Document E0VZxNyombNEQveGB0N63eqV

^ G'/C-C April 5, 1976 A. J. McHlchael, M.D., Pk.D. Epidemiologist Occupational Health Studies Group University of North Carolina Nam Plaza, Suite 52 Chapel Bill, North Carolina 27514 ^- Dear Dr. McMichaelt This Is In regard to your draft of a letter to Firestone employees concerning problems of excess fetal wastage among wives of vinyl chloride workers at the Pottstown plant. X assume that the principal purpc^j^pf the third paragraph of the letter is intended to allay undu^fpar among the employees. I am concerned that this will noizfbtrSaccompllshed. The three reasons stated In your argument fthatNsSb findings should not be regarded as conclusive may wall be yaaid and appropriately discussed among peers In a scientific forum. Severer, these comments are addressed to the workers who participated in the study and If I were one of them, X would be highly ltftaSfted*.' For example. In 1.) my memory Is being questioned; in^^T^phe Implication Is that I or my fellow workers were "vmcooSMamtfyroand In 3.) ng honesty is doubted. X suggest th$ this entire paragraph be omitted and substituted with a more positive approach to reassure the worker of steps the company has taken to prevent or minimize the likelihood of such a problem. In regard to your question about NIOSB's plans for a more detailed study of this issue, we do feel that since there Is some need to validate our approach, additional studies are anticipated. Me would be happy to work out some sort of joint effort. Sincerely yours, WccrtkMr. L. Beliezky, URW Dr. L. Ballou, Firestone Mr. G. Wilson, Firestone Bobby F. Croft, Ph.D. Acting Director Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies BF5 007401