John H. Marsh to Raybestos-Manhattan Environmental Affairs Coordinators on the Asbestos International Association London Meetings (1978)

A one-page memo of May 8, 1978, from John H. Marsh, Raybestos-Manhattan's director of environmental affairs, to the company's environmental affairs coordinators (among them Dr. H. C. Lewinsohn), with a five-page report of the Asbestos International Association's Executive Committee and Governing Council meetings in London on April 19 to 21. Marsh wrote that the international association was "taking an increasingly active role in lobbying on behalf of the international asbestos industry," and that its medical advisor, Dr. Robert Murray, was reviewing scientific data "for the purpose of preparing a scientific paper to support the industry position that asbestos can be handled safely." The report records Mr. Latty's view that European manufacturers should set up a labeling scheme quickly "to preempt the imposition of extremely negative labeling requirements, i.e., skull and crossbones, by the EEC" (the European Economic Community).

What it shows

The report shows the worldwide industry coordinating its lobbying, medical research and dust-measurement work. Dr. Robock, head of the dust measurement panel, noted that estimates of past exposure varied widely: "Dr. Selikoff estimates past exposures in the range of 10 to 15 fibers/cc whereas U.K. experts estimate past exposures in the range of 500 to 2000 fibers/cc." The report also notes Quebec's Bill 70, which would set up a Bureau de l'Amiante and buy stock in Asbestos Corporation, and the industry's "great concern" that the New York Academy of Sciences conference planned for June had failed to consult industry scientists.

In Johns-Manville's index

Johns-Manville's legal department indexed the Motley 1,000 in 1984. Its index describes this document as follows:

J.H. Marsh memo to Environmental Affairs Coordinators (R-M), 5/8/78, entitled "Report of Meetings of Asbestos International Association Executive Committee and Governing Council, London - 4/19-21/78." Marsh states that the A.Int.A. is taking an increasingly active role in lobbying on behalf of the international asbestos industry. The activities relating to medical research and dust measurement methods are of particular relevance to members of the U.S. industry. Dr. Robert Murray (Medical Advisor to the A.Int.A.) is reviewing published and unpublished scientific data for the purpose of preparing a scientific paper to support the industry position that asbestos can be handled safely. Dr. Klaus Robeck (Chairman of the A.Int.A. Dust Measurement and Monitoring Panel) is working on the establishment of an internationally accepted standardized measurement method and, in cooperation with Dr. Murray, to relate past exposures to incidence of disease. Marsh attaches A.Int.A. Meeting Minutes, 4/19-21/78 - Executive Committee and Governing Council. At this meeting Mr. Latty submits a report in which he states that it is "extremely important that European asbestos products manufacturers establish a labelling scheme as promptly as possible in order to preempt the imposition of extremely negative labelling requirements, i.e., skull and crossbones, by the EEC." He points out that the U.K. industry has been successful with its labelling scheme, which was implemented about a year ago.

About this copy

This is document 734 of the Motley 1,000, from the set the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust's records facility certified as true copies, pages CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-003169 to CRMC-Motley1000-Subj-003174.