Document 31yJ0Eb5N5EkpQ5xQdayGg30

ANNOUNCEMENT Monsanto As you can see by the attached newspaper article, we are currently working with the federal government in an epidemiology study. During the past three weeks the Texas City plant has been visited on three occasions by officials from OSHA and NIOSH. ..You may already know that they are conducting a study in this geographic area of deaths they suspect were caused by brain tumors. The study was instigated, due to a complaint from a former employee of Union Carbide here in Texas City. While examining records available from a variety of sources, OSHA identified five brain tumor related deaths of former Monsanto employees that occurred since the early days of the plant (1940's). Our Corporate Department of Medical and Environmental Health (DMEH) and location industrial hygiene department began examining health records and death certificates upon hearing of the government studies. These studies were underway when we were contacted by OSHA. Two of the five brain tumor related deaths have been earmarked by DMEH for more detailed study. An extensive epidemiology study must be conducted to determine the statistical significance of these deaths in this geographic area. Such a study will involve examination of personnel records, medical histories and work histories of employees and former employees of several companies. We are trying to cooperate fully and are coordinating our efforts with OSHA officials. On the most recent visit, an OSHA official monitored personnel exposure in the AN plant. While his data is still being analyzed, our samples, collected from identical areas, indicated exposures well below the 2ppm standard. He did comment that he found no vioations and was impressed by our entire plant's employee protection and safety efforts. We do not believe there is any cause for undue concern, and we intend to keep you informed as new developments occur. 03/06/79 (Remove 03/15/79) P. E. Brubaker Plant Manager RSV 0006948 RSV 0006949 -J\ 2nd plant reports j brain tumor deaths i By BILL INMAN Past Reporter Spano front the company's St. Louis mulliforme listed as cause of death on headquarters. ' their death certificates. And another two "We're concerned, as others ore. of the group were llmnghi to have Uuit A federal health Investigation Into the about the Incidence of this form of can same form of earner. An Hlh Union Car brain cancer deaths of 10 chemical work cer. We want to s(h*jls, Itowevcr, that the bide worker, sllll living, also Ims Itecn ers al Union Carbide's Texas City plant glioblastoma form has not been deter diagnosed as having the glioblastoma has turned up live additional brain can mined In llicsc lust five cast's." lumoc. cer deaths at Monsanto's nearby chemi The federal investigation stemmed Monsanto began silting health records cal facility. from a Union Carbide worker's com- and death certificates of some 1,200 Moth plants once produced the cancer- plnlnt received Nov. 27 by the Occu|m- workers after It learned of the Union causing agent vinyl chloride. Hie sub ilnn.il Safely and Health Adminlslrnllnn. Carbide study, Spano sold. fttllA offi stance has been linked by scientist to A scientific team including OSIIA and cially aiquaiclMil the plant Fob. H and the brain tumor glioblastoma Nntlonal Institute (nr Occu|Kilional Safe* conducted chemical exposure checks. multiforme. ty and Health spci.-lniists soon found ut "It's far too early to make any kind of ' I ''We're trying to cooperate and coord!tiate our efforts fully with the govern least 10 Union Carbide workers had died of brain cancer between 1962 and 1978. Judgment," said Dr. Joseph Wagner, monitoring the OSHA Investigation from ment." said Monsanto spokesman John Six of the 10 victims had glioblastoma Washington. "At this stage of the game, we're con centrating on Union Carbide, wheie we feel we have a good sampling." George Pettigrew, regional NIORIi director, sold the records of current and former Union Cat bide workers -* some 10,009 -- arc l>eing rccoasliuclcd for an epidemiological study. The time-consuming study will include researching demographic disease pat terns and nn'ords of plants that produce vinyl chloride. Study results are cx|M*eled to be months away. Complicating the record-gathering process, said Pettigrew, Is the latency Please see Anolher/page ISA It's Tuesday, March 6, 1979 Another chemical plant V v i APPROVED FOR POSTING: * i finds hrain tumor deaths r -------------------- i- -s-- C From Pa9e 1 3 % Union Carbide plant, Monsanto nA longer processes the matriial. No Monsanto employee complaint^ have been liled with federal agencies period' Involved;',`it appears that mayl* concerning vinyl chloride, said .lop 20 years'w'sd After vinyl chloride exptv Clark, head of personnel al the Tcxa} sure, tin* cancer shows Itself. That's something like ii lime bomb, and It makcH ho* )nh n lot mmo difficult ." Ciiy plant. ...i lie said the company has notified workers through staff meetings of ttyb' Two of the five brain earn er deaths at Moiisnnlo hove nIretidy Ihtii eormnikod by company rcscorcloTS for deluded glioblastoma IohIn, .sold Spoon. "Nothing bin liccn conflrtneil thus fur," lie .said, Monsanto purchased 'the plant In the ndiMthi from the federal government. Vinyl chloride monomers were usod In production from l!f3 to I9GH. Unlike the |Miientl.d hazard. Area OSIIA dlrertor It. Davis l-iynd* Kit III no rllatlnns have heon Issued iigalnsl Union Carbide nr Monsanto ip the past wtx months for ilM-uilral fxpj*. sure above legal levels. ^ He Mild there are "loo many comply eating fnrton* at this point" to make any*, definitive connection between the chrntf-, cal and the Texas City deaths. ^ <> OJ 03/06/79 (Remove.03/15/79)