Document LpaLZn7MKm8Rn0qzX1emZEGVw

)f y; ; ^ 1 - Vi INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE A y// n; r To (Ngmt) loc;ipn Copy to cc: P. O. BOX 8361, SOUTH CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25303 Dr. W. B. Ackart, 312 o.-. Mr. H. M. Bartlett, 701-125 Dr. T. K. Brotherton, 701-324 Originating Dept. Mr. C. H. Carder, 720-34 Mr. K. D. Cavender, 720-132B Subiect Mr. F. DeRosa, 707-202 Mr. R. J. Hanna, 720-129 Mr. J. R. Hazle, Tucker Mr. J. B. Johnson, 770-306 Dr. J. E. Johnston, 720-128 Mr. K. G. Morlock, Alsip Mr. W. I. Wertz, 312 Dr. F. G. Willeboordse, 312 Mr. R. T. Wood, 706-206 Mr. R. W. Annonio, NYO-33 Dr. D. L. MacPeek, 701-246 Mr. J. J. Smith, 740-4422 Mr. W. E. Whitehurst, 701-247 March 28, 1977 Research and Development Vinyl!dene Chloridef'Toxicity"' Gentlemen: Attached is a letter from. PPG which updates the studies on vinylidene chloride monomer (VDCM) toxicity. PPG continues their recommendation that concentrations of VDCM in the work area be maintained below 10 ppm at all times. They also recommend that the eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration be main tained as far below 10 ppm as practical. i Mr. MacMillan's letter states that this information should be passed on to our customers. UCAR Vehicles 4590X, 4591X and 4592X are currently being evaluated by our customers in can interior * topcoat applications. The latest results that I have seen oh residual VDCM levels in three samples 'of 4590X are 5.4, 7.1 and 1.3 ppm. * Based on all of this information, I am requesting an opinion*from Mr. J. B. Johnson and Dr. W. B. Ackart on whether the information from PPG should be sent to these customers. Very truly yours. TLD:noh Enclosures -** < T. L. Dawson . JVLl* MAY 9 1977 R. N. WHEELER. JR. c 041245 INDUSTRIES PPG INDUSTRIES, INC./ONE GATEWAY CENTER/PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15222/AREA 412/434-2515 JOHN L. MacMILLAN Vies President, Slt* md Distribution "Q Industrial Chomieal 0*partmnt Chemical Division March 18, 1977 Dr. Tom Dawson Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics P. O. Box 8361 South Charleston, West Virginia 25303 Dear Dr. Dawson: In January, 1977, I wrote you concerning vinylidene chloride monomer (VDCM). In my letter, I mentioned a letter dated January 17, 1977 from the Manufacturing Chemists Association (MCA) which informed PPG of new preliminary information developed independently by the European Study Group for Vinylidene Chloride Toxicity. The information that PPG received was not detailed; however, it was reported that some of the test (Swiss) mice exposed to VDCM developed kidney tumors while test rats and hamsters did not. The European Study Group further announced that Professor Cesare M. Maltoni, the Study Group's principal investigator, would present his preliminary findings at the Technical Association of the Paper and Pulp Industry (TAPPI) meeting *in Hamburg, Germany, on January 26,.1977. % Since being notified of Maltoni's preliminary findings, an attempt has been made to obtain1 additional details. 1 Professor Maltoni did not provide a formal written report of his findings at the Hamburg -meeting; therefore, information* thus far obtained by PPG is subject to further confirmation and verification. Our current information is that Professor Maltoni exposed (via inhalation) groups of 30 mice of each sex to 1, 10, 25, and 50 ppm for four hours per day, five days per week. At 50 ppm, the mice had a high mortality incidence. There fore, a second group of 120 mice per sex was then started on exposure to 25 ppm. Hamsters were exposed to 25 ppm, while groups of rats were exposed to o, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 150 ppm IJCC 041246 PPG INDUSTRIES CHEMICAL DIVISION one gateway center Pittsburgh, pa. ism VDCM. At the 82nd week, there were no kidney tumors reported in the hamsters or the test rats. Male mice exposed to 25 ppm were reported to have a kidney tumor incidence of approximately 10 per cent, while only one female mouse was similarly affected. The tumors in the male mice were unilateral (one kidney) while the one female kidney tumor was bilateral (affecting both kidneys). The mice exposed to 10 ppm were not reported to have kidney tumors in either sex. Professor Maltoni also had placed on test, rats that were receiving VDCM by oral gavage. Dosage levels ranged as high as 20 mg/kg/day. After 