 years, how long will it be before his lung clears up?

Dr. Selikoff: TheAmerican Cancer Society has some good information on this. Not much change happens the first

year, but every year thereafter the risk goes down until after 10 years or so your risk is nearly back to normal. The risk is then about the same as someone who never smoked at all. While it may take 10 years for you to get back to the level of non smokers, the 10 years has to begin sometime. I suggest that it begins now. .

Joe Berlasty: What's the average life expectancy of a pipe coverer?

Dr. Selikoff: For a male child born " in the United States or Canada the odds ~ are that he will live about 68 years. For a man 20 the life expectancy will be a 0" little longer. He will live on average to ::, age 70. The odds are that a man of 40 will live to age 72. A man of 70 will be expected to live to the age of 81. So when you calculate life expectancy it must always be age specific.

It even becomes more complicated because you must do this for each calendar year. For example, a man of age 40 today has a different life expectancy than a man age 40 in 1950. Taking into accout all these factors we have found that the average life expectancy at any age for a pipe coverer is about 15% less than some one in the general population. This is a result of past asbestos exposure but it also will be the case in thefP.ture unless something is done about work conditions. Something has to be done because a pipe coverer should be able to live his full life span.

Significant Benefits Ron Aldham: If I would quit

smoking and wear a mask would my life expectancy become longer?

Dr. Selikoff: Yes. To stop smoking will bring significant benefits. Firstly, it will decrease your risk of having a coronary. Secondly, within a few years your risk of lung cancer will also decrease. Thirdly, it will reduce the pro-_ gression of asbestosis. Finally,.. '" wearing a mask,will prevent any more .~;:.

dust from entering your lungs. There-fore it can only help you to -stop ;. smoking and to wear a respirator.

However, one thing that we have found is that mesothelioma is not associated with smoking and often is not associated with extensive asbestos exposures. What is needed, at this time, is considerable research by many scientists in many centers to obtain a cure for this disease.

Here, as well as in the area of dust inactivation, your International is now beginning to take steps to stimulate

(Continued on eighth page)

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(Continued from seventh page)

scientific activity and to put pressure on the American government and the Canadian government to support scientists to find answers to these questions.

Barney McDonald

Does Exercise Help? Barney MacDonald: Do the fibers

that get into your lung cause scars if you are more active? If you're active do they do more scraping?

Dr. Selikoff: No. Physical activity will have little effect upon the amount of scarring that takes place. Most of the fibers are within cells and there is no scraping as such. In fact, chemical processes, perhaps even more than physical processes, seem to be important in the production of lung scarring. So you can dO'all the exercise you want so long as you don't overdo it. It can only be beneficial to you.

Unidentified Questioner: On the issue of the 10 years it takes to get back to normal if you stop smoking, will exercise reduce that time?

Dr. Selikoff: I think it could help. if you're short of breath because of scarring though, don't try to do too much because excessive exercise can put an additional strain on your heart. It is already doing extra work to pump blood through scarred lungs.

What Type X-Rays? Byron Geddes: Usually the X-rays

that are taken in these buses that come around are on small films, about 2 or 3 inches in size. Are they good enough to see the changes that can be produced by asbestos?

Dr. Selikoff: No. 70mm X-rays are not suitable for pipe coverers. What you need is a regular 14 x 17 inch full size X-ray.

John Beardwood: Are the results of the X-rays that are taken by the Province given to the employers?

Dr. J. E. CowIe, Ontario Environmental Health Department: I wouldjust like to say that we absolutely do not use small X-ray films on pipe coverers. All our mobile units are equipped to take the standard 14 x 17 inch X-rays and this is what is used on all asbestos workers.

Additionally, let me as~ure you that we do not send confidential medical information to any of the employers, only to you or to your Doctor, if you wish.

Pulmonary Function /'(1 easurements

Larry Graham

Larry Graham: When we go for our X-rays, we also have to blow into this device and do it as hard as we can. What is the purpose of this?

Dr. Selikoff: That instrument is designed to show two things. Firstly, it determines how much air you can take into your lung. It measures what is called your pulmonary vital capacity.

Secondly, by measuring how fast you can blow the air out of your lungs, it tells us something about your airway passages, if they are obstructed or have other problems. .

X-rays and pulmonary function measurements are both important. Often one is not enough, it doesn't tell the whole story. Sometimes people who have great difficulty breathing have "normal" X-rays, and other times people with no breathing difficulty have terrible X-rays. We have to look ~ the whole picture of each individual.

Joe Mathews: The average M.D. may not. be too familiar with our problems. Is there a place in Toronto we can go for good diagnosis of asbestos disease?

Dr. Selikoff: I refer that question to Dr. CowIe.

Dr. CowIe: Our office is open to you at anytime. On occasions we have even

had physicians, a pulmonary function technician and an X-ray technician available on Saturday. We would be glad to help you in any way we can.

J~ Mathews

How Often a Check-Up? Joe Mathews: Dr. Selikoff said that

it might be useful for people twenty or thirty years in the trade to have a check-up every 3 months or every 6 months. Could we arrange that through your office?

Dr. CowIe: Yes. Dr. Selikoff: If you will recall, the

suggestion of a 3 to 6 month examination interval was for those pipe coverers who had 20 years in the trade and who had a history of cigarette smoking. Young fellows do not need examinations nearly as often.

Bob Parsons: What is the effect of the fumes from some of these adhesives?

Dr. Selikoff: We ]:lave very little information on the long term effects of these materials. However, many of the adhesives can poison the nerves of the brain. They act as a narcotic and affect you the same way as does alcohol. So affected, men have a much greater chance of accidents on the job or in driving home from work.

How Do We Change The Law? Unidentified Questioner: What can

be done to change the laws in Canada so that we can get better conditions?

Dr Selikoff: That is a very good question. I am sure Dr. COWIe can answer it.

Dr. CowIe: There is only one way you can change the law and that is to go to the men that make the law. Go to your local member of Parliament. Let him know what your problems are. That's where you are going to find the solution.

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Environmental Sciences laboratory

Ol.ll'lTSI'v.

~TM ~o 1l~1l J


°lOFt.\t.Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Duncan Holaday of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program listens to comments of William Carlisle of Local 42 on the suitability of disposable overalls.

Asbestos Workers Like pisposable Overalls

Field trials by members of Local 42, \Vilmington, Delaware, of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers have shovln that well made disposable overalls are the most acceptable and suitable means of preventing asbestos contamination of work clothes.

The trials were made on June 5, 1973 of garments made of E. 1. Dupont de Nemours and Company's Tyvek material. Tyvek is an extremely durable synthetic material that can easily be sewn into garments of any desired style.

Through arrangements made by Rodney Santa Barbara, Business Agent of Local 42, wear tests were conducted and worker interviews obtainerl at a nearby power plant construction site. The overalls of the Tyvek material were supplied through the cooperation of Mr. H. Glenn White of Dupont's -Textile Fihers Department. The tests were conducted by Duncan Holaday and Dr. William J. Nicholson of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Re-

search Program. The results of the trial indicated that

over 80% of the workers interviewed preferred the use of the Tyvek overalls, supplied by the employer, to the use of any other type of work dothes that required laundering at home.

One problem encountered in these tests, and one that confronts the use of any overgarment, is that overalls can be too hot to wear during summer months or during work on or near hot lines. In the Wilmington trials the temperature reached 94° with an accompanying high humidity: Under these conditions most of the men found the overalls too hot. However, these cond'itions were extreme and during most of the year temperatures would be more suitable for the use of the overalls.

Disposable overalls have been discussed in prior issues of Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports and they have been widely used in some industries. However, there were drawbacks in those which were available. They

(Conrinued on fourth page)

Irving J. Selikoff.

Vol. 5 No.3

M.D.. Program Director

$-7 Fall 1973

Approved Respirators

Highly Effective

Tests conducted by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program on the three disposable respirators recommended for use by insulation workers have demonstrated that all three are highly effective in filtering asbestos fibers.

The tests were conducted by generating a dust cloud of asbestos cement containing over 50% chrysotile fiber in an aerosol chamber at the Haskell Laboratory of the E. 1. Dupont de Nemours Company in Wilmington, Delaware.

The asbestos concentration in the chamber exceeded by several hundred times those typically encountered in insulation work. Air from this chamber was drawn through sections of the filter material cut from the following respirators:

3 M Company Model 8710 Welsh Mfg. Co. Model 7165 American Optical Co. Model

R1050 In all cases the filter materials proved

to be at least 99.9% efficient. Both optical microscopic and elec

tron microscopic 'analysis were performed on a sample of the air which passed through the filters. These analyses checked the effectiv~ness of the filters for even the smallest of asbestos fibers.

These tests conducted by the IIHRP are important, as the Bureau of Mines uses only silica and coal dust in their approval tests. It has always been assumed that the collection efficiency for asbestos fibers would be as great as for silica. We now know that it indeed is.

While we know the filters to be (Conrinued on second page)

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from the

Insulation Industry Hygiene Research

Program

Editor: W. J. 1'\icholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences

Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New '(ork, N.Y.

10029


Irving J. Selikoff, M. D. Program Director

and Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice Presi

dent, American Cancer Society, New

York, N.Y.

Andrew Haas, General President, Interna

tional Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers,

Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph. D. Vice President,

Research and Development, Johns

Manville Corporation, Denver, Colo.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation w,orkers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work.



highly efficient in the respirators tested, the face seals that can be obtained are much less effective. These respirators passed an approval schedule that required only 90% of the dust to be excl uded by the face seal. Your choice of a respirator should thus be based on the fit that can be achieved on your face and comfort during use. You don't have to worry about - fibers penetrating the fil ter.

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Mrs. Anne Mackler of the Environmental Sciences Laboratory of Mount Sinai School of Medicine collecting settled dust from the stairway near which asbestos contaminated work clothes were hung in tl',;, huiU:::. Above her shoulder is located an air sampling unit.

Household Contamination is a Serious Problem

Control of insulation dusts on the job site is necessary to protect, not only insulation workers, but also members of their families.

Special concern for the family members of insulators has recently developed because of the finding of a lung tumor in the nine year old daughter of a New Jersey Union member. The tumor was localized and successfully removed by surgery.

Asbestos Found in Lung Electron microscopic analysis at the

Environmental Sciences Laboratory of Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the tissue removed from the lung showed significant amounts of chrysotile asbestos and diatomaceous earth to be present, much in excess of what is typically found in a child of nine. Both chrysotile and diatomaceous earth. are common components of insulation material.

The existence of the tumor and the finding of insulation material in the lung in this isolated case does not demonstrate that these fibers and particles necessarily caused the tumor. Chrysotile asbestos, albeit in lower amounts, is found in the lungs of many individuals, children, as well as adults,who have had no direct or indi-

rect association with asbestos products. Nevertheless, because of the rarity

of such tumors in children, this particular case does give one pause. It was a

. similar single isolated case· of lung cancer described in the medical literature in 1935 that first pointed to the risk of such disease in asbestos workers.

Air Samples Collected Samples of the air and specimens of

settled dust from the room of the child' and elsewhere in the home were collected by Mrs. Anne Mackler and Dr. Arthur Rohl of the Environmental Sciences Laboratory. The analysis of these samples showed significant amounts of asbestos to be present in the. child's bedroom and in the basement play area near where the husband's work clothes were hung and where these clothes were laundered.

In a more extensive sampling program of a variety of asbestos workers' homes, including those of mill workers, asbestos has universally been found to be present, usually in concentrations much higher than those of the above case. Chrysotile air concentrations may range from 100 times to over 1000 times those found in general city air.

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High Dust Levels Found

in Homes

While these home concentrations are high, the dust levels are still much less than those in occupational circumstances. -However, since the exposure of people at home can be for longer periods of time, elevated levels may be important.

Children at Risk Children may be especially at risk

from low level asbestos contamination. The fibers that enter their lungs at an early age can remain in their tissues to do damage throughout their lifetime. Moreover, the possibility cannot be ruled out that tissues of children, especially infants, may be more sensitive than those of adults.

Two reports in the medical literature have also indicated the existence of a health hazard to the family members of asbestos workers. In a 1965 study of all cases of mesothelioma found in the pathology files of the London Hospital, Dr. Muriel Newhouse found that 12% (nine of 76) of the cases were in mem-· bers of families of individuals who worked with asbestos.

The usual history of these family mesothelioma cases was that of a wife who washed her husband's work clothes. Similar results were found in the United States by Drs. J. Lieben and H. Pistawka who described three family cases of mesothelioma in Pennsylvania, one of which was in a three year old child of an engineer who worked in an insulation plant.

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Chrysotile asbestos fibers found in the home air of an asbestos worker. The fibers are magnified 7000 times here.

In each of the above studies cases were also found in individuals who simply lived in the neighborhood of asbestos manufacturing facilities.

Because mesothelioma is such a rare disease in the general population the documentation of these cases has taken on special significance. In the absence of any direct or indirect asbestos exposure, mesothelioma maybe the cause of death in one in 10,000 deaths. In insulation workers and asbestos factory workers nearly one death in 15 is from mesothelioma.

These data, the iarity of mesothelioma in the general population and the strong association with asbestos exposure, have allowed scientists to attribute' these family and neighborhood cases to a low, but unknown, level of asbestos exposure.

While the information is absent on the air concentrations at which asbestos disease may occur, it is clear that mineral fiber do no good in human lungs. Every precaution should be taken to prevent their inhalation.

ChrysotiJe asbestos fibers (C) and a fragment of diatomaceous earth (DE) found in the tissue of an insulation worker's daughter who had a lung tumor removed.

~.

/ . .J Diatomaceous earth found in the settled dust of the home of an insulator. The photograph is magnified 7000 times.

At the present time the asbestos insulation worker receives little help in his attempts to prevent asbestos contamination from being carried home. The results of the survey of insulation workerS on the health practices in the industry show that approximately 40CjC of the men work on job sites with no facilities for clothes change available. Between June 7, 1972 and December 6, 1972 only 25% of more than 5,000 Union members routinely had such facilities. (See Table.)

Procedures Available Procedures for preventing the unde

sired movement of materials from the job site to the home are well-known and have been in use for many decades in some industries. In gold and uranium refineries, for example, very effective decontamination procedures are used to

prevent dust from being carried home on workers' clothes.

In some shipyards and asbestos production plants in Great Britain a double locker system is used. All street clothing (including shoes) is deposited in one locker in a clean room and all work clothes kept in a locker in a separate room. Access to' the clean room and a workman's street clothes is only through a shower facility. Periodically all contaminated work clothing is removed from the dirty room and laundered in special facilities.

These provisions are indeed effective but are not suitable on most construction sites or. other transient operations. While less ideal measures must be used, the most important item in preventing spread of contamination is to confine the dust to the job site. If it


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Jack Stevenson participating in the field trials of disposable overalls held in Wilmington, Delaware on June 5.

(Continued from first page) tore easily, if they were inexpensive, or if durable, they were costly.

This problem no longer exists. A variety of manufacturers make dispos-' able overalls of Tyvek and typical costs are about $1.50 per garment. MoreQver, there was little problem with the material tearing in the garments tested. Thus durable, disposable overalls can be obtained at a cost ofless than 2% of that of the employer's wage costs. If uniformly made available by contractors in an area, such costs can simply be included in any contract es-

timate. Laboratory tests also indicated the

suitability of Tyvek overalls for insulation work. Tests were conducted by IIHRP and Dupont personnel at Dupont's Haskell Laboratory for Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology to measure the penetration of asbestos

. fibers through Tyvek and other material and to determine the adhesion of fibers to the material.

The results of these laboratory tests showed the Tyvek material to be relatively resistant to the penetration of asbestos fibers from insulation material.

Glenn White and Const2Ilce Eddy of E. 1. Dupont de Nemours and Company participating in the laboratory test of the overall material.

Moreover, in contrast to wool or cotton garments, it was found that asbestos fibers will not readily adhere to Tyvek garments.

One disposable overall has been tested and found suitable under appropriate temperature conditions. Others, perhaps equally suitable, may also exist. While not the perfect answer to the problem of bringing asbestos and other insulation dusts home on work clothes, disposable overalls are the most practical solution at this time. What now must be accomplished is to make their availability widespread.

As the temperature mounted to ?4° during the field trials of the disposable overalls some soon became indeed disposable.

(Continued from third page) doesn't even reach the change area, it isn't going any farther.

The best available way to accomplish this is for workmen to wear coveralls which can be removed on the job and disposed of with other construction waste. This practice, together with the availability of change rooms and strict attention to their clean up, will go far towards eliminating household contamination.

Asbestos Worker Questionnaire Repiies

Facilities and supplies for clothes change were available:

All the time (100%) .••.••..••..••....•... 1291 Usuaiiy (50-75% of the time ) ....•... 940 Occasionaiiy (1-49% of the time) .. 872 Never (0%) •..•...•••........•.•••........•.. 1964

Environment.ef Sciences Laboratory

O\J~TSt..,.

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~t~ INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

O{OF~~Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEAR.CH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Physical Examinations Are Important for Workers

Several inquiries from Asbestos Workers Locals have been received as to what type of physical e:w.mination is appropriate for insulators. One such letter was written by William H. Duessel, Chairman of the Health and Safety Committee of Local 2. Because of the interest in the question, this issue contains his letter and Dr. Selikoff s response to it.

Dear Dr. Selikoff: Through talking to some of the members of our brother locals, it seems

that all of the locals are taking different types of examinations. Could you publish the minimum types of tests that should be taken for a complete and thorough examination and, if possible, explain the importance of taking the examination?

I have heard a few different reasons for not taking the examination. One of the strangest is that one of our members felt that by taking the examination, it would stir up or activate the condition. Ifmany of our brothers felt this way, I could see where it would be very difficult to persuade them to take the examination.

I want to thank you for all the assistance that you have given me and wishing you the best in everything that you undertake, I remain

Sincerely yours,

By Irving 1. Selikoff Director, JIHRP

It is reasonable to expect that different Asbestos Workers' locals will have different types of examinations. In part, this may be due to variation in facilities available to them. In other instances, locals may combine work-related examinations with those for general medical care.

Nevertheless, as you suggest, examinations associated with work hazards require a number of specific tests. Our experiences indicate that the following are needed:

A. Which tests should be included? 1. CheST X-ray

This should be of good quality s.ince the type of scarring found in asbestos workers is often fine and can be missed

William H. Duessel, Chairman Health and Safety Committee Local 2, Pittsburgh

if the film is improperly made. Small films of a type sometimes taken by survey units are inadequate. Regular fuIIsized X-rays are essential.

The films should be kept on file in a designated facility, and each year's films compared with those taken before. Sometimes such comparison is the most important part of X-ray interpretation. All previous films should be obtained, if possible.

Competent evaluation is, of course, needed. Otherwise the X-rays don't help much. How this is achieved will vary in each case. Sometimes a radiologist will undertake the responsibility, either in his office, or in a hospital or clinic. We have also seen very competent analysis by interested practicing internists or family physicians, or


Irving J. Sellkoff, M.O~

Vol. 5 No.4

Program Director

Winter 1973

Risks Present in Spraying

Polyurethanes Polyurethane foams are used as in

sulating materials either as preformed shapes or by mixing the· ingredients at the job-site. An increasing proportion of these foams are applied by spraying the material onto the surface immediately after mixing. Such operations require strict controls to prevent serious acute or long-term injuries to workers.

The most hazardous agents involved in production of polyurethane foams are toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and diphenlymethane diisocyanate (MDI) of which TDI is the most widely used. The present Threshold Limit Value (TL V) for both these compounds is 20 parts per billion. This value is so low that of over 400 compounds for which TL V s are listed, only two have lower values. This concentration is well below the odor threshold, so the sense of smell cannot be relied upon forwaming. Moreover, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has recommended an even lower standard for TDI of 5 parts per billion for an eight-hour time-weighted exposure. Here, an excursion to 20 parts per billion for no more than 20 minutes is suggested.. (':I

Acute effects that may be manifest from TDI or MDI exposures are burning and irritation of the nose and throat, severe bronchitis, and general chest pain. Headaches, insomnia and acute neurological or mental disturbances may also occur. Long-term effects may include an increasing sensitization to the vapors, with a resulting propensity to asthma like attacks and progressive respiratory difficulty. The effects, when severe, can even result in death.

The recommended TL Vs for TDI and MDI are so low that during spraying of polyurethane foams, effective


..

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Vol. 5 No.4 Winter 1973

from the

Insulation Industry Hygiene Research

Program

Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff. M.D .• Director). Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York. N.Y.

10029

Advisory Council of I1HRP

Irving J. Selikoff. M.D. Program Director

and Chairman·

E. Cuyler Hammond. Sc.D .• Vice President. American Cancer Society, New

York. N.Y.

Andrew Haas. General President, Interna

tional Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. Washington, D.C.·

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President. Research and Development, Johns

Manville Corporation, Denver. Colo.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation. advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

Shipyard Health Conference To Be Held in Los Angeles

Health problems associated. with shipbuilding, ship repair and ship dismantling will be discussed at an International Shipyard Health Conference. to be held from December 13-15 in Los Angeles, at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. The conference is being sponsored by the Society for Occupational and Environmental Health.

The Chairman of the conference will be Dr. John Goldsmith of the California State Department of Health. Other participants include Dr. Hector Blejer, also of the California State Department of Health; Dr. Benjamin Ferris of the Harvard School of Public Health; and Rear Admiral Philip Geib and Captain George Lawton of the United States Navy Medical Corps.

They' will be joined by colleagues from as far away as France, Australia, government as the conference examines the varied problems of shipyard health. The participation of experts from as far away as Japan, Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. many of them representing government' agencies in their home countries, will assure the conference of a truly international scope.

An entire session will be devoted to a

panelists for this session will be Drs. Irving Selikoff and Ruth Lilis of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Mr. Duncan Holaday will represent the IIHRP elsewhere in the program.

