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INDEX
PAGE

List of Delegates 1

Hr. H.F. Howe Welcome and Introduction 4

Dr. w.J. Smither Use of Asbestos - Some Recent 5
Advances in the Medical Background

Hr. A.A. Cross 5 The UK Asbestos Regulations $31969 16

us .i
Dr. S. Holmes The Research behind the UK Standards 22
Mr. A.R.Kolff van Health and Asbestos - Situation Past 26
Oosterwijk and Present in Holland

Mr. G.C. Schmidt Report of the West German Delegation 30

Mr. R. Join The Situation in France, .36

Mr. A. Palomski The Situation in Scandinavia 40

Mr. A. Calamandrei Brief Review of Current and Prospective 45
Ragulations .in Italy

Mr. W.P. Raines Brief Review of Current and Prospective 43
Regulations USA.

"33.13. Howard f" Action Taken Asbestos 

Mr. W.P. Raines Brief Review of Attacks on Asbestos 61
and our Defences - USA. 

Hr. M.P. Howe Final Comment and Summary 65
List or Addresses of Delegates. Appendix

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Hr. J. van Haa.3e Jolland 4
Jr. Eiolff van Oost??i?i-xijk? Holland
Dr. J. Lepoutre - Belgium
Mr. A. Eyben - gelgium

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Mr. G. Flouest
Mr. R. Join
Hr. G. Hahut
Dr. J. Avril

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Hr. A. Jonsson

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Mr. H.F. Howe

Dr. S. Holmes

Dr. H.J. Smither

Er. A.A. Cross

Hr. W.P. Howard

Mr. D. Wr'ght

hr. J.D. Grieve

hr. A. Hasterton-Smith

Er. D.F. Brady

Conference Chairman

Secretary, ARC

Medical Adviser, ARC

Chairman. Environmental Control Co:mittee,ARC
Secretary. 310

AIC

310

Hill 

.Interpreter . 

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137.

OF
ASBF STOS It? ORXATIGH BL DIES

NELCOI-E AND IEITRODUCTIOH

hr. M. F. Howe, Deputy Chai .an, Ashes os Information Committee

As your Conference Chairman and?on behalf of the Asbestos Information

Committee, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the First International
. *1

Conference of Asbestos Information Bodies.

Many of you here today attended the Conference held in London two years ago.
That Conference aimed at making available to our European friends the benefit
of our experiences in Britain. We hope it was useful. At that time, the
A10 was the only Information Body in the world; now there are 11 in various
stages of development. So this year we felt it would be appropriate to hold a
Conference of Information Bodies so that we might all exchange facts, views and

experiences.

.5-

The fact that there are 35 of us here from 11 countries underlines the importance
of the subjects which we .shall discuss. Speaking for the delegates from

the Asbestos Information corpittee and the AsbeStosis Council, we

are certain that we shall benefit greatlv from the exchatgg of informa ion and
ideas. I hope that you, the delegates from the other countries, :ill
benefit similarly.

I know that we are all regarding this as a working conference and it is taking
place at a very critical time in the history of the asbestos industry. In
a North America, in Great Britain and in other European countries, severe attacks
on asbestos and its uses continue to be made in the press, on television and
on radio. In these and many other countries, Government Departments are
showing growing interest in Factory and other Rab elations related to asbestos.
Interest in the subject of environmental pollution is cerhaps only now in its

infancy. These are the subjects which we 8. all be discussing during our
Conference.





mu" . 91s?- rawASBESTOS SOHE RECEET ADVAHCES IN THE BACKGROUKD.

Dr. W.J. Smither. Asbestosis Research Council

In recent years there have been several international conferences on the
biological effects of excessive inhalation of asbestos dust. Since the New
York Academy of Sciences Conference of 1964, world-wide interest has been
stimulated and maintained. At that conference the largest number of papers
from any single country came from the U.K., and the largest contribution
from the U.K. was made by members of the Asbestosis Research Council.

In the intervening period, thgiliterature on the subject has been extremely
extensive, so much so that it is impossible for one man?to be conversant
with the whole output.s? I have attempted to select and report the results of
work done mainly by researchers whom I know, and whose reputations command
international respect. I must emphasise that the selection is my own, and

the opinions I express are personal ones.

Diseases Associated with Asbestos Exposure .

Let us first recapitulate. Table I shows the disorders associated with
excessive exposure to asbestos. I propose to deal briefly with these. I We
can first dismiss the last of these listed. Asbestos corns, in my view, are
increasingly rare, have no more significance than the foreign body reaction
to any kind of sliver in the skin, and need not concern us further here,

except to say that they are simple to prevent and to treat.

TABLE I .5 
Asbestosis El fibrosis of 
2 fibrosis of ple? a (i calcification)
Cancer of lung 21; bronchial f-
2 pleural (meotheliome)
Cancer of intestinal tract (1) peritoneal (mesothelioma)
Skin (1) asbestos corns
. 
Table II outlines the position with regard to asbestos. ?in
TABLE II
Fibrosis of lung 
C33

Dose related: Ber conc. time

Most individuals susceptible

Causes disability and shortens life

Progresses after removal from dust after a certain stage
Severity possibly-depends on type of asbestos

Almost certainly preventable by_practicable dust control

 .. .- 2-3.: .- - .- r. new. as . - ?r99.-



DOSE RELATIONSHIP 

The dose relationship is becoming increasingly evident. Since the work of

- Dr._Newhouse in this country which demonstrated the dose relationship in a

crude way in a factory where all types-of asbestos were used, new studies
have corroborated the point. In the Quebec mining areas, Dr. MacDonald
made the observation that the ill effects of inhalation were far
more marked in those men who had worked in the dustiest areas, and similar
results have been shown in Cyprus.

It is worth looking again at the results of the Newhouse study. .

Dose equals degree of exposure multiplied by time.
.7 . .,

hm .5
For all causes of death; those men with exposure of low to moderate amounts

either short or prolonged, had no excess of deaths over the number expected.

For those men with severe exposure for a prolonged period, there was an
excess of deaths from all causes.

For those with severe exposure for a short time, those men not submitted
for regular medical examination in the early years had an excess of deaths

from all causes. 

There is a paradoxical situation in that a group with severe exposure for a
short time who were subject to initial and periodic.medical examination had
no greater incidence offdeath from all causes. This ma ssibly be due
to the initial rejection of men for such work who had signs'of some other
disease, so that these men would be healthier than the ggneral population.

However it is known that these were the men who worked in so-called
.- "scheduled occupations", that is those recognised as the most dusty by the
framers of the first British legislation for the industry. Early efforts
at dust control were concentrated in these occupations, so that although
conditions were severe, they were subject to the first measures of control.
Another factor in the better record of this group is that periodic medical
. examinations may have removed them from exposure at the earlier signs of

chest trouble.

Dr. Newhouse showed that all respiratory disease other than cancer of the
lung, that is all non-malignant respiratory diseases which include

asbestosis, is more likely to occur in those workers subjected to severe-



- - . . . .. ?aka-Rea- r. .95: 91-5-32;- v3.3 .. .

. -7-

levels for a long time, particularly if they are not medically supervised.



There is as yet no conclusive epidemiological evidence that susceptibility
in individuals varies greatly. Work was Sponsored by the A.R.C. at the
Brompton Hospital and done by Dr. Margaret TurnerJWarwick on the presence
of certain abnormal proteins in the blood of cases of asbestosis and other
interstitial pulmonary fibroses. It was hoped that there might be found a
means by blood test of discovering which individuals were more likely to
develop asbestosis in the future. Unfortunately it was found that blood
changes which did occur in a certain proportion of asbestos workers did not
precede other signs of the disease, but tended to accompany them. In other
words, we failed to find a means of selecting those men'least likely to

-as 5'
suffer from excessive exposure to asbestos.

DISABILITY, MORTALITY AND PROGRESSION

 

A few years ago the prognosis, once asbestosis had been diagnosed, was that
the disease would rapidly progress, For the past ten years or so, efforts
to diagnose the disease at an early stage have met with some success.

The more sophisticated techniques of measurement of lung function have

enabled us to diagnose asbestosis at earlier stages. Recently there has

been some disenchantment with the results of lung function tests. There

are some research workers who are sure that lung function changes occur earlier
than other signs of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, while others find them to
occur no earlier than rlray changes. 

This is no occasion to discuss the diagnosis of early asbestosis, except to
say that any recent research with which I am familiar has confirmed me in my
belief that diagnosis rests on a table with four legs. These are history
of exposure, clinical findings, x-ray changes, and fairly simple lung
function tests. In the survey of workers in the industry, records must be
carefully preserved from the initial examination onwards, so that each man
may be used as his own control. Absolute values are of less significance
than relative changes in all the diagnostic components. Each leg of the
table must be firm. If any one component of diagnostic supports is lacking
or shaky, the diagnosis of asbestos related disease in life is not truly
secure.

Having said that, I must report a personal impression, which is shared by

..-. . .. .. -, - - - .
-.- . . . . .- - .- - . .m-iau??sufi-a {tufw??u-A--.



other experienced colleagues, that early diagnosis and removal from further
risk may so reduce the rate of progression of pulmonary fibrosis as to
enable the worker to live a reasonably full life.

TYPE OF ASBESTOS AND PREVENTION

Except to say that recent work, some published and some in the course of
publication,supports these views, I propose to quote with little comment,

the views of a most distinguished worker in the whole field of pneumoconiosis.
Dr. J.C. Gilson, head of the Medical Research Council's Pneumoconiosis
Research Unit in Wales, to whom I am indebted for some of the tables shown,
presented recently at an International Conference on Pneumoconiosis some

personal impressions with which I heartily concur:

ht . :3
"It seems fairly clear now that it should be possible to mine, mill and
manufacture in safety, given good housekeeping. There must be
some uncertainty about its use for building and ships where control of the
dust is much more difficult, but I think it probably can be used at an
acceptable level of risk, if the new codes of practice are followed.J

Amosite

"In mining and milling, great_progress in dust control has been achieved by
using wet processes and exhaust ventilation at the bagging plants. The dust
control problem in this part of the process does not look insoluble. When
the material is manufactured into boards and insulating sections, dust control
again should beachievable at an economic cost. In insd?p?ing work in
buildings and ships at least as high a standard as for chi:
required. At present I am less confident than in the cdse of that

the work can be done safely, but even when the material is sprayed it looks as

isotile will be

though the exposure of the insulators and those in the neighbourhood can be
kept at an acceptable level if all the precautions recommended are followed.

The greatest uncertainty is in the removing of old insulation when supervision
is difficult."

Crocidolite

"In this case I am naturally influenced by the experience and situation in my
country. On the one hand, there are many cases of meoothelioma, some of
which appear to be linked with past exposures to crocidolite alone, but in
the majority to more than one type of fibre. 0n the other hand there is the
evidence of the rapidly falling imports of this type of fibre. This strongly

 . a
iv?vth-c-I-?"vi. .. - t- cu:

suggests that it may not be really essential except for a very few purposes.
If this is so then, in view of the present uncertainty of the relative risk
of using crocidolite against other types of fibre, why not phase out its
use in new products as soon as practicable? This will leave much of it in
old insulation. The removal of this should only be done with the strictest
control and with more supervision than is essential for dealing with

in the same circumstances."

TABLE 
Fibrosis of pleura
Information far less complete
May occur alone oi- combined with fibrosis of lung
Alone not a cause of severe disability
Prognosis urgently needs further study
?robably preventable by practicable dust control

'3

The fibrosis of the pleura which occurs in peOple exposed to asbestos has
attracted considerable attention in the past few years. I have no evidence
to change the opinions expressed in this table, but I can elaborate on a few
points.- Thickened pleura may later become hardened by calcium so that it is
visible on the x-ray as a pleural plaque.

