Document 2J6VBZrMDee47Bx08nkxMQD1p

AR226-1378 __ J 3 7 ^ SECTION IV - P ' PAGE P-7-25 OP P-7-40 TEFLON* POLYMERS DIVISION CATALOG OP CHEMICALS J. H. To d d G. T. R o s e n l u n d c w. A. Bower 0. D. D a lt o n O. . D a r b y W. T. D a r n e l l H. 3. Ramsey, J: A. R. Stolter.be: R. N. T a y i o r S. ?. W a l t z e r l 31, 1981 TO: SUPERVISION THROUGHDIVISION SUPERINTENDENTS FROM: R. J. 3lAGER. C-B COMMUNICATION Attached information will be communicated on the follow ing schedule. All Division Superintendents 9:00 a.a., Tuesdav, 3/31/81 c All Fluorepolyner Supervision Through Foremen -- Completed 3y: 4:00 p.a., Tuesday, 3/31/ai All Other Supervision Through Supervisors -- Start At: 1:00 p .a ., Tuesday, 3/21/81 All Supervision Through Foremen 9:00 a.a., Wednesday, 4/1/81 All Fluorcpolymers Employees 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, 4/1/81 All Other Employees 2:00 p.a., Wednesday, 4/1/81 RJ3/d;p Attachment * DuPont's registered trademark for its fluorocarbon resin 000177-25 - VA0:kst 03-Apr-1987 EID079212 OOO}iZ RJZ009828 SECTION IV - P PAGE P-7-26 OP P-7-40 TEFLON* POLYMERS DIVISION CATALOG OP CHEMICALS 21-Q (. L c EMPLOYES COMMUNICATION We h a w been informed by eh 3M Company about the preliminary results of a new animal study involving the fluorosurfactant, C-3, which is an essential material that has been used in excess of twenty years in fluoropolymer resins manufac ture at Washington Works. 3M is our principal supplier for this chemical. W e w er e ad v i s e d o n M a r c h 20, 1981, that C-3, also knevn as FC-143 or ammonium perfluorooctanoate, caused birth defects in the unborn when fed by stomach tube to female rats in a laboratory experiment. This was a preliminary study d e signed to determine dosage limits prior to a full-scale study on C-8's potential to cause b i r t h defects in rats. At this time, we do not knew the significance, if any, o f the p r e l imina r y animal axper i m a n t as it m a y relate to e m ployee exposure. Further studies are planned to define possible reproductive effects. As a precaution based on the new study we have decided,that until further information is obtained, all female employees will be removed from areas where there is potential for exposure to C-8 and loaned immediately to o ther divisions. These female employees will consult with our Plant Medical Division, and those of non-childbearing capability will be given the option to return to the Fluoropolymers area. W o m e n of c h i l d bearing capability will be allowed to bid for other plant -obs after a permanent plant posting has been made. Present'pay races will be maintained and vacation selections previously made*will be honored for those females reassigned. During the period that C-8 has been used at Washington Works, there has been no known evidence that our employees have been exposed to C-8 levelJ that p o s e a d v e r s e h ealth effects. A preliminary acceptable exposure limit of 0.01 mg/m3 (0.56 parts per billion) was established w h i c h w believe has adequately protected our employees. At exposure levels experi enced by our employees, there is no evidence to suggest there is ' any impairment of the male reproductive function. - 3M first notified us in 1978 that exposure to C-3 eould result in elevated organic fluoride levels in the blood of its employees and that these elevated levels could persist for extended periods of time. At that time, we notified em ployees, embarked on an extensive program to reduce exposure levels, and began blood monitoring analyses. Employees have been kept advised on new developments and of blood test results. We ask your cooperation with job reassignments and participation in a program for additional blood sampling. tained. 3J3/djp we will inform you promptly as new information is ob RJZ009829 * DuPont's registered trademark for its fluorocarbon resin 000177-26 - VA0:kst 03-Apr-1987 EID079213 0OOII& SECTION IV - P PAGE P-7-27 OP P-7-40 TEFLON* POLYMERS DIVISION ____ CATALOG OP CHEMICALS - 21-a Q U E S T I O N S A-VJ &XSWZHS - To 8 Used As Needed To Answer Questions - If there i n any questions not answered below, they should be referred to Plant Management. 1. 