Document 0gVo3EYX53M8b15dRzY0EoDGV

PRESS C O M P A NY (OpUnit or Corporate): MIC SUBJECT:Crude Orthochlorophenol PJEPORTER& MEDIA: Mike Kollender, Radio KBIA in Columbia (312) 882-7591 TIME & DATE: April 12 , 1979 , 11:20 a.m. QUESTION L RESPONSE: Reporter said since OCR contamination of ponds m Sturgeon the ERA has started to draw blood and ''ne samples or citizens. O. bid you know that? X C . P _ Ca11is A J. R. Foehr X T. L. Gossage X a E. H . Harbison * J . C. McPhillips X J . S. Metcalf X R. G. Pier News Bureau J.T. Nolan J.E. McKee D. R. Bishop \Y. J. McCarville W. R. Mulhall J. F. Hussey-Washington. D.C. S. Piclmrd-Washingion. D.C. X New York Public Relations Brussels Public Relations M A P PR MIC P R O . Young MPR PR MTCPR .INTLPR A. No. I knew' the clean-up workers had been examined by the ERA., but nothe citizens. n Tell me where OCR is used, how many people work in the unit, what health problems do they have, do they wear protective equipment, how' long did we know there were dioxins in OCR? Answered from position book. Q Khat inhalation studies has Monsanto done on OCR? A (Called back at 3:50 p.m.) Monsanto has manufactured OCR since 1937, and we have experienced no problems with the product from the beginninc. We know' that workers in the OCR production unit can be exposed to OCR up to a level of one part per million (ppm) and there are no health problems. Almost immediately after the spill at Sturgeon, readings were taken by our own people at the area of the heaviest concentration at the tracks. The level was .085 ppm (or less than one-tenth of levels at the plant). Therefore, we feel that there should be no concern bv the citi zens of Sturgeon as to possible inhalation problems. Since the clean-ui vapor levels have gone down dramatically. The problem is that OCR has an odor threshold' at a very, very low level. Dr. Seifter from the EPA in Washington says clean-up workers were exposed to 31 p p t . What do you say about that? A I'm surprised. Our analytical equipment only goes down to 10 opb and we've got seme sophisticated equipment. That's much smaller than I kne\ anyone could measure. How could these workers be contaminated? They were in the heavy concentration during the clean-up and oerhaos cot burned with the OCR. Wallowing in the oroduct without the right protective clothing could have allowed them to absorb OCR through their skin. n nno 4 a