Mr. Webster Ay, of Local 20-IAHFIA W, has been very active in the planning of the conference and will be a member of several panels, as well. Labor will be further represented by members of Los Angeles area locals, as the conference will present some excellent opportunities for rank-and-file participation, not only in the general sessions. but in such smaller workshop groups as "Labor's Role in Shipyard Health" and "Education and Information. "

Other features of the program include: descriptions of controlled procedures in effect or using asbestos in United States and other nations shipyards; a separate session devoted to the problems of noise, inhalation of metal fumes, heat stress and strain, marine gas hazards and the psychiatric complications of injury; and a session devoted to the health implications of recent technological innovations in the industry. The conference has received support from several sources inclUding the Health Hazard Fund of the Asbestos

discussion of asbestos exposure and its Workers Union. related problems, and among the

Health problems associated with asbestos exposure in shipbuilding ant! ship repairing operations will be a major topic of discussion at the International Shipyard Health Conference. Here a member of Local 62 is shown applying insulation in an engine room (photo courtesy of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard).

.- .,. '.

Several Tests Useful for Insulators


city or state (or provincial, in Canada) physicians, and others.

A ·single X-ray, ("posteroanterior") usually suffices. Sometimes, additional views ("lateral", "oblique") or special X-rays (such as "tomograms") are utilized, but these are suggested infrequentl y.

To summarize: -A single X-ray -Save all X-rays for comparison -Competent evaluation

2. A careful medical history A skilled physician can, often with

only a relatively few questions, ascertain whether important symptoms are. present, and require more extended testing. Examinations which do not include a physician's review are inappropriate jar asbestos workers. Questions are included regarding general health, smoking, and symptoms likely to be associated with adverse exposures. We have developed a suitable questionnaire for this purpose and it is available for use by other physicians.

The questions should include details of work history, especially when work was first begun, and those related to smoking habits. The answers to these questions provide much guidance. 3. Physical examinations

This will vary, as noted above. At the least, it should include lungs, mouth, fingers, neck glands, blood pressure, and, if possible, abdomen. When the hands are looked at, the physician will also be generaIIy able to spot any early signs of rheumatoid arthritis.

Lungs are, of course, most important, not only for sounds related to dust exposure (fine crackles called "dIes") but for effects of cigarette smoking which may add additional burdens.

"Finger clubbing"-thickening of the fingertips-should be looked for. \Vhile in itself not serious, this sometimes gives a physician a clue to other things. It is fairly common, and generally not of serious import.

Enlarged glands, sores in the mouth, arthritis, or abdominal changes are not often seen. 4. Laboratory tests

Whatever their pertinence for general medical care, we have so far found little value in the extended "batteries of

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In the assessment of an Asbestos Worker's health there is no substitute for the qualified physician.

blood tests" or "automated laboratory blood tests" that are often offered to groups of asbestos workers concerned with work hazard problems.

Two basic tests have proven useful: a sjmple blood count to ascertain if anemia is present (there could be unsuspected internal bleeding) and a routine urine test. 5. Lung function tests

There are many sophisticated and complicated tests available. In general, they are not required for routine surveillance and examination and should be reserved for research purposes or for more extended study in special cases.

Simple, standard tests as "vital capacity" or "forced expiratory volumes" in specific time sequences give enough information, in the very large majority of instances. They are easy to do, take little time, are reliable and inexpensive.

Records of results should be kept, since very often changes in lung function over periods of time are more significant than the actual levels measured.

B. How often should examinations be made?

There is a tendency to recommend "annual examinations." In general, this is not a bad idea.

But there are exceptions. We see few changes of consequence in the first ten years after starting work and examinations every two or three years will suffice. This will serve to identify the unusual person who, because of poorly understood individual reaction, shows abnormality much earlier than other people. He should leave the trade and have special care from "then on. Such instances, it may be said, are very unusual, but the examination schedule should insure that they are found.

From 10 to 20 years from onset of work, once-a-year examinations are adequate, as they continue to be for people with no history of cigarette

smoking even after that point. Cigarette smokers-not pipe or cigar

smokers-are another matter. After 15 years of work, it is probably better that they be examined, especially X-rayed, every six months, according to our most recent data.

In addition to scheduled examinations, any unusual symptoms should lead to an interval study as well. Important symptoms include chest pain, soreness or discomfort; abdominal discomfort, indigestion or change in bowel habits; variations in cough or any difficulty in breathing; sores or similar lesions which do not heal, or any swelling which persists.

Indeed, it is better to check out any change from normal health, even such indefinite symptoms as unexplained weakness, easy fatigue, weight loss, inadequate energy. Very often, the latter are found to be due to tension, worry or nervousness. However, a nervous man or one under pressure can also have something physically wrong with him and it is just as well to have an examination. In such circumstances, one might add, a general medical survey is often in order, in addition to examinations aimed at possible workrelated problems.

C. Retired members Leaving the trade either·temporarily

or permanently is no reason to omit the examinations described above. All pipecoverers should plan to remain under medical surveillance for the rest of their lives, whether or not they continue insulation work.

D. Who should do the examinations? Each local should select a local

physician or medical facility. The key ingredients are concern, competence, continued interest, good record keeping, adequate equipment, and confidence. Experience with Asbestos Workers' problems, if not already at

(Collfinued 011 fourth page)

·r

Protection Required During Foam Spraying


personal protection is absolutely necessary. The NIOSH criteria document specifies the respirators which are required for various situations. A summary of these recommendations follows:

1. Workers applying materials containing TDI by spray, pour or froth operations shall wear Type C continuous-flow, supplied-air, positive-pressure impervious hoods (approved under 30CFR12). All others within 1 0 f~t of the operation shall also wear such equipment-

2. Full-face gas masks with, an organic vapor cartridge and a particulate filter (30CFR13) may be worn at distances greater than 10 feet if it has been shown that the atmospheric concentration of TDI does not exceed 100 times the time-weighted average for continuous work or 100 times the ceiling value for work of 20 minutes or more.

3. For emergency use where the concentration may exceed 1000 times the time-weighted average, selfcontained breathing apparatus (30CFRll) is recommended.

Full-facepiece respirators or impervious hoods are recommended both because of the high degree of protection required and the irritating action ofTDI on the eyes.

If adequate protection is to be ob-o tained with all these respirators, the

wearers must be instructed in their use and the devices fitted to each wearer to insure that a proper facepiece seal exists. The devices must be regularly cleaned, inspected and maintained. If not, valves will become defective and leak, and face pieces will develop cracks and pinholes. Of vital importance, canisters must be replaced regularly. Remember, the odor threshold for TDI is below the ceiling value. Do not wait until you smell the vapor before changing canisters.

Where there is any likelihood of skin contact with liquid TDI, impervious protective clothing is required. It is recommended that these clothes be cleaned inside and out after each use. Other workers within 10 feet of spray operations, or at greater distances when there is the possibility of spray drift, should also be equipped with impervi-

Confidentiality of Medical Records Must Be Maintained

(Continued from third page)

hand, can rapidly be gained. Personal access to the physician helps considerably. Further, the physician or facility responsible for the examination should be prepared to share the results and maintain contact with workers' personal physicians.

Select the proper local physicians or facilities and stick to them; they will be valuable resources for health care.

E. Biopsy The question is often asked whether

lung biopsy is necessary to be sure of the nature and cause of lung scarring that may be present. Usually, it is not. The X-ray changes in insulation workers' films are generally sufficiently characteristic to confidently establish the diagnosis. Moreover, biopsy is not without risk. We have seen two deaths in the· past four years as a result of biopsy procedures.

This is not to say that circumstances may not arise in which biopsy is needed, as when there is a suspicion of

ous clothing, gloves and footwear. It is considered that these precau

tionary measures will protect workers who have not become sensitized. Individuals who have become sensitized cannot be exposed to any concentration ofTDI; they should not even be in the vicinity where it is being used.

In addition to polyurethane plastics which are formed at the job-site, preformed shapes are also used for insulation. In these materials the isocyanate' has reacted with the other components and it is expected that no toxic vapors should be released when the blocks are cut.

Health hazards may, nonetheless, exist from exposures to the dust. No studies have been reported of the effects on humans of exposures to these polyurethane dusts. However, one series of animal experiments has shown that rats exposed to polyurethane dusts developed severe emphysema. Dust control measures similar to those recommended for use with materials containing asbestos should therefore be used. Approved, properly fitted dust respirators would give adequate protection.

:.' . :.:.

a lung cancer or other tumor; that is another matter.

F. Confidentiality The results of the examinations

should be a confidential matter between the examining physician and the asbestos worker. At the latter's request, the results may also be made available to his personal physician.

On the other hand, there are good reasons why these personal results should not be given to the employer or, for that matter, to-the Union local. If this possibility exists-that employers or others will know the findings-many workers will avoid examinations, to their potential detriment.

This is not to say that appropriate arrangements cannot be made to provide statistical data reflecting findings in a whole group of men, to help guide work practices. But individual findings should be confidential, known only to the workers and those responsible for their medical care and continuing surveillance.

G. Disadvantages of periodic examinations

Fears that the above examinations will activate problems which may be present are unfounded. One exception has been mentioned, that caution is in order before a lung biopsy is made.

Another possible disadvantage is that minor changes on X-ray or lung function tests will be given exaggerated importance and lead to unwarranted concern. Some X-ray changes are, for example, compatible with a long, normal life. The test results are only part of a whole picture. Instances are seen of fairly exte.nsive X-ray abnormality without any significant disability. (The reverse is, of course, also found.) Nor do such X-ray changes as localized, limited scarring, pleural fibrosis or pleural calcification necessarily portend any coming disaster. Each worker is a law unto himself and all the findings have to be evaluated together.

While it is unwise to ignore findings, at least as a guide to necessary precautions, it is equally wrong to exaggerate a situation. The best guarantee for a balanced judgment rests with capable physicians or medical facilities as outlined before.

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O(OFt,,~Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

at New York Irving J. Selikoff. M.D., Program Director

VetS No.1 l~ Spring 1975

The Asbestos Exposure of Insulation Workmen Extensive information has been de

veloped on the mortality experience of insulation workers. It would, thus, be of considerable value to have quantitative information on the asbestos dust levels to which these workers were exposed. Because of the long lapse period between exposure and clinical appearance of disease, the dust estimates of greatest concern are those of 20,30,40 or more years ago.

While historical data are scant and fragmentary, insulation work practices have changed relatively little, prior to 1970, either in the U. S. or abroad. Thus, measurements taken prior to 1970 will also provide data of use in assessing earlier exposure.

United States Data

The only early work of note is the 1945 study of Fleischer and his colleagues 1 who reported asbestos dust levels during insulation application in four U.S. shipyards. In this study, dust levels were assessed using a konimeter (an instrument widely used at the time but no longer employed), and both total

ASBESTOS STANDARD TO BE REVIEWED

On December 7, 1971 an Asbestos Standard was promulgated that prohibited workmen's eight-hour average asbestos exposures to exceed 5 fibers per milliliter (f/mI) of air. A milliliter is about a thimbleful of air and only fibers longer than five microns (about 1125,000 of an inch) are to be counted. This level is mandated to go to 2 flml during June, 1976.

Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals ordered portions of the current U. S. standard to be reviewed by the Department of Labor. Of interest to insulators, the court specifically stated that in those industries where a dust level of 2 flml was feasible, it should be imptemented before 1976.

Because of this pending review of the standard, a summary of all research 01) the asbestos exposure of insulation workers has been prepared for submission to the Dept. of Labor by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program. Because of the importance of achieving a safe U.S. Asbestos Standard and the interest of asbestos workers in this goal, we are publishing the full report in this issue.

dust levels and fiber levels were recorded. This study gains importance in that one of the yards studied by Fleischer was resurveyed during 1965 and 1966 by personnel of the Department of Industrial Hygiene, Harvard School of Public Health2•3 and a comparison of levels is possible.

During 1964, additional data were published by Marr4 on exposure levels

TABLE I

at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard (Local 20, IAHFIA W). However, detailed numerical data on dust concentrations are only given for particles. If tIbers were present, but the count revealed less than 1 million particles per cubic foot (mppef), they were reported only as a trace., Thus, no average fiber concentrations can be derived from this study. (Continued all page 2)

Shipyard asbestos fiber .concentrations by Konimeter count-1945, 1965-66

A B C (1945) C (1965-66) D fiber conc. fiber COnc. fiber conc. fiber conc. fiber conc.

Yzrd MPPCF .f/m! MPPCF flm! MPPCF f/m! MPPCF f/m! MPPCF f/m!

Shop Acti';ity No. of men exposed (1945) 84 50 51 8 Layout and cutting 0.35 12.4 0.23 8.1 2.2 78 1.76 62 0.63 22 Sewing and fabrication 0.03 1.1 0.1 3.5 0.62 22 0.27 9.5 0.03 1.1 General room air 0.08 2.8 0.01 0.4 0.8 28 0.3 10.6 0.02 0.7

The following shop activities were done at infrequent intervals and involved only one or, at most, two men: Band saw cutting 0.12 4.2 3.0 106 6.19 218 0.7 24.7 Mixing cement 0.2 7.0 1.7 60 3.1 109 0.23 8.1 Scrap grinding 0.47 16.6

Aboard Ship No. of men exposed (1945) A vg. exposure, all activities

Time-Weighted Average Exposure (All fibers visible)

467 0.02 0.7

1.1

700 123 2.8 98 1.1 39 0.17 6.0

90 35

0.01

160 0.03

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1945 Results Available Average Expos~res Low

Table I lists the fiber exposure data . obt?,ined from over 200 dust counts by Fleischer in 1945 and also those obtained by Murphy3 during 1965 and 1966. Using data supplied on the number of individuals engaged in ,the various work actlVJtIeS, a timeweighted (actually man-weighted) average asbestos exposure is calculated.

A detailed analysis of the results, however, presents difficulties. In each yard, a worker's average exposure was dominated by insulation activities aboard ship. For such activities, the average asbestos dust levels reported in


Vol. 6 No.1 Spring 1975 from the


Editor: W. J .. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, N.Y.

10029


Irving 1. Selikoff, M.D. Program Director

and Chairman E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice Presi

dent, American Cancer Society, New

York, N.Y. Andrew Haas, General President, Interna· tional Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers,

Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D. Vice President, Research and Development, Johns

Manville Corporation, Denver, Colo.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure ofinsulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work.

2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be

applied advantageousI'y and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

the different shipyards varied by nearly orie hundred times .

It should be recognized that these fiber counts represent all fibers enumerated in the field of view of a konimeter. These would include fibers perhaps as short as 1.5 microns. Supplementary data5 on the size distribution of amosite aerosols in shipyards suggest that this overestimates the number of fibers longer than five ::Y..!srons by a factor of two.

Taking this factor into account, the average of the eight-hour concentrations of fibers longer than five microns in the four U.S. shipyards studied by Fleischer in 1945 would be from 15 to 20 fibers per milliliter (f/mI). It must be emphasized, however, that such averages are highly subjective and depend strongly upon the vagaries of the particular work practices selected for sampling and conditions present at that time.

Similar considerations would yield a value of 4 flml for the shipyard survey by Murphy in 1965-66.

New Techniques Used

The first research that quantified asbestos insulation exposures using membrane filter techniques was that of Balzer and Cooper published in 1968 6

and extended in a report at the Dresden Conference on the Biological Effects of Asbestos in 1969. i

Their initial publication, however, enumerated fiber concentrations in marine and commercial insulation work in terms of all visible 'fibers, including those shorter than five microns. The later subsequent publication also provided data on fiber concentrations longer than five microns. Table 2 summarizes these results.

Using the information provided on

dust concentrations and the percentage oftime a worker is engaged in a particularpractice, a time-weighted average of 2.7 flml was obtained for exposures during asbestos insulation work in light and heavy construction, and 6.6 flml in marine construction and repair.

Cooper and Balzer noted that at the time of their study, approximately 55% of the work time of insulation workers was spent using materials other than asbestos. Thus, eight-hour timeweighted average exposures for asbestos workers during 1968 in the western United States would have averaged less than 1.5 flml in light and hea~y construction. Moreover, it is noteworthy that Cooper and Balzer state their samples were' "deliberately taken under conditions where the highest dust concentrations representative of a particular job were being developed. "

Union Cooperation Obtained

The environmental evaluation of insulation work that was undertaken by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine under the auspices of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program5 revealed asbestos air concentrations somewhat higher than those measured by Balzer and Cooper. Again using information supplied by union members and from observation of work practices, estimates were made of the percentage oftime workmen were engaged in various activities in commercial and industrial construction.

The information on measured asbestos air concentrations obtained during these work activities is shown in Table 3. They were used as indicated to arrive at the estimated time-weighted average exposure of about 6 flml for insulators when working with asbestos.

On the average, in the eastern United

TABLE II

Asbestos fiber concentrations by membrane filter techniques Light and Heavy Marine Construction

Industrial and Repair F1bersfcc F1berslcc

Percentage mean mean Job of work with All Length All Length

Classification asbestos Lengths > 5p. Lengths > 5p.

Prefabrication 10% 10.1 6.6 30.4 20.0 Application 40% 12.4 8.0 24.8 16.8 Mixing 5% 2.4 1.6 10.6 7.1 Finishing 30% 2.7 1.8 1.8 1.2 Tearing Out 10% 12.8 8".4 31.5 20.2 General 5% 0.8 .5 .2 0.1

Time-Weighted Average Exposure 4.1 2.7 9.9 6.6

1·

IIHRP Results Reported States during the 1960's, over half of the work activities of these men were with materials other than asbestos. Thus, the over eight-hour timeweighted average asbestos exposure was approximately 3 flml.

In the research that led to these data, it was reported that peak exposures could be extremely high. It was not uncommon, for example, for two to five-minute concentrations of asbestos to range between 50 flml and 100'f/m! during the mixing of cement. This mixing, however, would consume only a few minutes time and be done perhaps once an hour. Thus', exposures measured over that hour, including the mixing, would seldom average over 5 flml.

Peak High, Average Low

Similar experiences were subsequently reported by Cooper8 at Lyon who stated that, "Peak concentrations may be high for brief periods, while time-weighted averages are often deceptively low."

In a continuation of the work of the Department of Industrial Hygiene of Harvard University in assessing asbestos exposure in Naval Shipyards, Ferris et at:! reported on the results obtained by J. Lynch and W. Burgess from 81

shipyard asbestos air samples taken during 1969 . Using fiber counting techniques they determined a mean asbestos concentration of 0.3 flml in land fabrication shops and 2.9 f/m! in shipboard installation work.

3 Jlml Exposure

Three research programs in the United States point to the conclusion that the time-weighted average exposure of insulators between 1965 and 1969 was less than 3 fibers longer than five microns per milliliter.

We have direct information on asbestos fiber concentrations, measured using the currently prescribed analysis procedures, during recent years only. Insulation materials have changed from earlier years. Fibrous glass has found exten~ive use while work with cork is seldom seen today. Moreover, changes in the asbestos composition of insulation products have taken place. Pipe covering and insulation block may have had twice the asbestos content in past years as exists today.

During this' period, however, work practices were virtually identical to those of past years and during the period of those measurements, few controls of significance were in use.

TABLE III

Asbestos concentrations during various wor* practices

Type of Work

Mixing and Applying Cement and ~ .. poth Covering to Insulation

Material Good Ventilation Poor Ventilation

Cutting and Applying Insulation Block or Sections of Pipe Covering

Good Ventilation Poor Ventilation

Pre-Fabrication work including Cutting Materials for later use

Measured FIber Concentration

(f/mI) (greater than

5 microns)

2.5 4.6

5.2 11.5

7.6

Time-weighted average = 535/85 = 6.3 flml

Percentage of TIme Practice Occurs When Column One

Asbestos is times Used Column Two

17.5 44 17.5 81

20 104 20 230

10 7,6

535

The above practices, which occupy 85% of the work time in asbestos insulation work, give rise to a time-weighted average exposure of 6.3 f/m!. As the majority of the other activities of insulation work (supervision. collection of materials. movement and installation of equipmont. etc.) are relatively clean, the overall exposure may be lower. (In the U.S .. sweeping and dusty cleanup are done by members of the Laborers Union.)

In a review of work activities in commercial and industrial construction. it was found that little removal of insulation was conducted and asbestos spray applications were very rarely undertaken by insulators. (Asbestos workers applied spray insulations only to powerhouSi! turbines.) It is estimated that less than two or three percent of nonmarine insulation worx by members of the Asbestos WOrXers Union is in these continuously dusty operations. Even if average exposures here were 50 f/ml and the men wore no respirators, their overall average eXfX>sure would be increased only to 7 flml when working with asbestos.

Insulators StilI Exposed to Asbestos

While much of new insulation material contains no asbestos, pipe-coverers may still be exposed to high asbestos concentrations during removal and demolition. In such work, safe procedures and personal protective equipment must be used. Thus, obtaining an effective and safe Asbestos Standard remains of paramount importance.

Thus, dust concentrations measured under these conditions have relevance for the estimate of levels Elf past years.

Considering the possible doubling of asbestos content of insulation materials and considering that workers may have used asbestos materials more often in the past 'than now, the data from these three studies would suggest that the upper limit on insulator'S exposures in the United States during past years would be about 10 f/m!.

British Data

At the Devonport Naval Dockyard in Plymouth, England, extensive measurements of asbestos dust concentrations during the application and removal of insulation aboard ship have been reported by Harries. 10 These are listed in Table 4. During the application of insulation material, fiber concentrations from 2.1 to 22.4 flml were found, not unlike those found in U.S. studies.

However, during the removal ofpipe and machinery insulation, mean dust concentration in various compartments ranged from 88 to 257 f/m!, and in the removal of sprayed croci do lite asbestos, fiber concentrations ranged from 20 to 500 f/m!, with short-term breathing zone samples showing concentrations ex'ceeding 1000 f/m!. Moreover, the spread of asbestos from the site of removal can be extensive. Concentrations of 30 f/m! were found at hatchway openings to decks from the area of crocidolite stripping.

High Dust During Ripout

Additionally, short-term fiber concentrations measured during the variety of specific application and removal techniques are reported. High levels, . exceeding 200 flml, occurred while mixing asbestos cement. The cleaning of debris (I55 f/ml) and the sawing (55 f/ml), fitting (43 f/ml) , or removing (52 f/ml) of calcium silicate sections also produced high dust concentrations.

