DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE . BETHESDA 14, MD.

 

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
OLiver 6-4000

APR 2 2 1939

Dear Mr. Fogarty:

I am very glad to reply to your letter of April 13
forwarding a copy of the letter from Mr. Frederick E. Teal
of Berwyn, Pennsylvania on the subject of magnesia products
as possible causes of cancer, It may interest you to know
that Senator Neuberger recently referred a similar letter
from Mr. Teal to the Department.

Prevention is one of the most important aspects of
the cancer problem. The National Cancer Institute is both
conducting and supporting research to discover agents or
substances contacted in our daily living which may be
cancer-causing. As you know, the last Congress enacted
H. R. 13254, which became Public Law 85-929 with the approval
of the President on September 6, 1958. This was an act
amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit
the use in food of additives which have not been adequately
tested to establish their safety.

I believe that Mr. Teal's anxiety over cancer hazards
in the widespread use of magnesia products is unwarranted,
At the present time there is no scientific evidence incrimi-
nating orally given magnesium compounds as carcinogenic
agents. A number of these, such as milk of magnesia (which
is magnesium hydroxide), magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide,
magnesium sulfate, and magnesium trisilicate, are used for
various medicinal purposes and are usually taken by mouth.

The various types of asbestos are complex magnesium
silicates often combined with iron, calcium or sodium, mate-
rials of a different nature than those used in medications
referred to by Mr. Teal. When asbestos fibers are inhaled

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National Cancer Institute National Heart Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Mentatis Diseases
National Institute of Dental Research National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness The Clinical Conny
Division of Biologics Standards _ Division of Business Operations Division of General Medical Sciences Division of Research Grants _ Division of Research Services
they can cause a chronic dust disease of the lungs called
asbestosis. In the presence of asbestosis the liability

to the development of cancer of the lung is about 15= to 25—
fold that of a comparable population. Results of scientific
studies have been made available to the asbestos industry,
and steps have been taken to prevent inhalation by employees
working with the material.

A paper dealing with the control of cancer through
research, diagnosis, prevention and treatment which I
presented in London in July 1958 may be of interest to
Mr. Teal. ‘Two copies are enclosed.

I trust that this information will meet your needs.

Sincerely yours,

   

e i. Heller, M. De
Director
National Cancer Institute

Hon. John Ek. Fogarty
House of Representatives
Washington 25, D.C.

Enclosures