Document EqKLm57bKpGd5ZBpxpx41bn1V

FILE NAME Monsanto MON DATE 1939 July 18 DOC MON007 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Internal Report - Toxic Materials National Paint Varnish & Lacquer Assoc * National Paint Varnish aud Lacquer Association OFFICEORSFFICERS INCORP INCORP RTK RTK RTK D PRESIDENT Y. TRICK WASHINGTON 2201 NEW YORK AVE W. WASHINGTON D. PRESIDENT FRANK L. SULZBERGER CHIRAMO TREASURG ER R. NATLACE PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF THE PRES DENT SECRETARY W ELYON WASHINGTON M COLYSEL G. MACDONALD WASHINGTON July 18 1939 REGIONAL PRESIDENTS NEW REGIONAL PRESIDENTS CHELATERIE CHELATERIE & MtTh TV OPAZE OPAZE FEW LASTERR K. LITTER VIE SOUTH P BELLY LOUISVILLE CENTRAL K PINt CVIZAGO EHR POENTYS SAN PONT 520 CONFIDENTIAL Not Publication DIVISIONAL PRINT PRINT mame PRINT HOLESALE Division Division 1 Or aey so CITY Toxic materials with their present problems require our conscientious con- sideration of the fundamental principles involved The National Paint Varmish Varmish and Lacquer Association is keenly interested in Varmish as much information on this providing Class & members with subject as is practicable at this time This ine formation being confidential is not intended for general publication - it is being sent only to the Class A group Please respect this confidence The vital factor concerning toxic materials is to public People may feel safer in intelligently safeguard the than materials unknown to them buying materials whose danger they know rather We trust the several phases presented herein will be of some benefit to members in applying every precautionary measure in manufacturing in selling and in use where toxic materials enter a product are likely to or ao Toxics and their effects is subject very broad in and be treated in this scope can- only briefly message ( Children's toys equipment furniture etc. are not the only consideration Toxics - ManyMany compounds used in paints or lacquers may have harmful effects if carelessly handled Toxic materials may enter vepors or gases through inhaled into the nose and the body through the the skin or through lungs in the form of dust mist the mouth and stomach Material mouth can dissolve in the saliva and be swallowed mIermrbitraanntesmaoftertihaels may also have a direct action upon the skin and the mucous nose mouth and throat It must be remembered that all people do not react in the to chemicals Some may be quite same way seriously affected by quantities when exposed harmless to others Hence it follows that which are ucts should provide adequate a,dequate ventilation andansyhouon le d uosbsienrgveprionrtdiannadryalslaineidtarpyrod- mteheasucrleosthessucchlaesanthe washing of the hands and face before eating and keeping source of skin absorDpitritoyn work clothes including shous can be an important Some of the ingredients of paints mention because of their specificspecific displace part of the air oror cause or system and allied products might receive special effects rather than because they merely slight discomfort if taken into the stomach The following pigments may be considered as toxic if they find their way stomach The mount tolerated by the body varies with the pigment untimony Antimony Antimony exide Naples yellow or other Antimony is supposed to be considerably less toxic than ecaj lead into gS NCA 0 02901 ~ -2- there is much evidence to indicate that it Many cases of suspected untimony poisoning accompanying accompanying land is a have toxic arterial been traced to the Arsenic Arsenic AArsrensiceCnoimcpoCunodsmpounds Paris green or other compounds containing arsenic a i i . hee dhium sulfides and selenides are toxic but belong to the I sicer used pigments CC hri h Chriri Chromates of all types are understood to be relatively toxicChromium oxides are relatively relatively toxic Land Commounas White lerd red lead litnorge lead chromites chrone yellow chrome green or other lead piglents Mercury mercury Red and fellow oxides of mercury or other products centaining - Liquids - Alephols The toxicity of methyl alcohol is very well known in lecquers the other alcohols are relatively harmless As used Benzol This is probably the most dangerous of all commercial solvents but its use ir our industry is probably restricted to curtain paint and valmish removers Hydrocarbons ChlorinatedChlorinated Carbon tetruchloride trichlor ethylene tetrachlorethante etrachlorethane uthylutehylnenee uthylene dicidoride and similar chlorinated cli- phatic hydrocarbons are said to be very dangerous dangerous toxics Chiorinted roatic hydroc rbons ioc scl to be luch toric thu the correntonul..g yurocarbon itself but sume chlorinated from tics are frequently the source of skin troubles Lacquer Solvents There is some evidence that the acetates butyl butyl and amyl more or less toxic are relatively harmless Acotone and the other ketunes Most other solvunts used to a lesser extent are either harmless in thee- selves are used in such relatively small amounts or are so slowly ' vaporating that they present no hazard Methyl Alcohol The use of this product should be avoided definitely poisonous It is Solvent Naphtha This is also relatively toxic as compared to benzol and probably less toxic than teluul and xylol Tulucl und Xylol In equal concentrations these are texic than benzol but because they are less volatile hazard is