Document BR6ERkzmoj98ddD0JKeK1R0nJ

Monsanto '**' Medical Department April 3, 1973 C f f CNC i Dr. George Roush I have obtained the following information from Mr. H. J. Corbett concerning vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) and polyvinyl chloride. Monsanto manufactured VCM at the Texas City Plant but stopped the production approximately five years ago. During the time we manufactured VCM, we had approximately 50 to 75 people who worked in this department at any one time. The Texas City Plant currently uses VCM in the production of ethylene vinyl chloride copolymer. The VCM is purchased from outside of Monsanto. The following plants converted VCM to polyvinyl chloride (PVC); Springfield, Massachusetts - in this plant approximately 125 people are Involved in the production of PVC. In the mid-year, 1973, there will be a reduction of approximately 40 people in this unit. It is estimated that in about three years, this unit will be shut down. This plant uses a solvent cleaning method of cleaning the reactors. During the investigation of the hand problems concerned with the manufacture of PVC, the hands of all personnel in this department were x-rayed and the findings were completely negative. All of the reBt of the Monsanto plants that manufacture PVC used normal cleaning methods of high pressure water. They were Montreal, with approximately 25 people exposed; Eecheria, which is in Mexico City, Involved four workers; Argentina, where we are out of the business; Japan, which employed 150 people; and Spain, where the head count was 50. To the best of my knowledge there was only one case of acroosteolysis. The plants at which we extrude PVC and their current status are: Kearny, New Jersey - we are no longer extruding PVC. Springfield, Mass. - we will be out of the business of extruding PVC by mid-year. Sharonvllle, Ohio - we are no longer extruding PVC bottles and have no intention of starting again. The Stonlngton plant forms what we call a cut-in operation which is the checking of a new set of molds. The only plant which we now have routine extrusion of PVC is at Yardville, New Jersey, where three machines are currently using PVC. There has been a steady decline in the amount of production at this point. f- Carl D. sohl Industrial Hygienist sib RSV 0003653