24 months of dosing, there were no reported increased incidence of kidney tumors. The preliminary verbal report by Professor Maltoni should be put in proper perspective. The exposure level used for mice was near the lethal level, was toxic to the kidney, and was administered to a strain of mice that is inherently susceptible to a high incidence of spontaneous kidney disease. Professor Maltoni recognized that further research should be undertaken using another mouse strain that has a low incidence of kidney disease. On February 22, PPG learned that Professor Maltoni had also given his preliminary VDCM report at a meeting held in New York City. Dr. C. Hammond, officer for the American Cancer Society, called a press conference where this informatit^ji was released. On February 23, 1977, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News and The New York Times carried the story and X am enclosingcopies of these articles. * In further developments, PPG has received a tentative agenda of a conference on Comparative Metabolism and Toxicity of Vinyl Chloride and Related Compounds to be held in Bethesda, Maryland on May 2-4, 1977. This Conference is being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health and Safety (NIEHS). Both Professor Maltoni and P. L. Viola are on the tentative agenda. Since VDCM is to be one of the chemicals discussed, PPG contacted the NIEHS Associate Director, Dr. Hans Falk, to suggest that the MCA VDCM industry-sponsored toxicity research also be included on the conference agenda. We are optimistic that NIEHS will favorably consider the industry request. . ucc 041247 PPG INDUSTRIES CHEMICAL DIVISION ONE GATEWAY CENTER . PITTSBURGH. PA, 15222 In summary, PPG does not have any evidence that VDCM has produced cancer in humans or any aminal species except Swiss mice. VDCM has been reported to have minimal toxic effects to the liver of rats at 25 ppm in the MCA study. PPG continues our recommendation that concentrations of VDCM in the work area be maintained below 10 ppm at all times. It is also recommended that the eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration be maintained as far below 10 ppm as practical. As more information becomes available to PPG, we will continue to keep you advised. The above information should be passed on to your employees and customers. Yours very truly, John L. MacMillan /kf Attachments *% ucc 041248 1Q TIIK WAIX STREET JOURNA1, If* WrJnrli;, Ich. 1,1, l*>77 Study Says Chemical Used in Food Wrap Gave Mice Tumors # Findings by Italian Scientists Raise Concern Over Effect Mr. Moore's opinion stems from an insti tute study of a BASF Wyandotte Corp. plant 1* Of Substance on Humans * > in South Kearny, N.J. The company was alarmed at the results of a 1975 screening of liver functions It had.done on It employes it By Gail Bronson III// Htfnrtrr / Tut WALL STIKT JOOMIL NEW YORK - Italian scientists have found that vlnyltdene chloride, used In plas tic packaging! of food, causes kidney cancer knew to have been'exposed , to vinylldene chloride In the past. Last February workers requested the Institute to study the situation further. NIOSH official Bobby Craft said hy. glenleta found ' "moderate liver changes t among workersi but we don't know the sig In certain strains o( mice. The initial study nificance yet." . * ' results arouse concern that the chemical Hygienists examined' 235 workers at the may possibly cause human cancer. plant, which no longer produces vinylldene Vinylldene chloride Is a chemical used In chloride. The institute plans to do a mortal combination to make many plastic wraps ity study of plant workers In the next few and plastic containers used largely In food months. packaging. The chemical Is molcculariy re BASF Wyandotte Is a division of BASF lated to vinyl chloride, used In various household plastic products, which was deter' mined to cause human liver cancer (our years ago. The study, conducted at the University of AO, the West German company that spon sored Dr. Maltoni's work. Dow Chemical Corp.'s Europe division. Imperial Chemical Industries of Great Britain, and Solvay of Belgium also contributed funds to the re Bologna by Dr. Cesare M. Maltoni, found search along with the Italian government that 10% of 120 male mice subjected to life time Inhalation of vinylldene chloride, at 2b ppm (parts per one million parts of airt, de veloped kidney cancer. In