Document 6b7r39OdkwQ8J45LXp4d6k3Z4

FROM Sarah G.(N A M ~ L O C A T lO N -- P H O N E ) Collins - BIND - 3860 DATE SUBJECT i October 31, 1984 : WGK Study cc.V. T. Matteucci - B2SC W. B. Papageorge - B3NA G. Roush - G2WG REFERENCE T O : J. H. Spraul - G2WF NOV 1 -1984 I've modified the WGK study backgrounder. Any additional comments? We could still "tighten" it further if we need to. SGC:jd Att. Sarah G. Collins CONFIucim i lAL GQ614 Draft 2--10/31/84 # WGK HEALTH STATUS STUDY \ Monsanto, through DMEH and MIC management, has been working with Northwestern Medical School's Departments of Internal Medicine and of Preventive Medicine on a proposed study for the W. G. Krummrich Plant. The purpose of the study would be to investigate the health status of current and former employees at the WGK Plant with suspected previous exposure to dioxin. The study would clarify whether or not any measurable health effects, other than chloracne, can be seen in the WGK employees who had been exposed, even minimally, to the contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin (TCDD) or dioxin. A number of recent studies have suggested that there are no significant long-term health effects caused by dioxin exposure other than chloracne. However, skepticism remains not only in the general public but, more importantly, in the scientific community as well. Consequently, in the proposed WGK study we will investigate the question of long-term health effects so as to assure and/or alleviate concerns of our employees; satisfy the scientific community; and protect Monsanto's financial interests against unwarranted litigation. The current proposal is to study a group of "exposed" current and former WGK employees and compare them to a like number of "non-exposed" WGK employees and a like number of "outside control" employees from the Columbia Plant. It is anticipated that approximately 300 individuals could be identified in each group, and it is hoped that at least 75 percent of each group would voluntarily agree to participate in the study. more - C.Q6142 The study would be done with the cooperation of the local union and their selected medical consultant from Yale University. It would also be reviewed by a panel of medical experts associated with universities and the U.S. Government of T\ sufficient stature to render indisputable scientific credibility to it. The final protocol for the study will be prepared by Northwestern. It will include a description of the selection criteria for the examinees, historical information necessary, examination procedures to be performed by the physicians, laboratory tests and statistical analysis of the data. The protocol will be presented to and critiqued by DMEH and the review panel by the end of November 1984. The proposal and cost figures will be presented to Monsanto top management for approval. /MjfSx approval the physician from Northwestern and the Union physician will make a presentation to WGK employees explaining the purpose and plan of the study. Actual testing will begin at the WGK Plant by the Northwestern medical team in early January 1985. Upon completion of the WGK examintionsjin February or March,;the same team will go to ColumbiaVxo start tests for that part of the control group. Each individual will be fully informed by Northwestern of his examination results. The group data and analysis will be compiled by Northwestern and submitted to Monsanto and the review panel for critique before finalization. The results will then be made known to the WGK employees, Monsanto management, the union and government agencies prior to submission for publication in the scientific literature. CO' CO6.14.3 more -  Northwestern University is an institution with undisputed scientific credibility. They have been involved in the medical evaluation of two (2) groups of litigants with dioxin claims and have found no dioxin-related abnormalities. They are interested in pursuing the scientific evaluation of a "real group" to debunk the wild statements that are being made cu' I C064