A subsequent publication by Harries ll of long-term area sampling in var-

;.

, -.

.»

· Adequacy of Standard Quest!oned ious circumstances indicated a mean' concentration of 226 f/m! during the removal of spray; of 152 flml during the removal of pipe insulation; and of 8.9 flml during the application of pipe lagging.

As with the Mount Sinai research ·and the Balzer-Cooper study, shortterm dust concentrations during specific insulation practices can be extremely high, while samples taken over long peiiods of time yield concentrations that are relatively low when compared with current and past asbestos stan·dards.

Summary

Studies on asbestos concentrations from 1965 through 1971 by five different research groups in two countries are summarized in Table 5, along with estimates made of earlier insulation as-

bestos exposures. They indicate that recent average exposures of insulation workers to asbestos are from 3 to 9 f/m! when working with asbestos.

As asbestos workers in the United States in the period these measurements were taken used asbestos materials in their work less than 50% of the time, their eight-hour average exposure to asbestos was less than 3 f/ml. It is noteworthy that these exposures existed prior to the implementation of the current 5 flml standards in the U.S. As extensive substitution of nonasbestos materials has subsequently taken place in insulation work, current exposures are now considerably lower.

The estimate of from 10 to 15 flml obtained for past exposures in nonmarine insulations work does not offer much confidence that 5 flml, or even 2 flmI, is sufficient to protect asbestos

TABLE IV

workmen. Forty percent of insulators' deaths can be attributed to their past occupational exposure to asbestos at such levels. A standard set at two, or eVen five times lower, is unlikely to offer significant protection to asbestos workmen.

Asbestos Workers Have High Peak but Low Average Asbestos

Exposures

The high peak exposures of asbestos workers measured by different groups can be deceptive. These often are of short term and may involve few men. Average exposures have universally been found to be low, usually less than current standards. This result leads to two conclusions: 1) Current standards may be inadequate to protect workers, and 2) Easily accomplished control of peak exposures can significantly reduce the long-term average exposures.

Asbestos dust concentrations during the fabrication, application and removal of insulation materials

Location

Application of pipe and .machinery insulation:

Boiler rooms Engine rooms Accumulator room

Mattress fabrication: Old shop New shop

Removal of pipe and machinery insulation:

Boiler room Engine room Brick stowage space

Removal of asbestos acoustic panels:

TABLE V

Summary of average asbestos air concentrations during insulation

work

Mount Sinai (IIHRP)

Balzer-Cooper Murphy, Harvard B urgess-Lynch Harries

A-... Fiber Coacm1nItkM::I

Up,t and Jk.ry M.riDC Comt:nw;r:k.a Work

6.3 2.7 6.6

8.0* 2.9 8.8

Estimates of early exposures Fleischer 15-20 Mount Sinai 10-15

These- coocena .&tJons were thos.c measured or estiJll2.ted. for work-en while u.<;mg a..s.bestos. Eight·hour average e~~ures. consldenng the use of othcrmatc:ri.als. would be ~ httle as half the above values.

*Fiber count IPcludo .all visible fibers.

General Atmosphere

No. of samples

17 28

5

12 11

153 45 13

6

Mean fibers/cm'

22.4 2.1

16.5

12.7 16.3

171 88

257

413.5

REFERENCES

Range

1-61 0.1-14 2.5-46

0-126 2-83

0.04-1062 0.16-3021

9-592

30-684

I. Fleischer. W. E., Viles, F. J. Jr .. Gade. R. L. and Drinker, P.: A Health Survey of Pipe Covering Operations in Constructing Naval Vessels. Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 28, 9-16 (1946).

2. Murphy, R. L. H., Jr., Ferris, B. G •• Jr .. Burgess. W. A. et a1.: Effects of Low Concentrations of Asbestos: Clinical. Environmental. Radiologic and Epidemiologic Observations in Shipyard Pipe Coverers and Controls. New England Journal of Medicine 285, 1271·1278 (1971).

3. Murphy. R. L. H., Jr.: Asbestosis in Pipe Coverers Engaged in New Ship Construction. Thesis, Harvard School of Public Health. (1968).

4. Marr. W. T.: Asbestos Exposure During Naval Vessel Overhaul. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 25. 264-268 (1964).

5. Nicholson. W. J .. Holaday. D. A. and Heimann. H.: Direct and Indirect Occupational Exposure to Insulation Dusts in United States Shipyards, Proceeding of the International Symposium on Safety and Health in ShipbUilding and Ship Repairing. Helsinki. 30 August to 2 September, 1971. ILO Occupational Safety and

No. of samples

14 16 17

15 25

20 25

6

J

Breathing Zone

Mean fibers/em'

16.8 7.3 9.6

1.5 3.7

97 91

131

Range

0.1-68 0.04-40 1 -47

0- 7 0-17

25-220 2-490

---48-271

Health Series No. 27.27-47. Geneva (1972). 6. Balzer,J. L. and Cooper, W. C.: The Work Envi·

ronment of InSUlating Workers, American Industrial Hygiene As"?,,iation Journal 29, 222-227 (1968).

7. Cooper, W, C. and Balzer. J. L.: Evaluation and control of asbestos exposures in the insulating trade, International Konferenz tiber die biologischen Wirkungen des Asbestos, Dresden, 22-24 April. 1968. Deutsches Zentralinstitute fur Arbeitsmedizin, pp 151-160, Holstein and Anspach. eds .. Berlin.

8. Cooper, W. C. Asbestos in, the Manufacture of Insulation Materials Biological Effects of Asbestos. IARC Lyon, France. pp 175-178.

9. Ferris. B. G., Jr., Ranadive. M. V,. Peters. J. M. et al: Prevalence of Chronic Respiratory Disease-Asbestosis in Ship Repair Workers. Archives of Environmental Health 23, 220·225 (1971).

10. Harries. P. G.: Asbestos Dust Concentrations In Ship Repairing: A Practical Approach to Improving Asbestos Hygiene in Naval Dockyards. Annals of Occupational Hygiene]4, 241-254 (1971)

11. Harries. P. G.: A Comparison of Mass and Fibre Concentrations of Asbestos Dust in Shipyard Insulation Processes; Annals of Occupational Hygiene 14, 234-240 (1971).

.... ;

Environmental Science. Laboratory

O\JI'IT 1/ ....


a "c.; at aF""~O FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

of The City University of New York.

Irving J. Sellkoff, M.D., Program Director

Vol. 6 No.2 ..e--7 Summer 1974

Court of Appeals Orders Review of Asbestos Standard

In a historic decision on April 15, 1974, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered the Secretary of Labor to review portions of the Asbestos Standard promulgated on June 7, 1972. The ruling, written by Circuit Judge McGowen, was in response to a petition flied by the AFLCIO urging reversal of the existing standard.

The Court fuling, which was rendered in a forty-on; page decision, contains the following provisions applicable to insulation work:

1. In those industries where a dust level of two fibers/ml is feasible, it should be implemented before 1976. Here, the court took note of testimony of Duncan Holaday of the I.LH.R.P., industry witnesses and others that a two fiber standard could be.implemented in commercial and industrial insulation work within two years (of April, 1972).


Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Director of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program, answers questions regarding health effects of asbestos in discussions with Local 93 members David Patterson, Mario Di Rocco, Richard Y ounkman, Thomas Hughes, Thomas Smith, William Frazier, Edward Cisek and Mike Harnsworth.

Walter Hanna, Business Agent of Local 93, provides Dr. Henry Anderson of Mount Sinai with details of his past medical history'.

Local 93 Exams Show Continuing

Shipyard Problems Examinations ofLoca193 (Philadel

phia Naval Shipyard) of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers conducted by staff physicians of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine reveal asbestos problems still exist in shipyard work.

While much insulation material now has no asbestos content and the use of asbestos is required to be much better controlled, asbestos material in use by other trades poses a continuing problem. Here, asbestos cement and dust


."

.:. '7 ;

'r

... '~.

.. ". ~".

Review of Asbestos Standard Considered (Continued from first page)

2. The provision that dust monitoring records be 'maintained for only three years was deemed inadequate in view ofthe need for such information in assessing the health effects of asbestos at different exposure levels. Each of the above aspects of tQe

standard was explicitly remanded to the Secretary of Labor for reconsideration and modification.

Furthermore, the Court ruled that certain provisions of the standard be interpreted in a manner to provide greater protection for insulators and other asbestos workers. It was specifically stated that the engineering controls and other dust control procedures mentioned in the standard be applied before dust concentrations are shown to be excessive.

It is not necessary that a dust count show levels above five fibers/rnl before such items as in-bag mixing of cement, exhaust ventilation on all handoperated or power-operated tools be utilized. The interpretation of the three-judge court is that these are now mandatory any time asbestos even might be released in excess of the exposure limits.

With respect to monitoring, the judges ruled that monitoring of workplaces must be continued periodically to assure that compliance with the standard is maintained even though initial dust counts showed levels lower than five fibers/ml.

Two principal contentions of the AFL-CIO in its suit were based upon the provisions in the Occupational Safety and Health Act that "The Secretary (of Labor) ... shall set the standard which most adequately assures, to the extent feasible, on the basis of the best available evidence, that no employee will suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity . . ." and that the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health shall develop criteria documents that describe such safe levels of exposure.

The position of the AFL-CIO was: 1. that the Department of Labor must accept the recommendations of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as to what constitutes safe exposure limits ariti. can orily take into account the feasibility of implementation in setting a standard, and 2. that the economi-c effect on an industry cannot

be considered in determining the feasibility of a health standard.

Each of these contentions was rejected by the Court as too restrictive or not consistent with procedures otherwise specified in the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

In the latter instance, however, Judge McGowen ruled that economic considerations of laggard employers ca.'1!?nr be used to delay implementation of a standard which is feasible for the rest of the industry.

The Court also rejected the position of labor that medical records be supplied orily to a physician of the employee's choosing or to NIOSH. Thus the stalemate on employersponsored medical examinations for insulators remains. However, the position of the Department of Labor in t..~is matter is that while the employer must offer such examinations, it is not required that an Asbestos Worker take them.

The judges also ruled that the specification of the present labeling provisions on asbestos products fell within the scope of the Secretary of Labor and need not be reviewed. In summary: While not granting all points in the AFL- CIO suit, the Circuit Court upheld in principle a major contention of labor on several items-that exposure be reduced to the lowest feasible levels as rapidly as possible.

The ruling of the Appeals Court comes at a time of increasing pressure on the Department of Labor for a review of the current Asbestos Standard.

Since the Department of Labor hearings were held on the standard, additional significant information on the scope of asbestos health effects has appeared which must be carefully considered and evaluated.

In their recommendation that a twofiber standard be implemented within two years, NIOSH gave considerable weight to the. existing British standard and the data that supported it. That standard, proposed by a ~ommittee of the British Occupational Hygiene Society and adopted by the British Factory Inspectorate, was based on the view that a lifetime work exposure of two fibers/rnl would give rise to no more than a 1 % risk that an individual would develop critical signs of asbestosis. Parenthetically, the committee noted that these data were inadequate to set a

level that would protect workers against cancer.

In proposing their standard, the British committee relied on the only substantive evidence existing at that time (1966-67) relating asbestos disease to exposure levels. That was data supplied to them on dust counts and clinical signs of asbestosis in the current work force of a large British asbestos textile factory.

Unfortunately, at the time of review only 13 individuals in the study group had longer than 30 years from first exposure to asbestos, and the majority had less than 20 years. As asbestosassociated disease seldom appears before 20 years and often after 30 years, this was a limitation of the B 0 HS study and was recognized as such by the committee.

Recently, new data have been published, involving many of the same individuals in the initial British study, suggesting that more asbestosassociated disease may be present than originally was thought to be the case. This increase could be the result both of the greater time for the disease to de-

. velop in the population and of the use of the recently developed ILO/UC standard classification procedure to identify X-ray evidence of asbestosis.

At the International Conference on the Biological Effects of Asbestos, held during October, 1972 in Lyon, France, it was announced that a review of the British standard would be considered.

Additionally, new information is being developed in the United States to identify groups, exposed at levels lower than the current Asbestos Standard, in which asbestos disease has been found. Furthermore, data published since the hearings on the Asbestos Standard substantiate that presented by 1.1. H. R. P. personnel that insulation workers' exposures are, on a' time-weighted average, considerably lower than five fibers/ml, thus raising serious questions over the efficiency of the current standard.

Prior to the Court of Appeals decision, the Department of Labor was considering changes that might be incorporated in a revised standard, particularly the feasibility of placing greater reliance on specified work practices rather than on periodic monitoring to assure a safe workplace.

·;".

--: ,; .

Environment!!1 Sciences Laboratory

O\l~T511y


Col OF",,~5~" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New Yarl<

The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has just issued it"s Scientific Publication No.8, Biological Effects of Asbestos, consisting of the Proceedings· of a Working Conference held at the Agency's Headquarters in Lyon, France, October 2-6., 1972. In view of the considerable

Irving J. Sellkatf.

VoL.5, No.3

M .. o'l Program Director

-S--7 Fall 1974

interest in the health problems associated with insulation work, we are devoting this entire issu~ to the publication qf a paper from the IARC volume by Dr. Irving Selikofj, Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond and Mr. Herbert Seidman which treats ·the problem of cancer risk associated with insulation work.

Cancer risk of insulation workers in the United States1

1. J. SELIKOFF, E. C. HAMMOND & H. SEIDMAN

In 1963, information became available which indicated that asbestos insulation workers employed in the construction industry were subject to a significant cancer hazard associated with their work (Selikoff et ai., 1964).. Studying the mortality experience of the 632 members on the rolls of the New York-New Jersey branches of the insulation workers' union on 1 January 1943, for the 20-year period ending 31 December 1962, it was found that death from cancer was almost three times as frequent as expected. The death rate from cancer of the bronchus and pleura was 6.8 times as high as that for the general US white male population, both age and d~te being taken into consideration; and cancer of stomach, colon and rectum was found to be three times as common. Attention was called to' the occurrence of pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas (Selikoff et ai., 1965a).

These studies were subsequently extended to investigate the interrelationships between asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking in the production of lung cancer, the significance of mesothelioma (Selikoff et ai., 1970) and to obtain further evidence

~ From the Environmental Cancer Research Project of the American Cancer Society and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York.

on the possible relationship between asbestos exposure and the occurrence of gastro-intestinal cancer.

The data were insufficient, however, to resolve. a number of questions which are important for a full evaluation of the problem and to provide guidance for the establishment of needed administrative and industrial cOI).trol measures. To obtain such additional information, We have continued and widened our ·investigations.

CURRENT STUDIES

Using approaches and methods previously reported (Selikoff et ai., 1964; Selikoff et ai., 1965b), we have studied the experiences of three cohorts of workers exposed to asbestos insulation materials.

1. New York-New Jersey cohort. We have continued our surveillance of the New York-New Jersey insulation workers. By 31 December 1962, 262 had died; thus, 370 were still alive on 1 January 1963. Eachbas been followed up until 31 December 1971.

Two additional groups of workers have been investigated:

2. In one study, we registered the entire membership of the insulation workers union - in the United States and Canada 2 on 1 January 1967 (17,800; including members of the New_.York-~ew Jersey

/

.~

"



from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program

Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Efl\'ironmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving]. Selikoff, M,D., Director). Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, N.Y. 10029

Advisory Council of IlHRP

Irving J, Selikoff, M.O .• Program Director and Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice. Pr~sident, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Haas. General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D .• Vice President, Research and Development, Johns-Manville Corporation. Denver. Colo.


INDUSTRY. HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

L To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work.


Dust Control Important itl Alaskan Pipeline Work

Asbestos Workers from all parts of the United States will soon begin work insulating approximately 400 miles of the 48-inch diameter Alaskan pipeline. Additional insulation work will be required in pumping stations and tank !P.!::".,. The work will commence this summer and continue for three years. . The insulation material to be used on

the pipe will either be fibrous glass or rigid polyurethane foam. Little or no asbestos-containing materials are calied for in the specifications.

While asbestos is not to be used, each of the two materials contemplated for use has been shown to produce cancer in animals. Because of the remoteness of operations, the extreme weather and working conditions, and the urgency to complete the job, special efforts are pianned to assure that adequate precautions are taken to protect the health of insulators.

All of the procedures appropriate for dust control in asbestos work should be applied here--exhaust ventilation on all portable and stationary power tools, down draft cutting tables for hand saws, adequate clean-up procedures in fabrication shops, and use of disposable respirators, if warranted. .

The possibility that dust from polyurethane foam insulation might be hazardous was discussed previously in Vol. 4, No.2 ofIHRP. In view of the possible extensive use of this material for insulating the pipeline, it is appropriate to review the available information on its possible health effects.

Workers who are sawing or abrading this material may be exposed to plastic dusts, dust from added fire retardants, dust from reinforcing materials, gases from unreacted TDI or MDI (See Vol. 5, No.4) trapped in the insulation, and a mixture of decomposition products produced by heat from cutting or abrading operations.

No studies have been reported on effects on humans exposed to dusts from polyurethane insulation. However, the Institute of Environmental Medicine at New York University has conducted animal experiments which were designed to duplicate conditions of use.

Two groups of rats were exposed for

30 days to dusts and gases produced by grinding polyurethane insulation. For the low exposure group, the atmospheric concentration of dust was 3.6 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) and for the higher group it \vas 20 mg/m3 • The Threshold Limit Value for "nuisance dusts" is 10 mg/m3. Thus, the "low" group was exposed to about

. one-third and the "high" group to about twice the dust concentration which 1S considen!d acceptable for long term, daily, occupational exposures.

Considering the brief exposure time and the relatively low dust concentrations, the effects on the animals were disturbing. One rat out of 39 in the lower exposure group and 9 out of 45 in the higher group developed emphysema. In addition, one lung cancer was found in each group, and one liver cancer in the "low" group.

The investigators concluded that polyurethane insulating materials must be considered a serious industrial health hazard.

In a 1972 publication by Dr. Mearl Stanton of the National Cancer Institute it was shown that fibrous glass and other inorganic fibers could produce mesothelioma when implanted into the pleura of rats. Subsequent investigations by the N. C.r. scientists have confInned these results and a detailed description of their work was presented at the Lyon, France, Conference on the Biological Effects of Asbestos.

They concluded that the carcinogenicity of asbestos and fibrous glass (in their animal experiments) appeared primarily, related to the structural shape of the materials, rather than to their physiochemical properties.

Of special concern here are fibers of a diameter less than 3-5 microns that may be inhaled and deposited in the lower spaces of the lung.

In commenting on the use of either of these materials on the Alaskan pipeline, Dr. SelikQff, Director of the LI.H.R.P., stated, "We have learned the techniques and engineering controls that will allow asbestos to be used safely. These should be applied with equal vigor to the use of rigid polyurethane and fibrous glass."

As bestos Dust Does Not Respect

Jurisdictional Lines Local 93 Exams

(Colllillued frolll jirsT page)

released d uriTIg application of fire brick and other materials in boiler insulation by members of the Boilermakers Union may expose a variety of trades, including insulators. Local 93 members report this to be one of their most significant sources of exposure.

Asbestos dust in shipyard air certainly does not obey jurisdictionil craft lines. In a_British paper all the incidence of mesothelioma in shipyard workers, it was stated by Dr.F. Whitwell that,} 'the exact nature of their

Mario Di Rocco is examined by Dr. AIf Fischhein of Mount Sinai.

work was much leSs important than the fact that they worked in shipyards."

A letter has recently been sent by Waiter Hanna, Business Agent of Local 93, to Michael Wood, Assistant to the President of the Boilermakers, alerting that union to the possible risks associated with their shipyard asbestos exposure.

The concern of. Local 93 members for possible effects of their asbestos exposure is real, A review of the records of this Local reveals that more than half of the deaths of their members during seven years have been from cancer, and an additional 22% from asbestosis. (See Table).

Joan Oswald draws blood from William F=ier for laboratory analysis.

. --: ..:

.i

Frances Perez and Janet Kaffenburgh assist in the Local 93 examinations.

DeathS-Local 93, IAHFIA W

Jan. 1, 1967--Dec. 31,1973

Total deaths-all causes .............. 18

Total cancer .......................... 10

Lung cancer .................... .4 Pleural mesothelioma ...... 2 Cancer stomach, colon .... 2 All other cancers .............. 2

Asbestosis .............................. .4

All other causes ..................... .4

'"

Review of Asbestos Standard Considered (Continued from first page)

2. The provision that dust monitoring records be 'maintained for only three years was deemed inadequate in view ofthe need for stiCh information in assessing the health effects of asbestos at different exposure levels.

Each of the above aspects of t1!e standard was explicitly remanded to the Secretary of Labor for reconsideration and modification.

Furthermore, the Court ruled that certain prov!sions of the standard be interpreted in a manner to provide greater protection for insulators and other asbestos workers. It was specifically stated that the engineering controls and other dust control procedures mentioned in the standard be applied before dust concentrations are shown to be excessive.

It is not necessary that a dust count show levels above five fiberslrnl before such items as in-bag mixing of cement, exhaust ventilation on all handoperated or power-operated tools be utilized. The interpretation of the three-judge court is that these are now mandatory any time asbestos even might be released in excess of the exposure limits.

With respect to monitoring, the judges ruled that monitoring of workplaces must be continued periodically to aSS1.).re that compliance with the standard is maintained even though initial dust counts showed levels lower than five fibers/m!.

Two principal contentions of the AFL-CIO in its suit were based upon the provisions in the Occupational Safety and Health Act that "The Secretary ( of Labor) ... shall set the standard which most adequately assures, to the extent feasible, on the basis of the best available evidence, that no employee will suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity . . ." and that the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health shall develop criteria documents that describe such safe levels of ~xposure,

The position of the AFL-CIO was: 1. that the Department of Labor must accept the recommendations of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health as to what constitutes safe exposure limits and can only take into account the feasibility of implementation in setting a standard, and 2. that the economic effect on an .:ldustry cannot

be considered in determining the feasibility of a health standard.