usually less said to be the actual more NCA 0 02902 -3- Tricresyl Phosphates The para- and tricresyl phosphates which are used as plesticizers are toxic tricresyl phosphate on the other hand isa violent poison Surpentine andMineral Spirits These products are relatively toxic but are still listed in works on toxicology as causing eczema and irri- tation of the skin and mucous membrunes Some people exposed to the fumes are subject to internal disorders when breathing substantial amounts of turpentine Mineral spirits is less toric than turpentine Other plasticizers Very little is known regarding the toxicity of other cron called chemical plasticizers but the hazard from volatility or dust is of course small The mainconsideration whenever paint products are used is constant repetition to the paint consumer of the necessity of employing adequate ventilation and maintaining personal hygiene FrintedMatter - Color cards and advertising literature should not include any reference by the use of words or sketches to indicate or reccamend a product for children's toys equipment furniture etc. unless it is absolutely free from toxic materials Foisonous Colors - It is generally conceded there is relatively little danger of toxic effect from paints on toys and nursery furniture as both the paint manufacturer and the toy manufacturer are familiar with the types of nous pigments to use Nevertheless the individual company should constantly guard against using any toxic material especially lead compounds in products for finishing children's toys etc. Note See page 7 of Odds and Ends a special circular of the Scientific Section National Paint Varnish and Lacquer Association issued August 1938. Grown are fore products in the mouth exposed to some hazards as for finishing pencils and through habit require the in the case of children Thereother articles that may be placod use of toxic materials Labeling - No definite procedure is recommended for labeling Labeling is serious since it becomes a public matter with the question as to what would result if this were done Each manufacturer can ably cope with the toxic material situation by constantly safeguarding the public through the products he manufactures and by the repetition of instructions to salesmen Service men and others who can intelligently instruct the consumer of the advantages of providing adequate ventilation and of maintaining personal hygiene General - The statement of legal principles listed below was prepared for and distributed by the Manufacturing Chemists Association for the guidance of its members concerned with labeling problems and is supported by decisions of the courts Although the principles set forth are not entirely the result of litigation involving material used by members of our industry they are situations nevertheless generally applicable to harmful substances situations arising from the use of NCA 0 02903 02903 02903 02903 -- Manufacturing Chemists Association Legal Principles 1. A manufacturer who puts out a dangerous article or substance without accompanyinigt with a warning us to its dangerous properties is ordi- narily liable for any damage which results frem such failure to wern 2. A minufacturer or decler who errone labels with the name of a harmless substance is liable for may be caused thereby a dangerous drug any injury which 3. Failure to comply with a statute .g with poisons is usually held to be negligence por se of negligence respect to libeling or at least evidence 4. The name of the product alone may be sufficient warning if its m ture is very widely known or its sale is restricted to those who are . presumed to know its nature but even in such cases the cuviscoility of a specific warning is indicated 5. Technical accuracy may not be sufficient protection turer if he uses words which may give the purchaser the his product is not what it actually is for the munufecimpression that 6. A nonwarranty of results is not a warning against possible dangerous results 7. The consumer is entitled to rely on positive representations or directions uppebring on the label unless he knows them to be incorrect 8. The manufacturer is ordinarily a use for which it is not intended reasonably have been whether a particular are apt to differ on foreseen It result should this point not liable if his product is put to and un injury results which could not is often difficult however to know have been foreseen and the courts 9. The manufacturer or one who holds himself out to be the must know the qualities of his product and he cannot escape on the ground that he did not know it to be dangerous manufacturer liability 10. The general rule that a manufacturer is privity of contract with him does not apply nently or inherently aungerous not liable to those not in when his product is immi- ; Conclusion - We grant that this is a very brond subject and doubt if a concis set of rules can be established Nevertheless it may be said that our members can meet their individual problems in safeguarding the public including ofadvantage course our own factory employees by their sincere effort in taking advantage of every possible preccution in the use of toxic alterials in manufacturing selling and in use Such precautions believed secure ETT mo plus constant repetition of intelligent the best results Emest veryvery Yours truly te instructions MCA will it is 0 02904