W. C. Streib to H. R. Keefe on Wording the Talc Caution Label (1974)

A one-page memo of June 14, 1974, from W. C. Streib of J-M's research and development center to H. R. Keefe, copied to Dr. Paul Kotin, W. B. Reitze, R. B. Von Wald and others, on the caution label for talc. Since Von Wald advised that the label need not state how much tremolite the talc contained, Streib suggested it say only: "This commercial talc product may contain fibrous tremolite, which has been classified by OSHA as an asbestiform mineral."

What it shows

Streib wrote that the percentage of fibrous tremolite in J-M's talc grades varied "very widely," and that J-M's method of measuring it "leaves a lot to be desired and can be seriously challenged by anyone who wishes to do so." He thought a label noting only the presence of tremolite would have "no greater effect on the merchandising of the product" than one giving the estimated percentage. Four days later J-M counsel G. E. Parker told managers that further delay in labeling talc was "not defensible" (Parker memo).

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

W.C. Streib writes a memorandum to H.R. Keefe on 6/14/74, regarding talc warning label. As a result of Von Wald's opinion that it is not necessary to identify the quantity of tremolitic fibers in talc to meet the governmental and legal requirement of Manville's cautionary labels, Streib recommends that the cautionary label merely state: "This commercial talc product may contain fibrous tremolite, which has been classified by OSHA as an asbestiform mineral." Memorandum discusses the effect of labeling on merchandising of the product.