Each of these contentions was rejected by the Court as too restrictive or not consistent with procedures otherwise specifled in the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

In the latter instance, however, Judge McGowen ruled that economic considerations of laggard employers =~m,"!"r be used to delay implementation of a standard which is feasible for the rest of the industry.

The Court also rejected the position of labor that medical records be supplied only to a physician of the employee's choosing or to NIOSH. Thus the stalemate on employersponsored medical examinations for insulators remajns. However, the position of the Department 0 f Labor in !"'lis matter is that whire the employer must offer such examinations, it is not required that an Asbestos Worker take them.

The judges also ruled that the specification of the present labeling provisions on asbestos products fell within the scope of the Secretary of Labor and need not be reviewed. In summary: While not granting all points in the AFL- ClO suit, the Circuit Court upheld in principle a major contention of labor on several items-that exposure be reduced to the lowest feasible levels as rapidly as possible.

The ruling of the Appeals Court comes at a time of increasing pressure on the Department of Labor for a review of the current Asbestos Standard.

Since the Department of Labor hearings were held on the standard, additional significant information on the scope of asbestos health effects has appeared which must be carefully considered and evaluated.

In their recommendation that a twofiber standard be implemented within two years, NIOSH gave considerable weight to the. existing British standard and the data that supported it. That standard, -proposed by a ~ommittee of the British Occupational Hygiene Society and adopted by the British Factory Inspectorate, . was based on the view that a lifetime work exposure of two fibers/ml would give rise to no more than a 1 % risk that an individual would develop critical signs of asbestosis. Parenthetically, the committee noted that these data were inadequate to set a

level that would protect workers against cancer.

In proposing their standard, the British committee relied on the only substantive evidence existing at that time (1966-67) relating asbestos disease to exposure levels. That was data supplied to them on dust counts and clinical signs of asbestosis in the current work force of a large British asbestos textile factory.

. Unfortunately, at the time of review only 13 individuals in the study group had longer than 30 years from first exposure to asbestos, and the majority had less than 20 years. As asbestosassociated disease seldom appears before 20 years and often after 30 years, this was a limitation of the B 0 HS study and was recognized as such by the committee.

Recently, new data have been published, involving many of the same individuals in the initial British study, suggesting that more asbestosassociated disease may be present than originally was thought to be the case. This increase could be the result both of the greater time for the disease to develop in the population and ofthe use of the recently developed ILO/UC standard classification procedure to identify X-ray evidence of asbestosis.

At the International Conference on the Biological Effects of Asbestos, held during October, 1972 in Lyon, France, it was announced that a review of the British standard would be considered.

Additionally, new information is being developed in the United States to identify groups, exposed at levels lower than the current Asbestos Standard, in which asbestos disease has been found. Furthermore, data published since the hearings on the Asbestos Standard substantiate that presented by 1.1. H. R. P. personnel that insulation workers' exposures are, on a'time-weighted average, considerably lower than five fibers/ml, thus raising serious questions over the efficiency of the current standard.

Prior to the Court of Appeals deci- ' sion, the Department of Labor was considering changes that might be incorporated in a revised standard, particularly the feasibility of placing greater reliance on specified work practices rather than on periodic monitoring to assure a safe workplace.

IU

Envir-cnmenul Scienc.s Laboratory

OI.lNT lily


rL "C; "{ OF",,~Q FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGiENE RESEARCH PROGRAM

<>f Tht CIty Univel"$ity of Nt ... York

The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization has just issued it's Scientific Publication No.8, Biological Effects of Asbestos, consisting of the Proceedings of a Working Conference held at the Agency'sBeadquorters in Lyon, France, October 2-6,.1972. In view of the considerable

Irving J. Sellkotf.

VOI..6, No.3 -6-7 Fall 1974

interest in the health problems associated with insulation work, we are devoting this entire iSSUE{ to the publication qf a paper from the IABC volume by Dr. Irving Selikoff, Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond and Mr. Herbert Seidman which treats "the problem of cancer risk associated with insulation work.

Cancer risk of insulation workers in the United States1

1. J. SELIKOFF, E. C. HAMMOND & H. SEIDMAN

In 1963, information became available which indicated that asbestos insulation workers employed in the construction industry were subject to a significant cancer hazard associated with their work (Selikoff et aI., 1964). Studying the mortality experience of the 632 members on the rolls of the New York-New Jersey branches of the insulation workers' union on 1 January 1943, for the 20-year period ending 31 December 1962, it was found that death from cancer was almost three times as frequent as expected. The death rate from cancer of the bronchus and pleura was 6.8 times as high as that for the general US white male population, both age and date being taken into consideration; and cancer of stomach, colon and rectum was found to be three times as common. Attention was called to' the occurrence' of pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas (Selikoff et aL, 1965a).

These studies were subsequently extended to investigate the interrelationships between asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking in the production of lung cancer, the significance of mesothelioma (SeIikoff et aI., 1970) and to obtain further evidence

1 From the Environmental Cancer Research Project of the American Cancer Society and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City Universj'j of New York.

on the possible relationship between asbestos exposure and the occurrence of gastro-intestinal cancer.

The data were insufficient, however, to resolve a number of questions which are important for a full evaluation of the problem and to provide guidance for the establishment of needed administrative and industrial cOI}trol measures. To obtain such additional information, we have continued and widened our investigations.

CURRENT STUDIES

Using approaches and methods previously reported (Selikoff et aI., 1964; Selikoff et at., 1965b), we have studied the experiences of three cohorts of workers exposed to asbestos insulation materials.

1. New York-New Jersey cohort. We have continued our surveillance of the New York-New Jersey insulation workers. By 31 December 196.2, 262 had died; thus, 370 were still alive on 1 January 1963. Each has been followed up until 31 December 1971.

Two additional groups of workers have been investigated:

2. In one study, we registered the entire membership of the insulation workers union in the United States and Canada 2 on 1 January 1967 (17,800; including members of the New York-New Jersey

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locals mentioned above), and recorded many characteristics for each man including date of birth and onset of insulation work. Each man has since been observed until 31 De{::ember 1971.

3. A third group consisted of the entire workforce (1941-45) of a factory in an eastern Us city which manufactured amosite asbestos insulation materials (including insulating block and pipe covering, and asbestos mattresses), for use by insulation workers in the construction industry, especially in ship con-' struction and repair.. The plant opened its doors in June 1941 and remained in business until November 1954. Very few of the production workers studied by us had had any prior occupational exposure to asbestos. Between 1941 and the end of 1945 a total ~f 933 men were hired; of these, some worked for as little as one day, while others worked until 1954 when the plant closed. Results of physiological studies of men in this plant have been report~d (Bader et aI., 1961). Recently, we have traced the entire group up until 31 December 1971 in order to evaluate the cancer risk among them. Eight hundred and seventyseven (94%) were fully traced, and the remainder were partially traced for varying periods; We have analysed their mortality experience in relation to the duration of employment, age at onset of employment and lapsed period from onset of employment.

FINDINGS IN INSULATION WORKERS IN THE

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The experiences of the two cohorts of insulation workers in the construction industry (New York-New Jersey and US-Canada cohorts) amply confirm the

~.International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, AFL-CIO.

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can.cer risk first identified in 1963. By 31 December 1971, 430 of'the original 632 (New York-New Jersey cohort) had died, 421 after reaching 20 years from onset of employment. One hundred and eighty-nine (45% of the 421 total deaths) died of cancer, whereas 47.2 such deaths had been expected (Table 1).

The average age of the insulation workers throughout the United States and Canada (US-Canada cohort) was much lower, and they therefore had considerably less work experience than that of the New York-New Jersey cohort (Hammond & Selikoff 1). Nevertheless, the excess of cancer deaths was very much the same, these deaths occurring among the older men who had longer work experience. Relatively few deaths were found among the younger men, despite the large number in the cohort. 144.09 cancer deaths were expected and 459 occurred, representing 41 % of the total of 1092 deaths observed in the period 1967-71 (Table 2).

Lung cancer

Bronchogenic carcinoma was found to be a leading cause of death among asbestos insulation workers, accounting for approximately 45% of fatal neoplasms. In the first two series reported, it was responsible for 20% of all deaths and was almost three times as common as were pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Recent histological studies of tumours from these patients show the distribution of cell types to be that of lung cancer found in the general population (Kannerstein & Churg, 1972), and our clinical experience indicates that their prognosis was equally poor. These findings stress the urgency of preventive measures, such as dust con~rol


Insulation Hygiene. Progress' Reports


from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program

Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff. M.D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, N.Y. 10029

Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Director and Chairman


Andrew Haas, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and As· bestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph.D., Vice President, Research and Development, Johns· Manville CorPoration, Denver, Colo.



1. To develop improved, methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be

applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

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Table 1 a. Expectedb and observed number of deaths among 623 'New York-New Jersey asbestos insulation workers 1 January 1943-31 December 1971, twenty or more years after onset of first exposure to asbestos

1943-51 1952-61 1962-71 Total, 1943-71

Expected Observed Expected Observed Expected Observed Expected Observed

Total cancer: all sites 11.3 28 18.3 57 17.6 104 47.2 189 Lung cancer 1.5 13 3.5 23 5.1 48 10.1 84 Pleural mesothelioma n.a.e 1 n.a .. 2 n.a. 5 n.a. 8 Peritoneal mesothelioma n.a. 1 n.a. 3 n.a. 20 n.a. 24 Cancer of stomach, colon, rectum,

oesophagus 4.1 7 5.0 18 3.9 16 13.0 41 '" Cancer all other sites 5.7 6 9.8 11 8.6 15 24.1 32

Asbestosis n.". 1 n.a. 10 n.a. 22 n.a. 33 All other causes 65.1 44 89.4 94 78.3 61 232.8 199 Total all causes 76.4 73 107.7 161 95.9 187 280.0 421

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Person-years of observation 3726 . 4406 2898 11,030

a 632 members were on the union's rolls on 1 January 1943. Nine died before reaching 20 yeats from first employment. All others entered these calculations upon reaching the 20-year from onset of first exposure point.

b Expected rates are based upon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics from 1949-67. Rates were extrapolated 1943-48 from rates for 1949-55, and for 1968-71 from rates for 1961-67.

e US death rates not available, but these are rare causes of death in the general population.

and the avoidance of cigarette smoking (Selikoff et aI., 1968; Hammond & SelikofP).

Gastro-intestinal cancer In our initial reports (Selikoff et ai., 1964; Ham

mond et al., 1965) attention was called to the then unexpected finding of a moderate . excess of gastrointestinal cancer among New York insulation workers. Nevertheless, relatively few deaths were studied and :firm conclusions were not considered warranted. We have now collected additional data, and these give the same indication very much at the same level of excess, i.e., at two or three times expected deaths (Tables 1 & 2). These findings were made for cancer of the oesophagus, stomach, and of the colon and rectum. A similar excess has been found among insulation workers in Belfast (Elmes & Simpson, 1971). Taken together, these experiences suggest that the increase is real. While they are not responsible for a major proportion of excess deaths (lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis account for more), the incidence of gastro-intestinal cancer is nevertheless substantial: in the New York-New Jersey group 13.0 deaths were expected and 41 occurred; and in' the US-Canada survey, 27.3 were expected and 55 occurred. Moreover the finding may be of considerable theoretical importance, in View of the dearth of useful hypotheses concerning the etiology of gastro-intestinal cancer in general, and of cancer of the colon and rectum in particular.

Other neoplasms

The knowledge that a number of tissues are subject to asbestos-induced cancer, coupled with the obser-

vation that fibres and fibrils may be found in many organs, admits the possibility that a neoplastic effect exists for sites other than those heretofore identified. Examination of this hypothesis is hampered by the infrequency of some such tumours in general and by the as yet inadequate number of observations available. We do not at present find it useful, therefore, to comment on this question, although we have been

particularly interested in cancer of pancreas, brain and oro-pharynx, in genito-urinary canceJ;", and lymphoma and leukaemia.

RISK WITH FAGrORY EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS

INSULATION MATERIALS

. In 1964, Smith (1965) called attention to the multiplicity of materials to which insulation workers were exposed. It seemed justified to seek evidence. on whether asoostos insulation materials per se were ,=-

specifically related to various di~es. If not, in- ~ ... vestigation of other insulation materials would be a

required. We therefore studied the work force of • ;i.

the insulation materials factory noted above, in which exposure was only to asbestos insulation, and not to other insulation materials used in the construction industry (e.g., fibrous glass, calcined diatomaceous earth, rock wool, etc.)

Four hundred and eighty-four deaths are known to have occurred among the 877 men fully traced up t6 31 December 1971. The distribution of deaths strongly resembled that seen among insulation workers who install such materials, despite the fact that observation of this cohort has reached only 25-30

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Table 2. Expected" and observed deaths among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the United States and Canada 1 January 1967-31 December 1971

Total Distribution by duration from onset of exposure

Less than 20 years 20 years and more

Expected Observed Expected Observed Expected Observed

Total deaths 805.63 1092 178.94 211 626.69 881 Ca ncer : all sites 144.09 459 26.31 51 117.78 408

Lung cancer 44.42 213 7.03 22 37.39 191 Pleural mesothelioma n.a.b 26 n.a. 2 n.a. 24 Peritoneal mesothelioma n.a. 51 n.a. 3 n.a. 48 Cancer of stomach 6.62 16 0.97 1 5.65 15 Cancer of colon, rectum 17.51 26 2.51 3 15.00 23 Cancer of oesophagus 3.21 13 0.44 1 2.77 12 All other cancers 72.33 114 15.36 19 56.97 95

Asbestosis n.a. 78 n.a. 5 n.a. 73 All other causes 661.54 555 152.63 155 508.91 400

N umber of men 17,800 12.681 5,119 Person-years of observation 86,300 62.673 23,627

" Expected deaths are based upon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics. Rates for 1968-71 were extrapolated from rates for 1961-67.

b US death rates not available, but these are rare causes of death in the general population.

years from onset. Thus, lung cancer accounted for 73 deaths, although only 11.41 were expected; and gastro-intestinal cancer for 26, with 12.86 expected (including oesophagus). Mesothelioma caused seven deaths, and asbestosis 27 (Table 3). .

These data indicate that asbestos insulation materials are capabJe of causing the disease patterns seen among insulation workers; there is no need to invoke the influence of other insulation materials.

EPIDEMIOLOGIC VARIABLES

Lapsed period from onset of exposure

It has long been inferred, on the basis of rather

limited data, that asbestos cancer largely occurs more than twenty years from onset of exposure.

Experiences in the cohorts studied indicate that lung cancer may occur in considerable excess as early as 10-14 years from onset, with 0.65 expected deaths versus 10 observed among those working in the amosite factory for more than one year (Table 5b). Moreover, death rates for lung cancer were significantly increased in the US-Canada insulation workers cohort 15-19 years from onset (4.86 deaths were expected an<;l 18 occurred) (Table 4).

On the other hand, in terms of numbers, most deaths from lung cancer occurred among insulation workers 30-39 years from onset of exposure, or

Table 3. Expected" and observed deaths among 933 b amosite asbestos factory workers first employed 1941-45, and observed to 31 December 1971

Before 1952 1952-61 1962-71 "

Total,1941-71

Expected Observed Expected Observed Expected Observed Expected Observed

Total deaths 69.98 88 108.27 146 121.24 250 299.49 484 Total cancer: all sites 9.81 15 18.72 44 21.63 84 50.16 143

Lung cancer 1.49 3 3.71 23 6.21 47 11.41 73 Pleural mesothelioma n.a. C 1 n.a. 0 n.a. 2 n.a. 3 Peritoneal mesothelioma n.a. 0 n.a . 0 n.a. 4 n.a. 4 Cancer of stomach 1.45 3 1.84 4 1.29 4 4.58 11 Cancer of colon. rectum 1.56 2 2.61 5 2.88 8 7.05 15 Cancer of oesophagus 0.27 0 0.45 0 0.51 0 1.23 0 All other cancers 5.04 6 10.11 12 10.74 19 25.89 37

Asbestosis n.a. 3 n.a. 7 n.a. 17 n.a. 27 All other causes 60.17 70 89.55 95 99.61 149 249.33 314

a Expected rates are based upon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics from 1949-67. Rates were extrapolated for 1941-48 from rates for 1949-55. and for 1968-71 from rates for 1961-67.

b 933 men were employed. In 5 cases, ages were not known and these men have been excluded from these calculations. 877 men were traced to death or to 31 December 1971. 51 men were partially traced and remain in the calculations until lost to observation.

C US death rates not available. but these are rare causes of death in the general population.

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later. Therefore, it' would be difficult to evaluate fully the effects of asbestos exposure unless observation was possible for at least 40 years from the onset of work exposure.

Age at onset

A number of methodological difficulties are encountered in studying the effect of age at onset on lung cancer rates. Not the least are the secular changes in cigarette smoking habits in the past 50 years (Hammond, 1966), and the concurrent increases in lung cancer death rates in the general popUlation, which must be taken into account.

With these in mind, there seem to b~ no striking variations in the incidence of lung cancer as a result of differences in age at which asbestos work exposure first began (Table 6).

Table 4. Deaths from lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the US and Canada; 1 January 1967-31 December 1971 : relation to elapsed period from onset of work exposure

Lung cancer Pleural Years from mesothelioma

onset Expected Observed Ratio Observed deaths" deaths deaths

<10 0.48 0 - 0 10-14 1.69 4 2.4 0 15-19 4.86 18 3.7 2 20-24 7.55 25 3.3 4 25-29 8.50 41 4.8 7 30-34 6,24 44 7.1 4 35-39 3.53 23 6.5 1 40-44 4.04 24 5.9 3 45-49 3.72 17 4.6 4 50+ 3.81 17 4.5 1

.

Total 44.42 213 4.8 26

" Expected deaths are based upon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics. Rates for 1968-71 were extrapolated from data for 1961-67.

Table 5a. Age at onset of employment, 1941-45, of 933 workers in an amosite asbestos insulation factory

Duration of employment

Age at employment Total <3 months 3-11 months 1 + years

15-19 94" 42 30 21 20-24 114 35 34 45 25-29 120 28 48 44 30-34 114 32 40 42 35-39 106 27 40 39 40-44 101 30 38 33 45-49 83 29 21 33 50-54 90 26 27 37 55-59 55 14 21 20 60-64 30 6 12 12 65-69 16 6 4 6 70-74 4 1 3 -75-79 1 - - 1

Unknown 5 2 3 -Total 933" 278 321 333

" Includes one man with unknown length of employment.

Table 5b. Lung cancer among 3.26 amosite asbestos workers employed for 1 year or more starting 1941-45, and observed to 31 December 1971." Expected and observed deaths b

Attained ages Attained years from

first employment Total <40 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89

Exp. Obs. EXp. Obs. EXp. Obs. Exp. Obs. Exp. Obs. Exp. Obs. Exp. Obs. --- ------= ----------- = ------

1-9 0.68 2 0.02 0 0.09 0 0.30 2 0.22 0 0.05 0 - -------

10-14 0.65 10 0.02 0 0.07 0 0.19 4 0.29 5 0.08 1 - -------

15-19 0.72 11 0.01 ·0 0.07 0 0.20 3 0.26 4 0.17 4 0.01 0

20-24 1.03 8 - - 0.10 2 0.29 5 0.39 1 0.22 0 0.03 0

25-29 1.01 14 - - 0.06 1 0.27 4 0.37 7 0.26 6 0.05 0

4.09 45 0.05 0 0.39 3 1.25 18 1.53 17 0.78 11 0.09 0

" Seven were omitted, four because of prior occupational exposure to asb.estos and three who had not been traced after the first year. Five were partially traced and remained in the calculations only to the date of last observation. All others entered the calculations after first year from onset.

b Expected rates are based upon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics from 1949-67. Rates were extrapolated for 1941-48 from rates for 1949-55. and for 1968-71 from rates for 1961-67.

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Table 6. Expected and observed deaths of lung cancer among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers, 1 January 1967-31 December 1971 ; distribution by age at onset of exposure

Age at onset of Deaths of lung cancer

exposurll Expected" Observed Ratio

<25 18.19 102 5.61 25-34 15.20 66 4.34 35-44 8.78 38 4.33 45+ 2.25 7 3.11

" Expected deaths are based uPon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics. Rates for 1968-71 were extrapolated from rates for 1961-67.

Duration of exposure

In on!! cohort, it was possible to study the effect of differences in length of exposure. While all the insulation materials factory employees started work between 1941 and 1945, approximately one-third of these worked for less than three months, another third for three to eleven months, and the remaining third for a year or more (Table 5a). All worked in the same factory and had similar exposure to the same asbestos starting at the same point in time. The only significant variable was duration of exposure. All were traced to the end of 1971.

Our findings indicate that duration of exposure, and thus presumably total dose, has an important influence on lung cancer rates. Those with less

Table 7. Expected and observed deaths of lung cancer among 876 amosite asbestos factory workers, first employed 194145, and observed to 31 December 1971." Distribution by duration of employment

Duration of Person·years Deaths of lung cancer employment Number of men of observation

Expected ° Observed Ratio

<3 months 256 5,869 3.55 13 3.66 3-11 months 294 6,158 3.58 15 4.19 1 + years 326 6,912 4.09 45 11.00

Total 876 18,939 11.22 73 6.51

" This table excludes 57 men. Ten died during first year of employment, 39 could not be traced aher the first year, 7 had prior occupational exposure to asbestos and 1 had employment of uncertain duration. Seventeen men ofthe 876 were partially traced and remained in the calculations until lost to observation. "

b Expected rates are based upon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics, 1949-67. Rates Were extrapolated for 1941~ from rates for 1949-55, and for 1968-71 from rates for 1961-67.

