Document Dvz5VVJnObMJpoNVqwBLJbqjo

..Monsanto CONFIDENTIAL FROM D # R.(N A M E --L O C A T IO N -- -h O N E l Bishop - A3NB ATE February 12, 1979 SUBJECT referen ce TO Dr. W. J. McCarville - A3NC Mr. J. E. McKee - A3NB Mr. L. A. Miller - B2SA Mr. J. T. Nolan - D1A Mr; P. S. Park - E2NE Dr. G. Roush - A2SA Mr. R. A. Stohr - B2SC CC; Mr. G. F. Barton - A3NC Mr. E. H; Harbison Jr. - B2SA Mr. G. D. Ingenthron - A3NB Mr. R. C.vlsham - B1NC Mr. J. P. Orr - C2ND MEv- M... .CX--ThrodahL- -- IX1D Mr. W. W. Withers - C2NJ I Enclosed for comment/approval is a draft preparedness statement on the Nitro Plant Epidemiological Study. We could be queried by the press as early as today since' r regional officials of the Steelworkers Union were informed! of this study last Friday. In a related problem, you should also know that MAP has been served as a defendant in the "Agent Orange" class action law suit. This speaks to the obvious heed to carefully coordinate Monsanto's position on this subject to ensure a consistent corporate response. MAP will swap statements with me when approved and I will circulate the complete package as soon as possible. Your prompt response to this draft will be appreciated. DRB:ec Enclosure Dan R. Bishop IN - 10 ` REV. 0 ,*77 > I * DRAFT PREPARED^ ESS STATEMENT R E : NITRO PLANT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY >`.ik February 12, 1979 " The" following statement is not for News Release but m^y be used to respond to press inquiries only. Monsanto Company announced today that it is conducting a follow-up health study on a group of employees and former employees known to have been inadvertently exposed to a toxic chemical during a process accident in 1949. .t j ... During the accident these employees were exposed to the chemical, tetra-chloro-dibenzo-dioxin, commonly known as TCDD or "dioxin," when a tri-chloro-phenol autoclave rupture disc blew. As a result, seme 114 employees developed a skin disorder, knowxt as chloracne, and were treated by four Charleston, W. V a . , dermatologists, Thirty-seven of these employees were subsequently referred to-Dr. Raymond Susskind, a consulting dermatologist at the University of Cincinnati and were treated between 1949 and 1953. In the ensuing years no known long term health effects from this incident have been detected as a result of physical examinations offered regularly as part of Monsanto's ongoing health monitoring program. Nevertheless, in August of last year, Monsanto decided to launch an in-depth follow-up study for several reasons: 1) In view of mounting international concerns regarding dioxin exposure, the company felt it had a responsibility to take this additional precaution to ensure that its ongoing program had not missed something. CONFIDENTIAL 007503 .---I. ' rx1 1 Draft Preparedness Statement Re: Nitro Plant Epidemiological Study --2 2) Monsanto also felt it had the opportunity, by doing this detailed study some 30 years after exposure, to hopefully answer for the world1s scientific community some nagging medical questions regarding whether or not dioxin causes long term health effects. Dr. Susskind is assisting Monsanto's own medical examiners in the conduct of this study which is expected to take about ________ months to complete. The findings and results will be made public as soon as possible. -oOo- CONFIDENTIAL CO7504