Document 0q41zZmKJknde2gKd6GE3XgEd

fiRZA6 _ % lf-i 000402 flECVClEO A /U *6- ?tbV-l \ August XI, 1983 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL TO: T. K. KEMP. FROM: d, G. LOSCHIAVO UPDATE ON THE Cr8 BLOOD SAMPLING PROGRAM An overall drop in blood C-8 levels is observed in TEFLON Fine Powder/Dispersion and FEP Operators. This drop in blood C-8 levels is statistically significant. In Table i, it can be noted that 16 out of 22 Fine Powder/Oispersion Operators experienced a drop in blood C-8 levels. An additional two Operators experienced no change. The four remaining Operators experienced increases. In Tjtble 2, it can be noted that 14 put of 15 FEP Operators experi enced a drop in blood C-8 levels. The significant downward trends experi enced by both groups of Operators are very encouraging. Data on individuals who left TEFLON indicate that the biological half-life of C-8 in the blood (i.e., the time it takes to reduce blood C-8 level by 5.0%) is approximately two years. DISCUSSION The attached Tables contain blood C-8 data for TEFLON Fine Powder/ Dispersion and FEP Operators. Blood C-8 data were obtained from the FLAIR (Fluoropolymers Laboratory Analysis Information Retrieval) program. All blood samples were analyzed by the C-8 specific method. Data recorded in FLAIR up to 7/14/83 are included in this report. Only data on Operators who have worked in TEFLON at least 730 days as of the first of the two listed sample dates are included since new Operators will experience in creasing blood C-8 levels until an equilibrium level is reached. 83B-2604B-1 000403 T - fi. EM? - z- AUGUST 11, 19S3 Blood C-8 levels for Fine Powder/Dispersion Operators range from 1.1 ppm to 25.0 pp'm and average 5.5 ppm (see Table 1). These Operators experienced an overall 13% drop in blood C-8 levels over the past two years. Blood C-8 levels for FEP Operators range from 0.36 ppm to 3.7 ppm and average 1.2 ppm (see Table 2), These Operators experienced an overall 14% drop in blood C-8 levels over the past two years. A paired-t test was performed on the blood C-8 data to determine if the blood C-8 decrease experienced by most of the Operators is statisti cally significant. As a result, the decreases were found to he statisti cally significant at the p 0.05 level. These significant blood C-8 reductions are no doubt due to efforts made by TEFLON Copolymers and Polymers business teams to reduce C-8 in air levels. Although many of the Fine Powder/Dispersion Operators are experienc ing blood C-8 decreases, there are four Operators whose blood C-8 levels have increased. Interestingly, all four Operators are involved with weigh ing C-8 in the ingredients hood. Levels of C-8 in air outside this hood have been found to exceed the AEL. Two samples recently collected in this area were analyzed at 0.79 mpb and 0.84 mpb. Housekeeping and work habits in this area are less than adequate,. A large amount of powder was observed around the outside of the hood. For this reason, it*s recommended that work habits be improved and Safety and Health Rules invol ving the weighing of C-8 be reviewed with all employees concerned, namely Autocl ave" Operatorsand Dispersion Processors. It's also recommended that a liquid C-8 solu xr tion be considered as a replacement