Document 7MQMkGE24kgQqNarMNErVDv6B

70: Distribution TGG: JCL: MMG: AJO: RF XF: Interoffice Communication r ROM: DATE: 3UBJ: T. G . G runic i e s July 19, 1989 EMPLOYEE INFORMATION MEETINGS AT LCVCM ON JULY 14 Attached is the list of questions from the meeting and the brochure ve handed out. I've made no attempt to group the questions, but have made initial assignments as to who should draft answers, Most are for me and Dr. Drumwright. Our goal is to have a document done by July 28 for distribution at VCM. Dt is clear what the major concerns are based on the questions. They are as follows: Facts on Ross and Fogleman's illness. 2. what are the limitations of current medical screening, and what will the Company do for further screening specific to brain tumors. > 3. will the Company study the LCVCM plant population. They are concerned about their small group not the VCM industry. 4. Do other chemicals at the plant, such as EDC, HC1, and Chlorine have similar chronic effects. Some of these questions can be answered based on science and some will involve policy decisions. Overall, I believe we have set a positive tone by our approach to date and must continue open and "aggressive" communication with the employees. dU T. G. Grumbles' dli .73.6 Attachment Distribution: A. A. Conrad, G. M. Shirlav-LCVCM T. H. Huffman. J. R. Drumwright. R. D. Gambiin. J. A. DeBernardi. M. S. Reyr.oics ;c: J. Friend-LCC?. J. 'J. Nare-LCLA3. H. D. Garrison-CMC. R. V. Sevmour-ABER VVV 000022541 QUESTIONS RESPONSIBILITY 1. ARE TWO BRAIN TUMORS IN A SHORT-TIME IN A SMALL GROUP LIKE OURS INDICATIVE OF A PROBLEM? JRD 2. WOULD THE PROBLEM DAN ROSS HAD SHOW-UP ON THE VAN CHEST X-RAY? JRD 3. ARE TWO BRAIN TUMORS IN GROUP LIKE OURS A LARGE AMOUNT? (DON'T COUNT EVERYONE, ONLY THOSE EXPOSED IN OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE). JRD 4. WHAT ABOUT THE CANCER DEATHS IN THE PAST? JRD 5. I WORRY MORE ABOUT EDC AND TARS? CAN THESE BE CARRIED HOME AND EXPOSE MY FAMILY? TGG 6. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT EDC/TARS EXPOSURE EFFECTS? TGG 7. ARE THE RECENT BRAIN TUMORS THE SAME TYPE? JRD 3. DID DAN ROSS'S CANCER METASTASIZE? JRD 9. CAN DIFFERENT PEOPLE GET DIFFERENT CANCERS FROM SAME EXPOSURE DUE TO INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES? JRD QUESTIONS 1- YVV 000022542 QUESTIONS RESPONSIBILITY 10. DID THE BFG STUDY LOOK AT OTHER CANCERS AS WELL? TGG 11. HAVE WE TALKED TO OTHER VINYL PLANTS? JRD/TGG 12. DID MR. FONTENOT HAVE ANY APPARENT SIGNS/SYMPTOMS FROM THE VAN EXAM? JRD 13. DOES THE BLOOD TEST INDICATE CANCER? JRD 14. IS VISTA GOING TO PROVIDE CAT-SCANS? JRD/THH/RAC 15. WHAT WILL THE COMPANY DO IF ANOTHER BRAIN TUMOR IS FOUND? TGG 16. IBS IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR A CAT-SCAN I HAD? WHAT IS THE INSURANCE SITUATION FOR PAYMENT OF THIS TESTING? ER 17. IS VISTA LOOKING AT ANY OTHER TESTS BESIDES CAT-SCANS? JRD 18. ARE THERE BRAIN TUMORS AT OKC AND ABERDEEN? JRD 19. WHAT DOES A CAT-SCAN SHOW? WILL IT PICK VERY SMALL TUMORS? JRD 20. WILL VISTA STUDY OUR GROUP, THE LCVCM PLANT? TGG QUESTIONS 2- - vvv 000022543 QUESTIONS RESPONSIBILITY 21. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS? TGG 22. BASED ON DEATH CERTIFICATE PROBLEMS, HOW CAN ANY STUDY BE ACCURATE OR DEPENDABLE? TGG/JRD 23. WHAT ABOUT THE DEATH CAUSES OF CHILDREN OF EMPLOYEES? WILL YOU LOOK AT THOSE? JRD 2U. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT STUDIES WITH THOUSANDS OF WORKERS, WHY DON'T YOU STUDY US? TGG 25. CAN'T ONE MOLECULE OF A CARCINOGEN CAUSE CANCER? TGG 26. WILL YOU GET MORE INFO ON ROSS & FOGLEKAN? JRD 27. WHY DO THE VAN TESTING RESULTS TAKE SO LONG TO GET? JRD 28. WILL RETIREES BE KEPT UP TO DATE ON OUR STUDIES? RAC 29. WILL YOU UPDATE US REGULARLY? RAC 30. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CANCER ROSS U FOGLEMAN HAVE? JRD 31. A FILM SHOWN IN 1972 SAID GLIOBLASTOMAS WERE A RESULT OF VCM EXPOSURE. HAS THIS CHANGED? vVV 0000225** TGG QUESTIONS -3- QUESTIONS RESPONSIBILITY 22. ARE THE 100 ANGIOSARCOMAS FOUND IN WORKERS PVC AND VCM WORKERS? TGG 33. DOES CIGARETTE SMOKING CAUSE BRAIN TUMORS? JRD 34. WHY DO VISTA BLOOD RESULTS USE HIGHER NORMALS FOR COMPARISON? JRD 35. WHAT ABOUT EDO AND HC1 EFFECTS? WHAT ARE SHORT & LONG TERM EFFECTS AND AT WHAT PPM LEVEL DO THEY OCCUR? TGG 36. HOW LONG DOES EDC STAY IN BLOOD? JRD/TGG 37. ARE EDC RELEASES AND EXPOSURES REPORTED TO OSHA? TGG 38. WHY DON'T YOU DOCUMENT HIGH EDC EXPOSURES LIKE YOU DO VCM EXPOSURES? TGG/RAC 39. DO STUDIES LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES EXPOSED OR TOTAL NUMBER AT THE PLANT? TGG 40. DO THE CHEMICALS HERE, VCM AND EDC, HAVE A CUMULATIVE EFFECT? TGG 41. IS LITERATURE SEARCHING ALL THAT WE'RE DOING? TGG/THH/RAC QUESTIONS VVV 000022545 -4- QUESTIONS RESPONSIBILITY 42. WHAT ABOUT HCl AND CHLORINE EFFECTS? TGG 43. SINCE ROSS fit FOGLEMAN ARE THE REASON FOR THIS MEETING, WILL THERE BE A STUDY OF THEIR WORK HABITS, ETC.? TGG 44. WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS, CAN'T WE DO SPECIAL TESTS FOR THEM? JRD/RAC/THH 45. WHY ISN'T A CAT-SCAN PART OF A ROUTINE PHYSICAL FOR US? JRD QUESTIONS VVV Q00022546 -5- What Vista intends to do Vista Chemical recognizes and un derstands the concern felt by our em ployees and their families. The company continues to evaluate the literature and participate in industry groups concerned with the health ef fects of exposure to chemicals used or ' manufactured in our plants. In addition, the company is investij gating new non-invasive testing meas ures which could be used to detect ab normalities. As we move forward, we'll keep em ployees informed of our progress. VISTA Facts About... < <L o ao o Brain N Ui tumors * and chemical VIS1A exposure Vista Chemical Company Lake Charles VCM Plant What studies show about brain tumors The scientific literature and study re sults present conflicting evidence in re gard to the association of brain tumors and vinyl chloride monomer. Some studies have indicated a possi ble association between brain tumors and VCM. Others have shown no asso ciation at all. In the studies which indicated a pos sible association, the number of tumors oceiuing in studied workers was com pared to the number of cases known to occur in the general population. While the number of tumors among the work ers was higher than those occurring among the population at large, the dif ference was small enough that one could not say for sure whether the dif ference was caused by worker exposure to VCM. The information on exposure to ethy lene dichloride and carbon tetrachloride does not indicate an association be tween these chemicals and brain tu mors. < < < o oo o N fsJ + CP What are the symptoms of brain tumors? For brain tumors, clinical Findings or symptoms are variable. Headaches seldom are the first indi cators of the presence of a brain tumor. Other symptoms such as convulsions or seizures are probably the more common signs. Intense headaches accompanied by vomiting, visual disturbances, (blurring or seeing double), weakness and/or trouble with coordination should be thoroughly investigated by a physician. Also keep in mind that brain tumors may result from other causes as well. For example, certain forms of lung can cer may spread to the brain or other lo cations in the body. Good health habits, taking part in Vista's health testing program ancl peri odic visits to your own physician are important to stay ahead of any physical condition that could adversely affect you. Tests that can detect brain tumors There are a number of specific diagnotic tests which can be used to dc termine the presence of a brain tumor. These tests include CAT scans, MRls (magnetic resonance imaging), skull x-rays, injection of dyes, or com binations of these and other tech niques. However, most of these are invasive tests which carry some risks of their own. For instance, CAT scans involve exposure to more radiation than a nor mal chest x-ray and should not be un dertaken lightly. In addition, the multi-phasic testing offered by Vista is designed to provide broad screening, not specific diagnos tic tests. Vista's exam uses questionnaires and interviews to obtain good employ ee medical histories. These histories, used to determine signs and symptoms of potential health problems, are ex tremely important because problems are usually detectable before actual physical findings are. When screening evaluations indicate problems, more intensive diagnostic procedures may be recommended.