Document EdJxjJKq5RwoDRLvGJ1yVR9Vj

'" I ' CONFIDENTIAL Q/A AGENT ORANGE Q. GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE AGENT ORANGE SUPPLIED BY MONSANTO WAS HIGHLY CONTAM INATED WITH DIOXIN. IS THIS CORRECT? A. We are aware of three government documents which purport to show numerical ranges for samples of Agent Orange from various producers including Monsanto. Q. WHAT IS MONSANTO'S OPINION OF THE DOCUMENTS? A. At this time, we don't have sufficient information to draw any conclusions frbm the documents. For example, we don't know how the A^ent Orange allegedly produced by Monsanto was identified as such, how the product had been stored, how th!e samples were taken or analyzed. j Further, it is impossible to determine from the documents whether the Agent Orange sampled by the Government was representative of all the product supplied to the government by Monsanto or any other producer. Therefore, it would be improper to draw general conclusions ba^ed on the documents as to the level of dioxin contained in the Agent Orange supplied by any producer during jthe Vietnam conflict. 3. DON'T THE DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT THE AGENT ORANGE USED IN VIETNAM WAS HIGHLY TOXI C AND CONTAMINATED WITH DIOXIN? Because we lack crucial information on how the Agent Orange allegedly produc ed by Monsanto was identified and analyzed, it would be inappropriate to draw any conclusions based on the information contained in the government documents. As a general matter, keep in mind that there are 75 members of the dioxin family and that their toxicity varies widely. Of those, only one, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is regulated by the government because of its toxicity. 7^ Further, the analytical capability to identify \ - 2 f3 r7 rfiTrnn frnm all the other members of the dioxin family simply) d-s not exist prior to 1979. We believe that the analysis reflected on the government document was conducted prior to 1979. Thus, we have significant doubt as to the accuracy, or even the meaning, of the figures reflected there. Final 6/4/82 (Rev.6/24/82) TAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. 24789 4. Q. DID MONSANTO KNOW ITS PRODUCT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH DIOXINS? A. This is a matter which is the subject of litigation currently pending before the court. Accordingly, we believe it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time. 5. Q. DOESN'T THE FACT DIOXINS WERE FOUND MAKE ANY LEVEL FOUND SIGNIFICANT? A. This is a matter which is the subject of litigation currently pending before the court. Accordingly, we believe it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time. 6. Q. HAVEN'T STUDIES SHOWN THAT AGENT ORANGE CONTAMINATED WITH DIOXINS IS THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS SUFFERED BY VIETNAM VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES? A. The controversy surrounding Agent Orange continues despite the lack of virtually any scientific evidence that it posed a danger to veterans. The substantial amount of scientific and medical evidence available today suggests that there is no link between Agent Orange and the human health problems reported by the veterans. 7. Q. HOW MUCH AGENT ORANGE DID MONSANTO PRODUCE FOR THE GOVERNMENT? A. Monsanto supplied approximately 3.8 million gallons for the U.S. government between the years 1963 and 1969. 8. Q. DOES MONSANTO STILL PRODUCE EITHER 2,4,5-T or 2,4-D? A. No. We got out of those businesses in 1970 for economic reasons. Final 6/4/82 (Rev.6/24/82) SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER. C24790 Chemicals C\ By-products or Impurities Sodium chloride Sodium sulfate Dimethyl ether Water Sodium glycolate Sodium 2-methoxy-4,5-dichloro- phenate Sodium 5-methoxy-2,4-dichlorophenate 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-j)dioxin (TCDD) D Product 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) 2,4t5-T Structural Formula NaCl Na-SO, 24 c h 3o c h 3 h 2 HOCH2COONa c i 'Y o T 0"3 c i-^ v ^ och3 CH-jO-Y^ONa ci-19ici clT o T T o Y cl C 1 ^ Y q Y C H 2C00H Cl Empirical Formula CAS No. NaCl Na,,S0. 24 w 2 C2H303Na C7H5Cl202Na 7647-14-5 7757-82-6 115-10-6 7732-18-5 2836-32-0 No CAS No C7H5Cl202Na C12H4C142 No CAS No 1746-01-6 C8H5C133 93-76-5 O CCOTt o OT 03 WBB 12/3/82