Document JJyqaqNBbM9Q3bbMb80G1pYN2
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January 3, 1979
1. WE ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT OSHA REGULATIONS REGARDING
EXPOSURE OF EMPLOYEES TO VINYL CHLORIDE.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES OF VINYL CHLORIDE ARE NOW LIMITED TO ONE PART
PER MILLION (1PPM). ACCORDING TO PROF. WILSON'S CALCULATIONS, THE
LIFETIME RISK OF VINYL CHLORIDE WORKERS CONTRACTING LIVER CANCER UNDER
THE 1PPM STANDARD IS ONE IN EVERY 10,000 (0.00001).
TO PUT THIS INTO
FURTHER PERSPECTIVE, THE LIFETIME RISK OF COAL MINERS CONTRACTING BLACK
LUNG DISEASE IS ONE IN EVERY FOUR AND THE ACCIDENT RATE FOR FIREFIGHTERS
IS THREE IN EVERY 100.
2. WE ARE COMPLYING WITH THE NEW EPA REGULATIONS ISSUED IN LATE OCTOBER 1976 REGARDING EMISSIONS TO THE AIR AND THE WATER.
WHILE THE RISK TO THE COMMUNITY RESIDENT IS VERY LOW, ITS MEANING CAN
ONLY BE GRASPED BY A COMPARISON WITH OTHER RISKS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE
THEORETICAL RISK OF GETTING CANCER FROM EXPOSURE TO VINYL CHLORIDE BY
LIVING NEAR ANCUNCONTROLLED^LANT WAS EQUAL TO SMOKING 1/15 OF A
CIGARETTE, DRINKING 1/3 OUNCE OF WINE OR 1-1/2 CANS OF DIET SODA OR
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EATING 1/2 TABLESPOONS OF PEANUT BUTTER. LOOKING AT IT ANOTHER WAY, SMOKING
_----_____
--taONE CIGARETTE IS WORSE THAN LIVING NEAR A^CONTROLLEP)PVC PLANT FOR BETWEEN
75 AND 750 YEARS.
3. INGESTION OF VCM VIA FOOD PACKAGES IS MINIMAL.
TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THE RISK OF AN EARLY FATALITY FROM THE INGESTION
OF VINYL CHLORIDE, PROF. WILSON COMPARED THE RISK WITH SEVERAL OTHER
RISKS FOR THE U.S. POPULATION. FOR INGESTION OF VINYL CHLORIDE HE CALCULATED
THE RISK OF A FATALITY AS SEVEN IN 10 BILLION. FOR VACCINATION FOR SMALL
POX THE RISK IS 3 IN 100,000. FOR CANCER OF ALL TYPES THE RISK IS 16
IN 10,000 AND FOR CIGARETTE SMOKING THE RISK OF A FATALITY IS 3 In 1,000.
RNWike
UCC104605