Table 8. Mortality experience of 337 asbestos insulation workers 1 January 1963-31 December 1971, analysed by dura~ tion of shipyard employment

Shipyard employment

Cause of death None (98) Up to two years (118) Three or more years (121)

Observed Expected" Observed Expected Observed Expected

Tota"! cancer: ali sites 25 3.8 28 4.8 29 5.8 Lung cancer 11 1.2 9 1.4 17 1.6 Pleural mesothelioma 2 n.a.o 2 n.a. 0 n.a. Peritoneal mesothelioma 6 n.a. 6 n.a. 4 n.a. Cancer of stomach, colon, rectum, oeso-

phagus 3 0.8 2 1.0 5 1.3 Cancer all other sites 3 1.8 9 2.4 2 2.9

Asbestosis 4 n.a. 11 n.a. 5 n.a. All other causes 8 16.2 18 20.3 21 26.6

Total deaths 37 20.0 57 25.1 55 32.4

a Expected deaths are based upon age-specific death rate data of the US National Office of Vital Statistics. Rates for 1968-1971 were extrapolated from rates for 1961-1967.


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Table 9. Expecteda and observed deaths among asbestos insulation workers in shipyard and construction industry work, 1 January 1967-31 Qecerriber 1971

Workmen registered in union locals Workmen registered in shipyard in south-west, mid-west and locals central states

Expected Observed Expected Observed

Total deaths 316.28 446 39.56 34 Total cancer: all sites 56.34 172 7.91 16

Lung cancer 17.47 79 2.67 9 Pleural mesothelioma n.a.b 10 n.a. 2 Peritoneal mesothelioma n.a. 13 n.a. 1 Cancer of stomach 2.56 6 0.36 0

" .. Cancer of colon, rectum 6.75 12 0.98 0 Cancer of oesophagus 1.26 6 0.20 1 All other cancers 28.30 46 3.70 3 ~

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~bestosis n.a. 26 n.a. 3 All other causes 259.94 248 31.65 15 Number of men 7,289 462 Person-years of observation 35,310 2,244

a Expected deaths are based upon age-specific death rate data ofthe US National Office of Vital Statistics. Rates for 1968-71 were extrapolated from rates for 1961-67.


than three months of work showed a definite increase in lung cancer risk (13 observed versus 3.55 expected), and those with three to eleven months' exposure much the same increase; while workers employed for one year or over had a much more substantial increase (45 observed, 4.09 expected) (Table 7).

Fibre type

Croci do lite was not used for insulation work in the United States during the period covered by our study. Indeed, very little crocidolite was imported into the:United States until after the Second World War (Selikoff tit al., 1970). Thus, exposure to this fibre carinot explain the cancer risk observed.

Both 'chrysotile and amosite have been used in insulation materials in the US, the former since the turn of the century (Selikoff et al., 1965b) and the latter since the mid-1930's (Selikoff et ai., 1972). Amosite has been used principally in ship insulation and chrysotile in general construction and industrial work, although it is also found in some shipyard materials.

It is difficult to compare the relative disease potential of the two varieties of fibres in insulation work, since cohorts which differ in this respect may also differ in other respects, including type and intensity of exposure, duration of exposure and lapsed period from onset of exposure. Nevertheless, two sets of observations are available which may be of interest. We have compared the mortality experience of insu-

lation workers in the New York-New Jersey group :': according to their duration of shipyard employment (ship insulation being fairly important in the New York harbour area, especially between 1939 and 1945). Of the 370 men in the union on 1 January 1963 who were survivors of the 1943 cohort, we were able to obtain histories of shipyard employment by personal interview from 337. The results indicate that the mortality experience in men with shipyard employment, with its greater potential 'for amosite exposure, did not differ substantially from that of men in the same union, at the same period of time, without such employment (Table 8).

In the US-Canada survey, each union member was registered in a specific union local, several of which were engaged entirely in shipyard work. Others, in the central and mid-western parts of the country, had no such experience. This is not to

;;. say that individual members of these locals did not, '-in the past, do some shipyard work, but it is unlikely" : ,-to have constituted a major part of their work- ~

history. ;;

We have analysed the mortality experience of men . in the two groups of locals between 1967 and 1971. , There does not seem to have been any significant.

difference between them (Table 9). At least as reflected in these two sets of data, construction industry insulation work, with its preponderance of chrysotile exposure, was no more or less hazardous than was shipyard work, with its wider use of amosite materials.

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SUMMARY

A serious cancer risk has been demonstrated among asbestos insulation workers in the United States. Approximately one death in five, an extraordinary incidence, has been the result of lung cancer. Gastro-intestinal cancer was more than doubled in incidence, and mesothelioma w~ responsible for 7% of all deaths. .

An increased incidence of lung cancer was seen as little as 10-14 years from the onset of work exposure; we suspect that this tends to be associated with more intense exposure, as among factory workers. However, the greater increase occurred 30-45 years from onset, especially among the less intensely exposed insulation workers.

It would be aifficult to evaluate fully the effects of asbestos exposure without observation for at least 40 years from onset of exposure.

Data have been presented indicating that these risks are associated with the asbestos insulation materials per se.

We were not able to find evidence that the use of chrysotile in insulation work was associated with a greater risk than was amosite, or vice versa. We have no knowledge of the comparative effect which crocidolite might have; it was not used in US insulation work.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to express our indebtedness to the skilful assistance of our staffs. We are particularly grateful to Mrs Janet S. Kaffenburgh, Mrs Selma Annenberg, Mrs Frances Perez, Mrs Dorothy Perron, Mrs Shirley Levine, Mrs Rayla Margoles and Mr Charles V. NolRn for the successful tracing of the subjects in these epidemiological studies, and to Mr Lawrence Garfinkel and Mrs Doris

Fleisher for their devoted help in many aspects of the work.

This work was supported in part by US Department of Health, Education and Welfare research grants OR 00320 and ES 00358, and by research grant U 1272 of the Health Research Council of the City of New York, to the Mount Sinai School of Medicine .

REFERENCES

Bader, M. E., Bader, R. A. & Selikoff, 1. J. (1961) Pulmonary function in asbestosis of the lung. An alveolar-capillary block syndrome. American Journal of Medicine, 30, 235-242

Elmes, P. C. & Simpson, M. J. C. (1971) Insulation workers in Belfast. 3. Mortality 1940-1966. British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 28,226-236

Hammond, E. C. (1966) Smoking in relation to the death rates of one million men and women. In: Epidemiological Study of Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases, Bethesda, National Cancer Institute Monograph 19, pp. 127-204

Hammond, E. C., Selikoff, 1. J. & Churg, J. (1965) Neoplasia among insulation workers in the United States with special reference to intra-abdominal neoplasia. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 132, 519-525

Kannerstein, M. & Churg, J. (I972) Pathology of carcinoma of the lung associated with asbestos exposure. Cancer, 30, 14-21

Selikoff, 1. J., Churg, J. & Hammond, E. C. (1964) Asbestos exposure and neoplasia. Journal of the American Medical Association, 188, 22-26

SeIi k off, 1. J., Churg, J. & Hammond, E. C. (1965a) Relation between exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma. New England Journal of Medicine, 272, 560-565

Selikoff, 1. J., Churg, J. & Hammond, E. C. (1965b) The occurrence of asbestosis among insulation workers in the United States. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 132, 139-155

Selikoff, 1. J., Hammond, E. C. & Churg, J. (1968) Asbestos exposure, smoking and neoplasia. Journal of the American Medical Association, 204, 106-112

Selikoff, 1. J., Hammond, E. C. & Churg, J. (1970) Mortality experiences of asbestos insulation workers. In: Shapiro, H. A., ed., Pneumoconiosis. Proceedings of the International Conference, Johannesburg, 1969, Cape Town, Oxford University Press, pp. 180-186

Selikoff, 1. J., Hammond, E. C. & Churg, J. (1972) Carcinogenicity of amosite asbestos. Archives of Environmental Health (Chicago) (in press)

Smith, K. W. (1965) Trends in the health of the asbestos worker. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 132, 685-690

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~l~ INSULATION HYGIENE PROGR-ESS REPORTS

°O{ OF t-At.<:J'c..; FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEAR.CH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York Irving J. Sellkoff, M.D., Program DIrector

Vol. 6 No.4 Winter 1974

Congress Proposes National Workers' Compensation Act

An important piece of legislation that has great significance for asbestos workers, as well as for all working men and women in the United States, is now pending before Congress. The proposed legislation would do much to correct the inequities that now exist among the different State compensation systems and would generally extend the scope of benefits for which workers and their families are eligible.

The official title of the bill is the National Workers' Compensation Act of 1973. In the Senate, where it is sponsored by Senators Jacob Javits of New York and Harrison Williams J r. of New Jersey, it is referred to as S 2008; in the House, sponsored by Representatives Carl Perkins, Chairman of the House Labor Committee and Dominic Daniels, of New Jersey, it is referred to as R. 8771.

The purpose of the bill is not to remove compensation from State control, but to set minimum Federal standards of compensation to be met by all the States in the administration of their own programs. Twenty-eight States still have maximum weekly benefits below the poverty level. Statutes of limitation are very unfair and many State Workmen's Compensation Acts are actually deteriorating, instead of improving. The failure of the States to improve and modernize their individual programs is evidence of the need for Federal direction.

The authors of the bill recognize that recent legislation-in particular the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act and the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act-has gone a long way in extending improved coverage to specific groups of workers. Yet over 15 million workers are today de-

nied compensation coverage because of 100phQles in State laws or because their employers simply do not comply with existing laws. The current bill would provide compulsory coverage for all workers employed by public and private employers who are not presently covered by other Federal regulations. All injuries and diseases which are related to employment would be compensable.

Asbestos Workers Included

In defining occupational disease, the bill specifically refers to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma., as well as eight other dust-related respiratory' diseases. The bill also provides for the inclusion of additional occupational diseases as they become recognized.

The IAHFIA W has been working to convince both State and Federal legislators of the importance of this legislation. Roy Steinfurth, Director of the Insulators' Health Hazard Program, testified on behalf of S. 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with VicePresidents Duane Fox and Robert Scott and officers oflocals in Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri also participating. Additional hearings have been held in W'ashington, California, New York, Florida and Texas.

State Bills Passed

Two states have recently become exceptions to the decline of State Workmen's Compensation systems. In Ohio, the IAHFIA W was active in passing legislation that increased compensation benefits and specifically provided for the addition of asbestosrelated illness into the Ohio Workmen's Compensation Act. Roy Steinfurth's office provided substantive

suggestions, and Representative Leonard Camera consulted with him in writing this legislation.

In New York, a difficult four-year campaign ended successfully in the passage of a bill for Workmen's Compensation for Partial Disability from Silicosis or Other Dust Diseases. Previously, only total disability from dust diseases was compensable. New York State IAHFIA W Locals led by International Vice-President Jack Novak and William Urquhart of Local 26 worked very hard for passage of this legislation. Roy Steinfurth also testified at hearings in its support.

Important Labor backing came also from George Perkel, Research Director of the Textile Workers Union of America; Frank Schonfeld, then Secretary-Treasurer of District Council 9, International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades; John Alfarone, President of Local 1974, Drywall Tapers and Pointers Union; and Ed Cross, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 147 of the Compressed Air and Tunnel Workers, who led the Labor effort on behalf of this bill. Dr. Irving J. Selikoff provided 'much of the medical and technical data that led to the bill's passage.

The Federal bill is currently in committee and will probably be reintroduced for debate in early January, 1975. In his remarks introducing the bill, Senator Williams stated, "The employer and society in general benefit from the worker's labor and they, not the worker, should bear the cost of human suffering-that is the unfortunate but concomitant cost of modern industrial production."

Mr. Steinfurth has said, "Asbestos (Continued on page 2)

; ,

. -.; ..



from the" Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program

Editor: W. J. ;-';icholson, Ph.D., Publbhed at the En I"ironmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff. M.D .• Director). Mount Sinai School of !-.1edicine of the Cit)" University of New York. N.Y. 10029

Advisory Council of I1HRP

Irving J. Selikoff.-M.D., Program Director and Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond. Sc.D .• Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York. N.Y.

Andrew Haas, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and AsbeStoS Workers, Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack. Ph.D., Vice President, Research and Development, Johns-Manville Corporation. Denver, Colo.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulatiofl"workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work.


(Continued from firs! page)

workers and their families do not have to be convinced of this. but there are Senators and Congressmen who do. Opposition to this urgently needed legislation from some employers is powerful. To assure passage of the National Workers Compensation Act it is essential that workers. their families and friends demonstrate their support for this legislation to their elected representatives. ,.

~-:---- ......

Provisions of the National' Workers' Compensation Act

:\1inimum Standards

I) Compen!-ution. medical benefits. rehabilitation services. and other benefits provided under the la\\ shall be provided by each employer for disability or death to his emp(oyees caused by any injury arising out of and in the course of their employment. An injury shall be deemed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment if work-related factors were a contributing cause of the injury.

2) The standards applied under the State law for determining the existence of total or partial disability or death due to any disease arising out of or in the course of employment shall be substan[ially equivalent to the standards, if any. issued by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare for such disease under this Act. or the Coal .l\'fine Health and Safety Act of 1969. " 3) The total amount of compensa

tion payable for death or total disability shall not be subject to a time or dollar maximum limitation. nor shall there be a time or dollar limit for the type or extent of medical care or rehabilitation services.

4) Totally disabled workers must be paid not less than 667:lCJc of their average weekly wage, subject to a maximum of no less than 100Ck of statewide average weekly wages during 1975 and rising to no less than 200Ck of statewide average weekly wages be-ginning January 1,1978. "

5) Minimum weekly compensation benefits for total disability shall be at least 50Ck of the statewide average weekly wage or of the injured employee's actual weekly wage. whichever is less. In case of peath, such benefits shall be at least 509(- of the statewide average weekly wage.

6) Death" benefits payable to widower or widow for life or until remarriage with at least two years' benefits payable on remarriage and to children till at least age 18.23 if a student, orfor life if child is physically or mentally incapable of self-support.

7) Waiting period of not more than 3 days with retroactive benefits paid after "14 days.

8) Appropriate periodic adjustments of benefits for those alreadv receiving benefits to reflect the inc;ease in statewide average weekly wages and bc:nefit levels.

9) Initial choice of a physician from those approved by the State Compensation Agency.

10) Attorney's fees, regulated by the State agency, are to be added to an a\vard if a claimant has been successful in formal adjudicatory proceedings.

11) Provisions shall be made for protection of benefits if insurance carriers become insolvent or if any employer orcarrierfails to comply with State law.

State Plans

Each State, having been furnished by the Secretary of Labor with the necessary criteria, shall submit to him an adequate plan meeting the requirements of the Act. The State..plans must meet the minimum Federal standards described above, provide for the adoption of additional minimum standards promulgated by the Secretary. The Secretary is to review State plans every three years to determine if they continue to meet the Federal Standards.

New Standards

New Federal standards would be promulgated by the Secretary of Labor following a recommendation from the Advisory Commission. Proposed standards must appear in the Federal Rt;"gister and be considered at a public hearing before the Secretary can rule on them.

Employment Related Diseases

This section authorizes and directs the Secretary of Health Education and Welfare to establish a schedule of work related diseas.e with standards for determining whether a disease arose out of or in the course of employment and whether death or disability was due to such disease. Such standards may include reasonable presumptions. In developing this schedule, the Secretary of HEW shall consult the Director of NIOSH and employer and employee groups appropriate to new diseases.

Advisory Commission

The Federal 'Yorkers Compensation Advisory Commission shall consist of five members appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. There shall be one representative of labor, one of business and three from the general public.

,.... "ij """

'.' '.

::"tct'~fe4 ~ 7.! :"f::.e 7 , ;'.! Workmen's Compensation Under State Laws, January 1, 1974

I'ermanent Total Diubillty ',\ "'':!a~s pai";'le~: to w.cow until d€:!t1 or re;.,arnaoe·----"-=="--';;:s:-:::en':-iefi""'t 'F;Li=::;mi2ta~tiQ:-:-n:-s -:. m~a's paYi.1e-,t to ChllOren untIl age specIfied. -'II In~II .. .Jh':" .. p..· .. 1.I1 lunJ Ilr .... • ... mJ m:.J(~ lunJ

JUrisdiction

____ Alabama 1 __

_______ Alaska ___ ___ . _____ Arizona ___ _._ Arkans.ps 1 --__ California' __ ___ Colorado __ __ Connecticut __ _________ Delaware __ _ District of Columbia _ ___ .. ___ .. _ Florida ........ ___ ___ GeorgIa ___ ... ___ .. _. Hawaii ___

--- Idaho ----1Ilinois

____ .. Indiana ____ ___ .. Iowa ____ ____ .. _. Kansas ___ ___ Kentucky __ ____ .. Louisiana __ ______ Maine ___ . _____ Maryland __

___ Massachusetts __ . ___ ._ Michigan __

"-- Minnesota --- Mississippi 1 --__ Missouri __ _. __ Montana __ _._. Nebraska __

- Nevada __ New Hampshire _ ___ New Jersey __ __ New Mexico' _ __ New York __ _ North Carolina _ _ North Dakota _ ____ .... Ohio __ . __ ___ . Oklahoma __

__ ... Oregon __ . ___ .. Pennsylvania . __ . __ Puerto Rico __

_ Rhode Island _ __ .. South Carolina _ _ South Dakota __

-- Tennessee --Texas'

. __ Utah ___ Vermont __

-- Virginia --__ Washington __ ___ West Virginia __

-- Wisconsin --__ Wyoming __

We.lIly Benefit Allowed

$ 75 114 ISO

66.50 70 84

112-168 75

211 80 65

112 117-163

81-97 60-75

91 56 84 65 83

96.80 90+

93-122 100

63 50

131 80

106 115 112

75 80 80 74+

110 50

104-129 106 31 82+ 63 54 62 70

89-109 81 80

121 S2 90

43-62

Duration (In Weeks)

650

Amount

$37,500 Duration of disability Duration of disability Duration of disability

621 Reduced benefit for life

Duration of disability Duration of disability DUrat:::m of disability Duration of disability DUration of disability 400

Duration of disability 52 Reduced benefit

for life After $24,624---;34,485 paid

reduced benefit for life

500 30,000 Duration of disability

415 23,240 Duration of disability

500 DUration of disability

$6 for each dependent Duration of disability

Duration of disability Duration of disability

450 21,000 300 $50 weekly

for life

Duration of disability Duration of disability Duration of disability Duration of disability

450 Soard may extend

500 37,500 DUration of disability

400 Soard may waive lim. In some cases

$5 for each child Duration of disability

Duration of disability 500

DUration of disability Duration of disability Duration of disability

~~. tor eac~~epen~~nt Duration of disability

25,000 Duration of disability

400 Thereafter $15 weekly to $25,000

401 312 330

Duration of disability Duration of disability Duration of disability Duration of disability

17 ,500-27 ,500

Funeral Allowance All Cases

$1,000 1,000

800 750

1,000 1,000 1,000

700 1,000 1,000

750 1,500

750 1,425 1,500 1,000

750 1,500 1,000 1,000

750 1,000 1,500 1,000

SOO 800 500

1,000 650

1,000 750

1,500 750 500 750

1,200 None 1,000

750 300

1,800 400

1,000 750 500

1,000 500 800 800

1,200 750 600

$

Payment in Cases of Ho Dependency

100 SIF* 10,000 SIF

1,150 SIF 500 SIF

No payment 6,250 SIF

No payment No payment

5,000 SIF No payment No payment

8,775 SIF No payment

400 SIF No payment

100 SIF 500 SIF


1,500 SIF 550 SIF

1,000 SIF No payment

5,000 SIF 500 SIF

No payment 500 SIF


500 SIF No payment

1,000 500 SIF

No payment No payment No payment

1,000 No payment No payment· No payment

750 SIF No payment

500 SIF 100 SIF

17,540 SIF 15,500 SIF

500 SIF 500

10,000 SIF No payment 11,000 SIF

500 SIF

Duth hnt1!U SurvIvors Benefits

MaxImum Weekly Benefit

Benefit lImItations Time Amount

$ 75 500 weeks $37,500 175 W, C-19 20,000

80.77 -153.85 W, C-18 No limit 66.50 W, C-18 No limit

119 40,000 45,000

84-99 312 weeks 26,208 30,888

112-158 W, C-18 No limit 56-90 400 weeks No limit

211 W, C-23 No limit 3D W, C-18 25,000 65 400 weeks 25,000

84-112 W, C-22 35,100 78 500 weeks

81-97 W, C-19 24,624 34,485

50 500 weeks 30,000 91 W, C-25 No limit

56-75 W, C-21 18,500 25,000

84 W, C-21 No limit 65 500 weeks 83 W, C-18 No limit 96.80 W, C-25 45,000

45+6 for W, C-18 No limit unless W each child self supporting

93-115 500 weeks 100 W, C-19 40,000

63 450 weeks 21,000 70 W, C-21 22,500

131 W, C-22 No limit 80 W, C-25 No limit

106 W, C-18 No limit 115 341 weeks 39,215 112 W, C-1S After 450 wks. any

earnings deducted

75 500 weeks 37,500 48-80 W, C-18 No limit

80 350 weeks 32,500 44+7 for each child W, C-1S No limit

110 W, C-18 No limit Lump sum payment 14,000

25,000

78-157 W, C-23 No limit 106 W, C-18 No limit 31 W:C-25 No limit

82+I:i.t.or each child 500 weeks

63 350 weeks 25,000 5 years wages $10,000-$35,000 to W plus 50 monthly for each C until IS

62 W, C-18 25,000 70 W, C-25

8S-109 312 weeks 27,768 34,008

81 W, C-18 No limit 80 SOD weeks 32,000

40,000

121 W, C-19 No limit 37+12 for each child W, C-22 No limit

54 400 weeks 25,714 43-62 W, C-18 13,000

23000

2

~

~.

.. , ....

-~ . . ' ~

~ ' . • • • .1:

, ,.:.' .... \ .

, .

Three Books on Occupational Health Published

Three books have recently been published that may be of particular interest tQ asbestos workers and to others interested in the field of occupational health.

Two are strongly worded indictments of working conditions in the United States. Details are given of inadequate government regulations and enforcement, of managements more concerned with profit than with workers' health and safety, and of questionable conduct among industrysupported physicians and scientists.