Plaques occur with different?frequency in different countries. They are
especially prevalent in the of Finland, and occur with
considerable frequency in South Africa. They have been found in areas where

there are no asbestos mines or works, in farmers who till soil which contains

as.
a:

Our experience of pleural fibrosis has been in an areagof London where there

a high proportion of asbestos.

were many who worked in asbestos factories or lived very close to them in the
days before dust emission from the factories was controlled. The pleura in
this group has been more frequently affected than the lungs themselves. We
are coming to the conclusion that comparatively slight exposure, particularly
before the age of 21, is more likely to lead to pleural effects. We are also
fairly sure that these pleural signs have little siginificance as far as
disability is concerned. In my opinion, the presence of pleural plaques or
thickening alone is no more siginificant than the presence of asbestos bodies

in the lung or Sputum, being merely evidence of past exposure to asbestos.




{a 

 . 1i -- -. .. 1-L10-

CAREERS OF LUNG, PLEURA AND PERITONEUM 4
male r, 7 
Bronchial carcinoma -
Common tumours

Incidence related to severity of asbestosis hence
intensity of dust exposure

Other factors - cigarette smoking
- type of asbestos?
- air pollution (small)

Specific asbestos effect probably preventable by
practicable dust control

The Newhouse series showed the dose relationship to cancer of the lung,
which is now generally?aocepted.
Professor Selifoff of the Mt. Sinai Research Unit now has, I believe, 87 non-
smokers in his large and intensive, studies group of insulation workers.
In this group, the incidence of carcinoma of the lung is no greater than that
in the general population. The suggestion which Dr. Selikoff made some
years ago about the role of cigarette smoking in asbestos exposure is slowly
'accumulating more corroborative evidence.
TABLE 
Pleural and peritoneal (mesotheliomas) 
Rare tumours plpsely associated with exposure to asbestos
A small proportion of those exposed develop tumours
Long latent period 20 years) 
Dust exposure short and possibly small in some cases

'In mines and mills incidence apparently related to type of
asbestos: amosite, ?:.crocidolite, 

In manufacturing industry no asbestos proved innocent

- Other factors not due to cig.rette smoking;
others not identified

-i Prevention?
I propose to say a few words about some of the statements in the table.

The interesting fact about mesothelioma is that cases, although they have
increased in numbers considerably, as interest in their diagnosis has increased,
continue to occur in those areas in which asbestos is most extensively used.

As more and more of these cases are investigated, the association with IKDUSTRIAL

Exposure becomes more evident. Contrary to earlier gloomy predictions,there has

 
hholdl

- 
-- . - . .. .-

. . .. .night?- - . 





-11-

not been explosion of cases among the general population and, as more series
a

are reported, it is found that cases of mesothelioma show an increased

number of asbestos bodies, well above the level of so-called ferruginous
bodies found in the general population. In a recent series a history of
industrial exposure was obtained in 80% of cases.

It is a personal opinion, that those who develop these tumours are those who
have had heavy, although possibly short, exposure in youth. We may yet find
a dose relationship, if we consider that the significant dose in the case of
mesothelioma is the amount of asbestos which actually goes through the lung

and reaches the pleura. 

With that idea in mind, let us consider the differenaabetween the fibres of
various types of asbest?b. 

In some elegant experiments, Dr. Timbrell of the Pneumoconiosis Research
Institute has demonstrated the great effect of fibre shape and diameter on
the ability of the fibre to penetrate deep into the lung. .

The curly fibres of appear quite different from the straight
amphiboles of amosite and crocidolite when they reach the lower air passages
in the lungs and approach the_point at Fhich the airway divides. This is the
point at which impingement is most likely. The straight fibres of the
amphiboles are able to pass this point much more readily than 
Experimentally it has beengderonstrated that the amphiboles penetrate more
deeply and are retainediin greater amount than equal weg?ggs of 
In a similar series of experiments, hr. Timbrell has shown that the depth of
penetration is dependent more upon the fibre diameter than the fibre length.
The fine fibres of North4west Cape crocidolite penetrate much more deeply
than the fibres of Transvaal crocidolite. These'latter have a fibre
diameter, much nearer the diameter of Transvaal-amosite, and are therefore
much thicker.

It has been recognised for many years that crocidolite produced more
mesothelioma than anosite. More-recently it has been revealed that, while
NorthAWest Cape crocidolite produced human mesotheliomas,fibres of crocidolite
from the Transvaal produced none, Similarly amosite produced very very few.
The penetrability of the fibres provides the reason. The fine straight
crooidolite fibres from the North-West Cape are clearly more able to penetrate,

into the deepest recesses of the lung, and to the pleura itself. It is a

~v-n?l?uitz1 

- 
- . .- . he-12-

personal opinion, not yet substantiated experimentally, that those
mesotheliomaawhich have occurred in areas may well be due to
inhalation of fibres of which are the straighter and harsher.

Some samples do contain these fine straight fibres.

When I spoke to this audience two years ago, I listed some of the exposures,
other than exposure to asbestos, which can produce fibrosis of the lungs very
similar in many ways to asbestosis. Similarly there are now being found
cases of mesothelioma in Africa in which no evidence of asbestos exposure can
be found. The idea is gaining support that there may well be some other

factor besides asbestos itself which causes mesothelioma.

Once again I wish to qggte Ur. Gilson of the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit.
Recently at an international conference on pneumoconiosis he urged the
assembled delegates to keep the whole matter of the biological effects of
asbestos in perspective, comparing the likelihood of death from those effects
with the likelihood of death from some other exposures and occupations.

Dr. Gilson's table shows the excess mortality in a few selected occupational
groups. -The S.M.R. is the standard mortality rate, calculated by
multiplying the observed number of deaths in a group by 100, and dividing it
by the expected number of dEaths in the absence of exposure. It is a means
of measuring the comparative risks. The outstanding fact emerges that
asbestos workers, coalminers and even fishermen, who have one of the highest
occupational risks in the- K., are all at less overall risk than those who

1?5"
smoke twenty or more cigarettes per day compared to non%gmokers.

Dr. Gilson also made the point that all epidemiologicalfresearch in
occupational medicine tends to emphasise the ill effects. We need to look
more at the benefits of asbestos, and consider the ill effects on the
community of depriving it of asbestos.

Finally I would say that, in my own personal view, speaking only for myself
and implicating none of the distinguished speakers who are yet to address you,
the real purpose of this conference is to find the means to continue to offer
to the community the great benefits of asbestos while doing all we can to

minimise and even eliminate its ill effects on some individuals.

. .. - .-.-. - -
-. -. :4 wee - 



a1}-



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE VI
COMPARISONS 0F EXCESS MORTALITY IN MALES
Observed deaths 3: 100
All Causes. '3 Expected deaths in absence of exposure
Exposure Group SMR Note
Mining (QuebecT?J 92 All deaths since 1950
Asbestos Hanui?: (London) 150 7 6 years-first exposure
Insdl: (?ew York) 159? 720 years-first exposure
Coal Mining
All miners 6r. eat-miners 145
Rhondda Miners with simple pm: 125 Age 25-74
S. Wales Miners with Compli.pnc: 171
Ci arett UK 2 d. 160 
Smiling 9 Doc ors 5 Age 3544
Gen. pop:(US) 203- pd 200 .
Seafaring" Fishermen (UK) 177 Age 15-64
I. "in;
it?



4 

 {6.1 1. . 
.. i

-14-

DISCUSSITH ON PAPER BY DR.W.J. SNITHER

MRJI. . VAN ELMGEIT

Question:

 

 

 



Answer:

. 5s: -

NR. W.P. HOWARD, Question:
AIC, UK

Answer:
Question:
DER

Answer:

SIG.CALAHANDREI

Question:
SIA

Answer:

DR.S. emphasised the insign

from filtration processesfps-31?; 
. mm- --. (..- .- . 3.2: .. -13turn-?4?. ?33335:
Li!
I r- cr-

of:

What are the dangers of Asbestos
fibres in the stomach?

The question is wide open. Asbestos
has been found in peritoneal tumours.
We believe it has a direct effect. The
question is how does_it get there?

There are two theories on this:-

a. ?Most dust particles get into the
stomach"by swallowing, e.g. by
coughing and swallowing, etc.

b. Others demonstrate that fibres can
be blood borne, but I personally
am not happy about this theory.

0n the subject of swallowing, does
Dr. Smither think that swallowing
can be adverse?

In speaking of swallowing I refer to
heavy exposures. my overall view is
that dose relationship is the
significant factor.

How do you measure the efficiency

_of lung function tests against x-ray

examination as a means of early

- g? a I
diagnOSis . 
There are differences of Opinion.

!2

One group of opinion says that these
are changes in lung function before
x-ray examination shows changes.

Others say this is not so. One nust
have a good health service and
depend on the "four legs" of the
diagnosis table. It is unwise to
rely on "one leg" only.

Does Dr. Smither think that the use
of asbestos in filtration has an

adverse effect?

No - the amounts are infinitesimal

ificance of ingested fibre originated

 . -. . .. . . .., .. . 
.55-15-

INTRODUCTION FOR NR. CROSS AHD DR. HOLMES


.

. . . 5

This is an important contribution as the British Asbestos Regulations have

been in full operation for 1% years. These Regulations will probably have
a big influence upon future Regulations to be introduced by other countries.
Mr. Gross, Chairman of the Environmental Control Committee of the Asbestosis
Research Council and Dr. Holmes, Secretary of the Asbestosis Research Council,
have been closely concerned with this subject from the beginning. Thex are
here to tell us, amongst other things, about the principles behind the
British legislation, the measures which have to be adOpted under these Regulations
and the ways in which different forms of respiratory protection are to be used for
different dust levels.



a:



 -15.

vi}.

THE UK ASBESTOS - 19?g_

A.A.Cross,} E, Chairman. Environmental Control Committee ARC

At the conference of representatives of the European asbestos industry in
London two years ago we discussed some aspects of the United Kingdom
Asbestos Regulations which had just been introduced. Since then many
other countries have introduced various measures for the protection of
asbestos workers or are actively?considering some form of control. Some
of these have followed fairly closely the methods adopted in this country;
others appear to be taking somewhat different lines. It seems to us,
therefore, that it might be helpful if we were to review briefly the
fundamental principles behind our legislation and the main features of

Our law as it is being applied.

As you know, the older established sectors of asbestos manufacturing
industry had been subject to legally enforceable controls in this country
since 1955, so that the basic approach to a new and more comprehensive law
was to build on those parts of the old law which experience had shown to
be effective, to expand and?define more clearly the control methods
required, and to extend the application of the law to cover all persons
who might be exposed in their work to harmful quantities of dust.

It should be noted that the law in this country specifi?iigy catering
for asbestos is confined to working situations. There ,R?no statutory
control specifically designed to deal with possible to the
general public.' In such matters as disposal of asbestos waste,
discharge of filtered air from asbestos factories, overspill of fibre
from spraying Operations, the official view so far has been that existing
powers of local authorities are sufficient to deal with any nuisance
which can be identified. In one case, i.e. disposal of asbestos

waste, advice drawn up by the Asbestosis Research Council has been issued
to local authorities by the Government Department concerned, the
Department of the Environment, pointing out the need for particular

consideration of a potential hazard.

~u?E??i-N .. n. mam: 

.e i . .


-17-

The new Asbestos Regulations themselves are based on a number of clear

principles:

1. They only apply to processes where dust Epgzg a certain level can be
produced. I

2. They apply wherever and whenever employed persons are exposed to such
levels of asbestos dust. (There are some limited exceptions such as
dockworkers who will be covered by separate regulations.) 

