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UPI wire about vinyl chloride emissions 5/21/74 j i/9 ^ Tout.large industrial concerns in Massachusetts with hundreds of employees may be forced to shut down due to the new strict regulations proposed by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Leonard D. Pagnotto of the state division of Occupational Health said that these plants will be affected* Great American* Monsanto* Olen, and Borden Chemical in Leominster. "In my opinion* these plants would not be able to meet the regulations." The proposed regulation would change the amount of emissions from 50 parts per million to 1 part per million. Mr. Pagnotto said almost the only way the plants could meet the new regulations would be through large changes. The tests done show levels of 15 to 20 parts per million of emission in rest plants. One plant showed 1000 parts/million, but this was due to a malfunctioning that was later corrected. Other tests are being done* but it will be at least a week before the results will be known. The proposed regulation was released May 10* 1974. Interested parties have 30 days to respond to FOSHA. There was no indication of when a final decision will be made. After parties have responded* FOSHA will decide if they should go to the 1 part/million or make a less stringent regulation. R E C11 v r o MAY 2 2 (974 E j. JOSENHANS BOR 008310 w Uph eld 0 Burger added that laws aimed at uardii.s trade secrets "encourage development and exploitation of , items of lesser or different inventhan might be accorded protection , the patent laws, but which items nave an important part to play in 'v rhnological and scientific advance of the nation." the initial district court suit. Kew, asked damages and an injunction anst its former employees, alleging ie secrets such os chetntcal comnd formulas, manufacturing procees and even customer lists of the -.pany were used in organizing Bicion .''no for the purpose of competing with r.-haw in tne production of the synthe. rjstals. ;ho Ohio appeals court reasoned that state could not grant "monopoly pro.nn" to processes and manufacturing tuques that were patentable at one but were no longer pater.tabis be>e they had been in commercial use one year. ai Scheme re Ov^rtiUii ht:-j ^producer of West Germany, has scheme to meet the oil shortage 1 alcohols from coal. The Sobering A prices, it would be uneconomic to 2 during tbs war), it might be fcasi- te produce chemicals. <' re tt'.verr.meiit has been asked to put ; .v r the money fur a pilot plant, costrr.-i'-mn Gormf.it marks, aimed at '''sorr 30,000 to.is and 50,000 ' - >ear N IMi'.HASE WEIGHED ' **" *= curnpany is also cousid- :ts investments in the US due t:.c v.ilue of the DM, which - In'S of earnings from overseas ` -m.ets have reportedly made the pharmacologists more at- ' > s, henry, and this, with the high > rr 1 *v!f sufficiency in raw mate' r'omptir.g the board to look more Ci'r. tinned on Page 43 vj f K * v 11 ir L* v K/ f T. fv p evjy Uftinulri n--vSiUgU i-Ocviili v>. ., '''rev Office wUl hold `vi 20 in V/ashirsg- - um o[ petroleum 'tlc natural gas "'1 Mnv 1, to u't.'.ed its '`;ij:al t;a-, 'r.:,', They 1 v , i .. , CGATMG & PLASTIC f.lATSHlALS "5" vsr n ii "' * /*> ^ 'v, C- A. ,*, TM a** y ' r 8 W *i-w V tl Vi v Li* W v-rif tw. '* Las Ov&ill>u4Wiif % mt * VC iwiGil hse (jy *5 ; vest The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed permanent standard for levels of vinyl chloride gas In work environments, and its as sociated medical and supervisory pro cedures, has made the issue of VC tox icity the first concern of the PVC in dustry, according to some sources in that industry. The proposal, and its po tential impact if formally adopted, has, these sources say. superceded feedstock shortages as the most worri some challenge faced by the industry. OSIIA's action reflects only one aspect of the current government inquiry into the health threat posed by VC, other research is being conducted by FD\ and EI'A. but the proposed standard represents the first significant move toward regulation of the chemical intermediate and has thereby magnified and focused the toxicity issue. Although the proposed regulations apply to "any area or operation in which vinyl chloride is manufactured, reacted, re leased, repackaged, stored, or used." it is in polymerization