Document DDo93bZOy5z4VbJrLgwkzBGwQ

memorandum ;i November 23, 1971 TO Dr. C. U. Dernehl, NTO-4 Mr. M. E. Eisenhour, 515 Mr. R. J. Hi~.i, 511 Dr. E. Q. Hull, 514 Mr. C. R. Kraft, 514 Dr. K. S. Lane, >TYO-4 Dr. W. R, Manning, 511 Dr. A. 3. Steele, NYO-28 Manufacturing Chemists Association Occupational Health Committee Viavl Chloride Conference Companies with interest in vinyl chloride were invited to send representatives to consider the following: 1. Continuation cf the Acroosteolysis Registry Program. .2 Review the reports of Dr. P. L. Viola on the development of rumors in rats exposed to vinyl coloride monomer gas. * Consider sponsoring a research program in the U.S. to cor.iirm and to provide additional data in Doctor Viola's study area. The proposed program would cost approximately S ICO, 000 per year. The meeting attendance was light with about 30 people a. Vi list of those attending will he i ssuec later by MCA. esent. Continuation of the Acro'osteclysis Registry Program was estimated to cost $300 to 5500 per mcnth, depending on the case load. The ram has cost $4, 000 for eighteen months operation to date. A firmst for future operation was not available`at this time. I ll l<0 VCC088}80 Pag* 2 N vember 23, 1971 I, Dsseiitially all'those present express d a desire t continue the program now supportedby about ten companies. Individual companies will be contacted for further authorization cf funds. Unicn Carbide should con tinue to participate in this program at least until the physiological effects of vinyl chloride are better defined. Dr. P. L. Viola, et al of the Regina Rlena Institute for Cancer, Research, Rome, Italy, sf^^vrul u rCwt. started out to study acroosteolysis and its attendant Raynaud's phenomena. He originally started working with monkeys and later switched to rats because of cost and other factors. Doctor Viola exposed rats to varying concentrations of acetylene derived vinyl chloride and noted the following incidence of tumors: Vinyl Chloride Concentration Incidence of Tumors 30, 000 ppm 20, 000 ppm 10, 000 ppm 5, 000 ppm <5, 000 om 6570 50% 25% 10-15% Seme tumors (Dr. M. J. I^eRevre, Solvay M. C. , stated later that the incia nc of tumors in control groups of this strain of rats was 5%. ) Doctor Viola's initial work involving exposure of rats to 30, 000 ppm VC was reported at the Tenth International Cancer Congress. Houston, Texas in Way 1970 and was later published in Cancer Res'earcn, May 1971. The re maining data is unpublished at this time. After the appearance of Doctor Viola's paper at the Houston meeting interested companies, including UCC, paid Doctor Viola's expenses for a meeting in Washington on May 5, 1971. publishing of Doctor Vida's work in the U.S. could lead to serious j nroolems with regard to the vinyl'chic ride monomer and resin industry. -- , These are as follows: 1, The Delaney amendment bans the use of any material in food that car. cause cancer.v 2. A law exists in Pennsylvania banning carcinogens from the air; i. e. , the allowable threshold limit is zero. UCC 088181  ?ige 3 November 23, 1971 3. The present political climate is the U. S. is such tsa-t a campaign by Mr. R. Nader and others could force an industrial upheaval via new laws or strict *' interpretation of pollution and occupational health laws* There has been no Government reaction to Viola's work, to date. The'ACGIH plans to discuss it this week at their meeting. Dr. T. R. Torkleson renewed the proposed MCA-sponsored animal study. This program involved exposure of rats and mice to three levels of vinyl chloride gas concentration- 5.000, 1,500, and 500 ppm. The vinyl chloride would be derived from ethylene and from acetylene. The rat study would cover 24 months while the mouse study would cover 12 months. The cost of the study was estimated to be $183, 000 by Industrial Biozest. Chicago, Illinois. Depending on the results of this study, an epidemiological study of the industry could be required. If vinyl chloride were exonerated in the proposed animal study, then a study of the effects of the material on progeny might be required. __ The need for two sources of vinyl chloride and the chosen exposure rations was questioned, but no action was taken at this time. Dr. M. J. I^eTev-e, $olvay Mr-C. , discussed the work of his Compa :y in Europe as well as his owe knowledge regarding physiological effects cf vinyl chloride. Items of interest are as follows: 1. Rumanian work showed 1 Ovt liver enlargement as well as acroosteclysis. Workers in Spain showed unnatural weariness. possibly indicating liver involvement. This was not noted in Trench or Belgian workers. 