5. They discriminate asbestos in that they call for
additional measures of control and a lower standard of dust

concentration. - 



4. They envisage the application of control measures related to the
extent of the hazard. 

5. They do not Spell out standards of dust levels or degrees of hazard.
They rely for the detailed application of the law on the publication
of explanatory documents known as Technical Data NOtes which can be
varied as experience or fresh knowledge dictates. For example, in
the Regulations the various control measures are to be applied where
asbestos dust can escape into the workplace. Asbestos dust is then
defined as "dust consisting of or containing asbestos to Such an

extent as is liable_to cause danger to the Health of employed persons".

We are continually remihd?d by our Department of Employment that what this
means in precise terms can only be decided in due cour in the courts,

but for practical purposes at present this is defined in the Department's
Technical Data Note 13 as "in the case of and amcsite 2 fibres/cc"
measured in a certain way. Should expert Opinion change and indicate

that this is unnecessarily high or is too low, all that is needed is the
issue of a revised Technical Data Note.

When by these standards a process is recognised as coming within the
scope of these Regulations, the measures to be adopted fall into the

following clearly defined groups:

1. No process to which th Regulations apply ca she carried on unless
exhaust ventilation is provided which prevents the entry into the air

of any workplace of asbestos dust (as defined).

a.

 . 

3; I 
- 1-94Lug-53LHun-t -- - . 



4

Only where the provision of exhaust ventilation equipment is

impracticable(and this means impracticable in engineering terms) is

I personal protective equipment acceptable as an alternative. In

such cases the equipment provided must consist of approved

respiratory protective equipment and protective clothing. Where
ventilation equipment is provided but does not reduce the dust
concentration sufficiently, then personal protection may be required
in addition to the ventilation equipment. at the present time there
is some uncertainty as to what level of dust concentration achieved by-
exhaust ventilation will be considered to be low enough to avoid the
-necessity of wearing protective equipment.. We hays been working to

a level of 12 fibres/cc but there is some indicatidn in recent months
that a lower standard than this will be demanded.

High standards of rectory hygiene are demanded. Part of theBegul?
atiohs which isentirely concerned with the cleanliness of premises and
plant requires that all machinery and premises should be

regularly cleaned by means of vacuum cleaning equipment suitably
designed or by some other dustless method. Where a dustless method
is not possible, then personnel employed on cleaning must be supplied
with personal protection and so must any other persons who may be in
the vicinity of such cleaning work.

The Regulations requireythat new buildings used for the first time
for processes giving rise to dust above the permitted level and where

such processes occur for more than 8 hours in any week, should he

- constructed in such a way as to reduce the possibility of

accumulations of dust and should be provided with airacuum cleaning
system having filters and a source of suction located at a fixed
central point and with pipes throughout the building with suitably
placed inlets from which portable cleaning implements can be
operated.
Accommodation for workers' clothing must be provided in such a
position or in such a form that there should be no risk of asbestos
dust being deposited on it, and accommodation for changing into and
out of protective equipment and clothing, as well as for the
accommodation of such equipment and clothing when not in use, must be

provided.



rim-u

- -. .- human?u.? . .: - 
0-1 


-19-

6. .11 loose asbestos or waste stored or distributed within a factory
must be contained in suitable closed receptacles which prevent the
escape of asbestos dust therefrom.

7. Young persons, i.e. people under eighteen years of age, may not be
employed in any processes where it is necessary for them to be provided
with protective clothing and respiratory equipment.

8. The special requirements concerning blue asbestos include the need
for notification to the local factory inspector before_sterting any
process or operation involving crocidolite or blue asbestos and the
requirement to mark any receptacles containing blue asbestos with
the words "blue asbestos - do not inhale dust".

as 


'3

The Regulations, having allowed for 12 months' grace, came into full effect
in May 1970. In that time, the Factory Inspectorate has been getting
familiar with the existing practices in various asbestos factories and

in particular among those people who are using asbestos materials without
previously being concerned with regulations for its control. This 
particularly applies to people in the construction industry and in
building work and more especially where sprayed asbestos has been used.
The particular branch of the Inspectorate responsible for taking
measurements has paid many visits to factories and site situations taking
measurements of the air in the breathing zone of workers and has, on the.
whole, appeared to adopt a flexible and understanding attitude. However,
in recent months therefare signs that their attitude and
indeed the first prosecution under the new Regulations fourred on
November 10th. It is to be expected that they will apply increasing
pressure for the development of more effective forms of ventilation
equipment, for the modification of processes to be less likely to emit
dust, and for the wearing of protective equipment, i.e. both respirators
and protective clothing, where they are not satisfied with the dust levels
which are attained by engineering controls. It is also to be expected
that they will be increasingly severe in their requirements for high

standards of factory hygiene.

The attitiude towards site working again has been so far somewhat
sympathetic. They appear to have been gratified by the efforts of the
industry to develop less dusty methods of working, particularly, for
example, in the deve10pment of predamping methods for spray and in the

development of specialised tools for working with asbestos boards of all

 .. .1 ..H 1&1-7 
. .. -. ..-- . -.- .. -. -. - . 

-20..

kinds, but where individual concerns are slow to take advantage of such
methods known to have been satisfactorily developed and tested to the
Inspectorate's satisfaction, it is to be expected that they will be
particularly tough. They have said that they will not hesitate to
prosecute, for example, if they find spray contractors who are not using
predamping equipment and whose employees are not using the more

sophisticated type of respirators such as positive pressure resPirators.

From-time to time when the Asbestos Regulations were published, i e. in may
1969, until the present time there have been regular informal discussions
between various the Factory Inspectorate, particularly those

specialist branches concerned with the measurement of dust levels and

those concerned with the develOpment of control equipment. This has
been helpful to the industry. It has meant that we have been able to
anticipate to some extent the way in which the Regulations would be
interpreted by inspectors, and it has also enabled us to advise our
customers and users of asbestos materials generally on the measures they
need to take in order to satisfy the requirements of the new law. These
unofficial contacts have also been helpful in enlarging the Government
Official's understanding of the different types of asbestos products that
are in regular use and the manner in which they are used. They have
appreciated the fact that many asbestos materials do not reduce harmful
quantities of dust. The Inspectorate Headquarters has, %;dp fact, issued

a liatof asbestos products which, in their opinion, are tgfilzely to be
affected by the Regulations and they have also asked forfthe assistance

of the Asbestosis Research Council in identifying further materials which
would come into this category. They have also sought the co-operation
of the Council in developing improved procedures and products, for example,
they sought our advice on the question of sprayed.esbestos with the result
that all sprayed asbestos insulation contractors in the United Kingdom
have now accepted as standard procedure the predamping of asbestos fibre
which, as a result of measurements taken by the Government Officials, has
been reclassified by them and other Government Departments as a low risk
Operation. Other Government Departments have consulted the Asbestosis
Research Council in the formulation of advisory documents or in dealing
with enquiries from the general public or from institutions. These have
included the Home Office, the Department of Environment, the Department

of Health and Social Security, the Customs and Excise Department. Often
these references have been at the su3.gestion of the Department of Employment

a! i

I 33-. - - it? ?11: 1? 1- a a 1. 
-21-
While undoubtedly there are many organisations and individuals who take
an extreme view of the possibility of risk, we believe that the
sensible application of the new Regulations enables us to claim that many
asbestos materials entail no risk and that for others it is usually
possible to prevent any risk to users by the application of practical
control measures.
'5
.

I J, 33-. 
. 
. 

1?3

 . . . .. a" . .
-. rut.-. -- .- .- -- -- -


. -22-

THE RESEARCH BEHIHD THE U.K. STANDARDS

Dr. S. Holmes Secretary. Asbestosis Research Council

Further to the report which hr. Cross has just given, I would like to

add a few words explaining how the British Standard for 
asbestos has been established. At the same time, I would like to clear
up one or two misunderstandings that obviously still persist regarding the
relationship between the size of the asbestos fibres counted and?the
hazard to health. 

Many years before the British Occupational Hygiene Society decided to
explore the idea of a standard for asbestos, the asbestos companies had
adopted for routine factory monitoring the fibre count, restricted to fibres
above in length and having a length/diameter ratio of at least 3 to 1.
When the B.O.H.S. Committee was looking for information on dust exposure and
hazard to health, the only figures available on dust levels were these fibre
counts collected over the years by the industry and the figures were given
to the Committee along with the health records of the people exposed.

As most of you are aware, standard eventually recommended was
in the form of a total permitted exposure to asbestos dust expressed as dust
concentration multiplied by time of exposure. The figure for 
was 100. fibre?years per ml. and was put forward as th .e exposure limit if not
more than 1/0 of those exposed were to get the first signs'g?f asbestosis.
This allowed 10 years exposure at 10 fibres/ml., 20 years I_exposure at

5 fibres/ml., and so on. It was suggested that the standard should not be
used for levels above 10 fibres/ml., because little was known about the
effects of high exposure even for short periods of time.

As the standard has become widely known, a misunderstanding has
'arisen to the effect that fibres less than 5,nm long are.not hazardous in
any way. There is, of course, a lot of medical evidence pointing to the
view that the longer fibres are of Special significance biologically, but
4 there is nothing about the figure- of 5jrm. It was arbitrarily chosen many

years ago and has continued as the lower limit for counting for historical

reasons. It is therefore more correct to think of the fibre count as an

-23-

index to exposure but the range of fibre sizes in an asbestos dust

cloud does not change much fer the different industrial processes, and
the figure we use is still a reliable measure of the health risk. It has
the added advantage that it represents more than 90% of the total weight
of asbestos, and also it ensures that only asbestos fibres are counted.

When the Factory Inspectorate was considering how to incorporate dust
standards into the 1969 Asbestos Regulations, the report of the 3.0.3.8.
Committee was conveniently available.' In making use of the report the
Inspectorate did two things:-
1. They assumed that the asbestosis hazard from auosite and
wig the'same as for and therefore
made the limits the same for all three types.
2. They decided that the limits for crocidolite(b1ue asbestos)

should be ten times more strict.

Little useful comment is possible on the first of these, because although
the B.0.H.S. is at present looking at the possibility of a separate standard
for amosite, nothing has emerged so far, so the assumption is a reasonable
one in the circumstances. The adoption of the separate limit for
crocidolite is also understandable, in view of its strong association with
mesothelioma, but to set it at one-tenth of the figure cannot
be justified. These limits are derived for asbestosis only and a dose
response relation between Erocidolite and mesothelioma hag not yet been
established. We can only assume that the Factory Inspe??$rete were
determined that extra special precautions should be observed in handling 
crocidolite and in this they have succeeded. 

In deciding what should be theosafe level of dust concentration below
which the substantive clauses of the Asbestos Regulations should not apply,
the Factory Inspectorate have taken the figure calculated from the B.O.H.S
Standard related to exposure over a whole working lifetime i.e. 50 years.
This, of course, gives the well-known_threshold limit value(T.L.V.) of

2 fibres/ml. In the region between 2 and 12 10, but
raised to 12 for transatlantic reasons), the action required will depend
on the level and duration of the exposure i.e. the B.0.H.S. concept of an
exposure calculated as a product of dust concentration and time is to be
followed. Where concentrations above 12 fibres/ml. are inevitable; then

full personal protection must be worn, however short the exposure in time,

 P. -- are: and; Jan 4-. v. Arm-1?24-

The way in which the Factory Inspectorate intend the dust concentration to
be measured is also important. The first assessment is based on a 10
minute sample taken in, or as close as possible to, the workers' breathing
zone. If the result is less than 2 fibres/ml., then the Regulations are
not applied. If it is between 2 and 12 fibres/1111., then a repeat sample
is taken, but of 4 hours duration, or a series of samples, designed to
give a 4 hour time-weighed average. It is on this longer sample that any
action will be based, representing a considerable concession in most cases,
because the average exposure of any particular worker over 4 hours is
generally much lower than that indicated by short period samples. when
the 10 minute exploratory sample is above 12 repeat 10 minute
sample must be taken. {elf this is also above 12, then full personal
protectiOn is called for if the job conditions cannot be improved. It
must be remembered also that the total exposure idea does not apply in
this case - full protection is required even if the exposure is only

one hour per week.