facilities where environ mental levels of the gas are highest and where the impact of the slandard would be greatest. But PVC is also the heart of VC use, consuming virtually a'l that is pro duced and in turn suppijing one of the hroadest. strongest, and most economical end-use markets in the entire p'u'ttcs in dustry. Thus the impact there w;ii be felt with virtually equal force both up and downstream. The key sentence in the proposed rules is this: "The proposed standard for em ployee exposure is set at no detectable level, as determined by a sampling and an alytical method capable of detecting vinyl chloride at concentrations of 1 ppm v. ith an accuracy of Ippm plus 50 percent." This su percedes a level of 500 ppm, in effect up until April of this year when an emergency temporary standard of 50 ppm was put into effect. The Society of the Plastics Industry promptly responded by calling the standard "excessively and unrealistically restric tive." In a statement issued within hours of the proposal, on May 10, SPI said that adop tion of the standard "would make it virtual ly impossible lor plants to operate." Spokesmen for a number of PVC producers backed-up SPI's assessment. One said "nobody can operate at that Continued on Page 22 Asarco Going Ahead BOR 008311 American Smelting & IMining Company expects to proceed with plans for a 180,000 - ten electrolytic zinc facility to be sited in Kentucky. The project, involving investment of about $150 million, lias bean compli cated by the energy shortage and con straints placed on new power con struction due to the government's air pollution regulations, as well 2S by the US duty on zinc concentrates. The plant requires a dependable, com petitive source of power before it can be sited. Also, it would depend on imports for a little more than 59 percent ot Os raw ma terial requirements. A US duty of 0 G7 cents per pound of contained zinc would be sus pended by a bill now :n Congress. A company spokesman suys new domes tic capacity is urgently needed and esti mates the US has lost 50 percent of its zinc Continued on Page 24 EuCinrL ClViClAL: Robert K. Could, who has been elected a vice-pre&ich'nt e* Be chtel, Inc. He " ill continue as risnaq^r of Bechtel s F.chrery L Cnemicai if.vision. Texasgulf Halts Projt Texnsgulf, Inc., has shelved iu plan to iticivase ore production at the Kidd Ci eok Mine because of unce rtainty Over O,;! a i i n iirnvinei.il and fonn,li.i.i signer' to increase ore production front 3 6 to 5 million tons per year at a co-> of some s-jj million. Tevaxi'iilf untie.mn-d at its nr.ua! -h i COATING & PLASTIC UATB--ALS Toxicity Debate Continued from Pete S i,5j | -; d oioj Wcl level." another said, "the disruptions would be enormous," others said "we'd have to design new plants," "it would shut u$ down," "you could close per pound. BON reds went up by 40c. to a range of. generally, S3,00-53.45 per pound. Diaryhde yellows increased 70-7ac. to $3.50-33.75 per pound. Hansa yellow went up 20c. to $3.10 per pound. Benzidine orange the industry down because nobody rose by 40c. to $4.80 per pound. could operate," "the economic impact Naphthel reds went up 90e-$1.40 to a would be enormous," and "no expo sure would mean no industry." Some others were more reserved. "I don't say it can't be done." one informed source at a large producer said, "but it would be very difficult and expensive. range of $4,90-i> 50. And qumaertdone red increased by $1.00 to $17.00 per pound. Terms and conditions of sale are un changed. ANTIMONY OXJDK-Harshaw Chemi cal increased prices on antimony oxide last week, effective May 17, but not to the level We're quite concerned, but it's part of the cost of doing business." Goodrich, the major producer o! PVC in set by other manufacturers earlier this month. Standard grade was increased by 19'ie. per pound to $1.44 per pound. MitT and XL industries had earlier raised prices the world, said in a formal statement that by 35`ie. to J! 61 per pound. "the nr, detectable level' clause is imprac A spokesman for Uarshaw said the com- tical and not justified," but added that "it intends to continue to operate its plants and meet any reasonable standard." Many pro ducers expressed confidence that the final L... standard adopted would be above that pro Ending May 17, 1974 posed Maurice Johnson, M.D., chief medi cal officer at