Document M4mdMdZQV5V66OQO0J7NQqQkz

501 - u April 26, 1974 To: Management Committee Briefing Croup From: W. T. Duke (CHEMICAL COMPANY: A. Vittone cc: E.W. Harrington J.L. Kelson E.B. Osborne B.M. Zvicfcer P.J. Weaver R.D, Downey) The attached neve release concerning public exposure to vinyl chloride sowed on the U?I wire late yesterday and in an altered version this afternoon. One query from a newspaper has resulted froa the wire story. Ben Zlaser, who is science editor for the Long Beach Independent Press Telegraph, called the Long Beach plant and inquired about the report, The Long Beach plant referred the call to me. 1 returned the cell to Hr. Zlnscr and told him that we had just seen the story and that for further information he should cheek with the Environmental Protection Agency. I gave him background information about the Long Beach plant in regard to number of esployees and produets manufactured, stressing the fact that it is an extremely snail plant which was started in 1960. X then gave his previously released informed on the current PV'C situation. Hr. Zlaser has not used any of the PVC stories in his newspaper up to this point and will point out in a short story in the Long Beach paper that there have been no employee fatalities at the Long Beach plant. Hr. Zinses mentioned to me that he felt the report was most inaccurate froa a scientific standpoint. The Center for Science In the Public Interest is located at 1779 Church Street, K.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, Tel. 202-332-6000. It was organized in 1971 as a Ralph Kader operation but apparently operates independently with support from some foundations and the public. It's a non-profit organization and has investigated lead and ocher gasoline additives, aerosols, asbestos and food additives, among others. Its principals include Albert Frltsch, a Jesuit priest with e ?h.D. is organic chesistry from KIT; and Jaaas Sullivan, with a Fh.D. in meteorology and oceanography from HIT. 1 W. T. Buka :plh Attachment 20167001 BFG02092 PoonKatBWBBw.iin n.. Washington {vpd -- a research group told the government todat TEEPJS 15 A "FEARFUL FQSSI5IL^T,, 77LVT PEOPLE LIVING IN AT LEAST THBEE INDtSTHIAL AREAS OP THE NATION AST BRING EXPOSED TO AIRBORNE . DOSES OP VINYL CHLORIDE, A CHEMICAL UXKKO TO IJVEB CANCER. THE CENTER *OR SCIENCE fit THE PUBLIC INTEREST URGED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO HAVE STATE AGENCIES MAKE MEASUREMENTS NEAR FACTORIES IMMEDIATELY TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT T OF TOt HAZARD. r `WE REGARD TIU3 AS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PHQSLEM," IT SAID. "AND WORTHY OF IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. OUB RESEARCH INDICATES THAT CERTAIN* TOWNS AND CiTit'S MAY BE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY VINYL CULDSIDE POLLUTION. " IT SINGLED OUT THE HOUSTON, TEXAS. AREA. SOTTOttK U0I3SIAKA AND WESTERN KENTUCKY, AS THE THREE PROS AREAS WHERE FACTORIES PRODUCE SO MUCH VINYL CHLORIDE THAT SMOKESTACKS ARE VENTING THE CHEMICAL. HIGH nUMUUXY AND OTHER CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN THOSE IttC-lO-SS. IT ADDED. COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE. IT ALSO SAID THERE MAY BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN DIE FA1NSVILLS. ~ OHIO, AREA AND ABOUND UJXG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. THE CENTER SAID IT HAD LEARNED TIIAT UFA'S OWN MEASUREMENTS 20167002 SHOWED 0.3? PAiH'S PER MILLION VINYL CHLORIDK ALONG ROUTE 225 IN PASADENA, TEXAS, 'IN TOE HEART OF THE LARGEST VINYL CHLORIDE ! PRODUCING REGION IN THE UNITED STATES. * IT CALCULATED THAT AT THE END OF EACH BATCH OF POLYVINYL * ClHWaiDE MADE IN A lO.OCO-GALLOX REACTOjI THERE IS A STACK EMISSION OF A, 000 WPAMS OF vccri. CHLORIDE CAS. "A PERSON t'NFGHTUNATE ENOUGH' TO f BE DOWNWIND 100 METERS FROM THE ZiUScICM WOULD BE EXPOSED TO 20Q KAinS i BFG02093