The *?option by the Factory Inspectorate of the 2 fibres/ml. T. L.V.

for safe working is reflected also in their system of approval for dust
respirators. Dealing first.with ori-nasal or halfeface respirators, the
cartridge filter is generally very efficient indeed(99% or better) but the
weakness: lies in the uncertain seal between the face of the wearer and the
edge of the mask. In most cases this reduces the overall efficiency to
about 95% i. e. 5% or 1/20 of the dust will penetrate to inside of

the facepiece. If this is not to be more than 2 fibres} )21; then the
concentration outside must not be above 
respirators are therefore only approved up to this figure. For positive
pressure respirators, where filtered air is pressure?fed to the face of
the wearer the fit of the facepiece is less important, and the only
limitatin1is in the efficiency of the filter itself. This is about

99% i.e. 1% or 1/100 penetrates, and so these respirators are approved
only for situations where the concentration is not more than 200 fibres/ml.
Onefull-faoe pressure-fed respirators is approved for use above this level,
otherwise it is necessary to provide hoods or helmets fed by a supply of

fresh air.



Ll



amelmp're?m r. .

nearer-venue. - 

.1 

v_25_

Finally, the standard has also been used in defining the dust concentration
permitted in the exhaust from vacuum cleaners and in filtered air from an
asbestos process which is being recirculated. The criterion here is that

the dust in the recirculated air should make no significant contribution to

the overall dust level in the workroom, and therefore a limit of 0.2 fibres/ml.,
i.e. 1/10 of the has been specified.

The member companies of the A.R.C. have recognised that many asbestos users
have neither the equipment nor?the technical experience to check their own
situation by carrying out dust counts. They_have therefore made available
to their customers a dag; sampling ser?ice,and where necessary} engineering
advice. This has been well received and has no doubt resulted in many
companies continuing to use asbestos when they would otherwise have been so
daunted by the Regulations as to abandon it.

and:






 E. nip? 4. 5115311, 9 w: 3291"?) i 

Iv.

?26-

THE SITUATION IN HOLLAND 

Mr. A.R. Kolff van Oosterwijk. C.V.A. Holland

I HEALTH ASBESTOS: SITUATION PAST MID PBESENT 33? EOLIHTD.
The first case of asbestosis was officially recorded in Holland around 1954.
Since there was at that time hardly any nationally important producer or
user of asbestos goods in Holland the attention paid to this isolated case
was negligible. For the same reason no special legislation was introduced.
After the Second World War this situation of relative unconcern slowly
changed as more and more cases of asbestosis were discovered,although the
total number remained small. Most of these cases were also found to occur
in the insulation contracting field. It was in this period that the major
companies produding or using asbestos containing products began to introduce
periodical medical inspection of those employees who could be considered tO'
be frequently exposed to asbestos dust. The factory inspectorate also
gradually paid more and more?attention to the situation. Their activities
were directed toward advising on dust suppressing methods and on protective
measures to be taken for personnel exposed to dust. There was hardly any
general publicity on the biological'effects as asbestosis was considered to
be an occupational diseasefwhich could only be contractegaafter many years'
exposure to high dust concentratiOns. This situation raiggally changed
after the publication in 1968 of a thesis by Dr. Stumphius wherein the author
describes his experiments on the occurrence of asbestos bodies in lung
tissue and the occurrence of mesothelioma among the male population of a
small region of the Netherlands centred around a major shipyard. He came
to the conclusion that a large part of the population must have been exposed
to small concentrations of asbestos dust because of the frequent occurrence
of asbestos bodies in lung tissue. More far-reaching, however, is his
other conclusion that a correlation exists between the exposure to (small)
concentrations of asbestos dust and the occurrence of mesothelioma. This
publication at once caused a stream of publicity where some or perhaps most
news channels went so far as to suggest that the whole population was at
risk. Without going further into this publicity uproar, it is important

to note that several more serious actions resulted from Stunphius' research

and the following publicity.

- -- -- tun-'- -- . ..
. --. 

. . . - . . - . . . ..
.. . . . -. - ?:Lzl-T
'11 . "5 

.

-27-

These were:

b.

the formation of a research committee to study the biological effects of
asbestos by T.H.O., the semi?governmental research establishment in
the Netherlands. After a general survey of the asbestos problem this

committee has now started several research projects i.e.

l. epidemiological research of relation between occurrence of
mesothelioma and exposure to asbestos.

2. occurrence of asbestos dust in outside air.

3. the generating of asbestos fibres during braking.

4. the develOpment of apparatus for the detection and counting of.

van; . .
asbestos fibres in outside air.

The factory inspectorate started an intensive_medical inSpection of
all workers who could be presumed to be exposed to asbestos dust. The
first part of this inspection concerning mainly workers in the asbestos
industry and in the insulation field has been concluded. It is new
intended to extend this inspection to other industries which are not

obviously connected with_asbestos.



It-is also the object to repeat these inspections during regular intervals
in the future. 

was:
The factory inspectorate has recently published a bd?giet called

"Working with Asbestos". Herein a short survey is given of the'use of
asbestos, its biological effects, the permitted dust concentration, the
necessary protective measures and some substitute materials. That part
of the booklet which gives an outline of the protective measures to be
taken when working with asbestos is comparable to the guides as published
by the Asbestosis Research Council. Although this booklet is not
backed by the necessary special legislation the factory inspectorate is
in the position to enforce the introduction of certain measures advised
in it. In the very near future factory inspectors will visit all
industries using asbestos and asbestoscontaininggoods and will rigorously
check whether the working conditions comply with the requirements as

set out in the booklet. 

?Wt"

-23-

There is at present in preparation legislation on the use of asbestos.
This however will take a long period of time before completion as it is
difficult to formally fit it in existing legislation.

-It may, however, be expected that within a year the use of crocidolite

will be forbidden while there is a possibility that the use of asbestos
containing materials in the insulation trade will be prohibited. These
measures cannot be taken onesidedly as they could cause economical and



technical repercussions.

It is therefore usugl that the industries concerned Ehd the trade unions
are officially consulted before such a decision is made. The unions have
reacted sharply and they have in fact contributed in no small way toward
the adverse and often irresponsible publicity given to the biological
effects of asbestos. It is their ultimate aim to obtain a complete ban
0n the use of asbestos and asbestos containing goods. 

As this is of course at present impossible, they have now tried another
approach i.e. to include in the collective labour agreements a clause
forbidding the use of asbestos in all its forms in the industries falling
under these collective agreements. As this new demand is still under
consideration, it i5;t9? early yet to comment but we feel that a
dangerous developmentfis under way here. 

As is usual under these and similar circumstances, aflarge number of
organisations'become interested. Perhaps, characteristically of Holland,
is that in our country we feel that no problem can be tackled efficiently

without forming as many committees as possible.

Besides the committee and organisations already mentioned there are the
following committees (or organisations) which are also in?olved in some
way or another in the problem of asbestos:

1. Asbestos Committee Netherlands Soxiety of Safety Engineers.

2. Asbestos Committee of the Industries located in Lmsterdam.

3. Asbestos Committee Society of Insulation Contractors.

4. Safety Institute.

5. Contact organisation of Workers in the Building Industry.

6. Safety Department of National Health Administration. or:

 ., -. - - -.. . .. 
:55 - .- 1.: - ?3..le '4 - - 


'95.

DISCUSSION ON PAPER BY ER.A.R. VAH CVA HOLLAND

I-IR . . . 

AIC, UK

DR . . HOMES

ARC, UK

N. ROBERT JOIN

CSA FRANCE

Question: Regarding your mention of the
possibility of a ban on asbestos in
Holland - would this include asbestos
cement?

Answer:' No - only asbestos for insulation.

Dr. Holmes here pointed out that the measurement

30f asbestos in the general atmosyhere had progressed.

The ARC in the UK had produced results using very
sophisticated methods showing that levels are
surprisingly low - in the order of lO_?gms. per
cubic metre i.e. millionth part of the level
regarded as negligible.

Question: Is there a general public.conscious-
ness of the "risk" in Holland?

Answer: I think NOT.



i




 

a. was": gar-x}. .wr stickimmfr?dt?s}? 

REPORT OF THE WEST GERMAE DELEGATION

Herr G.C. Schmidt. Secretary Asbest.e V,

Shortly afterthe danger involved in the exposure to airborne asbestos dust
became known, the German asbestos manufacturing companies, together with
the so-called insurance
corporations covering industrial diseases and accidents) and the local
Factory Inspection Authorities, began to develop precautionary measures to

overcome this problem. I.

Statutory requirementsidcfining?the maximum acceptable dust concentrations
do not yet exist for the asbestos industry. However, the united efforts of
the Berufsgenossenschaften, the industrial medicine experts, and the local
Factory Inspection Authorities have come to certain agreements which are

voluntarily observed by the companies.

These agreements are strictly observed, because a quickly growing number of
reported cases of asbestosis might motivate the insurance companies to raise
the premiums proportionally or even progressively. Due to the high
cocupational risk the premiums are already rather steep - the asbestos manu-
facturing companies in some cases have to pay ten times the normal premium.
After the war and in the Sixties they therefore doubled their efforts to
control the dust and minimise the risks by installing exhaust ventilation

. 33%.
systems . gt;

As already mentioned, the government and the insurance ?ompanies have
arrived at mutual agreements based on the experience of the past years. The
asbestos industry has accepted such agreements, although they are not yet
binding. In case of non-observance of the peril points, the violator
cannot be punished. These peril points are defined as follows:

1 mg/m3 total dust concentration

if the asbestos content amounts
at least to 50 weight-percent

.3. 

I 

 . . . ?rd-13,: . .11. ?g 1. 
. ?:32 1-H 

-31-

should not be exceeded. This limit is practically equivalent is a

respirable dust concentration of 0.15 - 0.40 mg/ma.

In addition, the individual asbestos manufacturers - to the extent that
they are members of a so-oalled Berufsgenossenschaft that is aware of the
health risks of asbestos dust - have developed private guidelines for the
medical supervision of employees exposed to dust. In most cases these
persons are required to undergo xrray examinations prior to their employ-
ment. If during a subsequent periodical examination asbestosis is
diagnosed, the employee will be retired and the Berufsgenossenschaft must
pay him a pension. [w

. .,
As requested by the insurance companies and the authorities, the current
agreements and recommendations shall be integrated into a legally binding
Regulation, which is in its meaning and effect comparable to the Asbestos
Regulations of our British friends.

Probably in the autumn of 1972, this so-called "Unfallverhutungsvors?hrift
zum Schutz gegen gesundheitsgefahrlichen Staub" - a safety
regulation for the protection against health hazards caused by mineral

dust - is expected to come into effect in Germany. A group of experts,
including some from the asbestos industry, worked for two years on this
Regudation.

This Regulation shall apply to all factories which handles aterials
containing asbestos or free silicic acid. Ese factories must
give notice to their so?called Berufsgenossenschaft local Factory
Inspection Authority.

All factories, in which asbestos dust is created, must institute appropriate
measures for dust suppression and control. Such precautions may be in the
field of construction of buildings, design of machinery and apparatus, and

installation of exhaust ventilation equipment.

