Document 999ad2vGxV5K6Gy2O3yV0ze1L

MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS' ASSOCIATION, INC. Minutes of Meeting MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Offices of American Cyanamid Co., New York City October 5, 1960 MAC-19 C, present: Dr. R. E. Kelly, Chairman Dr. T. W. Nale, Vice Chairman Dr. C. U. Dernehl Dr. A. Fleming Dr. H. Golz Dr. L C. Haslam Dr. J- F. Osterritter Dr. W. L. Sutton Dr. L. J. Wade Mr. F. G. Stephenson Monsanto Chemical Company Union Carbide Corporation Union Carbide Corporation E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., American Cyanamid Company Canadian Industries Limited Celanese Corporation of America Eastman Kodak Company Enjay Chemical Company Inc, Manufacturing Chemists' Association Guest: Dr. A. G. Cranch Celanese Corporation of America 1. Minutes of the May 19, 1960 meeting were approved. 2^^5peech by General Hull at American Institute of Chemical Engineers ^FSecember 7, I960 . ^ Dr. Kelly reviewed the correspondence which had been mailed to com mittee members indicating that in the title "Industrial Problems in Environmental Health", the word 'environmental' is intended to incorporate not only working areas, but also the overall environs of manufacturing plants. (Secretary's note: The following is not a verbatim account of the discussion which then took place, but it is intended to reveal the thinking of the committee on the matter). Dr. Kelly: We have to decide what we mean by industrial problems in environmental health. There is a tendency for Government to emphasize the problems. Dr. Sutton: The problem will increase with the advancement of scientific techniques. Dr. Wade: I agree with Dr. Sutton. Big industry is doing an improved job of pollution abatement, but it would not be wise for General Hull to emphasize such claims, Dr. Kelly: General Hull can: (a) claim things are not so bad as people often think, or can (b) show what industry is doing in pollution abatement. If we claim we are keeping pollution down to low enough levels, we will be asked how we know such levels are low enough. CMA 060040 3 MAC-21 Dr. Kelly: There is bound to be pollution. If industry could raise the price of its commodities, it could reduce the pollution level. Dr. Golz : Effort should be made to slow down any Government interference. Industry cannot continue to absorb the cost of Government intervention as, for example, the recent Food Additives Amendment. If we admit there is a public health problem, let us ask for a go-slow policy by Government. Industry and the public health services shouLd get together to prevent harmful legislation. Industry should assess the magnitude of the problem but should not brag about its expenditures on pollu tion abatement. Dr. Wade: Agreed. Government has no interest in industry's economic problem in matters of pollution abatement. All they ask is "What are you accomplishing?". Dr. Golz: It is difficult to prove that certain levels of pollution are not harmful to people. Absence of evidence of harm is not acceptable. Dr. Wade: Agreed. So long as people die from unknown causes, pollution will be blamed. Dr. Dernehl: General Hull should show what a good job we are doing in industry to prevent exposure of workers. Dr. Fleming: This does not prove to them that we are preventing pollution of the atmosphere. They tell us we protect our workers by pumping the pollutants out into the atmosphere and thereby exposing the general public. Dr. Dr. Golz: We should suggest liaison between MCA and the Public Health Service in an attempt to solve problems. MCA could have representation on Government Committees. Osterritter: Good. This cooperation should be stressed in the speech. Dr. Wade: This puts it on a positive basis and avoids controversy. Dr. Fleming: At the same time the speech should cite the benefits to mankind through chemicals. Hazardous chemicals can be used safely. Dr. Sutton: Technological advances are inevitable, but industry has a big stake in seeing that new chemicals are used safely. CMA 060041 4 MAC- 22 Dr. Fleming: Feeding the world will depend on the use of chemicals We should work in some propaganda along this line. Chemicals are important for both protection and produc. tion of food. Industry should set its own safety factors. Dr. Haslam: Big industry is doing a fair job. The problem arises more from small plants. Dr. Fleming: True, but big industry usually takes the blame. Dr. Kelly: Perhaps I should recapitulate some of the thoughts that have been expressed. The General's speech should include an offer from MCA to cooperate with Government agencies. (a) by providing information when required on possible pollution (e.g. information as to what chemicals will be released from plants in a given area). (b) by assistance in solving specific problems. (c) by joint committee work. (d) by divulging methods of pollution control. (e) by informing local authorities whenever there is accidental release of pollutant chemicals into air or streams. Dr. Kelly quoted an example of a Japanese plant using mercury as a catalyst in the manufacture of vinyl chloride. Small amounts of mercury were released as waste and following concentration by re action in shell fish were eaten by the local populace resulting in development of neurological disorders. Dr. Cranch commented that the General's speech should indicate what has been achieved by industry, in addition to admitting existing problems. Dr. Dernehl; There are cases of cooperation between industry and local authorities. In the Kanawha Valley a plant built a sewage disposal unit wherein the sewage and the chemical effluent neutralized each other. CMA 060042 5 MAC-23 Dr. Kelly: Research into the fluorine problem by the steel industry is another example. The discussion was then concluded. 3. Status of Chemical Safety Data Sheet Program New Sheets Toluidines Acetone Chloroform Methylene Chloride Boron Hydrides Final draft approved May 19 Final draft approved May 19 Dr. Golz - draft circulated Dr. Sutton - draft circulated Dr. Golz - final draft approved by mail Revisions Pa ra f o rma 1 de hy de Carbon Tetrachloride Phenol Nitric Acid Anhydrous Ammonia Benzene Now being printed Final draft approved May 19 Final draft approved May 19 Dr. Kelly - Draft circulated Final draft approved (galley proof stage) In galley proof stage Assignments at May 19 Meeting Ammonia Aqua Trichlorethylene Acetic Anhydride Phosphorus Elemental Aniline Ethylene Dichloride Dimethyl Sulfate Sulfuric Acid Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Sutton - draft circulated Golz - draft circulated Nale - draft circulated Kelly Osterritter - draft circulated Sutton - draft circulated Fleming Wade 4. Revision of ''Guide for Preparation of Chemical Safety Data Sheets"^ 1. The committee discussed what action should be taken by the physician when a person has swal lowed a corrosive liquid. It was agreed to recom mend that water should be drunk to induce vomiting. 2. Page 12 of draft - 3rd line insert "not". 3. Threshold limit In addition to section 2, this should be included in a new section 10.2.2 under "Preventive Measures". CMA 060043 6 MAC-24 5. Next Meeting The next meeting will be held at the offices of Union Carbide Corporation in April 1961. The Chairman expressed the committee members' indebtedness to American Cyanamid Company and to Dr. Golz in particular for the hospitality extended to them. |FGS: vh Date: October 7, 1960 Minutes subject to approval F. G. Stephenson Secretary CMA 060044