The third book is a compilation of the hazards of a variety of industrial materials and some information on their control. It is unique in that it i!> . written especially for the worker and not the professional researcher.

"Expendable Americans" by Paul Brodeur, originally serialized in the New Yorker magazine, is largely devoted to conditions in the American 'asbestos industry. Names, places and details are given of government and industry cover-ups of intolerable working conditions. Mr. Brodeur focuses on a "government-industry-medical complex" that has existed and operated for years to the disadvantage of workers.

A striking example of this complex in action is the case of a Texas asbestos factory with dust concentrations that would rival those of the worst factories of the early 1900's. Dust levels of 190 fibers/cc were measured, nearly 40

BfJlIII

times the current standard. No effective ventilation existed and respirators were seidom worn by workers. Forthese violations, termed "nonserious," the company was fined $210 by the Department of Labor's Dallas administrators.

A significant portion of the book is devoted to the background of research, testimony and acti.;Ities on the part 'of industry, government and labor that led to the current U. S. asbestos standard. These details are particularly timely in view of the current Court-mandated reopening of tha.t standard.

While Brodeur concentrates on the asbestos industry, Rachel Scott, in "Muscle and Blood," confronts the full spectrum of American industry. Examples of human tragedy and corporate indifference and neglect are documented in steel production, the auto industry, chemical manufacturing, mining, and other industries.

Miss Scott is concerned with the human cost ofIndustry' s attitudes-her focus is on people, on the victims and on those she holds responsible. In a series of individual vignettes she portrays, among others, the research director of an industrial laboratory who selects and alters his data; an equivocating School of Public Health professor who is simultaneously holding a lucrative industrial consultantship; an asbestos worker slowly dying of an irreversible cancer; a tunnel worker suffering the choking death of silicosis while still in his teens: and the tragedy of a family

tom apart by a mine explosion. Both Brodeur and Scott are angry

writers. Their works present one side, a shocking and dismaying view of cur· rent working conditions in America. For lhis, their books will be faulted. Only books such as these, however, will arouse the public, and indUStry as well, to bring about meaningful change.

"Work is Dangerous to Your Health" by Drs. Jeanne Stellman and Susan Daum is an excellent practical guide for workers and the general public. The book includes sections on body function and physiology and how the body may be affected by various occupational exposures. Chapters on noise and vibration, heat and cold, radiation, chemical exposures~and welding make up most of the book.

Of special importance for workers are chapters on controlling pollution in the workplace and on measurement and monitoring. While not intended as a ventilatio; engineering guide, the information is useful to workers in helping them to recognize and understand what appropriate industrial hygiene measures should be.

By WILLIAM J. NICHOLSON

Expendab/~ AmrriC'ans. By Paul Brodeur. New York. The Viking Press.

Afllsrle and Blood. B ... R~hel Scon. ~ew York. E. P. Dutton and Co. .

Work Is Dang~rolu to Your Health. By J~nne Stellman and Susan Daum. Nev.: York. Pantheon Books.

. ;~.'

." "

Environmental Sciences' Laboratory

O\ll'lT 5J-'f.

l -1\

~T~ INSULATION HYGIENE PRO'GRESS REPORTS

o( OF ..... t.Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New Yor): Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Director

Vol. 1 No. 1 ,~ Spring 1975

The Asbestos P,xposure of-Insulation Workmen Extensive Information has been de

veloped on the mortality experience of insulation workers. It would, thus, be of considerable value to have quantitative information on the asbestos dust levels to which these workers were exposed. Because of the long lapse period between exposure and clinical appearance of disease, the dust estimates of greatest concern are those of 20,30,40 or more years ago ..

While historical data are scant and fragmentary, insulation work practices have ch;mged relatively little, prior to 1970, either in the U.S. or abroad. Thus, measurements taken prior to 1970 will also provide data of use in assessing earlier exposure.'

United States Data

The only early work of note is the 1945 study of Fleischer and his colleagues 1 who reported asbestos dust levels during insulation application in four U.S. shipyards. In this study, dust levels were assessed using a konimeter" (an instrument widely used at the time but no longer employed), and both total

ASBESTOS STANDARD TO BE REVIEWED

On December 7, 1971 an Asbestos Standard was promulgated that prohibited workmen's eight-hour average asbestos exposures to exceed 5 fibers per milliliter (f/ml) of air. A milliliter is about a thimbleful of air and

. only fibers longer than five microns (about 1125,000 of an inch) are to be counted. This level is mandated to go to 2 flml during June, 1976.

Last year, the U.S. Court of Appeals ordered portions of the current U. S. standard to be reviewed by the pepartrnent of Labor. Of interest to insulators, the court specifically stated that in those industries where a dust level of 2 flml was feasible, it shOUld be imp"remented before 1976.

Because of this pending review of the standard, a summary of all research on the asbestos exposure of insulation workers has been prepared for submission to the Dept. of Labor by the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program. Because of the importance of achieving a safe U.S. Asbestos Standard and the interest of asbestos workers in this goal, we are publishing the full report in this issue.

dust levels and fiber levels were recorded. This study gains importance in that one of the yards studied by Fleischer was resurveyed during 1965 and 1966 by personnel of the Department of Industrial Hygiene, Harvard School of Public Health2

,3 and a comparison of levels is possible.

During 1964, additional data were published by Marr4 on exposure levels

TABLE I

at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard (Local 20, IAHFIAW). However, detailed numerical data on dust concentrations are only given for particles. If tlbers were present, but the count revealed less than 1 million particles per cubic foot (mppcf), they were reported only as a trace. Thus, no average fiber concentrations can be derived from this study. (Continued Oil page 2)

Shipyard asbestos fiber concentrations by Konimeter count-1945, 1965-66

Yard

Shop Activity

A fiber cone.

MPPCF flmJ

B fib<or cone.

MPPCF flmJ

C (1945) fib<or cone.

MPPCF flmJ

C (1965-66) fiber cone.

MPPCF flmJ

D fiber cone.

MPPCF flmJ

No. of men exposed (1945) 84 50 51 8 Layout and cutting 0.35 12.4 .0.23 8.1 2.2 78 1. 76 62 0.63 22 Sewing and fabrication O.O~ 1.1 0.1 3.5 0.62 22 0.27 9.5 0.03 1.1 General room air 0.08 2.8 0.01 0.4 0.8 28 0.3 10.6 0.02 0.7

The following shop activities were done at infrequent intervals and.involved only one or, at most, two men: Band saw cutting 0.12 4.2 3.0 106 6.19 218 0.7 24.7 Mixing cement 0.2 7.0 1.7 60 3.1 109 0.23 8.1 Scrap grinding 0.47 16.6

Aboard Ship No. of men exposed (1945) A vg. exposure, all activities

Time-Weighted Average Exposure (All fibers visible)

467 0.02" 0.7

1.1

700 123 2.8 98 1.1 39 0.17 . 6.0

90 35

0.01 0.4

160 0.03 1.1

1.1

. ~ .. '

... ,

", .

1945 Results Available Average Expo?ures Low

Table J lists the fiber exposure data oQtained from over 200 dust counts by Fleischer in 1945 and also those obtained by Murphy3 during 1965 and 1966. Using data supplied on the number of individuals engaged in the various work activities, a timeweighted (actually man-weighted) average asbestos exposure is calculated.

A detailed analysis of the results, however, presents difficulties. In each yard, a worker's average exposure wa.:; dominated by insulation activities aboard ,ship. For such activities, the average asbestos dust levels reported in


Vol. 6 No.1 Spring 1975 from the

Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Program Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., Published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Irving J. Selikoff, M. D., Director), Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York, N.Y. 10029


Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. Program Director and Chairman E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice President, American Cancer Society, New York, N.Y. Andrew Haas, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, Washington, D.C.

Fred L. Pundsack, Ph. D. Vice President, Research and Development, Johns-

, Manville Corporation, Denver, Colo.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. Z. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

the different shipyards varied by nearly one hundred times.

It should be recognized that these fiber counts represent all fibers enumerated in the field of view of a konimeter. These would include fibers perhaps as short as 1.5 microns. Supplementary dataS on the size distribution of amosite aerosols in shipyards suggest that this overestimates the number of fibers longer than five :r..icrons by a factor of t\\;-'o.

Taking this factor into account, the average of the eight-hour concentrations of fibers longer than five microns in the four U.S. ~hipyards studied by Fleischer in 1945 would be from 15 to 20 fibers per milliliter Cf/ml). It must be emphasized, however, that such averages are highly subjective and depend strongly upon the vagaries of the particular work practices selected for sampling and conditions present at that time.

Similar considerations would yield a value of 4 flml for the shipyard survey by Murphy in 1965-66.

New Techniques Used

The first research that quantified asbestos insulation exposures using membrane filter techniques was that of Balzer and Cooper published in 1968 6

and extended in a report at the Dresden Conference on the Biological Effects of Asbestos in 1969. 7

Their initial publication, however, enumerated fiber concentrations in marine and commercial insulation work in terms of all visible fibers, including those shorter than five microns. The later subsequent pUblication also provided data on fiber concentrations longer than five microns. Table 2 summarizes these results.

Using the information provided on

dust concentrations and the percentage of time a worker is engaged in a particular practice, a time-weighted average of 2.7 flml was obtained for exposures during asbestos insulation work in light and heavy construction, and 6.6 flml in marine construction and repair.

Cooper and Balzer noted that at the time of their study, approximately 55% of the work time of insulation workers was spent using materials other than asbestos. Thus, eight-hour timeweighted average exposures for asbestos workers during 1968 in the western United States would have averaged less than 1.5 f/mJ in light and hea~y construction. Moreover, it is noteworthy that Cooper and Balzer state their samples were "deliberately taken under conditions where the highest dust concentrations representative of a particular job were being developed."

Union Cooperation Obtained

The environmental evaluation of insulation work that was undertaken by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine under the auspices of the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research ProgramS revealed asbestos air concentrations somewhat higher than those measured by Balzer and Cooper. Again using information supplied by union members and from observation of work practices, estimates were made of the percentage oftime workmen were engaged in various activities in commercial and industrial construction.

The information on measured asbestos air concentrations obtained during these work activities is shown in Table 3. They were used as indicated to arrive at the estimated time-weighted average exposure of about 6 flml for insuJato-;'s when working with asbestos.

On the average, in the eastern United

TABLE II

Asbestos fiber concentrations by membrane filter techniques

Light and Heavy Industrial Fibers/cc

Percentage mean Job of work with All Length

Classification asbestos Lengths > 5J.L

Prefabrication lO9'c 10.1 6.6 Application 40% 12.4 8.0 Mixing 5% 2.4 1.6 Finishing 30O/C 2.7 1.8 Tearing Out 10O/C 12.8 8.4 General 5% 0.8 .5

Time-Weighted Average Exposure 4.1 2.7

Marine Construction and Repair

Fibers/cc mean

All Length Lengths > 5J.L

30.4 20.0 24.8 16.8 10.6 7.1

1.8 1.2 31.5 20.2

.2 0.1

9.9 6.6

·.,'"

... :,

• o.

IIHRP Results Reported States during the 1960's, over half of the work activiti(,:s of these men were with materials other than asbestos. Thus, the over eight-hour timeweighted average asbestos exposure was approximately 3 f/ml.

In the research that led to these data, it was reported that peak exposures could be extremely high. It was not uncommon, for example, for two to five-minute concentrations of asl:lestos to range between 50 flml and 100 flml during the mixing of cement. This mixing, however, would consume only a few minutes time and be done perhaps once an hour. Thus, exposures measured over that hour, including the mixing, would seldom average over 5 f/ml.

Peak High, Average Low

Similar experiences were subsequently reported by Coopers at Lyon who stated that, "Peak concentrations may be high for brief periods, while time-weighted averages are often deceptively low."

In a continuation of the work of the Department of Industrial Hygiene of Harvard University in assessing asbestos exposure in Naval Shipyards, Ferris et al 9 reported on the results obtained by J. Lynch and W. Burgess from 81

shipyard asbestos air samples taken during 1969. Using fiber counting techniques they determined a mean asbestos concentration of 0.3 flml in land fabrication shops and 2.9 f/ml in shipboard installation work.

3 Jlml Exposure

Three research programs in the United States point to the conclusion that the time-weighted average exposure of insulators between 1965 and 1969 was less than 3 fibers longer than five microns per milliliter.

We have direct informaticlfi on asbestos fiber concentrations, measured using the currently prescribed analysis procedures, during recent years only. Insulation materials have changed from earlier years. Fibrous glass has found extelisivc use while work with cork is seldom seen today. Moreover, changes in the asbestos composition of insulation products have taken place. Pipe covering and insulation block may have had twice the asbestos content in past years as exists today.

During this period, however, work practices were virtually identical to those of past years and during the period of those measurements, few controls of significance were in use.

TABLE III

Asbestos concentrations during various work practices

Type of Work

Mixing and Applying Cement and Cloth Covering to Insulation Material


Cutting and Applying Insulation Block or Sections of Pipe Covering


Pre-Fabrication work including Cutting Materials for later use ~

Time-weighted average = 535/85

Measured Fiber Concentraticm

(f/ml) (greater than 5 microns)

2.5 4.6

5.2 n.5

7.6

6.3 flml

Percentage of Time Practice Occurs When Column One

Asbestos is times Used Column Two

17.5 17.5

20 20

10

44 81

104 230

76

535

The above practices. which occupy 85% of the work time in asbestos insulation work. give rise to a time.weighted average exposure of 6.3 f/ml. As the majority of the other activities of insulation work (supervision. collection of materials. movement and installation of equipment. etc.) are relatively clean. the overall exposure may be lower. (In the C.S .• sweeping and dusty cleanup are done by members of the Laborers Union.)

In a review of work activities in commercicl and industrial consrruction. it was found that little removal of insulation was conducted and asbesto. spray applications were very rarely undertaken by insulators. (Asbestos workers applied spray insulations only to powerhouse turbines.) It is estimated that less than two or three percent of nonmarine inloUlation work by member!. of the Asbestos Workers Union is in these continuously dusty operations. Even if average exposures here were 50 flml and the men wore no respirators. their overall average exposure would be increa,ed only to 7 flml when working with asbestos.

Insulators Still Exposed to Asbestos

While much of new insulation material contains no asbestos, pipe-coverers may still be exposed to high asbestos concentrations during removal and demolition. In such work, safe procedures and personal protective equipment must be used. Thus, obtaining an effective and safe Asbestos Standard remains of paramount importance.

Thus, dust concentrations measured under these conditions have relevance for the estimate of levels of past years.

Considering the possible doubling of asbestos content of insulation materials and considering that workers may have used asbestos materials more often in the past than now, the data from these three studies would suggest that the upper limit on insulator's exposures in the United States during past years would be about 10 f/ml.

British Data

At the Devonport Naval Dockyard in Plymouth, England, extensive measurements of asbestos dust concentrations during the application and removal of insulation aboard ship have been reported by Harries. 10 These are listed in Table 4. During the application of insulation material, fiber concentrations from 2.1 to 22.4 flml were found, not unlike those found in U.s-. studies.

However, during the removal of pipe and machinery insulation, mean dust concentration in various compartments ranged from 88 to 257 flml, and in the removal of sprayed crocidolite asbestos, fiber concentrations ranged from 20 to 500 flml, with short-term breathing zone samples showing concentrations exceeding 1000 f/ml. Moreover, the spread of asbestos from the site of removal can be extensive. Concentrations of 30 flml were found at hatchway openings to decks from the area of crocidolite stripping.

High Dust During Ripout

Additionally, short-term fiber concentrations measured during the variety of specific application and removal techniques are reported. High levels, exceeding 200 flml, occurred while mixing asbestos cement. The cleaning of debris (155 f/ml) and the sawing (55 f/ml), fitting (43 f/ml), or removing (52 f/ml) of calcium silicate sections also produced high dust concentrations.

A subsequent publication by Harries 11 of long-term area sampling in var-

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Adequacy of Standard Questioned jous circumstances indicated a mean concentration of 226 flml during the

. removal of spray; of 152 flml during the removal of pipe insulation; and of 8.9 flml during the application of pipe lagging.

As with the Mount Sinai research and the Balzer-Cooper study, shortt~rm dust concentrations during specific insulation practices can be extremely high, while samples taken over long periods of time yield concentrations that are relatively low when compared with current and past asbestos standards.

Summary

Studies on asbestos concentrations from 1965 through 1971 by five different research groups in two countries are summarized in Table 5, along with estimates made of earlier insulation as-

bestos exposures. They indicate that recent average exposures of insulation workers to asbestos are from 3 to 9 flml when working with asbestos.

As asbestos workers in the United States in the period these measurements were taken used asbestos materials in their work less than 50% of the time, their eight-hour average exposure to asbestos was less than 3 f/mL It is noteworthy that these exposures existed prior to the implementation of the current 5 flml standards in the U.S. As extensive substitution of nonasbestos materials has subsequently taken place in insulation work, current exposures are now consid~rably lower.

The estimate of from 10 to 15 flml obtained for past exposures in nonmarine insulations work does not offer much confidence that 5 f/ml, or even 2 flml, is sufficient to protect asbestos

TABLE IV

workmen. Forty percent of insulators' deaths can be attributed to their past occupational exposure to asbestos at such levels. A standard 'set at two, or even five times lower, is unlikely to offer significant protection to asbestos workmen.

Asbestos Workers Have High Peak but Low Average Asbestos

Exposures

The high peak exposures of asbestos workers measured by different groups can be deceptive. These often are of short term and may involve few men. Average exposures have universally been found to be low, usually less than current standards. This result leads to two conclusions: 1) Current standards may be inadequate to protect workers, and 2) Easily accomplished control of peak exposures can significantly reduce the long-term average exposures.

Asbestos dust concentrations during the fabrication, application and removal of insulation materials

Location

Application of pipe and .machinery instIlation:

Boiler rooms Engine rooms Accumulator room

Mattress fabrication: Old shop New shop

Removal of pipe and machinery insulation:

Boiler room Engine room Brick stowage space

Removal of asbestos acoustic panels:

TABLE V

Summary of average asbestos air concentrations during insulation

work

~Group

Mount Sinai (IIHRP)

Balzer· Cooper Murphy. Harvard B urgess· Lynch Harries

Aft .... Fl ..... c:-.mn ...

Ll:Pt -.d &:...,- Mari.nc ~ WIH"k

6.3 2.7 6.6

8.0* 2.9 8.8

Estimates of early exposures Fleischer 15·20 Mount Sinai 10·15

These concenIf2.tions Wctt those meuured or estimated for "oO..etS whde u!'.ing asbestos. Eight·hour llvcra.ge exposu~s. c01l!>idenng the use of other materials. would be as lit:le as h.llf the: Wove .. ·.l.lues.. • Fibc::r count includes all visible: fiben..

Geneml Atmosphere

No. of samples

17 28 5

12 11

153 45 13

6

Mean 'fibers! em'

22.4 2.1

16.5

12.7 16.3

171 88

257

413.5

REFERENCES

Range

1-61 0.1-14 2.5-46

0-126 2-83

0.04-1062 0.16-3021

9-592

30-684

1. Fleischer, W. E., Viles. F. J. Jr .. Gade, R. L. and Drinkerr P.: A Health Survey of Pipe Covering Operations in Constructing Naval Vessels. Journal of Industrial Hygiene aod Toxicology 28. 9·16 (1946).

2. Murphy, R. L. H., Jr., Ferris, B. G., Jr., Burgess, W. A. etal.: Effects of Low Concentrations of Asbestos: Clinical, Environmental, Radiologic and Epidemiologic Observations in Shipyard Pipe Coverers and Controls. New England Journal of Medicine 285. 1271·1278 (1971).

3. Murphy, R. L. H., Jr.: Asbestosis in Pipe Cov· erers Engaged in New Ship Consrruction. Thesis. Har· vard School of Public Health, (1968).

4. Marr, W. T.: Asbestos Exposure During Naval Vessel Overhaul. American Iodustrial Hygiene Associ· ation Journal 25, 264-268 (1964).

5. Nicholson, W. I., Holaday, D. A. and Heimann, H.: Direct and Indirect Occupational Exposure to Insu· lation Dusts in United States Shipy:mIs. Proceeding of the International Symposium on Safety and Health in Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing. Helsinki, 30 August to 2 September, 1971. ILO Occupational Safety and

No. of samples

14 16 17

15 25

20 25

6

Breathing Zone

Mean fibers/em'

16.8 7.3 9.6

1.5 3.7

97 91

131

Range

0.1-68 0.04-40 1 -47

0- 7 0-17

25-220 2-490

48-271

Health Series No. 27. 2747. Geneva (1972). 6. Balzer,1. L. and Cooper, W. C.: The Work Envi·

ronment of Insulating Workers. American Indusnial Hygiene Association Journal 29, 222·227 (1968).

7. Cooper, yv. C. and Balzer, J. L.: Evaluation and control of asbestos exposures in the insulating trade. International Konferenz Uber die biologischen Wir· kungen des Asbestos, Dresden, 22·24 April. 1968. Deutsches Zentralinstirute fur Arbeitsmedizin, pp 15 I· 160. Holstein and Anspach. eds., Berlin.

8. Cooper. W. C. Asbestos in, the Manufacrure of Insulation Materials Biological Effects of Asbestos, IARC Lyon, France, pp 175·178.

9. Ferris, B. G.,Jr., Ranadive, M. V .. Peters.;' M. et al: Prevalence of Chronic Respiratory DiseaseAsbestosis in Ship Repair Workers. Archives of En· vironmental Health23. 220·225 (1971).

10. Harries, P. G.: Asbestos Dust Concentrations In Ship Repairing: A Practical Approach to Improving Asbestos Hygiene in Naval Dockyards. Annals of Oc· cupational Hygiene 14. 241·254 (1971)

I I. Harries, P. G.: A Comparison of Mass and Fibre Concentrations of Asbestos Dust in Shipyard Insulation Processes; Annals of Occupational Hygiene 14, 234-240 (1971).