higher doses the animals died before they could develop can cer, said E. Cuyler Hammond, an American Cancer Society officer who presented Dr, Maltoni's study at a news conference. No Federal Standard Although no federal standard exists for the chemical, an unofficial organization of industrial hygienists recommends maximum Record of Employee Dow Chemical Is the largest domestic producer and user of vinylldene chloride, primarily, in its plastic Saran Wrap. Dow said it has records of 13S workers since 1944 who have been exposed to the chemical, at anywhere from 10 ppm to 70 ppm. The com pany hasn't found any visible 111 effects among this group. Dow said worker expo sure In its Freeport, Texas, plant where the chemical Is made, and In Its Midland. Mich., work exposures of 10 ppm. Dr. Maltoni's study also subjected mice to4ihalation of the chemical at 10 ppm for plant where Saran Wrap la 'made, la under one ppm. Dow ChemIcalglnhalatlon studies in rats two years and they suffered no 111 effects; In' in 20-ppm and 80-ppm doses didn't result in 'studies of Chinese hamsters.and rats, expo sure to vinylldene chloride causes no ill ef-' any tumor growths- A Dow spokesman said there was a "mild dlscernable effect on the feds Dr. Maltoni is testing other, strains of liver" of rats given doses at 10 ppm. The mice and hamsters. company is conducting ingestion and repro Despite these scant findings, both the fed duction studies in rata,1 - eral government and private Industry are A major concern among health officials assiduously studying the possible cancerous is transference ofvinylldene Chloride from effects of the chemical because of its simi plastic packaging to food.. Dow Chemical larity to vinyl chloride. Dr, Maltoni's results said Its Saran Wrap contains up to 10 ppm of are considered significant by some because the chemical but that it hasn't found any ml-' "he induced -ir cancer In mice which la gratlon of vinylldene chloride to food when rarely formed spontaneously.'.'' says "Dr7 studied at the most minute levels. ' John F. Finklea. director of the National 7k The Food and Drug . Administration said stltute of Occupational Safety and Health. the agency is conducting studies to deter Nationwide Mortality Study ' mine to what degree. If' any, .vinylldene The institute began a nationwide mortal chloride remains In plastic wrap after man ity study of workers exposed to vinylldene ufacture and If it transfers from the, plastic chloride last year. "We are alerting all in to food. dustries and appropriate unions about Dr. PPG Industries Inc. In Pittsburgh la the Maltoni's data," says Roscoe M. Moore, the second largest producer of vinylldene chlor Institute's chief of technical evaluation. "We ide. A spokesman said that In seven years it are writing to all l company! medical direc hasn't seen any health problems among its tors to get any data they have on employes* workers. Imperial Chemical, Solvay and liver or kidney disfunctions. Although the BASF officials weren't- Immediately avail mice formed kidney tumors, we believe It able for comment. " y- may show up as liver cancer In humans." ucc 041249 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS February 23, 1977 Links Food Wrap Chemical to Cancer By.HUGH WYATT kind" to humans, a Mount Sinai Medical- er Hammond, the chief epidemiologist A chemical used in the mmm- i facture of certain plastics, includ ing some clear plastic, food wraps, has been found to cause kidney cancer in male mice, new findings Center scientist said. The research was done by Dr. Cesare Maltoni, the director of the Insti tute of Oncology and Tumor Center at the University of Bologna in Italy. He said his conclusions were based on two. of the American Cancer Society, and Dr. Irving Seiikoff, the director of Envi ronmental Sciences and Laboratories at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, Inter--.preted most of Maltoni's findings. The visitor spoke mainly in Italian. t - by an Italian research scientist years of studying the 'effect of the Asked about the possible effects, the revealed yesterday. chemical on mice, hamsters and rats. chemical would have on humans, Sclik- The chemical, known as vjnylidine chloride, is related to vinyl chloride, which already as been proved to have During this period, some of the ani mals were fed the chemical through stomach tubes and others were made to inhate it in gaseous form, he said. Only off said, "It is not known whether any - - ' danger of any kind exists. This ` information is new and we have no cancer-causing properties under certain the male mice developed kidney cancer. (other) information.'