0: Haw many feaale eraloyees at your Parkersburg plant rray have been exposed to C-9? A: About sixty worked'in areas where there is potential or exposure. 2. Q: Have you settled the blood of these employees to d ete n u ne if they have ele vated organic fluoride levels? A: Sane but not all f e e l s employees have been sansled as part of our existing programs. 3. Q: So they have levels e C-3 above r.-o.-- al~ A: Yes, sore do. 4. Qs Are any of the sixty fsrals srplcysas pregnant? ` A: Yes, two that we know of. 5. Q: Are there any former employees you knew of who may have been exposed to C-3 and who are now present? A: Yes, one that we know of. 6. Q: What have you advised these pregnant women to do? A: Me have advised these cployees to consult the plant physician for an explana tion of the potential risks and will have thea consult also with their persor.- al_pfcysieian. The exact of the animal east results to the huaan offspring is yet unicawn. However, we believe it prudent to eliminate any further exposure that results in blood levels greater than background until additional'data are obtained. 7. Q: Have you actcrpted to locate former fosale ployees to advise them of the 3M Casualty's animal study which indicated that C-9 may be teratogenic? A: Me are in the process of reviewing our ploynent records and where appropri ate, foster asployees will be notified. 9. Q: Do ycu have any knowledge of Da Pent employees or fonnar ermloyees who have been exposed ta C-9 whose children suffered birth defects? A: No. There is no evidence of birth, defects among children b o m of mothers who have been exposed to C-9 ccnpounds at Du Pont. RJZ009830 * DuPont's registered trademark for its fluorocarbon resin 000177-27 - VAOtkst 03-Apr-1987 E1D079214 aqoil 7 21-S - SECTION IV - P PAGE P-7-28 OP P-7-40 TEFLON* POLTMERS DIVISION CATALOG OP CHEMICALS 9. Q: 3o y o u h a v e a n y k n o w l e d g e o f 3 M C o m p a n y e m p l o y e e s o r former e m p l o y e e s w h o h a v e b e e n e x p o s e d to c-8 w h o s e c h i l d r e n s u f fered birth defects? A: No. W e are not knowledgeable of the p r e g n a n c y o utcome of a n y 3M employees or former employees who were exposed to C-3. 10. Q: W h a t is the p ossibility that employees or former employees of childbearing age with elevated organic fluoride levels m a y give birth to children with defects. A: We do not know, but we are taking a p p r o n ^ i s t e p s to avoid further exposure. 11. C* Is t h e r e a n y i n d i c a t i o n t h a t m a l e e m p l o y e e s o r f o rm e r m a l e e m ployees expesed to C-8 m a y have s u ffered loss of r e p r o d u c tive function? A: W e .have no i n d i c a t i o n that C-3 has a n e f f e c t o n the ma l e r e productive system or its function. The reproductive organs of the male laboratory animals exposed to C-3 were closely examined and were normal, with no evidence of abnormalities attributable to C-8 exposure. U 12. Q: A r e t h e r e a n y tests that c a n assure the fetus is all right? A: T here are no tests which ca n assure that the fetus is all right. Thera are tests which can detect fetal abnormalities in some cases. If these tests are done and are normal, there is a good likelihood that the fetus is all right. 13. Q: Whet edviee do we have for woman of childbearing capabilitv who have been exposed, about becoming pregnant? As This is a personal subject betw e e n the woman and her physi cian. 14. Q: w i l l elevated organic fluoride levels in the blood decrease in time? A: Yes. 15. Q: H o w long does it take for these levels to fall to background levels? A: It is not known at this time. Blood samplins is continuing. I ro/:r>rt'7r\t * DuPont's registered trademark for its fluorocarbon resin 000177-28 - VAO-.kst 03-Apr-1987 EID079215 (jaotlS SECTION IV - P PAGE P-7-29 OP P-7-40 TEFLON* POLYMERS DIVISION ------CATALOG-OF CHEMICALS - 21-T - 3- 0 16. Q: Can etployees and former employees with elevated organic flueride levels donate / blood W f e l y ? v_- At Blood donating ia a deferrable option. Persons who have elevated blood levels of C-3 or who have worked in areas of potential exposure to C-3 and the blood level has not been detendnad should not donate blood until the blood level of C-3 returns to background levels. 