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INSULATION HYGIENE' PROGRESS REPORTS

O{OFt ... ~Q" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York

Inadequate change and shower facilities can lead to extt!nsive amounts of asbestos and other dusts being brought home to contaminate workers'

households. Here, the only change facilities on this construction site is an open trailer.

Asbestos Disease C3.11 .Spread '. to Workers' FamilIes

A widening spectrum of asbestos disease has been found by Dr. Henry Anderson and other scientists of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In a study just completed of 326 family contacts of fonner asbestos factory workers, it has been found that 35% had X-ray abnonnalities characteristic of asbestos exposure. These data were presented by Dr. Anderson on March 24th to the Conference on Occupational Carcinogenesis' held at the New York Ac'!demy of Sciences.

The family members potentially affected included all in the household; it was not simply the wife of the worker, who would shake dust from her husband's clothes before washing them. Affected were children, brothers, and sisters. as well as wives. It would appear that the dust had been present throughout the household. brought

home on the clothes of the factory workers.

The workers were employed at a factory that manufactured amosite insulation material, often for use in Naval ships, but also widely used in power plants and industrial insulation. It operated from 1941 through 1954. Many of the workers whose families later developed signs of asbestos exposure were employed for relatively short periods of time.

The dust exposures to the family members. however. could have been longer. Asbestos. once in the house. is difficult to remove. and exposures could continue long after cessation of the husband's or father's employment. In other studies by Mount Sinai research workers. asbestos dust has been found still present in households of

cominlled 011 page 4

Irving J. Selikoff, M.D., Program Dlredor

Vol. 7 No 2 n~n Summer 1975

Identification System for

Adhesives-Solvents

It is now possible to report that progress is being made on the development of an identification system for hazardous materials, including adhesive cement, sealants, and similar products used in applying insulation materials.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has an advisory committee which has developed the basic principles of an identification system. This committee, under the direction of Roy Resnick, has met with Roy Steinfurth, Administrator of the Insulators' Health Hazards Program, and Duncan A. Holaday, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine , to review the special problems associated with the use of adhesives in the insulation industry.

Hazards Identified

The OSHA committee has decided on the basic principles of an identification system which will be applicable to a variety of industrial products. Signal words, such as "Danger," "Caution," and "Warning" will be used to show degree of hazard. The principal types of hazards will be identified by words such as "Flammable" or "Health Hazard" and statements listing additional infonnation needed for protection will also be required.

Some identification of the principal . component will also be given. Particularly hazardous substances. such as wood alcohol. benzene. xylene. and toluene will be required to be named if they compose more than stated percentages of the product. Altogether. this could mean that labels on industrial products would be as infonnative as those now required on products intended for household use.

This would indeed be an improvement over the present situation. Cur

COlltilllled on page 3

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Vol. 7 No.2 Summer 1975

from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research

Program Editor: W. J. Kicholson. Ph.D •• Publbhcd at th~ En\ironmental Science, Laboratllry (Irving]. Sdikt1ff. M.D .. Directorl. Mount Sinai School l1f Medicine of the City University orNew York. :-.i.Y. 10029


Irving J. Selikoff. M.D •• Program Director and Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond. Sc.D.. Vice President. American Cancer Society. New York. N.Y.

Andrew Haas. General President. International Association of Heal and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. Washington, D.C.




2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they. may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation, advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

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Self-Contained Supplied-Air Respirator Available

The removal of old asbestoscontaining material continues to be a major source of exposure to insulation workers. While rip-out is only done occasionally. the dust concentrations during this procedure can be so high that special respiratory protection must be used. Often. asbestos fiber concentrations exceed 100 fibers per millil iter. 20 times the current standard.

According to the OSHA Asbestos Standard. employees engaged in the removal or demolition of pipes. structures, or equipment covered or insulated with asbestos must use type .. e" continuous flow or pressure-demand supplied-air respirators. In addition. special coveralls. gloves. and shoe coverings are to be employed to prevent contamination of clothing by asbestos fibers.

On jobs where externally supplied air from tanks or compressors is available, a variety of hoods may be obtai.ned for connection to the air source. Often. however, a supply of breathable air is not readily available, or the use of a long air hose may give rise to safety risks.

Battery-Powered Unir Available

Additionally, if air is supplied by compressors, provisions must be made to remove oil and water mists and to insure that carbon monoxide does not get into the system through improper placement of the air intake.

In such circumstances, a batterypowered air cleaner and hood have special utility. One model, available in the

The face piece of a self-contained supplied. air respirator. It will operate for four hours using a rechargeable battery.

last year and manufw:tured by the 3-M Occupational Health and Safety Products Division. will operate for over four hours and provide protection in the dustiest of environments during rcmoval of asbestos material. The respiratorweighs only 10 pounds. There is no resistance to breathing. no condensation of moisture. and face fit is not of particular importance.

Maintenance Important

The respirator should. however. be checked periodically by personnel familiar with its operation. Any replacement parts required should be those of the manufacturer. and their instructions for servicing and repair should be fo 1I0wed carefully.

Other supplied-air breathing devices are available in which cylinders ofoxygen or of compressed air are carried by the worker. Several approved types exist but they are more complicated to use and more cumbersome than the previously described battery-powered air filtering unit. Moreover, those using compressed air have a maximum use time of only 30 minutes before a new cylinder must be obtained. Those using oxygen havc a longer operating time. but require chemical filtering of exhaled air.

The half-face dust respirators commonly available on job sites are not suitable for use during removal of asbestos insulation materials. The use of such respirators is limited to conditions in which dust concentrations are less than ten times the existing standard.

A diagram of the battery pack, fan motor, and filter of the respirator. It weighs 10 pounds.

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Conference Held on

Occupational Cancer

In the recently conduded New York Academy of Sciences Conference on Occupational Carcinogenesis, a variety of research studies were presented concerning the health of asbestos workers . Of prime importance was the presentation on the presence of asbestos disease in the family members of workers discussed in the lead article of this issue.

Ashestos -Like Exposure Studied,

Among other studies were a report on the morbidity and mortality among hard rock miners exposed to an asbestiform mineral. Here, a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health investigated the health of underground metal miners with exposure to a fibrous mineral virtually identical to amosite asbestos, a material used extensively in marine insulation and also fonnerly in much pipe covering and asbestos block.

In an analysis of 70 deaths, a threefold increase in lung cancer was found. Additionally, a review of chest X-rays showed pulmonary fibrosis to be present in the group of workers, even though the fiber concentrations that were measured in the mine were only 0.24 fibers per milliliter, one-twentieth of the current'U.S. Asbestos Standard.

Fibrous Glass Analysis

A second report by scientists from NIOSH also is of interest to insulation workers. David L Bayliss presented data on deaths among fibrous glass production workers. No unusual mortality was found in the large majority of workers. This was to be expected, as these workers had been exposed predominantly to large diameter fibers which would not be, carried into the deeper segments of the lungs.

However. it was suggested that one group of workers, exposed in the past to thinner fibers. could have an increased risk of respiratory cancer. This is of special importance as these small diameter fibers are now ofter used instead of asbestos in high temperature insulation material.

A paper by Dr. Robert Morgan, of the University of Toronto, related cancer of the larynx with asbestos exposure. This cancer, as lung cancer, is also strongly related to cigarette smoking. Similar data have been found among insulation workers, where a threefold increase in laryngeal cancer has been found in research of Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Participants at the conference not only ,,011i>idered causes of occupational cancer, but some also offered suggestions for medical surveillance and treatment. Several researchers discussed the usefulness of sputum cytology, in which cells coughed up from the lung are screened for indications of possible cancer.

More Effective Surgery Possible

Studies of former asbestos workers and of uranium miners suggest that lung cancer can be detected in its very early stages, offering the hope for more effective surgery. Needless to say, however, the best prevention for asbestos cancer is to not breathe the fibers in the first place.

Finally, a review of the suitability of the current U.S. Asbestos Standard was presented "by Dr. William Nicholson of the Insulation Hygiene Research Program. In his presentation, he discussed the factors that limited the current standard's effectiveness for protectjng asbestos workers and urged that as technology is developed, it be immediately implemented in the asbestos industry to reduce asbestos exposure to the lowest feasible level, as rapidly as possible.

The conference marked the two hundredth anniversary of the first research paper publisbed on occupaf-mal carcinogenesis, that by Percival! Pott on scrotal cancer-in chimney sweeps. In his opening remarks, the conference co-chainnan, Dr. Joseph K. Wagoner ofNIOSH, decried the slow progress in controlling occupational cancers in modem industry.

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Labels Necessary for Hazardous

Materials continued from page J

rently, many labels give inadeLJuate information, or none at aIL on what hazards might be involved or what precautions should be followed.

Procedure Guides Necessary

The advisory committee has very important additional tasks. These include the preparation of use guides and training materials which will describe actions to be taken and procedures to be followed when certain statements appear on the labels.

For example, how should products labeled "Danger-Extremely Flammable" be stored and applied? What action is called for when the words "use only with adequate ventilation" appear on the label? , The Occupational Safety and Health Act places the responsibility on the employer for protecting his employees, but it is obvious that many small employers need assistance in deciding what protective measures are required for various situations. Workmen will also need instructions on how to translate labels into protective action.

No Serious Objections l:;xpecfea

It is probable that the larger manufacturers will not have serious objections to an identification system; indeed. they now comply with similar regulations for household products. Small manufacturers may find preparing the Materials Hazards Data Sheets a large task and also may object to disclosure of the composition of their products.

As the system will probably not call for specific identification of low-hazard compounds but only a statement such as "Petroleum Distillate" or "Alcohols". it seems these objections could be resolved.

It is anticipated that the advisory committee report will be completed by

continued on page 4

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Dust Brought Home Can. Affect Family

Two asbestos workers cutting block. Relatively little dust is dispersed into the air •..

Asbestos Disease Can Spread to Workers' Families continued from page I

these fonner factory workers 20 years after closure of the plant.

Mesothelioma, a cancer often linked to asbestos exposure, has also been found among these family members. Of 252 deaths so far identified among household contacts of these fonner workers, two have been from pleural mesothelioma. Additionally, two other mesothelioma cases have been identified in living members of this group.

These cases have the following his-tories:

A. c.: The 40-year-old son of a man who worked from 1945 through 1948 in the plant. when the son was 11 years old. B.P.: The 41-year-old daughter of the plant's chief engineer. I.Y.: The 42-year-old daughter of a man who had worked in the plant for five years. The family lived near the plant and the daughter used to bring her father lunch every day, when she was 10 years old. L.N.: A 32-year-old woman who, at the age of 13, lived fn the home of her brother-in-law while he worked at the plant for six months. Prior to that. she lived one-half mile from the plant and played frequently in the hnmes of friends whose fathers worked in the plant. The results of this study dramatize

the need for stringent dust control and deunup in situations where asbestos is used. It abn heightens the importance

of individual worker hygiene and demonstrates the need for adequate changing facilities and showers. Under no circumstances should dusty clothes be brought into the home. even to be put into the washing machine. They should be washed separately, preferably by a commercial industrial laundry service equipped to handle asbestos contaminated work clothes.

For family contacts who suspect they have been exposed to considerable household contamination, medical surveillance is in order. The family physician should be told the exposure history so that X-ray and chest examinations and subsequent medical problems can be closely monitored for possible symptoms of past asbestos exposure at home.

This current report by Dr. Anderson is only the most recent in a series of scientific publications that show family and environmental asbestos risk. As early as 1960, scientists reported cases of mesothelioma in individuals who had had no prior occupational exposure to asbestos. .

Later, mesothelioma cases were reported in individuals whose only identifiable asbestos exposure was associated with their having lived within one-half mile of an asbestos manufacturing facility or in households of asbestos workers. Dr. Anderson's findings show that such problems may turn out to be quite· common and that more persons than suspected may be at risk from asbestos exposure, and require appropriate surveillance.

... but much is falling on their clothes and shoes and may be carried home.

Label Report Available Soon

continued from page 3

June 15. 1975. FoIlov,:ing this report. proposed regulations would be prepared, published in the Federal Register, comments received, revised ree:ulations prepared, and hearings held. After the hearings. final regulations would be drawn up and promulgated. The full process could well take a year.

However, when the committee report becomes available, further discussions will be held between representatives of the insulators and OSHA, to detennine which of the recommendations can be implemented without waiting for regulations to be promulgated.

This situation is not limited to products used by insulators, but is widespread throughout the construction industry. Members of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, especially, have need of adequate labeling of the products they use .

Progress is being made but much still needs to be done to insure that when regulations are adopted, they will be effective. Here, the Asbestos Workers, Painters, and other affected union members should review the published recommendations to verify that the proposed labeling is adequate for the materials they use and the instructional materials supplied for the use of hazardous materials are clearly written and understandable.

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o{ Of ",,-;S>" FROM THE INSULATION INDUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM of The City University

of New York Irving J. Sellkotf. M.D., Program Director

Vol. 7 No.3 and 4 Winter "\975

New Asbestos Standard Proposed Cancer Risk Specifically Considered

On October 9;1975, the Department of Labor propo~ed a new standard for occupational exposure to asbestos. The proposed standard would, among other things, lower the permissible asbestos exposure to 500,000 fibers per cubic meter of air (0.5 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter) for an eight-hour, time-weighted average exposure, and likewise reduce the permissible ceiling exposure to five million asbestos fibers per cubic meter (5 f/m3 ) for any period not exceeding 15 minutes. The proposal would reduce to one-tenth the current U.S. time-weighted average exposure standard of 5 f/ml. A reduction to 2 flml on July 1, 1976 is already mandated in the current standard ..

Special Provisions for Construction

The standard, as revised, would apply to all workplaces where occupational exposur~ to asbestos occurs, but would exclude. the construction indu:;try at this time,However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)· plans to soon put forth special regulations for this segment of the asbestos industry.

In the proposed rules published by the Secretary of Labor, it is stated that, "It is OSHA's intention to develop and propose a separate revision to the existing asbestos standard for the construction industry_Approximately threefourths of all asbestos products in 1972 were used in the construction industry. In addition, the uniqueness of the construction industry itself (viz., the multiplicity of non-fixed workplaces, and the utilization of highly transient work forces) strongly suggests separate treatment. These structural differences were reflected in the 17-18 September 1975 deliberations of the OSHA Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.

.. Although OSHA believes that health hazards faced by employees in

the construction industry with regard to occupational exposure to asbestos are similar to those faced by their counterparts in other covered employments, OSH A recognizes that alternative administrative and engineering controls may be more appropriate and feasible for the construction industry. Therefore OSHA intends to consult with the Construction Advisory Committee in order to further explore su'ch alternatives. Upon publication of the proposal to revise the existing asbestos standard for the construction industry, OSHA will consider the possibility of consolidated hearings on that proposal and the proposal contained herein for all other covered employments. "

This recognition that the construction industry is unique is highly desirable. Earlier data on the effectiveness of monitoring in the construction industry (see Insulation Hygiene Progress Reports, Summer 1973), have shown that few dust counts are ever taken in this segment of the industry. Thus, specification of procedures is of much greater importance here. Individual workers must be able to judge whether or not they are working in a safe environment on the basis of materials and methods rather than dust counts.

As much of insulation is now asbestos-free, work practices for installation of new material can be developed that would lead to a timeweighted average exposure less than that proposed in the new standard. With care, even rip-out can be done safely, but ~pecial precautions must be taken. Wetting techniques have now been developed that would allow removal of asbestos to be accomplished within the proposed regulations.

Millions of Workers Exposed

In the preamble to the standard, OSHA estimates that millions of workers are occupationally exposed to asbes-

tos. They state, "An estimated 50,000 workers are involved in the manufacture of asbestos-containing products. However, this figure does not include secondary manufacture of products which contain asbestos, such as electricalor thermal insulation, or products which include previously manufactured components containing asbestos.

"There are approximately 40,000 field insulation workers in the United States who are exposed to asbestos dust. The activities of these workers is estimated to cause secondary exposures to approximately three to five million other buildings construction and shipyard workers. However, since the dust exposure to the individual worker is extremely variable, and the number of asbestos workers at anyone location is small, the primary and secondary asbestos dust exposures to all workers have never been satisfactorily estimated."

Cancer-producing Substance

The impetus behind the new proposal is the acknowledgement ·by OSHA of the cancer-producing properties of asbestos. The current United States standard was based to a large extent on one developed earlier in-Great Britain and put into effect in 1970. That standard, in turn, was designed solely to protect against lung scarring (asbestosis). Cancer was recognized as an occupational hazard from exposure to asbestos but the British committee developing their standard stated that since a quantitative relationship between asbestos exposure and cancer risk was not known, it was not possible at that time to specify an air concentration which was known to be free of risk in this respect. It was hoped by the British, and by the United States agencies, that application of control measures that would protect against asbestosis would

Continued on page 3

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Vol. 7 No.3 and 4 Winter 1975

from the Insulation Industry Hygiene Research Pr0-gram

Editor: W. J. Nicholson, Ph.D., published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (IrvingJ. Selikoff. M.D .. Director). Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York. N.Y. 10029

Ad~isory Council of IlllRP

IrvingJ. Selikoff, M.D., Program Directorand Chainnan

E. Cuyler Hammond, Sc.D., Vice President, American Cancer Society. New York. N.Y.

Andrew Haas. General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and As· bestos Workers. Washington, D.C.



1. To develop improved methods for minimizing exposure of insulation workers to dusts and fumes encountered in their work. 2. To disseminate knowledge of these improved methods of dust control wherever they may be applied advantageously and to offer cooperation. advice and assistance toward their universal adoption.

Asbestos Risk Exists from Use of Taping Compounds

In spite of the introduction of asbestos-free insulation materials and the existing bans on the use of asbestos-containing spray frreproofrng, a serious asbestos hazard remains in the construction industry, with members of the Painters Brotherhood of the Building and Construction Trades Department being at greatest risk. Wallboard finishing compounds and spackle have been found to contain significant amounts of chrysotile asbestos, which is released into the air as dust either during the dry mixing of these compounds or during sanding.

Drywall taping compounds came into widespread use shortly after World War II. Until fairly recently, most of the material used was mixed at the construction site, raising large clouds of dust. In the past few years, many contractors have switched to premixed compounds, thereby eliminating one major source of asbestos dust. This practice, though, depends entirely on the contractor and what he supplies; several tapers interviewed recently by Mount Sinai personnel said they still had occasion to use the dry-mix brands.

Sanding can be Dangerous

The problem that remains, even when ready-mixed compounds are used, is that of the dust produced when the dried compound is sanded, prior to painting. In some areas of the country, tapers, or their apprentices, stay and do their own sanding; in others, the painters are left to finish the job, often sanding while other men are working in the same room. Sanding is done either by hand or with a pole.

Mixing of asbestos containing spackle material. Dust concentrations during this process can ex-

The Environmental Sciences Laboratory took air samples at seiected job sites in New York City while tapers were at work. Permnal samples taken during pole sanding ranged from 1.2 fibers per milliliter (f/ml) to 19.3 f/ml; in an adjacent room, at a distance of 25 feet from the sander, a level of 8.8 f/ml was found. Levels for hand sanding ranged from 1.3 to 16.9 f/ml in the breathing zone of the workers, and a high of 7.1 flml was obtained in an adjacent room, at a distance of 15 feet. During dry mixing, a breathing zone sample was found to contain 59 f/ml, though after a IS-minute lapse the level went down to 0.5 f/ml.

The sweeping offIoors after sanding was also found to stir up considerable quantities of settled dust. Thirty-frve minutes after sweeping at the site ofthe sanding, a fiber concentration of 26.4 f/ml was obtained. The current U.S. standard in industry is an average not to exceed 5 flml, mandated to go to 2 f/ml in July, 1976. The Department of Labor has recently initiated procedures to have the standard lowered to 0.5 f/ml.

The results of this sampling, especially when contrasted with the current standard in industry, emphasize the importance of both respiratory protection and careful cleanup in order to reduce the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers. A respirator should be worn by sanders and by any .other workers who must be in adjacent areas While this work is in progress. If possible, other workers. should wait to allow the dust to settle and be removed before proceeding with

Continued on page 4

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New Infonnation on Health Effects Reviewed

Continued from page 1 where it appears that average exposure perts, which were developed since or also protect against the various asbestos levels would often be considerably less not known to OS HA at the time that the cancers. than the projected 2 f/rnl standard. original standard was promulgated.

