Document 99zn6ZKrE1L1g70M0Jx72Lw0R

EDWARD S JAMRO at MONIOP05 03/29/1999 8:34 AM TO: CURTIS H WILLIS TO: RICHARD J OWEN CC: SALLY D SEPIOL Subject: Re[9]: Vinyl Chloride Study Communications --------------------------------------------------------------- Message Contents ----------- Curt & Dick: I n case you get any calls. The letter went to retirees today - 3/29. ED Communications Author: LOREN W WASSELL Date: 1/22/99 3:00 PM Forward Header ____ Subject: Re[9]: at M0NSL304 vinyl Chloride Study Attached is final content for the letter (vc-ltr.doc) to 226 Indian Orchard employees/retirees involved in CMA's vinyl chloride study and some talking points (cmavinyl) for use if we are questioned about it. CMA currently plans to announce the study results on Tuesday, Jan. 26. NBC Dateline is already interested in the subject. CMA's announcement may generate media coverage. Since we've been out of the business for more than 20 years, there may not be a lot of media attention on Solutia. However, we do want to try to reach our folks about the same time as the public announcement so we're communicating timely information (and to avoid confusion about whether our letter refers to something different from the news stories). Jim, I understand you're working with the plant on distribution to the 226 individuals. Loren RSV0026276 i/jijjMfwmtMMa . . ........................................ i i i ii ................................. ...................................................................... .......--r--~ Page M^MV'^.v^'.w.ww.vW.WAWrtfl-.v,.v.vrtt-ri-fvYi.fu- Dear _______ , A study entitled "Epidemiological study of men employed in the vinyl chloride industry between 1942 and 1972," sponsored by the Chemical Manufacturers Association has recently been completed,. This study reports on 10,109 workers from 37 plants throughout the United States and Canada who may have been exposed to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and/or polymerized vinyl chloride (PVC) for one or more years between 1942 or 1972. This is the largest group of vinyl chloride workers ever studied and updates an earlier study. The study includes 226 workers from Solutia's Indian Orchard Plant and uses work history and death certificates to determine the rates of death among workers. This letter is being sent to employees and retirees who were included in the study. Monsanto ended production of vinyl chloride at Indian Orchard in June, 1975, because the business did not fit with the company's long-range goals. The study finds no increased rates of lung cancer, or cancers of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue reported in other vinyl chloride studies. Contrary to a previous report, there was no elevated rate of emphysema; the earlier study's indication of elevated rates of emphysema appears to be a result incorrectly classified cases. As with previous studies of VCM workers, elevated rates of liver cancer, especially angiosarcoma, were reported. High rates of soft tissue sarcoma and cancer of the central nervous system including the brain were also reported in this study. Soft tissue sarcoma is a difficult disease to study. The disease is very rare making it difficult to compile valid statistical information. Historically, soft tissue sarcoma is often reported inaccurately and some types were not identified until the very end of the study period. Four of the 12 cases of soft tissue sarcoma reported in this study were actually angiosarcoma, indicating they were misclassified. The authorsconclude that the elevated rates of liver and biliary tumors, brain cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma may have been the result of exposure to vinyl chloride. Other studies of Monsanto/Solutia employees and retirees at the Indian Orchard plant have not shown abnormal rates of any disease. Further, no deaths from liver cancer, or soft tissue sarcoma occurred among the Indian Orchard workers included in this vinyl chloride study. One Indian Orchard worker in this study did die of a cancer of central nervous system, but this RSV0026277 ---- -^.^ASWWAWA-.V.S^W.W.WAWW.V.-.V.WW.WrtWrtS^WASSW.WA'rtV.t.-.StWWWW.'.W.V^WWW^ -..AV.^S^.AWWWWASSW,V*W^W.%%WW,%W.W Page 2 j could be expected given the number of workers included. We will continue to monitor the health of our employees and report to you if we determine that exposures at the plant are impacting your health. . You may wish to share this information with your personal physician. If you or your doctor have questions, please call me at 314-674-7862. Sincerely, David C. Shepperly M.D. Medical Director RSV0026278