Document 8R0q3wJBL1M8MN76y5M18ODaZ

FILE NAME: Monsanto (MON) DATE: 1939 July 18 DOC#: MON007 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Internal Report - Toxic Materials National Paint, Varnish & Lacquer Assoc. ^fsmut Ijfnmi, J&inrislj mib 'Jlarqucr Association neos M lt iu m - llk lir 1, * * . M n tT M INCORPORATED 2201 NEW YORK AVE.N.W,, WASHINOTON,D.C, lc l rUIOtT-- f * * I ( B V U t lC n . C lIU M .i.MiTuct.N m i ak h tuu w. ctio. iHitiiH Ct. w, Q icDOMtie. W u .fa .T .i ornee or the i*res dent July IS, 1939 TO CLASS A ZRSi CONFIDENTIAL Not for Publication *tcion*i vict-tr;{>ri l i t n r 4 t l a M I I l ai:t >i:\ U IU U ^ I. . m ill, a|v H a n ill ^ I . t t t u f L lg.i.iu i (la riti--a rta > u i ,, , :i u m i n a -- I. . l<> o t v m o i u i vict> x : r : : s T . l i m e acn i'ta--t . n a i l I t i l . Toxic r.%tirials with their ever-present problems require our conscienticus con sideration of the fundsjisntal principles involved. The National Faint, Varnish arid Lacquer Association is keenly interested ii providing Class A r=rbcrc with ..= muen information on this subject as is practicable at this tire. This in formation being confidential is not intended f>r general publication, - it is being sent only to the Class A group. Please respect this confidence. The vital factor concerning toxic ..ateriols is to intelligently safeguara the public. People nay feel safer in buying material* whose danger they know rhth-r than rcterials unknown to them. We trust the acveral phases presented herein *111 be of some benefit to cenbers in applying every precautionary erasure in .sinuficturing, in selling und in use where tox:.c material* are likely to or oo enter a product. Toxics end their effects is e subject very broad in scope und can-only briefly bu treited in this mesaege. Children's toys, equipment, furniture, etc. are not the only consideration. Topics - ..i.-ny compounds used in 'points or lacquers may have harmful effects if carelessly handled. Toxic i.v.tcrials nay enter the body through the Lung* in the foru of dust, mist, vapors, or gases, through the skin, or through the mouth and stomach, aattrial inhaled into the nose and mouth can dissolve in the saliva and be swallowed. Irritant materials may also hove a direct action upon tno skin aid the mucous membranes of the. eyes,nose, mouth,and threat. It must be remembered that all people do not renct in the same way when exposed to chemicals. Soma may ha quite seriously affected by quantities which are harmless to others. Hence, it follows that any one using point and allied prod ucts should provide adequate ventilation and should observe ordinary sanitury mcesuras such as the washing of the hands and ft.ee before eating and keeping the clothes clean. Dirty work clothes, induditg shout, can bo an important source of skin absorption. Some of the ingredients of paints and allied products might receive opoci.nl mention because of thoir specific effects, rather than because they merely displace pari of the air or cause slight discomfort if taken into the stomach or system. The following pigments muy be considered r.s toxic if th*y find their way into stomich. The ;mount tolerated by the body varies with the pigtent. Anticony cxida, Naples yellow, or ether antimony {Antimony is supposed to be considerably loss toxic than lead< " NCA WQ 02?Ql N 68 z there is much evidence tv indicate that it is a toxic taetarial.) any cases of suspected antimony poisonjx.'g have been trr.ced to the ^ Acjoxponyin^ lu.d. /.racmc Compounds. Paris green or other compounds containing arsenic. C C-.-'xiuie sulfidas raid sfleniJes ere toxic, but belong to tn<s Is cor u;ec pigments. C h r C h r o . - - t ^ s of nil typos aro anderstood tc be roi-ti.-cly texic. Chromium oxides are rel.-.tively :ior.-toxic.- U-.c ?oc.->ounog. Wuite lerd, red iead, iitnrxge, load chromates (chrome ycllcw, chrome green), or other lead pigments. f'errury. Red and yellow oxides of tsreury or other products centcinir.g r.erwury - Liquids - Alcohols. The toxicity of methyl alcohol in very well xrom. as used in li-cquers, the other alcohols are relitlively harmless. L'SRvO'l.--This is probably tnr. -lost dangerous cf all commercial solvents, but its usfc ir. our inaustry is probably restricted to curtain paint and varnish recovers. ,Chlorinated Hydrocarbons. Carbon Utrichloride, trichlor ethylene, tutrnchlcx'othnne, uthyle.ie uiCiJ.oride, and similar chlorinated cli- ph'.tic hydrocorbons are said to be very d njerouc tones. Chlorjau-ted roa-tic hyuroc .rbor.a C'i'l to oe icen tone t;. u tuc corrcr^onto-.g 'yurocarbon itcoLf, but some chlorinated c.roa tics are frequently tne sour of r k m troubles. Lcccuer Solvents. There is some evidence that the acotfttos---tfthyl butyl and cmyl-- ore aoro cr less toxic. Acotono Kr.d tin ether ketones ore r-.ir.tively hrrmleas, Hc-t other solvents used to a lessor extent are either harmless in theaselves, are used in such relatively smell amounts, or arc so slowly evaporating that they present no hazard. Methyl Alcohol. The use of this product should bo avoided* It is aeflnitely poisonous. Solvent Naphtha. This is tlso relatively nos-toxic as compared to benzol, cad probably less toxic than toluol fend xylol. Tulucl end Xylol. In equal concentrations, these ore said tv be more toxic than benzol, but beenuse they are lass volatile tho actual hazard is usually less. 1 NCA 0 02902 / - 3- Tricresyl Phosphates, The para- and meta-tricresyl phosphates which are used as plasticizers are non-toxic. Ortho-tricresyl phosphate, cn the other hand, ie> a violent poison. Turpentine and "lneral Spirits. These products are relatively nan-toxic but are still listed in works on toxicology as causing eczema and irri tation of the skin and mucous menbrunos. Some people exposed to the fumes are subject to internal disorders wh'.n breathing substantial s-.our.t5 of turpentine, Kir.ersl spirits is less tcaic than turpentine. 