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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PATIENT PROFILES