- . .
. . . - The Regulation stipulates the acceptable dust levels as follows:

If the asbestos fibre content is below 10%, the total dust concentration

may not exceed 2.0 mg/ma;

if the asbestos fibre content is between 10 and 5053, the total dust
concentration may not exceed 1.5 mg/ma;

for an asbestos fibre content above 50% the acceptable total dust concentration
is limited to 1.0 mg/mB.

These peril points have stilloprovisicnal character until the final limits 4
the so?called NAK values -are available. MAX means maximum acceptable
dust concentration at e?york place. A special committee is currently working

on these limit values assisted by experts of the asbestos industry.

According to the Regulation only particles are'defined as being asbestos fibres,
'which are of a length greater than in and which have a length/diameter ratio

of at least 3:1. If we multiply the number of particles by the number of
asbestos fibres and divide the product by 100, we receive the asbestos

coefficient. The asbestos coefficient may not be greater than 10.

People employed in the asbestOS manufacturing industry are required to undergo
periodical medical examinations every 3 years. Prior to their employment

an authorised physician must carry out initial examinations and certify that
there are no medical objections to such employment. Theuposts of such
examinations must be borne by the manufacturer. He must??lso keep health
records on all employees. It

Full particulars on the scope of examinations may be found in the Guideline
for Medical Examinations. This Guideline can be taken as a supplement to the
and among its requirements includes

general physical examinations,
x-ray of the thoracic organs

and analytical tests to diagnose a lung restriction.

It also gives details about medical findings which should gite rise to

objections to employment.

. . .- . . . '3
.2. y. 
- . ?4 tar-mu: 3 

-53..

I mean, Gentlemen, we have already the right feel for our internal dust

problem in the German asbestos industry. The environmental problem with

its partially unknown hazards and diseases which are difficult to diagnose
This is the greatest of our worries, because

does, however, still exist.
This is mainly the problem of the

we cannot solve this problem ourselves.

physicians.

my colleagues representing all German producargronpm are well prepared to

answer any questions arising from this report3-: ,?1mivnr?j 

- - .a-fr-34-

WAY.

 

DISCUSSION OII PAPER 2m.
1m PiLo1~_vI Question:
AIG, urn

sneer

MR. A.R. KOLFF VAN Question:
OVA, HOLLAJD

Answer:

Question:
Elias: HOLMES Answer:

MR. W. JOHNSEH Question:
AIG, ,fe"

Answer:
DR.D.W. HILLS Question:
CHAIREAN, 
VARIOUS 33322.53! Answer:

 

Can you explain how the Threshold
LimitValues are applied?

If the fibre content of the product
is less than 10;; the TIN is 2 milli-
grammes per cubic metre.

If the fibre content of the product is
1033-1553 of the total, .the is 1.5
milligrammes per cubic metre.

Above this percentage, the TLV is 1
milligramme per cubic metre.

How is the concentration measured?

At the present by a Konimeter, but
a better method is needed.

Why do you have the relationship
between the percentage content and the
Threshold Limit Values?

The reason is basically that if a gravi
metric method of dust measurement is
used the percentage of asbestos in

the total dust is significant.

However, in the UK we do not like the
Konimeter and have advised against its
use, in favour of the membrane method.

Is there not a significant difference
between the mixed dust in a factory
and the com??sition of the product?

Yes but no conclusions have been
reached on.?his problem.

How do current practices in Gennan
factories compare with the standards
required by the proposed regulations?

I can quote one factory where the
level is up to 2.5 mg. per cubic metre
but we cannot comment on all factories
as the level varies.

In brake lining factories, we do not
yet have continuous monitoring but
short term checks indicate that the
position is satisfactory.

Millhoard manufacturers appear to be
meeting the TLVs but on?textiles the
position is difficultfto define.



n?hfLU.- -.-

HR.A.A.CROSS


'ul?ifb? avg?IA{rm-r . aria-r?: in?: a} nah" ?var 1?bee?ng!?

Question 1: Are the same TLVs proposed for all
types of asbestos?

Answer: Yes.
Question 2: What happens if you exceed the 

Answer: This is forbidden, but we are very
near to them anywaynew It,


aauu?wzit 

-55-

6:

THE SITUATION I23 
H. RobertJoin General Secretary. Chambre Svndicale d'Amiante

Several bodies in France are concerned with the industrial health

and hygiene problems:

Factory Inspectorate
Social Security Hi
Industrial I-Iedici?: 
Institut National de Recherche et de Securit? (an association for the
prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, comprised of
representatives of employers and employees).

There is no particular national regulation concerning the working
conditions in the asbestos industry similar to the British Regulations
of May, 1969. The only general prohibition, applicable in the industry,
concerns employment of you..g people under 18 in some dusty occupations -

handling of raw asbestos, carding, Spinning.

There exists, however-, a local regulation of 1965,. drafted by the Factory
Inspectorate and the Social Security Branch of ho- fay, in co-operation
with Chambre Syndicale de l'Amiante, called "Recommendations concerning
the working conditions in the asbestos industry?. 'rDeSPite its title -
Recommendations - this document is in fact compulsory for all the firms
dealing with asbestos within the jurisdiction of the Social Security
Branch of Normandy - and there is an important concentration of firms in
this area. The "Recommendations" concern the premises and their cleaning,
prevention and individual protection measures, medical control and
information of workers of the possible risk; a level of general dust is

set, but no asbestos dust level.

Qua? Ethnitb'saw?? 5:43:51? {if-?Mu: .3535-

Although the National Social Security Office has the possibility of
extending local recommendations to the whole of the national territory,

this has neither been done nor proposed since the Normandy Recommendations

came into force.

Asbestosis has been recognised in France as a compensable occupational
disease since 1949, distinct from silicosis with which it was previously

merged.

Under "Table 30 of Occupational Diseases" no diagnosis of asbestosis
can be made, unless the three following conditions are gathered -
radiological signsipfunctional troubles, asbestos bodies.

No other than heart complications is recognised.

When a worker thinks he is entitled for compensation, it is his

responsibility to file his claim with the Social Security. After a
technical inquiry concerning period of occupation, exposure to dust 
the file is forwarded to the Factory Inspectorate and then, according

to the duration of exposure to dust, to an agreed specialist in

or to a panel of three experts who take the decision

whether or not to compensate.

A procedure of appeal provides employees and employfzf with all safeguards.
Beside the human aspect of the question, the employpr has a direct
financial interest in keeping the number of compensable cases and the
amount of compensations at as low as possible a level since his

Social Security contributions for occupational accidents and diseases

are based, wholly or partly,upon the amount of compensations paid to

his own worker 5 during the previous three-year period. It is therefore

-in his interest to take all necessary prevention measures which the

Social Security Administration may support financially, either by low

rate of interest loans, or by reducing the rate of his contributions.



 la?J'o?. . .
?Sd? - :aliL-33-
This system has never been argued inside the Social Security
National Technical Committee where Social Security, employers and

employees are represented.

There are comparatively few compensated cases for asbestosis. The

number can be estimated at about 120-130, at varying rates.

To our knowledge, it is not anticipated that the present position
will be modified shortly.




(J


Chambre Syndical de l'Amiante follows closely these questions.

A 4? -I

It organises meetings of factory doctors and manufacturers allowing
for mutual information and fruitful exchanges of views.

It has, inter alia, set up recommendations on the medical control of
workers, taken part in the drafting of the Normandy Recommendations,
organised in 1964 the first international congress on asbestosis in
Caen,.secured the assistance of medical experts who take part in
international medical meetings established information documents for
the use of its members on the procedure of compensation of occupational
diseases, obtained from Institut National de Recherche at is Securite
approval on a method of dust sampling, and, recently, it has favoured
the foundation of Comite Francais d'Etudes et de Re?cherches sur les
Effets Biologiques de l'amiante (COFEREBA). lag

is may be seen, lack of regulations does not imply lack of control, and
does not prevent the industry from constantly working for an improved
safety of workers.

.1: Mn; -. uc?au we? nib-

an-g?g?: ?jut we: 

DISCUSSION 031 PAPER BY M. .OBERT JOIET GSA, FRANCE

HR. J. VTH HAAGEN

MR.W. JOHNSEN
AIG, 

Question:

Ansx-rer:

Question:

Answer:

Can you clarify the position of the
Normandy Regulations?

France has a total of 14 Social Security
Districts. Only Normandy has a Social
Security Office with Asbestos Regulati:.n
The -.ormandy Regulations have been in
force since 1965.

The question of regulations for asbestos
has never been raised at a national
level as the asbestos industry in
France is belpw the accident rate for
most industries.

How do.you measure airborne asbestos
under the Normandy Regulations?

Particle standards are not specified.
The level is 500, 000 particles of all

dust per litre, using soluble membrane

filter method.

. ?1




 64.6.2.4; when? a uni rugby-nu. 3:1.

4.1 . n. .. 45.7..

-40-

THE SITUATION SCAHDIHAVIA

Mr. A. Pelomeki A.I.G. Finland

The situation in each of the four Scandinavian counteies
differs. Mr. Palom?ki presented these differences in
relation to Asbestos Regulations, Threshold Limit Values

and requirenents for medical examinations, 1R three tables.
.J-a 



?h



43',
1"er



. 

5..

1w.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE 1
.. rut-?7"
i?3v= ~a
ASBESTOS REGULATIONS IN SCANDINAVIA

Countny The name of regulations Regulation Regulation rules and practical Prospective regulations,remarks

valid from- precautions.

Denmark Safety precautions when 1970 dust collecting, An inquiry is going on in the
working with asbestos and . medical examinations, Danish Parliament. Danish Factory
materials containing asbestos inapection by the local factory Inspectorate is discussing dust

. inspectors, hazards when working with asbestos
dust precautions are also materials in insulation.
controlied by the own equipment
of the work. 

Finland A Safety and Health Act 1958 dust collecting, New rules for handling asbestos
medical examinations, and materials containing asbestos
inspection by the local factory will be given by the authorities
inspectors once a year, in 1972.
the inspectors give rules

Norway The circular No.235/l962, 1962 dust collecting, New rules in preparation.
directions for preventing medical-examinations,
asbestosis. inspection by the factory

inspectors, by the State once
a year
issued rules by the circular
Sweden A Nerkers'Protection Act 1949 dust collecting A full reconstruction is going on

 

 

authorities in 1964.

 

medical examinations
inspection by the labour inspect-
are,

general rules for working with
asbestos have been given by the

 

and a new set will appear success-
ively as from 1972.

 

 .-

91" :51 



Hon-in! 1i 

Mir-ah.?







 



. 
?1



#1ng
?a 
ASBESTOS REGULATIONS IN ?a

 

Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Asbestos Dust

 

Country

5

Number of Fibres(particles) 5um per cm

Valid from

Remarks or prospective steps

 

. ?(of 

 

Denmark

Finland

Norway

Sweden

 

In principle the threshold limit values same as

those applied..inthe United Kingdom

In principle the threshold limit values same as

thosoapplielin 1970 in the USA: 12r./cm5.

200 particles/cm5(a totaltconcentration). 

The Norwegian general

have not been fixed. 3
rules refer to 200p/cm_ like TLV in the USA
at that time. 

No threshold limit values have been fixed.

Kingdom.

 

 

These limit values not revealed in the regulatiod

New limit values will be confirmed in 1972,
quite similar to the latest American values.

 

The authorities are working for new limit
valueso

New rules for handling of asbestos and products
containing asbestos are in hand.

These will contain in all likelihood limit
values similar to those now valid in Unite

 

 

 

. .3
mn?rCJu' n.

-42-

 .- it'v?rapi. 

ax.

Midi-? Bath-.4- aiani?i 



?he a . (61.9. .

. .. ..-. dei-?U ..-..

.-L n?



?at'w'n? 