2. Doctor Viola found 2 impuriti es in his vinyl chloride including methyl chlo:ride. This cculc be a maior factor. UCC 088182 Page 4 November 23, 1971 3. 'The bone tumors noted by Viola were probably acroosteolysis. Doctor LeFevre has seen lesions in the knees and in the pelvic area of the back. 4. No acroosteolysis has been found in monomer and compound plant workers. No tumors ir. reactor cleaners at Solvay M. C. plants. 5. Doctor LeFevre theorizes that vinyl chloride is absorbed irs. bocy fats and is carried to the brain. It acts on the centers controlling circulation of blood to the extremities. Restriction of the blood flow causes the pH of the bone structures to move from a normal basic condition where minerals are deposited to an acidic condi tion causing removal of minerals from the bones. Acroosteolysis is caused by general exposure and inhalation of vinyl chloride; not just exposure of the hands. * 6- Doctor Viola's work is being checked and expanded. European studies underway involve exposure of animals to concentrations of 20, 000, 10,000, 5, 000, 2,000, 500, and perhaps lOOppm. Vinyl chloride used will be a mixture of 50% acetylene and 50% ethylene derived. The afternoon discussion originally planned to organize industry support for the MCA program showed that many questions existed and would have to be answered before a program could be presented for industry support. Some of the principal items discussed were: 1. Acetylene-based vinyl chloride monomer could possibly be cut from the study except to confirm Doctor Viola's work at the 5. GOO ppm exposure level. 2. Lower concentration exposure levels, such as 50 ppm, should be checked. I 3. The animal srucy proposal was still no: completely set and it should not overlap the European study mentioned by Doctor LeFevre. 4. Human epidemiological studies should be made. ucc 088183 m November 23, 1971 5. All industry sponsors should pay their pro rite shire, but -whit is i pro nti shire? 6. The Government should sponsor the study. Even if unfavorable. they wouldn't shut down in industry of this size. 7. . Vinyl chloride monomer is full of impurities, end one of these must be i carcinogen. "When it became evident thit more study was required, an industry subcommittee was appointed to study the problems and make recemmenda-. rions to the Occupational Health Committee of MCA. The committ e consists of: SL. N. "Wheeler, Jr. , Chairman Union Carbide Corporation Norman G. White, Ph.-D. Shell Chemical Company M. V. Anthony Stauffer Chemical Company #The Committee is to seek otinicns and dita from industrv members and to meet with Dr. K. D. Johnson, MCA .Assistant Technical Director, Occupational Healthy on December 14, 1971 to prepare a program. The Committee is to recommend a program industry will support . and recommend procedures for funding the program. Questions of study scope, acetylene vs ethylene derived vinyl chloride, and significant im purities in vinyl chloride will be resolved. The MCA will survey members cf the industry regarding their willingness to support a S100, 000 per year study with costs allocated to sponsors based or. published capacities cf : nonomer and polymer. Monomer rroducers will be asked for representative analyses of their mcncmer and their methods of analysis. ' Assuming lGC^ industry participation. Union Carbide's share of the program cost should be approximately S5, 000 per year. This cost should be either borne directly by the Corporation or charged to Vinyl Eesins, Dynel. and Elurocarbcn profit centers cn the basis cf their vinyl chloride censumotion. UCC 088184 ?ij 6 November 23, 1971 Unien Carbide's general support for the MCA'* program has been pledged, based on the following: 1. Tbe industry has a responsibility to its employees and customers to take any necessary action to protect them. Union Carbide Corporation is a responsible member cf that industry and will bear its share of the cost. 2. Union Carbide has a large stake in the areas most likely no be affected such as food, food packaging. fibers, and aerosols and would be seriously hurt by arbitrary or panic-induced government restrictions. 3. Union Carbide has a plethora of knowledge and experience that cam add to the success of the proposed study and that can guide such a study to reasoned conclusions. SJCWJr/ ra R. N. Wheeler, Jr. UCC 088185