17. Q: What is the background level? A: In our experience in blood tests conducted among employees with little chance for potential exposure, organic fluoride blood levels ranged up to 0.4 poa 13. Q: Have you resarpled enployees' blood recently? A: Yes, and we are talcing additional sanples in an ongoing program. 19. Qm Were the levels lower ia the recent blond samples? A: So far there is no obviois trend with the data availahla. 20. Q: Is there danger to the families of enployees who work in the area? A: By following the established practices and procedures, use of personal protec tive equiprene and following good personal hygiana practices, there should be no hazard to tha ecployea's family. o 21. Q: What operating procedures were instituted by Du Pont after the first 2M retort ia 1978? A: Extensive engineering programs were developed which included equipment modifi cations and increased use of parsonal protective equipment. In addition, we instituted blood monitoring and air saspling programs as well* as more stringent housekeeping standards. 22. Q: (Bab additional changes ia operating procedures do you plan ran A: This has not bean datasnirad. Ms are reviewing the situation. 22. Qs Ace joi looking for a substitute for C-8? A: Yes, we have bean for sore time. 24. Q: What are the possible substitutes? A: we have not identified one at present. c. RJZ009832 * DuPont': reg i s t e r e d trademark for its fluorocarbon resin 000177-29 - VAOskst 03-Apr-1987 EID079216 oooll7 SECTION IV - P PAGE P-7-30 OP P-7-40 TEFLON* POLYKERS DIVISION CATALOG OP CHEMICALS - 21-U -4- 25. Qt Why d i d the 3M C o m p a n y teat C-S for teratogenicity? A: We understand that C-8 is e h a m i e a l l y similar to other c o m pounds made by 3M ana that in aarl i a r testing were found to be teratogenic. 26. Q: W h e n d i d Ou Pont l e arn o f the l a t e s t study results? A: M a r c h 20, 1981. 27. Q: Has the appro p r i a t e Federal regul a t o r y agencies been noti fied? , A j yes. 3M, o u r supplier, h a s noti f i e d ? A o f the study and its results. 28. Q: W h a t w e r e the b i r t h d e f e c t s n o t e d b y 3M in the unbo r n fetus: A: Iye d e f e c t s are reported b u t c o m p l e t e testing will be re quired. 29. Q: W h a t a d d i t i o n a l a n i m a l t e s t i n g i s p l a n n e d ? A: E l a b o r a t e C-8 t e r a t o l o g y e v a l u a t i o n s o f laboratory results to c o n f i r m 3M p r e l i m i n a r y results a n d to identify safe e x posure level for females. 30. Q: W h a t is Du Pont's policy o n e m p l o y i n g w o m e n around embryotoxins? A: W o m e n o f c h i l d b e a r i n g c a p a b i l i t y are allowed to work in areas of potential exposure to teratogens where a safe ex posure level is known and the exposures can be maintained below these levels, women of childbearing capability are not allowed to work in areas where safe levels are not known or where the potential exposures are above safe levels Women who are not of childbearing capability can work in areas of potential exposure to teratogens. 3 1 . ' Q: Has Ou Pont ever required o r s u ggested that an employee be sterilized? A: No. 32. Q: Are there a n y o ther c h e m i c a l s u sed at your Parkersburg plant that are embryo toxic? C A; yes, OMF (dimethyl formamide) and HFA (hexafluoroacetone) . JUZ009833 * DuPont's registered trademark for its fluorocarbon resin 000177-30 - VA0:kst \\ 03-Apr-1987 EID079217 OOOl S o SECTION IV - P PAGE P-7-31 OP P-7-40 TEFLON* POLYMERS DIVISION CATALOG OF CHEMICALS - 21-V -5 - 33. Q: W h a t p r o d u c t s ar a sold b y D u P o n t u s i n g C-S (ammonium ?erfluorooctanoate)? A: V a r i o u s f l u o r o c a r b o n r a s i n a n d d i s p a r s i o n products. 34. Q: Is thara a n y p r o b l a m i n v o l v e d w i t h c o o k w a r a w h i c h has baen coatad with fluorocarbon rasin? As NO 35. Q: W i l l Du P o n t ba n o t i f y i n g its c u s t o m e r s o f the m ost recent findings reported by 3M? As Tea. 36. Q: H a v e w o m a n b e a n r e m o v e d f r o m e x p o s u r e a t all Ou P o n t loca tions? A: NO/ not at those locations where blood levels are at back ground. c RJZ009834 ( ara/dj? ^ 4/1/31 # * DuPont's registered trademark, for its fluorocarbon resin 000177-31 - VA0:kst N 03-Apr-1987 EID079218 00013-1