CURRENT REGULATIONS IN SCANDINAVIA 



Medical Examinations Established by the Regulations

 

 

 

 

1971

 

 

 

Country Name of Regulations valid from Medical Examinations Remarks
. .
Denmark Safety precautions when work 1970 In connection with TB-examination once Suspect cases are follow-
-ing with asbestos a year by.x-ray of all employees ed up yearly or once in
X?ray findings lead to clinical exam- three years.
ination and full scale x-ray.
Finland A Safety and Health Act and 1971 Preliminary examination latest in one Minimum x?ray size:
its regulation of?medicalu month after employmentxx-ray and lung 100 100mm .
examination. function. .. -
Subsequent examinations once a year or
once in three yearSL'
Norway Directions for preventing 1962 Preliminary examination before employ- X-ray examination of
asbestosis. ment: x-ray included. suspected and exposed
Subsequent examinations once a year. persons every 5 years.
Sweden Royal Proclamation: Medical 1949 Preliminary examination within one X?ray examination and
examination to prevent and month after employment and then once lung function.
workers for certain injuries a year.

 

 

DISCUSSICR OX PAPER BY N3. A PALOMEKI, AIG,

CSA, mama.


WAV. one-burr

AIG Dan-am

m. 6.0. eon-zine
WA :2 w. 39331-er

 

Question:

Answer:

Questionl:

9?

-Answer:
'Comment:

Comment:

Question:

Answer:

- "H's .- u-r'l- Ce Ia-?L?v' 
. 1.5. .- 

FIHLAND

You say that the TLV in the Norwegian
Regulations is 200 particles per c.c.
Is this asbestos or all dust?

All dust 0

Do you have a time allowance for a
preliminary medical test?

Xes 2 montns.

In Germany it must be before employment
In Sweden one month's grace is given'
for x-ray and lung function tests on
new employees.

Who pays the cost of the examination?

The emgloyer.




. . ,x-s
"unr- I ..

 .- n. - v-u-a- 

If


BRIEF REVIEJ CF CURREHT AND PROSP7CTIVE P3 GULITIOHS IN ITALY

Sig. A. Calamandrei ,Associazione Naz. degli Industriali imiantieri

Currently in Italy the processing of asbestos is classified as harmful to
health, but there are no specific provisions establishing a dust limit in

the working environment.

The existing norms only prescribe a medical examination for the worker
before he is hired, followed by an annual check up from the I. N. A. I L.
("Instituto Nazionale per gliI Infortuni sul Lavoto" - Hational Institute
for Insurance against Labour Accidents) including x-ray examination for

every individual working in the asbestos industry.

In the event of asbestosis being diagnosed, a pension is allocated to the
individual who has contracted it, and whose working capacities have been re-
duced by over 21p. This is increased in amount as the disease increases
in severity.

Furthermore, all employees in?the asbestos industries are granted an
additional wage amounting to 70 per working hour. Moreover, the asbestos
manufacturers are responsible for paying an extraordinary insurance for



33

The great outcry about the danger of asbestos manufacturing, outside of the

present provisions and laws, began some time ago including both the mining

asbestosis which figures as 4? on the salary.

of the mineral and the manufacturing processes.

The Nazionale per la Prevenzione degli Infortuni" National
- Organisation for Accident Prevention) has been studying the problem for

some time and has drawn up a plan of norms which should regulate the matter.

'Article 6 of the said norms states:

"Defense against dust. In those lines of manufacture which normally give
rise to dust formation, the employer is held responsible for adopting suitable

measures for inhibiting as much as possible the deveIOQment and diffusion of
I

I


 v: 4 . inf-u?: -.. 

-45..

dust in the working environments and thus containing its concentration
below certain maximum levels, which - considering their harmful effects 
are to be established by decree from the Ministry of Labour and Social
welfare, prior to the approval of the Permanent Advisory Committee for
Accident Prevention and Labour Hygiene, according to article 393 of
D.P.R. April 27, 1955 - No.547."

The Ministry'of Labour, which is reaponsible for establishing the maximum
level of dust concentration in the working surroundings, has never
expressed itself in this regard.-

Ccntacts were made by our Association at Government 1evel3through the
"Istituto Superiore di sanita?(Higher Institute of Health).

The results of these exchanges showed that the problem is not properly
represented and that much more importance is being given to rumours and
minor events which have been blown out of proportion often?by economic and
conventional reasons rather than actual facts, studied and documented by

competent persons.

. . 4M3
. in"; .5


an.



.. .-.. --
. new! ehi?imn- xi :53.

 . n-g'wajwm! . . I Liam; momma?; ?122 v?t. swim-51A ?(him amoeba-.53

i:

DISCUSSICH ON PAPER BY SIG. A. CALANAHDREI, ANIA, 

I'm I JCLEIS EN
AI 

DR.W.J. SHITHER

anc, UK

My

Answer:

Question:

.92.

Answer:

Question:

am



I understand that you have to pa?
additional compensation to ever?
warmer if any asbestos comes into the
establishment.

Yes.

Do you use local Chr?sotile Asbestos?
YES. We also use Crocidolite but

the regulations do not differentiate
oh this. 

How many post mortem results on
workers'mortality are available?

Not many - say 

.eae

urn-M3115-?uahm mace-Awaiz?mnnm; 

-43. .

ION FOR 2-3. EA 1-113

REVIEW OF CUFREITT PROSPECTIVE REGULATIONS - U.S .A. 

How may I introduce Mr. Raines; who has come a-very'long way to be here.

I am especially glad that he is present because the situation which his
Association faces is extraordinarily difficult, probably bore so than in
any other country. It goes without saying that the pattern of legislation
in U.S.A. is certain to have a profound effect throughout the world. We

shall all listen to Bill Raines' account of current events with the greatest
interest.






- ra-mw 3.51.: 

1'3.

BRIEF or AND recesses aanLiTIens - USA
Mr. u.P. Raines. 

I. Brief comment on overlapping jurisdictions of federal, state and

municipal governments.

II. Protecting the Worker
A. ?ederal Government .
1. Occupational Safety and Health Act.
a. General provisions vis a vis asbestos.

b. Present threshold limit value of 12 fibres per
cubic centimetre.

c. Labour Union/Selikoff pressures to lower TLV to
2 fibres.

d. Preopective move to 5 fibres level.
e. Union/Selikoff pressures for "emergency standard" of
.2 fibres.
2. National Institutes for Occupational Safety a 
a. Emergency studies on asbestos and fibre glass.

b. Investigation of "epidemic" of mesothelioma among
workers in Hanville, New Jersey area.

b. State Government
Protecting the ceuetel Public
A. Federal Government
1. .Clean Air Act

a. Asbestos declared "hazardous substance" by Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA)

rues
.X-


s3

I .

b. Asbestos emissions standards
i. Development
ii. General Content
'next Steps
c. Studies of asbestos in brake linings and in asbestos/
asphalt paving.
d. Studies to develop ambient air measurement techniques
e. Probable future revision of asbestos emissions standards
based on numerical limits
C7
eJ

2)


1 

5.



- 

-50-

Water Pollution Control Act

 

Is. In by Muskie and backed by Nixon.

b. Possible effects on asbestos.
c. Present action under 1899 law.

Toxic Substances Control Act
a. In Congress - probably stalled until 1972
b. Possible effects on asbestos

d. Crocidolite "rumour".

State Governments 

l.

2.

Ban on Spraving Asbestos Fireproofing:_
5
'New'York

Illinois Proposed Regulations

a. Illinois Pollution Control Board

b. General content of proposed regulations - especially
ban on asbestos in brake linings.

c. Hearings and testimony.
a. Outlook
e. Other states watching closely.

6

Municipal Governments

1.



5.

Ban on Asbestos Spraying:
:Eew York City
lBoston
Pbiladelphia
Chicago f;





Control of Asbestos Spraying:

San Francisco

Interest in Banning Asbestos in Brake Linings:
New York City.

 

DISCUSSION ON PAPER BY MR. W.F.

ma. .-ILLS
.43ch

HERB 50?.me ., .
WAY GERIZAI-IY 

MR. F. HOE-E
?10,131:

H. ROBERT 
CSA, Fame

ii'ula?us'am Jam .-

.H . . av"-

-51-

Comment:

Answer:

Question 1:

Answer:

Question 2:

Answer:

Question:

Answer:

Question:

Answer:

am: as, USA

You suggested in your paper that the
US Asbestos Industry would agree to
a 5 fibres per c.c. maximum TLV.

The 5 fibre figure was agreed as a
reasonable level by engineering and
medical authorities and by the Govern?
ment Levels Committee. Remember that
the Unions are pressing in the US for
a level of 2 fibres per c.c. There is
also an allowance for peaks of 10 fibre

Is the Illinois ban in effect, or is
it in preparation?

I have just heard that asbestos in
brake linings has not been banned but
spray has.

Are States' rights superior to City,
and so on? 

A tate can go further than the
Federal Authority and a City can go
further than the State.

Is legislation against water pollution
likely to affect asbestos cement water
pipes?

No, the legislation applies to waste
disposal, bp?th would not guarantee

anything. . 'd Selikoff at present

maintains that asbestos cement pipes
are safe. f'

How has the US friction materials
industry reacted to the Illinois
situation? Can it rely on substitutes?

Originally it looked like nonsense, but
now alternatives appear to be possible.
We do not know what the Automobile
industry said to the Board. General
Motors resisted the Board but would

not testify.

. .. - . . . . .. . . - . 
. -- 

-52-

ATTACKB ON ASBESTOS

The substance of the papers dealing with Attacks on Asbestos and the
defence of their positions by industries concerned in various countries

have been covered by the summaries of these papers circulated before the
Conference.

In discussions at t? Conference additional points were made and these
are appended. - *9 

We have in addition included the summary of the paper given by Mr. W.P. Raines
On the situation in the USA and Mr. W.P. Howard's paper on action taken
in the United Kingdom.

 

.5).

ACTION TAKEN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO DEFEND ASBESTOS

Hr. w.P. Howard, Secretary,isbestos Information Committee U3

At the last European Conference two years ago we explained what the
Asbestos Information Committee was, why it had been formed and the kind of
things we do. I do not propose to go over old ground or to repeat the
points which were made on that occasion. What I would like to do for the
most of this talk is to describe some of the things we have done in the
past two years since we last met, during which time we have been operating

'5

against the background pr new Asbestos Regulations.

In conclusion I shall outline the way in which our working arrangements

have developed.
What have we done?

We have been engaged in two kindsof activity. First of all positive work,
constructive work stressing the virtues and advantages of asbestos, and
secondly defensive work which has consisted largely of correcting the
false impressions left in people's minds by misleading accounts of the
asbestos/health issueFirst then - the positive action. J'g;

I.
Let us start with our advertising campaigns.

This advertisement comes from our 1970 campaign. The theme we adOpted was
"where would we be without asbestos" and the three advertisements for this
series dealt respectively with safety at sea, the safety of buildings, and
safety on the road. They appeared in the more serious and authoritative

newspapers like the Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times

 . - ?vallv." .-.. . -- 
. a .. - - (??i-xr?in?x?hwi

-54-

The Guardian and Scotsman as well as in some key magazines and technical
media - New Society, Management Today, New Scientist, Engineering, Engineer,
Building, Architects Journal and Shipbuilding. At the same time we put

in the journals read by industrial safety officers an advertisement which
explained that advice on the practical aspects of the new Asbestos Regulations
was available in a whole range of literature from the Asbestosis Resc 
Council. It also encouraged safety officers with particular problems to get
in touch with the Council direct.

