Document DDp2kRBDbw2y8o6nEJmDoJjga

c . c* T i. < t o : Plant File . WEST VIRGINIA STATE HEALTH DEPT. Memorandum d a t e .* July' US, 19-49 f r o m : Paul D. Ealley, Industrial Eygieniot Acting Director re: Conference vith plant officials of Monsanto Chemical Ccsapaiy, Kitro, Vest Virginia concerning complaint of Union in connection with exposure to materials producing chioracne* Ga July 11 1949 Mr* Salasar end I visitsd the Monsanto Ghenicel Ccnpc^r end conferred vith Mr. J* R* Durland, Plant Manager end Mr* Rd Vols regarding the accident which occurred `at the plant on March S, 1949* s explained by Mr* Durland this process vas one In a series of processes involved in the manufacture of triehlorphsnoayacatie acid or the veed killer, 2-A-5-T9**The particular process iavqlged vas the manufacture of trlcblcrpheni Is this process tetrachlorcbcnzez^, soda and methyl alcohol are intro duced into the autoclave which is then heated by gas fires to.approximately 1$5C* This process had been is operation for approximately sin months and had worked satisfactorily until this day at which tine the temperature continued to rise and they were usable to check the rising temperature which consequently blew the safety valve on the autoclave* ( The safety valve on the autoclave, vas extended above and directed back toward the Transits roof consequently the material discharging through the safety valvs pipe blev back against the roof vith such force that it va3 caved in and the en1 working area van contaminated* In realising rfche possible dangers involved, the company immediately set about cleaning up the area to acaa stent end eight day; after exposure tbs chloracne beesae evident* Only recently did they begin a thorough cleaning up of the area and the equipment-end building vhich is pretty such out in the opsn van sprayed vith aluninun paint* This operation has net been resumed since the trouble and the C o m p a q has been purchasing their trichlcrphsnol* Mr* Durland advised that they had sect samples of the material to their research laboratory for identification but that the laboratory had not been able to definitely identify the material vhich vas produced at the unusually high tempo: tore. The saterial produced. Incidentally, vas a black, granular substance vhic apparently contained sene greasy property, in that when worked vith a spatula it had a tendency to cake* . Mr* Durlend advised that their research department had been able to identify pnl the presence of chlorine and phenol vhich was expected* It was suggcstsd to Hr* Durland that possibly this Bureau could obtain the services of a isgrnatolcgist fren the U. S* ?* H. S*, Division of Industrial Hygiene 'for further exsninatien .of the workers and consultation of the prcbablo nature of the matsri al* Mr Durland was in agreement with this move end indicated that they visa o d to take ( every stop possible to assure that their workers were not further c;:no. He 9 hcvsver, expressed the opinion that they had decentisxinated the arcs that the cases of chlorncne resulted fren the initial exposure during the ,pro the onset of the chloracnc* a '? Samples of the material which they had collected both frcs the inside of the autoclave and frcsa the material which had sprayed on the building were given to us for use by ourselves and the Public Health Service for future work. Upon inquiry of Mr. Durland It was explained that some of the workers had been examined by Dr. Boggs and Dr. Nelson for any signs of possible liver damage, but that all results, to the best of his knowledge, were negative. We also discussed with him the reported eases by the Union of two men who were so exposed that are now in a hospital with pains in the legs. Mr. DUrland again advised that these specific eases had not been attributed to the exposure by the physicians but that it was their belief that the two cases were purely coincidental. Dr. Nelson, the plant physician, was away on vacation at the tine of our visit and will be contacted upon his return. It was pointed out to Mr* Durland that the procedure they should have followed was to contact this Bureau for-help on such a. problea. Paul D. Halley Industrial hygienist Acting Director