Document 5Dj9XKLO9NEobqLmDEGmnkq98

Distribution /tf InlvralRci Communication FROM: DATE: SUBJ: T. G. Grumbles July 24, 1989 VINYL CHLORIDE AND BRAIN TUMORS For your information, attached is a copy of a Dow position paper regarding the 1979 study that indicated a possible excess of brain tumors related to VCM exposure. A dlj .719 Attachment Friend-LCCP Ware-LCLAB, D. Garrison-Okc, Distribution: T. H. Huffman, M. S. Reynolds, J. A. DeBemardi, N. Frost, D. Conrad-LCVCM VAB.0001193003 355 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017 (212) 573 9400 4 March 5, 1979 received \m 14 wra ELASTICS business ARc ` TO: THE PVC SAFETY GROUP Gentlemen: Further to my letters of February 16 and 23, 1979 regarding the Incidence of brain tumors discovered among Union Carbide workers, 1 am enclosing for your internal use only, a copy a of the Dow postion on this subject* For additional information contact John Soghigian of Dow Chemical Company 517/636-3587. Very truly 3 John R* Lawrence Technical Director :GM Attachment VAB.0001193004 A joint GSHA-NIOSH investigation, prompted by.a worker complaint in November, 1978, has revealed brain tumors caused the deaths of 9 Union Carbide Texas City workers. Ibis number "would appear to be higher than expected" at that particular plant. About 455 death certificates. from ____ * 1962 to 1978 have been examined to date. 9 _* *T h * Ihe agencies have speculated a possible link of vinyl chloride * monomer to the tumors. However, both a Union Carbide spokesman QSHA administrator, Eula Bingham noted there are too many chemicals in use at * the plant to reach a correlation at this time. * * F A tenth worker who is still living has been diagnosed as probably having the same form of tumor. * ** n * The investigation began December 13, 1978, with the preliminary * announcement occurring February 15, 1979. OSHA said Union Carbide has * been very cooperative. w What we know about the health of Den/ workers exposed to vinyl chloride enables us to conclude that such brain tumors are not a problem in our work force. Also, epidemiological studies on large worker populations in the United States and Great Britain show no correlation between such brain tumors and vinyl chloride exposure. * VAB.0001193005 ** -2- A From our reading of the Texas City situation, it is too early to conclude that the cases of brain tumors were caused by vinyl chloride monomer* We do not mean to downplay the seriousness of current investigations, m but we caution against jumping to conclusions as to the cause of the deaths. * * * Hie facts vtfiich we have at this time are incomplete, and we 'are attempting to obtain more information. In addition, we have notified " * all Dow employees involved with vinyl chloride of the Texas City situation. * Dow recently completed a mortality study among its vinyl chloride workers at Freeport, Texas which did not show any indication of a similar situation. A similar study completed last year on Dow workers . - at Plaquemine reached the same conclusion. Specifically, both studies . * showed no deaths from brain tumors among vinyl chloride workers. * i * * m Another Dow mortality study published in 1975, focused on 594 -a workers exposed to vinyl chloride in Midland, Michigan. Two brain cancer deaths were identified, but these cancers were not believed related to vinyl chloride exposures. One subject who had only a three v months exposure to low concentrations of vinyl chloride, also had exposures to arsenic in another plant. Dow has previously published data indicating excess cancer in employees exposed to arsenic.* Hie second individual had only a four year exposure prior to his death, a time period generally considered inadequate for cancer to result. The type of brain cancer in each case was not confirmed by autopsy. VAB.0001193006 % Related Background 4 Outside studies have also been examined. In Great Britain, a stud/ of over 7,000 wor' * + * tumors, which was about half the number expected revealed 2 brain *1 An epidemiology study vinyl chloride (VCM) workers Equitable Environmental Health, Inc, funded by the Manufacturing (lipniists + ** Association, reported "brain tumors were found to be in excess 12 #* observed vs. 5.9 expected ... but the incidence was not related - either duration of exposure or to intensity of exposure to V04.M An excess ___ 4 malignant brain tumors was also reported by NIOSH researchers in a 1976 study of a small worker population In addition, the NIOSH group claimed to have identified altogether .* 9 histologically confirmed cases of glioblastoma multiforme (the brain tumor cited in the Texas City deaths) in U.S. workers exposed to vinyl chloride. We are attesting to determine if the Texas City workers were included as part of this survey. John Soghigian 6-3S87 w mmm Inorganic Chemicals 2020/MIDLM VAB.0001193007