At the present time British papers are carrying our 1971 campaign. This

is our fourth annual campaign;k Its theme is "asbestos - it's a natural".
In English this is a clever play upon words. You must take my word for that.
Again we are dealing with safe braking, with fire protection and with safety
at sea. We are using the same range of opinion-forming newspapers and
magazines and technical media as before. We think that this particular

-advertisement, which deals with safety at sea,i$z1particularly effective

one because it underlines the isolation of a people at sea, and hence

the importance of using materials in ship construction which resist fire.

Our next pesitive step was the production of the film "Why Asbestos?"
which you have all seen. This has been a very successful venture. 86
separate copies have been sold with an English commentary, 52 in the
United.Kingdom and 34 overseas. We have plans as you know for German and
French versions which the German and French asbestos industries are now
discussing. It may interest you to know that 12 copies: have been placed
in film libraries in this country and that as a result people

have already seen the film . When one adds to these 12 copies the
audiences that must have seen the other 40 copies circulating in this
country, you can imagine the impact. The audiences that have seen the
film include technical colleges, universities and schools, safety officers
and professional people like architects and engineers, as well of course as
customers of the industry. For the benefit of lay viewers, like school
children, we produced for distribution at film showings,a leaflet entitled
"Why Asbestos?" We also find this booklet useful to send through the post
to general enquirers and produced, in order to stimulate interest in showings
of the film, a small 4-page leaflet which describes the film and gives

various technical details about it. 



. 
.M



-55-
Only this week we have started shooting a new film, dealing with the
subject of fire protection. It will be called ?Fire at Work" and is
being sponsored by the Asbestos Information Committee and two companies
which have a special interest in fire protection; one of them a manufacturer
of fire extinguishers and the other of ventilation equipment. The
film will cover the use of asbestos to control fire. It will show the
use of fire protective clothing, asbestos fire blankets and the protective
use of asbestos building materials. The commentary has been written in
collaboration with the Fire Protection Association. This new film will be
ready in the New Year and copies will be available to you, if you would
like to buy them. I



'c


Another field for positive action has been in the editorial columns of the
press. We have produced, in conjunction with the Press Association, a
feature article which explains how asbestos is used to save life. This
_article has already appeared in 17 newsPapers throughout Britain, though
each newspaper has treated it in its own way. We have cleared world
copyright of this article in case any of you wish to make similar use of it.
We have also taken the opportunity to encourage articles like this one

in the Leicester Mercury "What would we do without asbestos?". We have
given considerable publicity to the publication of the Asbestosis Research

Council's Control and Safety Guides and we are currently working with the

Financial Times in the production of a special survey on asbestos. This
will occupy at least fourgpages of the newspaper and will resemble an

a

earlier survey we arranged in the Times. $?vg

Now for some of our defensive steps. 
Those have been aimed at putting the health situation into perspective
wherever it is publicity misrepresented. We have had to do this wow? in
the context of the new Asbestos Regulations and also against the ?ad
of a continual series of references in newspapers to inquests 0'

who have died of asbestos diseases. This map gives an indie

extent of these adverse references. Every dot on it repre

reference to a coroner's report in a local newSpaper.

-55-

A basic activity has been to produce an armoury of literature which

deals with some of the recurrent criticisms and questions which we have

been subjected. You know the booklet entitled "Asbestos - Safety and
Control"; we have just produced the third edition of it. It has been
very helpful to sales representatives and industry managers in giving them an
.authoritative point of view to put across in the face of ill-founded

anxieties.

We have also produced a new edition of our leaflet entitled "Asbestos -
Public not at Risk". This deals with some of the more general criticisms
which are levelled against the Asbestos Industry for polluting the
environment. %k 

Next a booklet on a particular point which is involved in these environmental
arguments. "Asbestos bodies - their signficance". This leaflet explains
the difference between asbestos and ferruginous bodies and the importance of
being quite sure that the bodies found in the lungs of many city dwellers

really do contain asbestos and not some other mineral..

To ensure that our own representatives and our customers do not overlook the
availability of literature on particular subjects, we have set out all the
important pamphlets together in an order form, which is easy to_complete
and easy for our officesito deal with.



Literature is very valuable for a number of reasons. First it ensures that
the arguments which different members of the Industry use are consistent.
Secondly, literature covers the main points of our argument comprehensively
- nothing important is left out. Thirdly, literature just because it has
been properly produced and printed carries an authority which a letter

or the spoken word somehow does not seem to enjoy.

This does not mean of course that we have not bothered to use the spoken
word. . 0n the contrary, we have been quite active on this front. We have
formed an AIC Speakers Panel whose members have now addressed 70 different
groups of safety officers. These safety officers are people on whose
'advice our customers often rely for detailed explanation of the Asbestos

Regulations. We have addressed some 80$ of the safety officers in the




-57-

country on the practical steps which can be taken to continue the use of

asbestos products but in such a way that workers use them safely.

These posters are freely available to any asbestos user who wants to educate

his workers in safe practices.

We have in this field also continued to give television training to senior
directors in the industry. Training a man for television, under realistic
studio conditions, gives him very much more confidence to project what he
has to say. This precaution has paid off as you will see from the clip
which we are now going to show you from a BBC television programme which was

screened last year.

A year ago we came to the conclusion that the market for solid preformed
insulation products was largely lost for asbestos. Naturally we did not
want the same thing to happen with building materials generally, and so
with the marketing managers ?t our building material companies we formed

a building materials study_group to see what positive steps could be

taken to make sure that architects and builders did not suffer from any
misunderstanding of the facts surrounding the use of asbestos. we produced
two publications as a result of our discussion. The fi?qgswas a simple
card which explained that buildings which incorporated asbestos were
perfectly safe from the point of view of the occupants, ghether these were
schoolchildren, hospital patients, or office workers. On the back of

this card we showed in graphic form the levels of dust count which were
considered safe for employees of the asbestos industry and demonstrated that
even the highest dust count which had been experienced in buildings
incorporating asbestos were a long way below the level which would be con-
sidered acceptable for a worker engaged in the industry over a 50 year
period. We also produced for architects a leaflet entitled "Asbestos and
Health in Perspective". -

 . .. . 
. .. . . . 3' 

-53-

We have encouraged over the years people with enquiries on asbestos or

on asbestos and health to telephone or write to our London office, which
is in the offices of our public relations consultants, Hill Knowlton.

In the last two years alone we have answered over 1,000 such enquiries.
Some we have been able to deal with by sending them the appropriate
?literature, to others we have written let ers dealing with specific points,
others we have passed over to the Environmental Control Committee of the_

Asbestosis Research Council.

Yet in spite of all thrwork we have done, and it has been considerable, we
remain under attack. Anfew months ago we had another onslaught on a
television programme, this timenounted by one of the commercial television
companies, and directed by the same young man who directed a similar TV

programme for the BBC, the one you saw two years ago.

We have also seen the publication, as you have, of "The Doomsday Book"
which contains some very misleading pages on asbestos. We produced a
long critique on this book, sent it both to the author and to the publishers,
unfortunately without receiving from either a satisfactory answer to the
points which we have raised. However when some of the distortions from
"The Doomsday Book" were repeated in newspapers and. magazines our letters
to the editors have put the record straight. I

g- t5: 3* .
The rebuttal of press criticism has in fact continued 
part of our work. at least once a month we find that same newspapers or
magazines is saying foolish and misleading things about asbestos products:
for example, that the home handyman is at risk from the use of asbestos
cement sheet, or that the whole community is in danger because drinking
water has been delivered via asbestos?cement water pipes, or that we are all
at risk because millions of vehicles use asbestos in their brake linings, or
because tens of thousands of buildings use asbestos in their construction.
These attacks are by far the most dangerous. We know that there is no medical
risk from the use of asbestos products. On the contrary, they are used
to protect the public from fire or from road accidents and so on. It seems
to us essential that this particular lie is nailed whenever it appears.
one result of the many comments that have been made on the pollution of the

"v

- 1-. . 

31? Mr {amt-fr; in?" 

-59-

- I
9

environment by asbestos has been that we have thought it sensible to

Join the National Society for Clean Air. We have nominated a representative
to sit on the Council so that we shall be in a position to challenge at
source any misleading comments which look as if they may be emanating from
this source and also to suggest a proper line to take should the subject

be raised as a possible matter for a paper at a conference or for

representations to Government.

I should like to conclude by pointing four morals which emerge from our
experience over the past four,years with this kind of work. The first is
that it takes up time and it takes up staff. We, as you know, retain
public relations consultants and I want to emphasise that this is of consider-
able value, but you must not think that the role of a consultant is to save
you doing the work. If you have a consultant, part of his role is to
stimulate you into doing the kind of things which have to be done and this
will certainly mean that you spend very much more time and deploy more staff
on handling the information problems surrounding asbestos than you would
without a consultant. This has certainly been our experience. It is also
of course useful to have independent advice from a consultant, who sees

problems more from the publich point of view than we do ourselves.

Secondly, we have found it convenient to allocate the prime responsibility
for particular sectors of wolrk to particular officers of our member companies.
One company, for example,- looks after the advertising, andther coordinates
literature and film making and draft letters to editors, angther looks after

exhibition work, displays and posters, and so on. 

Thirdly, we have come to the conclusion that it is no good relying simply

on being on the defensive. It is necessary to propagate the value of asbestos
in a very positive way and this means not only spending time and making staff
available, but spending money: on advertising, on film and on literature.

We cannot expect people to make a fair assessment of the value of asbestos in
relation to the difficulties that attend its use if they have not been told
that it is valuable, and why it is valuable.

-- -. . .--.-- v-urs - .. . -. .

-60-

We have only ourselves to blame if we have not projected those advantages

to the kind of peeple who are making the important decisions.

Finally, a point that differs from the views that some of you have expressed,
we must project the game positive message in each of our reapective countries.
This is because the problem is becoming more and more an international one.
Science knows no frontiers nor do modern media of communications. ?The
Doomsday Book" was a good erample.of a publication which was first produced
in America but has since appeared in many languages in all our countries
and has done us some damage in all of them. lhe book contained many of the
false, invalid argumentsifor the belief that asbestos serieusly pollutes

the urban environment. These are arguments that we'mggt challenge whenever
and wherever they appear. We saw yesterday how our Arerican friends defeated
a ban on asbestos in brake linings. The stand made by one's country's

asbestos industry must be.supported by the others.

Fortunately, we have a good case. Asbestos is unique. It does save lives.
It does prevent the worst results of fire. Provided we make sure that
other people know this we may be confident in the future of our industry.

I.

-61-

BRIEF ?EVlai OP ATTACKS OH ASBESTOS AND OUR DEFENSE

. W.P. Raines, Secretary 

Attacks

A.

E.

Labour Unions Selikoff OSHA
1. Pressure for ?amergency standard"

Labour Unions - Selikoff - American Cancer Society



1. Major epidemiological study
2. Large funding 
5. A.C.S. ability to gain attention

Labour Unions Selikoff and Local Agitation.

1. Nanville, New Jersey
2. Waukegan, Illinois

3. Toronto, Canada 

Gastrointestinal Cancer

a!

. . .
fr?

1. "Natures" article and Canadian scientists.



2. Selikoff's position - no risk from ingestion

Selikoff and Predictions of "Epidemics"

1. World War II Shipyard Workers and Mesothelioma

2. Patterson, New Jersey Amosite Plant and "Neighbourhood"
dangers.

Selikoff and Other"Threats" to General Public
1. Women's Coats from Italy 

2. Anti?freeze
3. Talc

(J ..

4. School children and modelling compounds

II.

