Document EmxXXZEX72B54Dzdnn54vV4GL

Interoffice Communication to J. F. Sheara From D. A. Kuhn Date January 5, 1978 subject Interrogatory of the Subcommittee on Oversights & Investigations Here is my response to questions 5 and 6 to Chairman Moss of the subject subcommittee that you requested. Question 5 Conoco has carried on no specific tests concerning the human health effects of 1,2 dichloroethane other than the monitoring we perform at the vinyl chloride plant to determine workforce exposure and keep It at a properly low level. We have also conducted medical surveillance of the employees at the vinyl chloride plant, but this was to make sure that there were no abnormal health effects appearing because of exposure to any agent In the workplace rather than to determine the specific impact of 1,2 dichloroethane. I am Informed by Dr. Whetstone that the results of these medical examina tions have not pointed towards any abnormal health effects due to 1,2 dichlo roethane. I have not included the monitoring reports because they are scattered through numerous plant progress reports over the last several years. The medical examinations of course are held by the Medical Department in confidence. However, the subcommittee should know that they exist. I,know of no tests being conducted by industry or other individuals concern ing human health effects of 1,2 dichloroethane. Use of humans as testing subjects is ethically unacceptable. There are, however, a series of studies being conducted on rodents sponsored by the Manufacturing Chemists Associa- -----tion-which we-stipport:--I recoircnendthatrthe subcommittee contact" that organization for details. .. In addition to the above information, we have in our files copies of many documents relating to storage and handling of 1,2 dichloroethane. These are in the public domain so I list them here, but do not include copies, because the subcommittee, now being aware of their existence, should obtain the latest Information directly from the source. - Draft Technical Standards for Ethylene Dichloride, et al Office of Standards Occupational Safety & Health Adm. October 7, 1975 Criteria Document for an Ethylene Dichloride Standard National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Hygienic Guide Series 1,2 Dichloroethane " -:` American Industrial Hygiene Assoc. V:*'--. (Revised 1965) , -,C Codes of Practice for Chemicals . With Major Hazards, Ethylene Di chloride ^ British Industrial Safety Council of the Chemical Industry's Assoc., Ltd. Ethylene Dichloride Manufacturing Chemists Association (Revised 1971) SAL 000067258 J. F. Sheara Page 2 January 5, 1978 Finally, I have included three documents that may be of interest to the committee: Ethylene Dichloride Bibliography from the Center for Disease Control A Study of the Acute Toxicity of 1,2 Dichloroethane conducted by Amni Research, Inc. for PPG 1,2 Dichloroethane, A Toxicity Survey by DuPont Both DuPont and PPG have given their permission for Conoco to submit these. Most of the literature enclosed or cited above contains bibliographies to the original publication defining the toxicity of 1,2 dichloroethane. Question 6 In conjunction with our efforts to adequately treat the waste water from the vinyl chloride plant, there has been an on-going research program to determine its biotreatability. I consulted with Bob Huddleston concerni any information he might have that would bear on answers to question #6. Indeed he said there are certain portions of research reports on bio treatability which are here included that give some insight into this question. Bob has summarized these in the IOC dated January 4, 1978. These should be included in our submissions to the subcommittee. D. A. Kuhn /vm SAL 000067259