* ,, .circumstances, - , .. Mallopi .made, his findings known,at, `V,.-The-Food..and*:Dnig Adminiatraliois.-t .* But it is not known whether vinyli- ' the New-York'Academy of Selfnee,at,2 .-aid it was studying Maltoni's findings dine chloride poses "any danger ..of any.. $,1,634 st- Tw|kAmericans,. DA. E. Cuyl-. wd woyld lsaue^ report-Jater. - 4 ucc 041250 ft if.mt.- ir NEW YORK TIMES 2/23/77 Cancer Experts Warn of Dangers ! In Some Plastic Wrap Chemicals . By JANE E. BRODY The finding by '* leading Jtaiia/y.re mairom's rmdings. Dr. Hammond, a vice searcher, that a .chemical, used .in some president of the American Cancer Soci plastic food wraps can causa cancer in ety, and Dr. Selikoff, director of environ-, mic* prompted two American cancer ex* mental medicine at Mount Sinai Medical . perts yesterday to alert the public and Center, said they saw no reason for the Government agencies to the need for public to stop using saran products. But closer scrutiny of this and related chemi- Dr. Himmond suggested thet industry . cals. might try to remove residue! vinylidine ` I At a news conference at the New York chloride from the finished plastic before Academy of Sciences, Dr. E. Cuyler Ham It csme into contact with food.' mond and Dr. Irving J. Selikoff said that the chemical, called vinylidlne chloride, They said that Dr. Maltoni's finding warranted further examination by the Food and Drug Administration, the Na was closely related to two other cancer- tional Institute of Occupational Safety causing chemicals, vinyl chloride and tri and Health and the National Institute <H chloroethylene. Environmental Health Sciences. However, researchers at the Dow Chemical Gompany, the leading manufac turer of vinylidine chloride, said the Ital In a related development, the Natural Resources Defense Council hss asked the Food end Drug Administration to recall existing stocks of Coca Cola in plastic ian finding was of questionable signif bottles msde from serylonitrile, also icance and cited a two-year, $1 million catted vinyl cyanide and another chemical study sponsored by American industries relative of vinyl chloride. In response to that showed no cancer-inducing effect of vinylidine chloride in rats. ' a suit brought by the council In 1979, the drug agency last Friday rescinded ita approval of market testa of the plastic In 'addition, Dow researchers said that soda bottles. studies of foods wrapped in plastics made The agency's decision was based on from vinylidine chloride had showed that recent findings that acrylonitrile causea none of the chemical migrated from the wrapping to the food. The test would birth defects and tumors in test'animals and that small amounts of the chemicalleach out of the bottlea Into the drink. have disclosed such contamination if it exceeded 10 parts of vinylidine chloride in one billion parts of food. ^ 1 - in the Italian study, conducted by Dr. : Cesare MaltOnl at the Institute of Oncolo gy in Bologna, rata, hamsters and mice were exposed to vinylidine chloride gas ; at much higher levels--stAtlng at 10 ; parts per million--for up to one year. Kidney cancer* developed in about 20 ; percent of the mele Swiss Alice, but in ' none of the other animals. Three years ago. Dr. Maltoni's studies ': of vinyl chloride, another plastics chemi* a cal, showed it to cause cancer In rats ) and mice- Shortly afterward the chemical I was pinpointed as the cause of a rare, i fatal liver cancer in exposed workers. Dr. I rMalloni's-rstudies of vinylidine-chloridft ; were begun et the behest:,df-fodGZU^ (pean producers.' ..........lV,` - Vinylidine chloride Is s gaseous diemi cal that, when polymerised with vinyl , chloride, makes up Saran Wrap, a Dow ; product. (Other packaged plastic wrap* are msde of polyethylene.) The vinylidine . chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer--called ; saran--is also used la wrap commercially prepared meets and cheeses. A Dow i spokesman said that about one-third of the flexible plastic packaging for food , in grocery stores is ssrsn. representing an annual market of between ISO and ' 200 million pounds of plastic. In announcing their concern about Dr. ucc 041251