Document DD7gp6DL94gexKLJzLX73Z41B

/ / PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT J' TT. / MEETING AT ANN ARBOR. MICH1CAN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE &(MCA Sponsored---A mcing of cooperati, PVC producers sad ths Institute of Indugrc^ikl Health, University of Michigan) JAWAHY 24. 1967 Attendees from Union Carbide Corporation were: Or. E. Q. Hull Or. C. U. Dernehl Mr. R. N. Wheeler. Jr. This meeting was called to discuss tentative plans for an epidemi ological study within the PVC industry to determine, if possible, the cause and incidence of a possible occupational health hazard. The MCA proposes employment of the University of Michigan Institute of Industrial Health to make an industry-wide study of this problem. Or. W. L. Sutton. Chairman, noted the following: 1. All participants should try and avoid discussion of the problem outside of the meeting. ( Z. Where discussion of the problem is unavoidable, it should be confined to the experience of the individual participants. 3. Any publicity or public information concerning the over-all study will be released by the University of Michigan Institute of Industrial Health. The content of the release has been approved by MCA. Each participant will be informed at the time of such a release. The objective is to avoid or neutralise unfavorable publicity. Doctor Magauson, Director of the Institute of Industrial Health, pointed out that we know the following items: 1. . The syndrome is relatively rare. 2. The largest prevalence occurs among PVC reactor cleaners. 3. The syndrome is not known to occur in fabricators of finished polymer. 4. Time is important. 011-1967-00003991 / / 2. The problem could be studied vie a toxicological or epidemiological study. The use of a toxicological study is not believed to be feasible because the syndrome is difficult to reproduce in animals. The epidemiological study will be confined to persons now employed in the production of monomer, polymer, and resin compounds. Data collected from the industry study will be compared to data collected from a study of the adult population of Tecumseh, Michigan. Members of the. industry should take pains to be honest and coopera tive; the (lata supplied should- h*.as accurate as possible. The basic plan of the study is as follows: 1. Hand X-rays, occupational history, and medical history of each employee will be obtained and compiled by computer. 2. Control data from the population of Tecumseh, Michigan, will be computerised similarly. 3. Process information containing raw material lists, flow sheets, operating conditions, and concentrations of various materials within the process will be collected from participants and coded to preserve its confidentiality. 4. Plants of participants will be surveyed by a team of physicians and industrial hygienists from the Institute. 5. A study of data collected should permit identification of possible agents or conditions that cause the syndrome. There was considerable discussion with regard to the need for study of the monomer and resin compounding plants. While it was agreed there were no known cases in these areas, the need for bracketing the trouble area was believed essential. Unfavorable publicity with regard to exposure of finished products to the human anatomy could be very damaging to the industry. The PDA generally insists that products be proved non-toxic. There have been no new developments since the meeting on October 6, 196b. Monsanto has X-rayed all employees producing PVC in their Springfield, Massachusetts plant without positive results. Esso Chemical has examined all production, maintenance, and laboratory personnel at their Sarnia Plant without positive results. The conduct of the study will involve the following: 1. All participants will obtain hand X-rays, Job history, and medical history of employees associated with the production, maintenance, shipping, and quality control of vinyl chloride monomer, polymer, and 011-1967-00003992 <i*ai is-tsie UCC 002576 / J. /2.\ ruain compound*. Only employees currently working in theae areas Are to be atudied. The job htatory ahouid go beck to January 1, I960 Medical examination other than hand X-rays ia to be optional with participants and ia not believed to be eaaential. Proceaa information can be aupplied the visiting apecialiat or mailed directly to Doctor Magnuaon by regiaterad mail. The proceaa informa* tion should conaiat of flow-sheets, raw material*, and ocher pertinentprocess data. Concantrations of materials within tha system may be defined in general terms, such as dilauroyl peroxide is less tKxn |%. Dates showing when use of a particular material was initiated or dis* continued are desirable. Companies using licensed processes should study their licenses; they may have to obtain permission from their licensers to release the necessary data. Confidential process informa- ` tion will be known only by Doctor Magnuaon. 3. The University of Michigan Institute of Industrial Health will have the hand X-rays read by two radiologists. Each company will be informed of the results on their employees. 4. A team consisting of no more than six physicians and hygienists will visit each plant to study the facilities. They may want to examine a few representative employees. This examination is optional with participants. 3. The University of Michigan will compile all data and issue a final report to all participants. The study will take approximately six months, and they hope to have the first plant visit in about three weeks. The study at Union Carbide will be confined to the Charleston, Texas City, and Bound Brook plants per Dr. C. U. Dernehl. RNWheelerJr/ra Copy to: Mr. J. H. Barrstt (315) Dr. C. U. Dernehl NYO Mr. J. H. Field (315) Mr. L. E. Hall (314) Dr. E. Q. Hull (514) Dr. R. E. Joyner (315) Ch wU~ N f [tm **..3 X -4> . p fj/fj r-^ic --v.V^rj 7?re./r /r-v 011-1967-00003993 (MSMU-tSM ucc 002577