Goodrich, said last week that Goodrich is currently operating with a work place environmental level of about 15 ppm at most of us plants. Non. Nw* ADVANCED RCDUCED However, other smaller manufacturers claim they have spent "hundreds of thou sands of dollars" just to get beneath the 50 ppm emergency standard, and added that 23-3P ppm would be as low as they could go COMPARATIVE PRICE INDEXES {>00- 1D5> Average) Last Prav. Last May IB Week Week Month 1973 118,76 110.76 118.74 116.53 in the near luturc. Summing up the indus try concern, one informed source said "the question now- is 'How do you stay alive?' For Current Prices See Pag* 30 . The next two or three months will be criti cal.'' pany hoped to hold the price at its new TOO HIGH" level. "The market is moving too fast," he said. "We hope to stabilize it. We don't Sidney Wolff. M.D., Director of Health want a repeat of 1970," he added, when a Research Group which has been instrumen number of customers were driven away by tal in pushing government recognition of rapidly rising prices. VC toxicity, has complained that the pro posed standard is "too high." He argues that while it "goes in the right direction" and that the nnn-detectable performance level is proper, the wording of the proposal in effect establishes a threshhoid level of 1 ppm. He adds that tin re is "no evidence that any carcinogen is safe at any level." OSHA, he believes, should insist that nondetectrble means on instruments of any sensitivity, available not.- or available in the future. This he sovs was the intent of NlCiSH's recommendations, as well as those ot ObliA's own Carcinogen Advisory CADMIUM PICMENTS-Effective May 15, Hercules inetcased the price of its cad mium and "Mercadium" pigments. Cadmi um yellow lithnponc was increased 22c. to $2.56 pew pound. Cadmium yellow concen trates ruse by 53c. to 56 01 jier pound. Cadmtum orange Ulhopone was increased 30c,-34c. to $3.25-53.59 per pound. Cadmium orange concentrates rose 75c -87c. to $R.lfi-$!).03 per pound. Cadmium reds rose 3Sc,-39c to S4.lS-f5.31 per pound. And cad mium red concentrates increased $1.02 $1.3? to $7.76*$ 12.32 rer pound. Cumnidtoc when it suggested a level of no RED LEAD-NL Industries increased exposure in January with regard to 14 other litharge and rod lead prices last week, ef suspect-carcinogens that It was convened to fective May 15, hy 51.50-$.'.09 cvt. Standard study. litharge is now priced at $27.25 cwt 977/ red Fcrf Cottine, a staff legal associate at IIRG, says that industry always complains it will be put out of business vvhen faced led-is now prtc-d at $25 50 and 957, red *'irad is now priced at 529.C3 cwt. Prices are for truckload quantities. with rifely regulations. lie suggests that TITANIUM UirMtij;-Effective May they provide evidence to hock-up their 15. DuPont increased the price of standaid ciui.ii, that lit- emphasis be on technical grade anitase aid, rat.iu titanium dioxide feasibility rather than just eeunomu fvas'.- by 3c. per pound. Doth nnatasc nnd rutile hudj, and lhal oath cu.i'por.y tase be ti,.- arc now pi,(c 1 ,,! ihe general industry fig- rdlrd ipd.i idi;..li -, v't'o individual ev vie ntlar> healings ov hardship, aid in.hx'Liuyl rulings on performance ami deadline de ft irnenls Th" OrgMiUatimi of Plastic lYuccswi a Vi uxh my ton eruup rvpi caenririt plastics ur, v.f 3'c, i-w -I 1',',,.1-r erode anutase we, mi. run sod th . 1.* h.'c. per p .., r.,I. LOV, -DENSITY f'ril.Yli'l DVLUNEVTfeiUvc June 1. Dm" wiii increase its D-DPF p-:ccs a' it o d 3c p- r r '-.iod ,jerer- fabricators end Hi! ism. hr- I no it,-modi oli' t u.ni.'nd on the (hi* I \ pro, o-a! hut at t- ir.c ihi-yrlt-r Mwlit,cl s.,.u thr,l the ex ecutive couinv.Uvc hid h,-eo emu coed to s'u '.v th- dev i lopii.t '.t .in i c--1,,)'!i>'i forrijl loll, y twain it. i (mice clou- to <lu gi.u-p, ho-iw-i, s.'.id ri.o OSfiA nim c "is m t a -1nvf to h' help.' it It o- going to ,li- ruf t xupph.- n` > ondie/ ` 7 hen he v it M- d to ih fuel: "'i li; ic i- c f. t,,uiiv u health pi i.b- \vx , |w f//COMPANY'^ W' H* -- 1 Tr from MATHc S If you haven': MATHS DIVISiOi 169 K*nntfy Or., Lodi, M. J. - ---------- " ' sTs-.i ir,: / \ 'I'l-fj.' - .v4'MJWl R-. ' '-.......... .<*,'< 3 C.'Vf ivH; , 'i lk'. M ' I * " .4' fV,. St#-., - ,.,l < ' '> HIC e,^' ,, fcrf... __/!_*_>.*.;$>** I44H.I ftcedi vinyl/iie: ...try idft BOR 008312