Opinion ID: 548350
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Plaintiffs' Expert Testimony and the Fiber Drift Theory

Text: 72 In addition to the plaintiffs' testimony and the testimony of product identification witnesses, the plaintiffs offered the testimony of several expert witnesses in order to establish the plaintiffs' exposure to the defendants' products. This testimony, in the form of reports and affidavits, was offered to prove that the defendants' asbestos products regularly emitted asbestos fibers in the open and poorly ventilated Firestone plant. These fibers were said to have been carried by air currents and inhaled by the plaintiffs. We set forth here a summary of the fiber drift testimony of each expert witness. 73 Kenneth S. Cohen, Ph.D.--In an affidavit and a report, Dr. Cohen identified himself as a professional engineer and certified industrial hygienist who had participated in a survey of the Firestone plant on August 29, 1989. At the plant he observed abundant evidence of extensive asbestos (and asbestos product) use [and] a variety of installation and repair processes which by their very nature release asbestos fibers. The vast network of asbestos insulated pipe systems, asbestos packed valves, asbestos sealed flanges, unions and other asbestos containing materials seen during our brief survey offers proof of the substantial nature of workers' exposures. He observed a steam hammer effect or vigorous shaking in the extensive piping which causes deterioration of insulating asbestos and a salt shaker phenomenon. The open space and cross-ventilation created a homogenizing effect throughout the plant, dispersing asbestos fibers from their source to bystanders. Dust samples showed evidence of talc and asbestiform fibrous structures. Nothing in this report tied the plaintiffs' exposure to defendants' specific products. 74 William J. Nicholson, Ph.D.--Dr. Nicholson, a Professor of Community Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, stated that he had supervised an industrial hygiene study of insulation work. In his report he noted that the application, repair, removal of or damage to asbestos containing products (insulation in particular) can release substantial quantities of respirable asbestos fibers which can travel on air currents throughout a workplace. He cited a study finding wide-spread dissemination of fibers during removal of fireproofing material from an aircraft carrier and stated that he, himself, had measured asbestos dissemination at a construction site where fibers were carried one-half mile. He cited a second study showing increased cancer risk for those working in the vicinity of, rather than directly with, asbestos-containing products. He was unable to calculate the concentrations of asbestos fibers which might have been present in the Pottstown plant as a result of dissemination from insulation materials. 75 Commenting on Dr. Cohen's report, Dr. Nicholson concluded that evidence of steam hammer vibration in many of the pipes and evidence of repairs to insulation suggested that the tire plant contained many widely dispersed sources of asbestos which would provide substantial and ongoing exposure to workers throughout the plant. Exposure could also have resulted from repeated disturbance of asbestos-containing debris which had fallen to the floor and from recirculation of fibers through the ventilation system. Discussing talc, Dr. Nicholson concluded that to the extent that talcs were contaminated, fibers from this source would have added to exposure from insulation materials. He did not mention possible exposure from gaskets or brake linings. 76 It was on the basis of this record, summarized above, that the district court entered summary judgment in favor of the four defendants.