Document 3J24RDO4R7edzRrLmVxQNo76J

TO. SUBJECT: INTER - COMPANY AND OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE ftCCEfVfcD" H. Lv- Parker "-'fl 2 1976 DR-A-s. cummin olicy for Women Employees CATE: May 28, 1976 f*ou- T. Mekaru P|Vl^PTadohss_ Industrial Hygiene 990 Kingsmill Parkway Columbus, Ohio 43229 xskfuwt: (614) 225-7267 I have attached a copy of a report concerning vinyl chloride and health prepared by the VCM/PVC Producers Committee of the Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) which I consider an excel lent objective background statement. With respect to vinyl chloride exposures to our workers, our plant levels and control activities are essentially the same as reported on Pages 13 and 14. Extensive and continued medical examinations conducted on all currently and previously exposed vinyl chloride workers at our plants show no person with liver damage from previous and current exposures. I feel, with concurrences from our medical consultant, Dr. Robert B. O'Connor, and the examining physicians at our plant locations, that at the current exposure levels no workers, women included, would be exposed to the angiosarcoma hazard. However, whether or not the exposures will affect the fetus of an exposed pregnant female is still unknown. I call your attention to Item 6 on Pages 2 and 3 and the discussion on birth defects on Pages 16 through 21. You will note that the birth defect issue, whether it be derived from the exposed husband, the woman herself, or both is still a matter to be clearly resolved by the scientific community. In light of the current controversy, it would seem prudent for us to take the precautionary approach in formulating our policies. Hence, the basis for our current policy of excluding women of child bearing ages from vinyl chloride. TM:bj1 TM-38-76 cc: G. D. Bevis / A. S. Cummin/ H. R. Jepsen, Jr. J. Machalek A. L. Miller A Mekaru R. B. O'Connor H. A. Peed H. L. Schmidt, Jr. J. W. Sheldon File BOR 010814