0*herrls.sticiters. Very little is known regarding the toxicity of other crzuon so-called chemical plasticizers, but the hazard frca volatility or dust is, of course, snail. The main ccnsldtration,, whenever paint products ore used, is constant repetition to the paint consumer of the necessity of employing adequate ventilation and maintaining personal hygiene, Printed Matter - Color cards and advertising literature should not in clude my reference by the use of words or sketches to indicate or reccanend a product for children's toys, equipment, furniture, etc., unlessit is absolutely free frca toxic materials. Nor.-Foiscnous Colors - It is generally conczded there is relatively little danger of toxic effect iron paints on toys ind nursery furniture, as both the paint manufacturer and the toy manufacturer are familiar with the types of non-poisenous pigments to use. Nevertheless, the individual company should constantly guard against using any toxic material, especially lead compounds, in products for finishing childrun's toys, etc. Note: (See pegs #7 of "Odds and Ends", a special circular of the Scientific Section Notional Paint, Varnish and Lacquer Association, issued August 1938.) Crcwn-ups arc exposed to some hazards as in the case of children. There fore products for finishing pencils, and other articles that may be placod in -the mouth, through habit, require the use of toxic-free materials. Labeling - No definite procedure is reconnerded for labeling. Labeling is serious since it becomes a public matter with the question as to what would result if this were done. Each manufacture! man ably cope with the toxic material situation by constantly safeguarding the public through the prod ucts he manufactures and by the repetition cf instructions to salesmen, service men and others who can intelligently instruct the consumer of the advantages of providing adequate ventilation and of aaintitning personal hygiene. General - The statement of legal principles listed below was prepared for und distributed by the Manufacturing Chemists' Association for the guidance of its iwdbors concerned with labeling problems, and is supported by decisions of the courts. Although the principles set forth ore not entirely the result of litigation involving material used by members of our industry they are nevertheless generally applicable to situations arising from the use of harmful substances. N CA 0 02533 yjuf&cturing Chemists' Association Legal Principles 1. A manufacturer who puts out c dangerous article or substance without uccoRpanying-it with u warning at> to its dangerous properties is crcir.srily liable for any dacuge which resuLts from such failure tc warn. 2. A manufacturer or dealer who erroneously labels a dangerous drug with the name of a harolusc substance is liable for any injury which ray be caused thereby. 3. F ailure to comply with c sta tu te , e , g . , with respect tc labeling p ciscn i, i s usually held tc be negligence par so or a t l e a s t eviijuce of negligence. 1. The name of the product alone nay 'ou sufficient warning, if its n;.tire is very widely known or its sale in restricted to those who arc . pr5"J3ed tc know its nature, but even in such cases the cbviscoility of a specific warning is indicated. 5. Technical accuracy nay not bo sufficient protection for the otnufect;ir*r if he uss wares which nay give tie purchaser tha impression that his product is not .het it octually is. 6. A nonwarranty of results is net a warning against possible results. 7. The consumer is cntitlca to rely on positive representations or directicns appearing on the label unless h& knows then to oe incorrect. 8. The nunufacturer is ordinarily not liable if his product is put to a use for which it is not intenaed ana an injury results which cculd net reasonably have been foreseen. It is often difficult, however, to bvcw whether a particular result should have a^en foreseen, and the court# are apt to differ on this pcint. 9. The manufacturer or one who holds hioself out tc be the manufacturer must know tha qualities of his product can he cannot escape liability on the ground that he did not know it to be dangerous. 10. The general rule that a manufacturer is not liable to these not in privity of Contract with him does not apjly when hi# product is immi nently or'inherently aangarous. Ccnclusion - tie grant that this is a very broad subject, and doubt if a concif? set cf rules can be established. Kcvarthslesu, it say be sain that our nembers can meet their individual problems in safeguarding the public, including of course our own factory employees, by their sincere effort In taking advantage of every possible precaution in the use of torJLc materials in manufacturing, selling and in use. Such precautions plus constant repetition of Intelligent instructions will, it is believed, secure the best resulj^ar-* Tours vtj&tpily, TT:ma a 02J04