Document 7vY6V73ON4MLNKODZLeJjQag

24002001 s* - v*v i- Goodrich employe dies of chemical-linked d; Vi By MIKIE SHERMAN Ch.irlesE Arthur. 47. an employe of the B-F. Goodrich chemical plant in Avon Lake for the past 71 years, died last night at Elyria Memorial Hospital, eight months after he was diagnosed as having angiosarcoma, a rare form of liver cancer. The occurrence of angiosarcoma and other cancers has been associated with exposure to polyvinyl chlorides, which are made at the B.F. Goodrich plant here and at four other company facilities. During his 21 years at the plant, Mr. Arthur had spent about 11 working with the polyvinyl chlorides. More recently he had been working in the company's estol plasticizer and carboset operations COMMENTING on her husband s illness . last week, his wife Helen said. "He should be bitter but he's not. We hold no hard feelings against the company. Wherever you work there's something/ `When you know the Lord, bitterness leaves and you are filled with love," Mrs. Ar thur added. She and her husband were active members of the Christian Assembly of God Church in Lorain, and Mr. Arthur was also a member of the Christian Businessmen's Fel lowship and the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship Funeral services for Mr. Arthur will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Reichlin Fu neral Home. Elyria, with the Rev. Robert L. Newman, pastor of the Christian Assembly of God Church officiating. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. Burial will be in Brookdale Ceme tery, In addition to his wife, Mr. Arthur leaves four children: Valerie, IS, and Charles, 19, both at home; and two married daughters, Mrs. Albert (Denise I Perry, of Elyria, and Mrs. James (Karen) Long, of Lorain. His wife and members of the family were al the hospi tal when he died, al 6:36p m yesterday. BORN IN WEST VIRGINIA July 22. 1928. Mr. Arthur had lived in Elyria for the past 23 years. He was a veteran of the Korean War. In June, workers at the B.F. Goodrich plan! collected money to send Mr. and Mrs. Arthur and Valerie to Disney World, in Flori da. Shortly after that trip, the family gathered to discuss and support Mr. Arthur's decision to discontinue chemotherapy treatment. `' We all feel very badly. ` ' a secretary at the B.F. Goodrich Co. said this morning, tears sounding in her voice. "He'd worked here for 20 years -- we were his friends." Since Mr. Arthur was diagnosed in March as having angiosarcoma, he had worked "spo radically" at the plant, according to company personnel director Ronald Cross His last day of work was Sept. 23. ACCORDING TO some reports, the incid ence of cancer in polyvinyl chloride workers is 49 per cent higher than normal 16 years after exposure to the chemical. After 13 years, the incidence is 84 per cent higher. As recently as 1971, exposure levels were at 300 parts per million according to a compa ny spokesman. This has now been reduced to three parts per million, he said. Although four workers at He B.F. Good rich plant in Louisville. Ky . have died of liver cancer since 1968. Mr. Arthur's death is the first liver cancer death that has occurred among company workers in Avon Lake, ac` cording to Mr. Cross: POLYVINYL CHLORIDES have also been associated with a high incidence of birth de fects. Other members of Mr. Arthur's family who`survive are three grandchildren; a broth er. Opherd. of Jefferson. 0.; and two sisters. Mrs. Hildeo Lough, of Painesville, and Mrs. Wilma Ctflip. of Wert Virginia. cancer CHARLES ARTHUR Chronicle -Telegram ' LOCAL NiiWS i ..A--:A*ondoy, November 3, 1975 Page C-1 --------------------- -------------------------- --------- -------------------------- ,,