Document 6b1ROo457K6N7JXojnxXmqjQm
Manufacturing Chemists Association
TECHNICAL MEETING ON THERMAL DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS OF
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE FILMS
MCA Conference Room
Washington, D. C.
March 1, 1974
RECORD OF MEETING
PRESENT:
W. V. Andresen J. D. Baker Frank Barbuscio W. E. Barr Paul Beebe, Jr. R. Burkhart R. E. Byrne J. J. Connor Tom Connor A. S. Cummin A. S. D'Amato R . S . D e t r i ck K. W. Easley G. E. Field T. M. Finnegan R. W. Frank F. C. Gregory L. Gross R. W. Gutheil D. E. Harrington Richard Henderson L. E. Ice G. W. Ingle E . J. Jacob D. G. James
W. w. Kocher Bruno Krueger
Ma x Miller R. C. Parsons
American Cyanamid Company Union Carbide Corporation American Cyanamid Company The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Reynolds Metals Company Clopay Corporation Polyvinyl Films, Inc. Polyvinyl Films, Inc. Borden, Inc. Borden, Inc. Koppers Company, Inc. Monsanto Industrial Chemicals Company Filmco Filmco Ferro Corporation Ethyl Corporation Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. Borden, Inc. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Olin Corporation Diamond Shamrock Corporation Monsanto Company Filmco Borden Chemical Division of Borden,
Inc. Borden, Inc. Borden Chemical Division of Borden,
Inc . Ethyl Corporation Reynolds Metals Company
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Technical Meeting on Thermal Decomposition Products of Polyvinyl Chloride Films
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PRESENT (cont.):
P. M. Pe ltz W. E. Rinehart E. E. Sandmeyer J . P . Stallings M. F . Tarker, Jr. H. J . Trochimowicz Delbert Volchko J. A . Yourtee B. M. Barackman A . C. Clark K. D. Johnson H. L. Sla tin F . G . Stephenson
Diamond Shamrock Corporation Ethyl Corporation Gulf Oil Corporation Chemetron Corporation FMC Corporation E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Filmco FMC Corporation MCA MCA MCA MCA MCA
Mr. A. C. Clark convened the meeting at 10:00 AM. After he had briefly summarized the background for this meeting, and after those present had identified themselves and their companies, Mr. R. W. Gutheil, of Borden, Inc., was appointed chairman pro tern.
Mr. Gutheil recounted the increasing attention to the problem of alleged respiratory tract irritation in food packagers with exposure to the fumes generated in the hot wire cutting and heat sealing of polyvinyl chloride films. He stressed the concern of industry that incomplete and in accurate information was receiving wide dissemination and generating undue concern among both employees working with this material and the general public. He indicated particular concern that the public and the unions were confusing the problem, if any, of PVC film emissions and that of the risks of angiosarcoma experienced by workers in the PVC poly merization industry.
An informal poll of the companies represented at this meeting revealed that there was widespread interest in set ting up an industry funded effort to generate valid data on the nature and extent of the problem, and of routes to its
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solution. Although commitments of support by a number of the companies were conditioned upon the ability of the group to develop acceptable plans and protocols for the project, it was evident that the great majority of those companies represented were interested in participation in a broad and meaningful investigation of the technical and communications problems faced by the manufacturers of film resins and their formulators and fabricators.
It was moved to define the mission and scope of the proposed- project as follows:
(1) a study of the decomposition products from polyvinyl chloride film resin formulations under heating short of ignition or combustion, and
(2) a study of the health effects, if any, of such products as influenced by the various temperature, humidity, or other environmental factors attendant upon the processing and uses of the film resin formulations.
The motion was discussed in detail, and a number of motions to amend were offered and rejected. It was the consensus that the scope and mission of the project should be kept focused on the physical chemistry and industrial hygiene problems associated with plasticized PVC films under conditions associated with their formulation, fabrication, and use in their intended applications, and that it should not be broadened at this time to allow inclusion of potential occupational health effects associated with the molding, extrusion, or use application of rigid sheets, pipe and tubing, and other fabricated items.
A motion to amend item (1) of the original motion, by striking the phrase after heating, and inserting in its place the corresponding phrase from item (2) "attendant upon processing and uses of film resin formulations" carried, and the motion so amended was approved by voice vote.
It was agreed to name a small group to develop
detailed recommendations for those elements of the project
necessary for consideration by potential supporters of a
research project and subsequent presentation to the MCA Board
with any request for their approval of MCA administration of
the project. These would include:
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(1) Mission and scope (2) Recommended research projects, with protocols and budgets (3) Proposed bases for allocation of project costs among its sponsors.
The following companies volunteered to provide representatives to the group:
Borden, Inc. Filmco (R. J. Reynolds) Diamond Shamrock Corporation Ethyl Corporation Reynolds Metals Company The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Clopay Corporation Monsanto Company (tentative) Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. (tentative)
The first meeting of the group was scheduled for 10:00 AM, Wednesday, March 6, 1974. Subsequent to the adjournment of the meeting, Dr. K. D. Johnson, MCA staff representative, arranged for the meeting to be held at the DuPont Plaza Hotel, in the Gallery Room.
Respectfully submitted.
Kenneth D. Johnson, Ph.D. Assistant Technical Director
KDJ:mb
Record Subject to Approval March 28, 1974
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