August 8, 1956
"The asbestos dust in the [vermiculite] dust in the air is of
considerable toxicity....The asbestos fibers ... stimulate the
formation of a diffuse fibrosis... As the fibrosis increases, the
reduction in lung area causes a serious decrease in lung capacity,
or difficulty in breathing." Montana State Board
of Health Report On Industrial Hygiene Study of Zonolite Plant in
Libby, Montana. The State advised management to reduce the high
concentrations of asbestos dust in dry mill where the vermiculite
ore was processed.
July 20, 1959
Results of Chest X-Ray Examinations of 130 Zonolite mill/mine
workers: Number with normal chests -- 82 Number with abnormal
chests -- 48 (36%)
May 11, 1964
"A study was made of the dry mill of the Zonolite Mill at
Libby to determine if compliance with previous recommendations
regarding dust control has been achieved...The rafters were heavily
loaded with dust. High dust count concentrations were due to dust
falling off the rafters....'Asbestos exposure in industry will
not be limited to the craft that utilizes the material. The
floating fibers do not respect job classifications...' There is
some serious potential of the development of disease if [the
asbestos dust] is not properly controlled."
Montana Division of Disease Control to Zonolite Company,
advising the company to implement housecleaning measures, fans,
ventilation, and design changes at the plant to reduce the asbestos
dust hazard.
January 2, 1965
"Regarding review of inspection reports from Montana State
Board of Health: In going over these reports, I can only say that
it presents a very sorry record." Internal
Memorandum, Zonolite Headquarters to Libby Plant.
January 13, 1965
"There may be a long term problem with some of our employees
at Libby....Asbestos has a known record for
harmfulness." Grace Inter Office Memorandum
January 5, 1968
"Threshold Limit Values for asbestos should be used as guides
in the control of health hazards and should not be regarded as fine
lines between safe and dangerous concentrations.
Internal Memorandum regarding Dust Controls.
March 11, 1969
"I think it would be well at this time, with the advice of
counsel, to consider applying a warning label on all containers of
products containing vermiculite. This may aid in our defense of
products liability claims." Internal
Memorandum
July 24, 1969
"The dust problem [at the Libby Plant] is particularly serious
since the vermiculite ore from Libby contains tremolite asbestos.
... Tremolite asbestos is a definite health hazard
...." Confidential Internal Report to Peter
Grace
November 14, 1969
"The potential problem with Mono Kote (fireproofing] is at the
plaster mixer. There is sufficient asbestos in Mono Kote to be
harmful to mixer men." W.R. Grace Memo to Branch
Managers
November 28, 1969
"Dr. Irving Selikoff, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, spoke at
the CPLIA
Convention ... He leveled very serious charges about the
definite danger created by the use of sprayed fiber fireproofing.
He outlined the medical facts about Asbestosis, lung cancer and a
rare cancer of the chest wall and lining of the stomach among
asbestos workers. Since it takes 15 to 20 years to kill, the danger
has been hidden until now. He then turned to sprayed fiber
fireproofing in New York, showing the unchecked "snow"
throughout the downtown area. Special note was made of the World
Trade Center. Selikoff stated they estimate 100 tons of fiber will
be airborne in New York from this job. He closed by stating the
work practice was the worst he could imagine and from his
observations not one man spraying fiber today would be alive in 20
years. The officials of the international unions were there along
with contractors and I know it landed like a bomb."
June 1, 1970
"Stay unscrupulous, unethical, mean and selling Mono
Kote" W.R. Grace Letter to Regional Monokote
Salesmen.
October 23, 1991
On
October 23, 1991 in Dallas, Texas, Roger Worthington took the
deposition of 70 year old Robert Junker. Mr. Junker, was a 31 year
manager, plant manager and plant supervisor for the Zonolite
Company/Texas Vermiculite/W.R. Grace plant in Dallas.
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Mr. Worthington:
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Were there residential homes surrounding the plant?
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Mr. Junker:
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Yeah. Some little Mexican homes, you know, with
outhouses, that type of home.
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Mr. Worthington:
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Did any of the people living around the plant ever complain
to you or anyone else about dust levels coming from the
plant?
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Mr. Junker:
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Yeah.
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Mr. Worthington:
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Prior to 1973, Mr. Junker, did you ever specifically advise
any of the employees at the plant to avoid asbestos dust?
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Mr. Junker:
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Prior to '73, no.
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Mr. Worthington:
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Did you understand there may be a health problem
association with asbestos exposure?
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Mr. Junker:
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I had some inklings
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Mr. Worthington:
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Did you ever discuss that notion or inkling with your
employees?
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Mr. Junker:
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No
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Mr. Worthington:
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And can you just please tell me why you didn't do
that?
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Mr. Junker:
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Because I wanted them all to croak, that's
why!....
Because I didn't want to cause a lot of uproar...
You can't go out to a black -- a couple of black men on
the line and tell them that they are going to die tomorrow
from asbestos breathing and expect them to even come into the
plant tomorrow, and you know it, or if you don't, you
should. You just don't do it.
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Mr. Worthington:
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Do you know if you or your boss sent a letter out to the
owners of the building and schools and hospitals? (that were
sold products to)?
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Mr. Junker:
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What would be the reason for that? We would have
everybody and his uncle trying to find out if they could sue
us. That would be asking for -- that would be murder.
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Mr. Worthington:
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Did you understand that in the 1950s, 60s and 70s that
vermiculite from Libby, Montana had a form of asbestos in the
ore?
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Mr. Junker:
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Yes.. Yes, we did. We knew it. We found out about if
from Grace...Grace told us there was a certain amount of
asbestos in vermiculite.
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Mr. Worthington:
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Do you believe a company who makes a dangerous product has
a duty to warn consumers about potential health risks?
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Mr. Junker:
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Yes, I think if it's a hazard to your health, it
probably does have...but what can you do about these things?
...to tell the public about a potential hazard -- is kind of
asinine, I think.
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Mr. Worthington:
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It's bad for business?
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Mr. Junker:
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Yeah, it's bad for business.
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