Transcripts

STEWART STRONACH: Dr. William Nicholson of the Environmental Sciences Lab at Mount Sinai Hospital is the government's 14th witness against reserve, but the first to deal specifically with asbestos and its relationship to health. Dr. Nicholson was shown to have international credentials in asbestos research. He has been a consultant on the health hazards to asbestos workers. And he has personally gathered water samples from Duluth and from Reserves plant at Silver Bay.

Although detailed testimony on his findings was held up until tomorrow, in a series of photographic exhibits shown today, Dr. Nicholson identified fibers found in Duluth water primarily under 1 micron in length. This may turn out to be the pivot on which the health hazard issue will be argued, since the scientists have a professional dispute over whether these smaller fibers pose any threat.

Meanwhile, Federal Judge Miles Lord has indicated he will have two medical consultants, one from Duluth, one from Rochester on hand tomorrow. The judge said the only thing that would move him to close the plant prior to the end of the trial would be health hazard testimony. Dr. Nicholson is prepared to give that on both air and water. And the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency put its close the plant motion before the judge this afternoon. This is Stewart Stronach reporting for KSJN.