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DEC 1. \91?
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\/\/. NI\ JOI-\NSON
JOHNSON &
Subject:
Antagonistic Personalities

New Brunswicl<, N.J.

November 29, 1972

In The Talc Story In The U. S. A.

Mr. D. D. Johnston:
The increase in the profile of talc as a potential health
hazard has been actively promoted by a number of
individuals for a variety of reasons. The start of the
attack on talc originated in England at the Tenovus
Research Institute in Cardiff where a technician in
microscopy published a paper. In the U. S. A. the
leading group who initiated the attack on talc is located
in New York City and consists of the following:

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1.

Dr. Selikoff of the Mt. Sinai Hospital, who
is an epidemiologist heavily involved with
asbestos and its adverse effects on health.
He has obtained considerable financing from
a variety of sources for research into the
epidemiology of asbestos with particular
reference to its industrial hazards. He
retains a press agent on a full time basis
who gives him m.edia exposure at regular
intervals. Although he has stated that he
doesn 1 t believe that talc is a health hazard
and largely concerns his activities with
asbestos, he played a significant role in the
first talc meeting with the FDA when he
initiated proceedings by showing particularly alarming pictures of patients suffering
from cancer relating to asbestos. It is believed
that Dr. Selikoff wrote the Merlis s paper or at
"least e?ited it and provided the references for it•
. (See attached. )

Plaintiff's
Exhibit
J&J 21

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Protected Document--Subject to Protective Order

JNJAZ55_000005015

 Mr. D. D. Johnston

2

November 29, 1972

2.

Dr. Langer, who works with Dr. Selikoff, is a
microscopist who vis ually identifies chrysotile
in most samples of talc that he examines,
although, he seldom confirms the identity by
chemical means.

3.

There are others in Dr. Selikoff's department
who have the same mental attitude as Dr. Selikoff.

4.

Mr. Jerome Kretchmer is a politician in New
York City who aims to become Mayor and attempts
to iIllprove his iIllage by public articles on health
matters. He is Director of the Environmental
Protection Agency of New York City and has on
occasion condemned talc for its pos sible hazard
to health when us ed in infants.

5.

Mr. Romer "Who is in Mr. Kretch:rner's department
is an engineer and has seen an article in a journal
which indicated that asbestos could be associated
with talc. From that point on he has taken a firm
stand concerning the health hazard of talc.

6.

Although the FDA tries to be impartial in matters
concerning drugs and health, there is a Dr. Weissler
in the department of the FDA concerned with food and
cosmetics, who is seeking recognition within the FDA.
He has retained as a cons ultant Dr. Lewin an analytical
chemist of New York University .for studying commerical
talc products and their possible asbestos content.
Dr. Weissler seems particularly anxious to condemn
talc.

7.

Dr. Lewin is Professor of Analytical Chemistry at
New York University who was used as a consultant
by the FDA to analyze the asbestos content of tales.
Dr. Lewin's method of determining the presence of
asbestos is considered unorthodox by the authorities'
opinions and insists on claiming that asbestos is present
in talc found to be free of asbestos by the other authorities.

Protected Document--Subject to Protective Order

JNJAZ55_000005016

 -"

3

Mr. D. D. Johnston

November 28, 1972

We believe that the Selikoff group, Mr. Kretchmer's group,
Dr. Lewin and Dr. Weissler are in constant communication
although there was some disagreement between Dr. Selikoff
and Mr. Kretchmer over Mr. Kretchmer ' s publicity and
Dr. Selikoff ' s research findings which were not accurately
presented in the newspaper.
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Protected Document--Subject to Protective Order

Nashed
Petterson
Sawchuk
Shelley
Stites

JNJAZ55_000005017