-62-

a, Press - Radio Television Interest

1. CBC-TVfCanada)
2. New York City Channel 15
3. HEN YORKER Magazine and Paul Brodeur

4. BUSINESS WEEK Magazine
5. Newspapers
6 0 Radio

H. Customer Alarm


a} 

I. Raloh Nader.

J. Further Government Action
(Previously Discussed)

Defenses

A. Work with Federal, State and Municipal Government Officials

at

1. Federal EPA
2.. Federal Department of Labor

 

5. NIOSH a? a
4. Congress_ 14??
5. State Governments a
I
B. Present Testimony at Imoortant Hearings
1. Federal EPA
2. Key States
0. Strengthen :5

 

1. Add new members?

2. Internal seminars ?15





. ..



?895": 5-331sz a (.1 

s63?
Preoare Literature

1. Supervisors
2. Salesman

5. Customers
4. Others

Seek More Effective Ways to Get Objective Treatment by Press. TV
1. Spokesmen

2. Prepared TV Clips

3. Rebutim -

Publicise Favourable Information

1. McDonald Study, etc.

2. Results of Industry Tests on Products Wear, Emissions

5. Essential uses of asbestos


I



-54-

POINTS F303 DISCUSSIONS FOLLOHIKG PRPERS 0N ATTACKS AND DEFENSES

as. cars a


1-H . 
FINLAND

M. ROBERT JOIN
FRANCE

OGSTERWIJK
HOLLAND

as. A.A.CROSS


15%. W. 
DERMABK

Question:

Answer:
Comment;
Comment:

Saws

Comment:

I

Could I ask what the situation is
in Finland?

Shipbuilders are using asbestos,
but are waiting for the availability
of substitiutes.

Referred to the construction of a
car ferry in a French yard in which
the use of asbestos was banned.

Referred to a car ferry built in a
Netherlands shipyard for Townsend,
in which asbestos Spray was specified.

We should clarify what precisely we

mean when we say insulation. In the

UK this means thermal insulation and

not cabin boards.- Dr.Grut, of the
Danish Inspectorate, gave the impression
in Helsinki that while there were

- substitutes for asbestos in thermal

insulation there were no substitutes
yet for asbestos based cabin boards.
Dr. Grut has also registered that he

?was impressed by the performance of

dust suppressed cloths.

There was often confusion between
asbestos cement sheets and cabin
boards, The edgea1grinding" effect
was believed to'? Tate dust and this
was the reason fo-Ethe ban on asbestos

cabin boards in some areas.
I .

 L. - - . . r. citl-\" . - 
A . .. o: e- 

-55-

FINAL COI-EEIT AND 

Hr. H.F. Howe, Conference Chairman

I shall not attempt any detailed summing up. It would be impossible to

summarise 1% days of discussions in a few'minutes. If I may, I propose

instead to express my main thoughts after listening to all the Conference
discussions. 

1. Wide Range of Experiences 

a I-

A very wide range of.situations clearly-exists.' At one extreme there
is a relatively tranquil situation in countries such as Belgium, Italy,
Germany and France. At the other end, we have the embattled situations
is U.S.A. and in Britain. The other countries represented fall some-
where between these two extremes.

2. Tranquillity snag nonfat-off.

Listening to the growing problems facing the asbestos industries in
America, Denmark - and, of course, Britain - I believe that
sooner or later the?tempo will increase in all areas. In my opinion,
it will be sooner rather than later. I would earn??kly counsel all of
you to prepare ?23 for greater Government interest and intervention,
and for much stronger publicity attacks. You willffind, as we and our

American colleagues have found that time is not on your side.

3. Regulations.

As to future Government Regulations, it goes without saying that if
you, through your asbestos origanisations, can participate in the
preparation of those Regulations that is highly desirable. If you
cannot participate directly, the next best thing is to ensure the

opportunity to comment freely on the draft Regulations at an early

5.

component companies of the A.R.-.-- 1' .. - 
"i I.. -.Fstage. We in the U.K. were uniquely fortunate in having an active
and reputable body like the A.R.C. in existence when the Regulations
were in contemplation. Without the A.R.C., and remember this is an
industry?created body, the British Regulations would have been far more
severe. That is a point which you should all contemplate when
deciding the future direction of your various asbestos organisations
and here may I refer to the offer of a assistance made last night
by Mr. Hardie. That offer is made also by BEA, Cape and the other

Information Matters 

.k?l

As to information matters, here also I am convinced that, where calm
now prevails, it may not prevail for much longer. The attacks may

originate (and quite suddenly) from medical journalists or medical

?experts in your own countries, or they may spring from the writings

and statements of men outside like Dr. Selikoff and Rattray-Taylor or
could be inspired by Trade Unions. The attacks may be directed
at selected products like asbestos spray or insulation, or
they may be directed at asbestos-usage as a whole. In my opinion,
they will relate to environmental fears to a growing extent.

Look to Your Defencesl?a

4,5; 
4:
I would urge you all to look to your defences now. For'example -



a. Kaye you the right sort of organisation to deal with the coming
attacks? {The New York T.V. film has shown how strong, how unfair
and how damaging they can be.)

b. Have you an action committee and will it have adequate responsibility

and resources, both financial and of technical-medical character?

0. Will your committee be ready to meet attacks at all points, whether
the points be asbestos cement, asbestos textiles, asbestos insulation,
brake linings? (It must be apparent that no asbestos usage can be

regarded as safe from attack).

 

-67-

154'.

d. Very important, have you selected a_Bill Raines or a
Wilfred Howard as your secretary?cum?spokesman and is he

properly trained in this task?

e. Have you contact with Public Relations Consultants who can give
you sound P.R. advice and have they knowledge of the extent of

your likely problems - both occupational and environmental?

f. Have you suitable literature(perhaps like "Asbestos - Safety and

Control") ready for when it is needed?
. 



None of this is cheap, either in terms of money or of executive time,

but I believe that it is indispensable. And please remember that the
A.R.C. and the A.I.C. either as bodies or through the component companies
are ready to help with advice and information in any way and at any time.

 

6. "Sleeping Dogs"
Please do not think that I am being critical of what your organisations
have done so far. Theamaxim "let-sleeping dogs lie" has a good
deal in its favour when the tempo is slow and public and press interest
is light. But sleeping dogs wake up suddenly and use their voices and
their teeth. And when they are awake they will notapleep again! That
is a lesson which we .have learned in Britain and I a?gsure the 
has learned in U. S. A. We have learned the painful?way and perhaps
we can save you some pain. You must prepare in advance.

CONCLUSION

Now to my concluding remarks. I certainly hope that you feel, as I feel,
that our Conference has been full of interest and well If

that is the generally held view you may well feel that a second Int ernetional

Conference should take place at some time in the future perhaps in 18

months or 2 years' time. I should welcome views about this after you return

- - i. .. .- .. 1 .-.. -.. '5 . - (1-. 0). 
- .-.- . .-- 5: L1- -A. - . .

-68?

home. If there is support for another Conference we in the A.I.C.
will be happy to take the initiative again, whether or not it should
be held in Britain. If we hold a second Conference, I have an uneasy
feeling that more than 11 conntries will want to be reperesented!

In the meantime, I hope and believe the close friendships forged in
those two days will haelp all,of'ns. On behalf of the A.I.C. and the
A.R.C. may I again repeat.our wish to help you in any way that we can.

?5



.. 1- 

Long.



 - r!

-. ..-. ..- - .--.-. 

. . .- [tunic .- ?gar-.1151?er -. 

AFFEWDIX

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 0F
AS ESTOS BODIES
24TH AND 25TE NOVEEBER 1971

 

List of Delegates

UOSIA.

 

Hr. W.P. Raines Johns?Menville Corporation,
22 East 40th Street,
New Ybrk,
N.Y. 10016 

GERKANY

Dr. C. Pernbach Frenzelit Asbestwerke
G.m.b.H. Co. KG.,
Zweigwerk Frankfurter
Asbestuerke, .
6000 Frankfurt am Main,
2.

Mr. H. Mehling Textar 
5090 Leverkusen,
Postfach 544

Dr. H. Meyer - Deutsche Kap-Asbestwerke A.G.,
. 2050 Hamburg .
Postfach 80

Mr. G.C. Schmidt Asbest 
6 Frar?cfurt/Ma??fl? 50,
I-Ierbachweg 59 a;

Mr. H. Askevold Jurid Werke 
- 2057 Reinbek,
. Postfach 6.

Mr. Dieter Merkel Martin Merkel KG.,
2102 HenburgAWilhelmsburg,
Postfach 930280.

Mr. Kenning Schaefter Eternit A.G.,
Postfach 100,
1 Berlin 11.

?4 Mr. G. Engelnenn Eternit 
Reuse.

Mr. R. - Eternit A.G., 
Postfach 100 :23
1 Berlin 11 

 1-.t.r . 

-2-
ITALY 
Mr. A. Salamandrei Associazione Hazionale degli
Industriali Amiantieri,
c/o-Societa Italiana per
l'Amianto,
10096 Leumann,
Turin.
FRANCE
Mr. 0.x. Latty Beldam Latty S.A.,
82 rue St. Lazare,
Paris, 9e.
Mr. R. Join Chambre Syndicale de l'Amiante,
10, rue de la P?pini?re,
Paris, _8e.
Mr. P. Conas g9 . S.A. Frangaise an Ferodo,
64, avenue de la Grande Armee,
Paris, 176.
Mr. G. Flouest Manufacture de joints ?miante
et Caoutchouc,
Viry?Chatillon.
Mr. G. Hahut Ev?ritube S.A.,
- 24 rue de Prony,
Paris 17a.
Dr. J. Avril S.A. Frangaise du Ferodo,
64 avenue'de la Grande Arm?e,
Paris 17e.
DENMARK
Mr. N. Johnsen aff' Dansk Eternitqgabrik 
DK-9100 
FINLAND )5
Hr. Azitti Palomaki Paraisten Kama 0y,
. . Hinerityksikkb
Muijala.
NORNAY
.4 Mr. L. Knutsen Norak Eternit Fabrikk,
3470 Slemmestad.
SWEDEN
-4 Mr. Aka ansson Skandinaviska E?ernit 
Box 43, 
3-234 00 Lemma. 



HOLLAND

Mr. J. fen Haagen

Mr. A.R. Kolff van
Oosterwijk

BELGIUM

 

Dr. J. Lepoutre

Mr. A. Eyben

UNITED KINGDOM

Mr. M.F. Howe

Dr. S. Holmes

Dr. W.J. Smither

Mr. A.A. Cross

Mr. W.P. Howard

Mr. D. Wright

N. Eternit, 1
Nieuwe 20/22,
Amsterdam, C.

Hertel Holding N.V.,
Postbox 3026,
49,
Amsterdam, N.

Eternit S.A..
Kspelle-op-den-Bos,

Malines.

Eternit S. A.
Kspelle-op-den?Bos,
Malines. 

Asbestos Information Committee,
Faulkner House,

Faulkner Street,

Manchester

M1 4DX.

Asbestosis Research Council.
P. 0. Box 40,

Rochdele,

Lanes.

596 Rainham Road South,

Degenham,
Essex.

Asbestosis Ressar Council,

Environmental ,rol Committee,
114, Park Street,

London, 

4A3.

Asbestos Information Committee,
77/79 Fountain Street,
Manchester,

M2 ZEA.

Asbestos Information Committee,
c/o Scendurs Ltd.,

P. O. Box 18,

Cleokheaton,

Yorkshire.

 



3.3). Grieve

Mr. A. Masterton-Smith

Mr. D.F. Brady



. max. 2.1-: . rm: Mk: ?2.24:2 e453,; 

Asbestos Information Committee,
c/o Central Asbestos Co. Ltd.,
Central House,

Thomas Road,

London, 3.14.

Asbestos Information Committee,
10 Wardour Street,

London,

HIV BEG.

BEA Group Limited.
P.O. Box 20, 5
Cleokheaton,
Yorkshire.