Thursday, April 12, 1979
University Daily Kansan
7
Despite the asbestos, dryers will still blow
By LESLIE GUILD
Staff Reporter
Some KU students haven't stopped using blow dryers that contain asbestos and have said they wouldn't even if the dryers were recalled.
However, it will be at least two weeks before the U.S. Product Safety Commission will release its findings on whether hand-washing causes causing dangerous levels of asbestos fibers.
The safety commission learned recently that some dryers manufactured in the United States are made which are considered a cause of lung cancer. The findings came from tests commissioned by WRCT-VI in Washington, D.C. The results were presented at Associates Inc.: Laboratory in Rockville, Md.
One KU student, William Weissbeck,
Topea senior, said that after he had heard
the initial report, he checked whether his
dryer was made with asbestos.
“All the guys in my house rushed to get their dryers and check the brand name.” Weibsck said. “Ironically enough, the last time I went to a restaurant asbestos is the house's heaviest smoker.
We'll probably all die of lung cancer anu he'll live."
CONSUMERS CAN tell whether their dryers contain asbestos by looking through the nozzle. If there is a gray lining material in the dryer, it will nuzzle the nozzle; the dryer probably contains asbestos.
Weissbeck said that although the dryers at his house were made with asbestos, the walls of the kitchen were also made with asbestos.
"Most of us are still using the dryers even though they might be dangerous," he said.
Another KU student, Sarah Partridge,
Wichita state and that she had not stopped
until her first semester.
"I haven't even had time to check to see whether my driver is made with asbestos," she said. "I guess I'm just not that worried about it."
Partridge said that she thought about 75 residents in her house used blow dryers.
that she had noticed little concern about the dryers' potential hazards.
Paula Oldehoef, manager of Headmasters Hair Salon, 809 Vermont St., said
"We haven't had many customers ask us about the dryers," she said. "We did check our dryers by looking down the nozzles to whether they contained asbestos. Ours do not."
Oldoebet said she thought consumers were not concerned about the potential damage.
"The credibility of some tests are so low with the public that most people don't believe a danger with the use of dryers exists," she said. "It seems everything these days causes cancer, so the dryers are not a bit deal."
But despite the feelings of consumers, the safety commission began safety hearings last week into the potential dangers of the dryers.
Dryer manufacturers were ordered by the commission to submit data on dryers made by Henkel, Siemens, Motorola and others.
mission's Kansas City office, said that although most data received were incomplete, the majority of the manufactured supplied data and attended the hearings.
THE COMMISSION received the following reports:
- Conair Corp. said it had stopped manufacturing models containing asbestos in 1978. The company said models 0991, 140V and 095 contained asbestos.
- Rovettes Inc. said it was still selling some 1,200-watt and 1,400-watt models made with asbestos. The company said three models had the HA-224 and HA-1214, "probably have it."
North American Phillips Corp. said, its Noreico models HR-1700, HP-2600, HP-3600, HP-3600-1 and HC-1107 made before 1975 assembled asbestos.
+ Schick Inc. said no current models were made with asbestos; but models 1001-0A1 were manufactured.
volved have already begun refunding or substitution for old dryers," Baxter said. "Other companies have installed hot lines that connect the dryer and out if their dryer does contain asbestos."
Those with hotlines include Conair, whose number is 800-431-3511 and General Electric Co., whose number is 800-241-9982. The phone number responds consumer questions at 812-697-3600.
- Gillette Co. and Sunbeam Corp. sued that they had stopped selling models made with asbestos. General Electric said it had manufactured dryers made with the fiber
Baxter said that consumers should be cautions about acting too swiftly.
- Clairel said that it had used a reimpregnated, asbestos-based paper in the rear of its dryers, but the paper was used by a molded plastic component in 1974.
- Montgomery Ward and Co., J. C. Penny Co. and Sears, Roebuck and Co. said that they had suspended sales of all models that had been shown to contain asbestos.
Numbers for Conair and General Electric
worked throughout the day. Norcelo
reported several injuries.
BAXTER SAID that even though companies had not been asked to begin recalls and exchange programs, some companies had begun them.
From the director of "THE EMIGRANTS" and "THE NEW LAND"
Cinema
Twin
AN EPIC FILM OF STRUGGLE AGAINST NATURE'S FURY.
COMING
ON FILM PRODUCTIONS
DINNER AND LUNCHING
BUTTER KNEES
TRAIN HEAVY DAYS
BUTTER KNEE
Presents
Cuban Cinema:
"THE TEACHER"
plus—
"The History Book, v. 8"
Thursday, April 12
Woodruff Auditorium
7:30 pm ADM. $1.00
"Our investigation is not to be seen as an endorsement of the original findings," Baxter said. "It is simply to alert the consumers that we are investigating."
- Rescheduled from April 5.
Who is "Numero Uno"? Bud Greenspan
Producer of "The Olympiad" "Wilma" and widely recognized writer, director, andlympic expert presents the first public showing of Numero A. A series of thirteen hour documentaries on legendary world sports will will lend commentary and offer his opinion as to who is "Numero Uno."
Admission: Free
Forums
Admission: Free Wednesday, April 18, 1979 8:00 p.m. Kansas Union Ballroom
Pam Lathrop Hays, Kansas Junior
"My favorite thing at Naismith is dishing up all the ice cream I can eat!"
Private baths—Weekly maid service—Comfortable, carpeted rooms—Heated swimming pool—Good food with unlimited seconds—Lighted parking—Color TV—Close to campus—Many other features
NATIVE AMERICAN ALLIANCE PRESENTS
The Third AnnualUniversity of Kansas
POW WOW
Lawrence Community Building
115 W. 11th St.
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
April 13-14, 1979 6:00-12:00 P.M.
Gourd Dance:12:00 Noon Sat.
ALSO:
1st Annual Men's and Women's All-Indian
1st Annual Men's and Women's All-Basketball Tournament West Junior High School 900 Yale Road
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Friday 4:30-11:00 P.M. April 13-14,
Saturday 7:30-10:00 P.M. 1979
Sponsored by:
Native American Alliance Office of Minority Affairs Student Senate
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