Important new information has been Shipbuilding Data lmponant "A. THE LATENCY CAReI-forthcoming subsequent to the promul-

NOGENIC EFFECTS gation of the current U.S. standard. H Of considerable industrial impor-This has included data obtained by Drs. tance has been the recent description of "In humans, the latency period for t: Irving J. Selikoff and E. Cuyler Ham- asbestos disease among shipbuilding chemical carcinogens may well extend 'j;

mond on the mortality experience of all . and ship repair workers, few of whom between 20 to 40 or more years. insulation workers in the United' States. actually work with asbestos, but many Analogous periods exist for test ani-

= ... This large research project showed un- of whom were, in the past, inadver- mals. This means that the disease may '" equivocally the high risk of lung cancer tently exposed to the asbestos dust re- undergo a long development before a . '~ , and mesothelioml!. experienced by as- suIting from the use of asbestos prod- tumor is actually detected. At that

bestos workers, .apd in addition, dem- ucts by a relatively few of their work point, it has reached a stage where re-onstrated that ga~tro-intestinal cancer mates. In 1968, Harries of the Royal moval of the worker from the work-was also increas«d.. ·in incidence among Navy reported cases of mesothelioma place may be of no avail and where

t, asbestos workers·, As data from this among shipyard workers at the Royal treatment may be extremely difficult, if lari~ study were reviewed, it was sug- Navy dockyard in Devonport, in trades not futile. Prudent policy would there-gested that the risk of developing which did not directly involve workers fore seem to indicate that every reason-cancer of the larynx, oropharynx, or exposure to asbestos, but in which there able measure should be taken to elimi-

~;'.;_. esophagus was also increased from as- had been occasional opportunity for nate human exposure to chemical com-bestos exposure. Rese;:uch with the In- exposure merely by virtue of working pounds as soon as their carcinogenic ternational Association of Heat and in the same areas. This original finding nature is identified. Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers has been widely confirmed and numer-

"B. VARIABILITY IN INDIVID-was quoted many times by the Depart- ous cases of mesothelioma have since UAL SUSCEPTIBILITY IN RELA-ment of Labor. Further studies of other been reported in former shipyard work-TION TO THE CONCEPT OF A large groups of workers occupationally ers. Studies of populations of current THRESHOLD exposed to asbestos in factory employ- shipyard workers have shown much

ment or mining and milling also indi- radiological evidence of asbestos ab- "Cancer development may be influ-cated excess carcinogenic risk. normalities among workers in trades enced by such factors as the differing

NeH' Information only indirectly exposed to asbestos in susceptibility of various body organs. the yards." In animal studies, it has been found that

The Department of Labor particu- «Further, evidence has indicated individual variability in a response to larly noted information forthcoming that asbestos also acts as a lung car- carcinogens is great depending upon from the British Textile mill whose cinogen at levels much below those factors such as age, sex, hormonal workers' health experience served as which will produce asbestosis. Two status, diet, and genetic factors. Thus, basis for the clIrrent British standard. surveys of shipyard workers who had in the working population, certain

.. "Of significancimportance, new data x-ray evidence of pleural plaques, but groups, such as those already biologi-have recently been made available con- generally not of pulmonary fibrosis, cally compromised, may be more sus-cerning the cancer risk of workers at the showed a 2.5-fold excess risk of death ceptible than other groups. textile mill reviewed for the British from lung cancer and high risk of "C. A 'THRESHOLD' LIMIT standard. including those workers first mesothelioma. "

~.' . employed after 1933. It was found th!lt Finally, a recent study by NIOSH "Because of the variability of indi-there was excess mortality from lung was reviewed which showed that the vidual response to carcinogens and cancer among those workers who en- mortality experience of underground other factors, the concept of a no effect ... tered scheduled areas airet 1 January metal miners exposed to asbestiform or threshold level may have little real Ii

1933. There was clear evidence of minerals produced a threefold in- significance on the basis of existing ,.r

some excess of lung cancer and res- creased risk of bronchogenic carcinoma knowledge. While some level, below ;

piratory deaths among those IlI'St ex- in workers. Fiber concentrations in the which exposure to a carcinogen does ~

posed between 1933 and 1950. Equally mine average 0.24 f/ml. not cause cancer, may conceivably ~'

important was the finding that there still In discussing considerations applic- exist for anyone individual, other indi-appears to be an excess of deaths due to able to standards for carcinogens, viduals in the working population may lung cancer after 15 or more years' ex- OSHA stated that, "In the case of as- have cancer induced by doses so low as posure even among those first exposed bestos, we are dealing with a substance to be effectively zero. This is not to say in 1951 and subsequently. Indeed, it is that poses a range of health risks to the that researchers will never find a known that mesothelioma deaths have working population. These include the threshold level for a carcinogenic sub-occurred among the specific group of threat of cancer, as wen as asbestosis. stance, but it does mean that the 290 workers whose experience prior to In considering the controversial issue .of threshold concept for carcinogens is, at 1966 had led to the development of the carcinogenicity, OSHA is relying upon present, more a matter of responsible current standard, as detailed above." "not only the new data reviewed above, regulatory policy than a precise. scien-

Additionally, they noted the increase but the leading scientific principles and ·tific determination. occurrence of mesothe!iorna in workers options believed to reflect the research "These theoretical concepts have a only indirectly exposed to asbestos. conclusions 0; international cancer ex- Continued on page 4

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Sanding of Spackle Material

Should be Limited Continued from page 2

their own trades. The area should be cleaned. preferably with a vacuum, as soon as the dust has settled. If no vacuum is available, the floor should be dampened prior to sweeping, and the sweeper should wear a mask.

Health Effects Seen

Simply because sanding is only a small part.of this construction acti vity is no reason to minimize the importance of the problem. Although exposure duration may be short, the cumulative effect of repeated short-term exposures to measurable conc~ntrations of asbestos fibers can be serious. In the course of a medical study of 69 drywall tapers belonging to Local 1974 of the Drywall Tapers and Painters of Greater New York, two-thirds of whom had had an exposure of ten years duration or longer and 61 of whom were smokers or exsmokers, X-ray abnormalities characteristic of asbestos exposure were found in 37 out of 63 films. There is a close similarity between these findings and those among insulators.

At least one brand of commercial wallboard finishing. compound is currently available containing no asbestos. It is likely that, as the negative aspects of asbestos-containing compounds: become more widely known, other manufacturers will develop new formulations that are free of asbestos. Until then, only premixed materials should be used and the sanding of dry material eliminated or reduced as much as possible.

Sanding of dried spackle material with a pole sander. Dust concentrations here often exceed the current asbestos standard.

Comments Solicited on PrO};X)sal Continued from page 3

bearing on the asbestos issue, particularly as to the question of the existence, or nonexistence, of a threshold level of carcinogenic effect. A no effect level theoretically may exist, but it has not been demonstrated.

"In previous rulemaking proceedings, OSHA has considered these issues and determined that in the absence of evidence to establish a safe level on the basis of present knowledge, employee exposure must be reduced as low as feasible."

In a further discussion of the major provisions of the proposed standard, OSHA explicitly recognized that, "since the promulgation of the current standard, several distinguished individuals and many agencies, both public and private, have made valuable contributions to the field of toxic substances generally, and asbestos specifically.

H Exposure Levels. Recently, the National Institute' for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has informed OSHA that it is currently reviewing data which may provide significant information with respect to the margin of safety afforded by the existing asbestos exposure limits. In a memorandum dated 29 September 1975 to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, the Director of NIOSH stated:

Mulriple and consistent epidemiological studies leave virtually no doubt that asbestos is carcinogenic to man.

<, OSHA also believes sufficient medieal and scientific evidence has now been accumulated to warrant the designation of asbestos as a human carcinogen. Therefore, it is incumbent upon OSHA to propose the establishment of safeguards to protect the lives of affected workers.

No Safe Level for a Carcinogen

"OS HA deems it appropriate to propose that the 8-hour exposure limit (TW A) be lowered to 500,000 asbestos fibers per cubic meter (0.5 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter), and that the ceiling exposure limit be 5,000,000 asbestos fibers per cubic meter (5 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter) for any period up to 15 minutes. OSHA recognizes that there is no assurance of a safe exposure for a substance with known carcinogenic property, in this case ·asbestos, and thus there should be no detectable concentrations. However, the

Act requires' that the Secretary establish standards to extent feasible, and therefore the Secretary must take into consideration technological and economic factors.

"OSHA believes that it may be appropriate to postpone the effective date of the proposed exposure level because of the existence of problems offeasibility of a technologieal and economic nature. OSHA expressly invites comments on this issue, including comment on the appropriateness of a phased schedule for compliance with any new exposure level, based on such feasibility factors. In this respect, OSHA particularly invites comments on the structure of the asbestos industry generally including factors distinguishing particular sub-industries in terms of methods of asbestos use and capabilities of compliance.' ,

The deadline for submission of comments on the proposed regulations is December 8, 1975.

Additional provisions in the proposal put forth by OSHA would "extend the retention period for medical and monitoring records to forty years, or for the duration of eIl!ployment plus twenty years, whichever is longer; provide procedures for the transfer of medieal and monitoring records of certain former employers; require specific min-

. imum data on medical and monitorim'. records; revise the procedures for initial and subsequent monitoring; modify the definitions of asbestos and asbestos fiber; add provisions for employee hygiene, information and training; revise and update the requirements for respirators, and warning signs and labels; and establish a time parameter for sampling ceiling concentrations. In addition, the 'proposal will suggest work practices to be followed for certain operations and processes involving asbestos. "

Of particular importance is a proposal that would add sputum cytology as a diagnostic test. This is proposed only for workers who are forty-five years old, or who have been employed in the asbestos trades for ten years or' more. Here, analysis of cells coughed up from the lung may be useful in indicating the early stages oflung cancer, at a point where more successful treatment can be accomplished. This procedure was recen!ly proposed to NIOSH by President Haas for all members of the IAHFIA Wand is being considered by the Inst.tu:e.

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Environmental Science-~ Llborltory

O\J~TlIlv

~,~ INSULATION HYGIENE PROGRESS REPORTS

"t: OF ,....\'<;)" FROM THE INSULATION INOUSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM 01 The City Univ.~ty

of N .... York

U.S. Navy Prohibits Installation of

. Asbestos Insulation Material

The UnitedSJates has ordered a halt. to the use of thermal insulation materials in ship cQ!1struction and maintenance. An order promulgated by the Naval Sea S)'stems Command on October 24, 1975, stated, '"Asbestos and materials containing asbestos shall not be used in the construction, overhaul, repair and maintenance of naval vessels, nor shall such materials be used in any facility or operational application where suitable alternate materials have been designated. However, in the locations where asbestos materials are presently installed, rip-out operations shall not be peifonned for the sole purpose of eliminating asbestos."

While this order was specifically directed to the use of thermal insulation materials, as additional substitute materials are developed for other asbestos uses, provisions will be made extending this policy.

Respirators Required During Ripout

It was recommended that removal of asbestos previously applied only be undertaken by personnel fully aware of the hazards of asbestos exposure and the procedure for its control and that personnel engaged in asbestos removal be provided with and required to use proper respiratory equipment and special clothing. In general, this would require air-supplied respirators, as dust concentrations during removal can easily exceed 100 fibers per milliliter (f/ml) unless appropriate wetting techniques are utilized.

While few data exist on the removal of insulation material aboard United States ships, considerable information is available from Great Britain. During the removal of pipe or machinery insulation, air concentrations from 2 to 490 f/m! were observed in data obtained at

Continued on page 4

Irvine J. Sellkoff, M.D., Procram Director

Vol. 8 No.1 and 2 Summer 1976

Asbestos Fireproofmg Material Poses Continuing Problem

Spray fireproofing with asbestoscontaining materials was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States in 1973. From 1958 through 1972, the steel work of manv new high-rise buildings was fir;proofed using spray techniques with asbestos-containing materials.

Recent data point to a continuing legacy of health risk from this procedUre. This risk extends from maintenance personnel who must work in plenum spaces sprayed with asbestos to office building occupants breathing contaminated air from the erosion of fibers within the air supply system.

Maintenance a Problem

Any work by building trades personnel-electricians, plumbers; insulators repairing ducts and others-in the plenum space can lead to high asbestos concentrations if the sprayed fireproofing is dislodged. This was identified as a significant problem during the construction of such buildings, and it remains a continuing one. If such repair activities are to- take pla~e safely, asbestos must not be disturbed or it must be removed wet, prior to the maintenance activities.

The contamination of air supplies of buildings with sprayed asbestos fireproofing within return air plenums has been documented in studies at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

One hundred and nineteen air samples were taken in 19 buildings in four United States cities. The samples were raken in buildings in which both fibrous and cementitious asbestos spray materials were applied. Additionally, samples were taken of the outside air and in buildings containing no asbestos as fireproofing.

Contamination Present

The results showed that in those buildings in which fibrous asbestos spray fireproofing had been used, contamination was present in approximately half the samples analyzed. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the distribution of air concentrations between buildings using cementitious fireproofing and the Olitside air.

In those cases where high asbestos levels were measured, it was not possible to ascenain the origin of the contamination. However, maintenance ac-

Continued on page 4

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VoL 8 No.1 and 2 Summer 1976

from the In~uJ:l1ion Industry Hygiene Research Program

Editor: W. J. !l:icholson, Ph.D., published at the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (lrvingJ. Selikoff. ~1.D .• Director). Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the Cit)' University of New York. !'\.Y. 10029


Irving J. Selikoff, M. D .• Program Director and' Chairman

E. Cuyler Hammond. Sc.D .• Vice President. Ameri~an Cancer Society, New York. N.Y.

Andrew Haas, General PreSident, International A$sociation of Heat and Frost Insul ators and AsbeStos Workers. Washington, D.C.

PlJRPOSES OF THE L"l'SULATION

INDt..TSTRY HYGIENE RESEARCH PROGRAM


Chrysotile Miners Also at Risk of Asbestos Disease

A recently completed study by Dr. William Nicholson and Dr. Irving J. Selikoff of the Environmental Sciences Laboratory and Herbert SeidIl)an and Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond of the American Cancer Society, has shown that Quebec chrysotile miners and millers have an unhappy health experience from their occupational exposure to asbestos. This research comparing the monality experience of miners and millers with that of insulation workers and asbestos factory workers was presented at the International Conference on Occupational Health in Brighton, England during September 1975.

Of the three groups of wenrkers considered, cancer mortality, particularly of the lung, was elevated in all three groups, but l-l.'as higher among insulation workers than either factory employees or miners and millers. Overall mortality for all causes of death including abestosis was similar among all three groups of workers, and considerably higher than that expected from general population statistics.

Excess MortaliTY Present

In the study it was found that miners and millers who had begun employment at least 25 or more years previously had a 30% excess mortality compared to the general population of Canada. Lung cancer and asbestosis in particular were found to be principal sources of excess death among these

workers. Asbestosis accounted for approximately 13'7c of the deaths, and lung cancer for 17CJc, more than three times as much as would have been expected.

Comparable figures for insulation workers show that 22% of the deaths of the workers first employed twenty-five years previously are from lung cancer and 12'70 from asbestosis.

All AsbesTOS Produces Cancer

The results of this survey are of importance in that they demonstrate that chrysotile alone can produce excess asbestos-related cancers. Thus the suggestion that amosite or other materials in pipe covering need be responsible for the excess mortality in asbestos workers was found without firm basis.

These results help pinpoint the materials in insulation work which have resulted in the serious cancer risk of pipecoverers. From this and other research at Mt. Sinai it is clear that excess concentrations of both chrysotile and amosite give rise to serious disease.

Also included in the comparison was the mortality experience of a large manufacturing plant that produced much of the United States thermal insulation. Here the overall mortality was quite similar, although somewhat less lung cancer and asbestosis was found among employees employed for similar time periods.

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E.P.A. Wins Suit on Demolition ·of Insulation

The Depanment of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency have received·a favorable verdict in a court case testing the validity of EPA's asbestos emissions standard for removal of insulation material during the demolition of a building. .

In a two count information (indictment) a Florida demolition company was charged with causing emissions of asbestos during demolition of a hospital in New Orleans. The charge was based upon the failure to follow procedures prescribed in the National Emission Standard for Asbestos.

Stringent Requiremell1s

These included the requirements that all friable asbestos materials, such as thermal insulation, be wetted and removed from any building prior to \vrecking or demolition, that no asbestos covered material shall be dropped, knocked down or thtown to the ground, and that all waste~as.Q.estos after wetting shall be sealed in -leak-tight containers and deposited at specified and controlled waste disposal sites.

During the trial, it was brought out that friable asbestos materials lining pipes throughout the building had not been wetted and removed prior to demolition with a large jron ball. Moreover, the waste asbestos material was simply thrown into an open truck to be driVen through the 'streets of New Orleans. Information from the Insulation Hygiene Research Program on the air concentrations found during removal of asbestos insulation material was entered as evidence in the trial.

Air Measurements Not Required

A crucial element in the emission standard is the absence of a requirement

that air measurements be taken off site to verify that emissions have occurred. Such measurements are difficult to obtain, costly and time consuming to analyze and would be ineffective in assuring compliance with the intent of the regulations.

The alternative, that of specifying work procedures that must be followed by contractors during demolition, has been challenged by some demolition contractors, who argued that the regulation by itself does not constitute an emission standard.

This argument was dispelled by Judge James Comisky in pretrial hearings held in the Federal District Court in New Orleans. Judge Comisky wrote in dismissing this argument that "the uncontradicted scientific evidence is that ambient asbestos poses a significant health hazard related through insulation to various diseases.

Work Procedures Best

"Thus, given the extreme options of either ignoring a known health hazard and flatly imposing an absolute ban on any and all asbestos emissions, the agency (EP A) adopted a pragmatic approach. It arrived at a standard of emission control, not by means of maximum quanitative level, but by means of a work procedure.

"The evidence demonstrates that control of asbestos emissions through a work standard was the most, and perhaps the only practical means of combatting a health hazard. "

The final jury verdict in the Federal District Court proceeding, which was concluded on March 25th, 1976, in essence validated the EPA regulations based on work practices.

T.V.A. Adopts Comprehensive

Program The Tennessee Valley Authority

(TV A) has developed a comprehensive program to control airborne asbestos fibers in steam-electric generating plants as part of its overall hazard program.

The multifaceted program, recently described by Jack H. Fontaine and David M, Trayer in the American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, integrates industrial hygiene controls, medical surveillance, and worker education. Substitution of nonasbestos materials is central to the program.

Extensive Removal Work Currently, TV A employs as many as

six full-time insulators at each of its twelve coal-fired, steam-electric generating plants. These men are exposed to asbestos during repair and maintenance of each generating unit, at approximately six-month intervals. During this time, old insulation containing large amounts of asbestos, principally amosite. is removed from systems scheduled for m·aintenance, and new insulation installed,

Personal and area sampling results have shown that while the timeweighted average concentration of total fibers was less than the current T LV, peak single-sample concentrations more than doubled the current standard of 10 fibers per milliliter.

The new control strategy of TV A is based on the OSHA asbestos dust standard. Utilization of local exhaust, wet methods and substitution are central to the program. Air sampling of fiber concentrations before and after installation of local exhaust ventilation proved the value of this control in reducing airborne dust produced by the cutting of block and pipe insulation with a band saw.

WeTting Important Wetting has reduced by 85% the air

borne asbestos dust from cutting asbestos-containing wallboards with high-speed radial saws. Wetting is also being used in scrap cleanup, where tests showed airborne asbestos fiber concentrations reduced from 0.3-13.8 flml (dry removal) to 0.0-0.3 flml (wet removal).

Equally impressive data have been forthcoming from Great Britain where wetting techniques have been devel

Continued on page 4

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Removal of Spray Insulation May be Necessary

Conrinued from page 1

tlvltleS \vithin plenum spaces could have been a caus·e. Among the recommendations of the Mount Sinai study was the development of procedures for use during maintenance activities that may be required in asbestos-lined plenum spaces. Here, system isolation, area enclosure, localized wetting, and cleanup by vacuuming were suggested.

High asbestos levels found within buildings have led to complete removal of the material from several bUildings. These have included a U.C.L.A dormitory. the Long Beach, California, Courthouse, and the Yale University Art and Architecture building.

High Levels Found

In the latter, fibrous asbestos spray material had been used for accoustical and decorative purposes on the ceilings. Flaking was found to occur, especially where the ceiling was low and within reach of the occupants of the building. Measurements using optical microscopy on air samples taken while the building was in use showed exposures could be as high as 18 fibers per milliliter (f/ml), more than three times the current occupational standard.

Such concentrations would occur during the replacement of books on library shelves where asbestos had fallen dow-no During routine custodial operations. concentrations of approximately 5 f/ml were observed. General room air values were approximately Ih f/ml.

These concentrations led to serious concern on the part of Yale University. and an extensive removal program was

undertaken. Seventy thousand square feet of asbestos was removed, bagged. inserted in. 50-gallon cardboard drums and buried. The total cost of the operation was approximately $750.000.

Double Barrier System

When contamination was first observed, a paint overspray was applied to the ceilings in the hope that this would reduce the contamination. While some reduction was observed, it was deemed insufficient and total removal was concluded to be the only course of action.

During asbestos removal, to keep fiber dispersal at a minimum, work areas were sealed by a double barrier system using plastic sheets. At the work area, fiber' concentrations were maintained at less than 5 flml using a water spray with wetting agent. Without such precautions, dry removal produced fiber concentrations as high as 140 f/ml.

When working in asbestos sprayed plenum spaces, insulators or other workmen should: I. Wet and remove any fireproofing

that might be dislodged during maintenance work,

2. Exercise care not to disturb remai.ning fireproofing material,

3. Vacuum any loose asbestos material that may have fallen on ducts, ceiling tiles, or other service facilities before and after work, and

4. Wear approved respirator during work and cleanup.

T ~ V. A. PrOgram '-'

C omilll/ecl from page 3 oped that maintain dust concentrations below 0.2 flml during insulation removal.

Substitution is being utilized to cut workers' asbestos exposure. No longer is pure asbestos specified in new plant design and construction: in addition. utilization of asbestos for maintenance in existing plants is being phased out. Fibrous glass. rock wool. mineral wool, and ceramic fibers are common substitutes.

NIOSH- and U.S. Bureau of Mi nes-approved air purifyj ng respirators with replaceable filters are used by TVA. If the air concentrations are reasonably expected to exceed 10 times but not more than 100 times the pre· scribed limit, powered air purifying respirators or supplied-air respirators and special clothing will be worn during removal of old asbestos-containing insulation.

The health effects of asbestos work are stressed through an annual respiratory health evaluation that includes a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. as well as a training program to

inform insulation workers of the health risks and various methods of protection.

Navy Insulation Work COlllinuedfrom page 1

the Devonport Naval Dockyard under the direction of Dr. Peter G. Harries. Some general air concentrations even exceeded 3000 flml (in contrast, the Department of Labor has recently recommended that no worker be required to work where there was, on the average, more than IJ2 f/ml.)

During the removal of spray fireproofing insulation from the aircraft carrier, wide dispersal of the material was observed. Excess concentrations occurred as far as two decks away from asbestos removal work.

As can be seen, the fibers are widely distributed. In the current U.S. Nav~ directive, prevention of exposures to other personnel directly engaged in the asbestos operation was called for.

The above fiber concentrations were observed when the insulation material was removed without the use of special wetting techniques. Workers were enclosed in air-supplied impervious suits, and areas where removal was taking place were sealed off from the rest of the ship. Even though precautions were taken, some dispersal of the fibers occurred beyond the containment areas.

MSSM ESL CUNY - Inhalation Hygiene Progress Reports 1969 - 1976

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Transcript of MSSM ESL CUNY - Inhalation Hygiene Progress Reports 1969 - 1976