Document 3120GnXDzd62pzerDR9zQBLy

Monsanto MONSANTO POLYMERS & PETROCHEMICALS CO. 730 Worcester Street Indian Orchard, Massachusetts 01054 Phone: (413) 788*6911 August 25, 1.9 75 John N. Lewis, M. D. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Manpower Affairs Department of Labor and Industries Division of Occupational Hygiene 39 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Dear Dr. Lewis: This letter is in reply to your correspondence of July 16 and our subsequent conversations relating to PVC processing. From my discussion with you, I understand that your concerns stem from five former Building 85 employees who are stated to have a higher rate of abdominal cancer than would be expected in your "sample" of 50 deceased Building 85 employees. Since these five employees are the basis for your concern, I researched their records and subsequently found some information which I consider significant. -j. First, you indicated that the five employees name 1 below were reported to have worked in Building 85; i.e., Donald Allen, Kenneth Gagne, Victor Lopes, Ernest Minnie, and Cleo Moreau. In fact, our records indicate that two of the five employees (Messrs. Allen and Gagne) never were assigned to work in Building 85. A third (Mr. Ernest Minnie) was assigned to Building 85 as an office janitor for less than 7 years. The remaining two (Messrs. Lopes and Moreau) were assigned to Building 85 for periods of 7-1/2 and 10 years respectively. I think you will agree that this information is of great significance in terms of re-evaluatir.g your initial concerns and assumptions re lating to Building 85. As discussed, it's apparent that the data was part of a non-random sample of an unknown population. You will recall that Building 35, which curtailed its operations for business reasons in mid-1973, operated approximately 20 years with well ever 100 employees which further impunes the sample population data. Finally, I believe that such studies need to be triggered by some quality data and based a unit of Monsanto Company RSV 0006380 John N. Lewis, M, D -2- August 25, 1975 on a scientific approach which appears lacking in the light of the above findings. In conclusion, I hope that this information and our past discussions have been helpful in handling and answering your concerns. Sincerely, PEB/SBN Paul E. Bureau Personnel Manager ?CC: 3. E. CbmUm 3. V. ?u*refc J. A. Cldi - ft. !! RSV OOOB381