for the C-8 powder. Blood C-8 data were obtained on five individuals who left TEFLOil due to transfer or retirement (see Table 3). Data on these individuals indicate that on the average it takes approximately two years to reduce blood C-8 levels by 50%. This is called the biological half-1 ffe. JGL:sdc Attachments f I s '' 83B-2604B-2 000404 TABLE 1 TEFLON FINE POWOER/DISPERSION OPERATORS C-8 BLOOD SAMPLE RESULTS DATE OF' FIRST SAMPLE 1/14/82 2/18/82 10/8/81 8/7/81 10/1/81 2/11/82 8/12/81 4/2/82 1/7/82 4/5/81 3/11/82 12/30/81 8/19/81 3/26/82 12/2/81 3/11/82 7/16/81 7/16/81 4/6/81 3/3/82 2/9/82 10/9/81 C-8 IN BLOOD mL 26.0 24.0 11,0 9.4 8.2 7.0 6.9 5.6 4.4 4.3 3.9 3.6 3.5 2.9 2,8 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.1 1.6 1.5 1.3 ' DAYS IN JOB AT SAMPLE DATE 9,358 2,332 9,260 2,379 5,813 1,989 1,743 8,311 5,765 857 800 962 871 8,242 2,256 1,621 5,652 1,705 918 5,880 770 1,803 DATE OF SECOND SAMPLE 1/12/83 2/17/83 11/3/82 8/6/82 9/29/82 2/10/83 7/15/82 3/2/83 1/7/83 5/12/82 3/10/83 12/27/82 8/17/82 3/18/83 12/2/82 4/6/83 6/17/82 6/30/82 .1/19/82 3/22/83 2/10/83 10/6/82 C-8 IN BLOOD (PPM) 20.0 25.0 8.2 7.9 6.5 7.7 5.9 4.2 4.9 5.6 3.6 2.7 2.1 2.8 2.8 2.4 1.8 2,5 1.6 1.5 1.2 1.1 DAYS IN JOB AT SAMPLE DATE 9,721 2,696 9,651 2,743 6,176 2,353 2,080 8,645 . 6,130 1,258 1,164 1,324 1.234 8,599 2,621 2,012 5,988 2,054 1,206 6,264 1,136 2,165 X = 6.3 ppm T = 5,5 ppm 16 out of 22 employees experienced decreased blood C-8 levels, 2 out of 22 employees experienced no change in blood C-8 levels, 4 out of 22 employees experienced increased blood C-8 levels. Decrease in C-8 in blood levels is statistically significant at p - 0.05 1evel. 83B-2604B -3 ___ - 000405 TABLE 2 TEFLON PEP OPERATORS C-B BLOOD SAMPLE RESULTS DATE OF FIRST SAMPLE C-8 IK DATS IK BLOOD JOB AT {PPM} SAMPLE DATE 4/7/81 2/2/82 4/15/82 1/27/82 12/16/81 4/7/81 4/21/81 3/31/82 10/28/81 10/15/81 3/17/82 8/25/81 2/25/82 8/28/81 10/28/81 4.5 3.1 2.1 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.25 0.95 0.86 0.75 0.52 0.51 0.42 0.41 0.38 1,284 9,438 8,917 9,249 1,977 - 827 732 5,813 899 1,807 5,417 891 2,387 861 1,927 X = 1.4 ppm DATE OF SECOND SAMPLE C-8 IN. BLOOD (PPM) 4/22/82 2/21/83 4/14/83 1/26/83 1/12/83 9/15/82 10/9/81 4/26/83 5/16/83 10/14/82 3/17/83 7/29/82 5/16/83 8/26/82 10/26/82 3.7 2.8 1,5 1.1 1.6 1.4 1.20 0.79 0.75 0.72 0.44 0.48 0.39 0.46 0,36 X = 1.2 ppm DAYS IN JOB AT SAMPLE DATE 1,664 9,822 9,281 9,613 2,369 1,353 903 6,204 1,464 2,171 5,782 1,228 2,832 1,224 2,290 .14/15 employees experienced decreased blood C-8 levels. Decrease in C-8 in blood levels is statistically significant at p 0.05 1evel. 83B-2604B-4 000406 TABLE 3 EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT`TEFLON JOBS C-8 IN BLOOD WHEN C-8 IN BLOOD AT DAYS ELAPSED REASON FOR LEAVING LEFT TEFLON (PPM) A LATER DATE (PPM) BETWEEN SAMPLES TEFLON 19.0 3.8 2.1 0.57 ' 0.14 16,0 2.2 2.2* 0.14 0.08 128 Retired from Company 780 Retired from Company 333 Retired from Company 730 Transferred to another WW Division 759 Transferred to another WW Division *This 556 increase in C-8 W o o d levels is likely due to analytical error and will be considered as a 056 drop in blood C-8. Biological half-life of C-8 in blood based on these 5 data points is 2.1 years. 83B-2604B-5 000407