Document KDdOzZb8jD1VpXoN7njoNdZX

Monsanto ,,rMHt <KAMI a LOCATION) Elmer P. Wheeler, Medical Dept. JUN 1 C June 12, 1969 Report on "Human Poisoning With Kane-Chlor" ce, J. R. Durland - Tokyo W. R. Richard TO Dr. Robert E. Keller Attached Is a summary of the Japanese Interim report on the Incident where humans were poisoned with the Japanese chlorinated biphenyl when it leaked Into and contaminated rice bran oil. Briefly, the original newspaper articles were vastly exaggerated slnoe they Indicated as many as 14,000 people may have suffered poisoning. This number was reduced to 600 and the enclosed report Indicated that there are 178 diagnosed cases and 111 suspected cases. The principal symptoms are related to the dermltologlcal effects (chloracne, blackheads, rash, etc.). The clinical Investigations report possible more serious effects Including those on pregnant women and subsequent new births. I don't know that you want to spend much time on the reports of the clinical and the epldemilogical com mittees. You may, however, be Interested in the report of the analytical Investigations beginning on page 53. Included In the determinations were gas chromatography results on tissue from two or more of the patients. Enclosure I HONS 086881 THE MAINICHI July 24, 1969 The reported two deaths among the rice bran oil patients are suspected to have been cnused by malfunction of the pituitary and suprarenal systems. The reported causes of their deaths, both acute heart failures, seem to have been caused by the suprarenal malfunction. Their autopsies revealed atrophy of the suprarenal body or suggested . disturbance of the function. If this'function Is disturbed, there Is a high posibillty that a heart failure occurs all of a sudden. There had been complaints from seme of the oil disease patients of some acute i^l?ominal pains or sudden chill of the body, which are often related to suprarenal system disorders, while the organ is a fat tisue and can be suspected to have collected Kane-Chlor (the organic chlorine in question) there. The committee, therefore, has decided to run more examinations of all the patients not only at their Bkin conditions but with more weight on internal conditions including blood and urine analyses and check-up of the total circulartory system. TY:yf MOWS QS6eaa