Document KQOqp14okRNraGQyRGVwkOgN

PCBs' Possible Link to Cancer in Humans Is Reported in Study of Mobil Corp. Plant v __________ Bp * WakbSTnaer JooaNXk Staff Reporter rates, surveillance for melanoma among WASHINGTON - Mobil Oorp. hu im thou exposed should be considered.'1 Dr. ported who! may bo tho first association of; Bahn wrote. polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBa, with' Hie Occupational Health Institute pro earner In humans. vided additional details In a letter to 1,300 Hi* oxpoouro oocurrod t Mobil * Pauls- experts In the field. The Mobil study re bore, N.J., petrochemical plant, where a viewed the health records of two groups of PCB produot made by Monaanto Co. was employes who were exposed to PCBs at the balng used in tha plant'* operations. PCBa Paulsboro plant from IMS to 1907 and 1901 to ara widely uaad aa heat-transfer agents in 1900. Seven of 9S workers developed cancer. electrical equipment. Besides thru cases of malignant metonaraa, Details of tea canear caaaa ware reported two cases of pancreatic cancer occurred. In a letter from researchers to the New Eng The Inddsnoe of thee* two types of cancer land Journal of Medicine. Tha National Insti was significantly greater then would be ex tute for Occupational Safety and Health Im pected normally in a population of that etas, mediately asked scientists in the V.0. and noted Dr. John F. Flnklea, institute director. alaswhere for any further reports of the Neither melanoma nor pancreatic cancer chemical's association with cancer In hu previously was associated with occupational mans. exposure to a chemical, experts said. PCBa have been linked with a variety of The PCB product Involved wu Arocler lees sever* human ailment*. Workers ex ISM, manufactured by Monsanto, the posed to high concentrations have developed largest producer In the U.8. akin eruptions, eye discharges, swelling of ittte eyelids and digestive disturbances, red to teat animals, tha chemical has produced r PC*.' possible Unk'with can* Uver earner in rets end mioe. Studies Are Urged Hie Mobil study 'is very preliminary," aald Roeooe Moore Jr., an epidemiologist at the Occupational Health Institute. "It pro vides a bit of Information, but other studies should be pursued," he said. Mr. Moore said the Institute already has begun Its own re search. It wtil review the death records of cm In humans was reported tor the first time. The exposure oc- MoWI Corp.'s Pauls- boro. N.J., petrochemical plant and Involved a polyrt"----- - biphenyl product ma Isanto. .. (ISr, w -*w n iJ worker* in New Tork State who have been exposed to PCBs to determine whether there la an abnormal inetdeno* of cancer. The study will take about two years to complete. His Mobil study was conducted by Dr. Anita K. Bahn of the University of Pennsyl vania School of Medicine. She reported that malignant melanoma, a frequently fatal form of skin cancer, was developed by two of a group of SI employes heavily exposed to WALL STREET JOURNAL SAN FRANCISCO, CALIE. 0. 222.6S3 PCBs. OM other worker developed melan oma in a group of 41 employes exposed leu Intensely. Melanoma Is a fairly unusual form of AUG 20 1976 *** canoar, and the three cases were an unusual number In a small group of workers. Dr. Bahn noted that based on the expected inci dence, only O.M malignant melanoma would {have been anticipated in the group of SI ! employee. ' veiUaao* Advised C 'Beeeuse early detection of malignant anoma mar, markedly ajfgct survival