Document NE9BQzvB9NZoXjw3GEQnmmaXV

THIRD DRAFT l'C - 1 4 3 U e c a i u r Standby Prcut Statement April 15, 1981 Lowell Luilford (3-613A) HOLD FOR RLLLASi: '\vs.A \~o \ I IO y \ ^ ,\VV l', V K l A V- Vv i tH Iiiiiiaiilii]; /jy~, IS81 As a p r e c a u t i o n a r y m e a s u r e , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 25 women o f c h i l d b e a r i n g p o t e n t i a l h a v e r e c e i v e d j o b r e a s s i g n m e n t s a t t h e 3M D e c . i t u r p l a n t t h i s week so they w i l l not be exposed to a type of fluorochom ical th a t can cause birth defects in ra ts. P r e l i m i n a r y r e s u l t s o f a r e c e n t 3M t o x i c o l o g y s t u d y s h o w e d t h a t t h r e e re la te d fluorochum icals affe c ted eye development in the fe tu se s of r a ts , according to P h il Raths, manager of the Chemical Resources D ivision p la n t. The stu d y c u r r e n t l y i s being re p e a te d on r a t s and o th e r s p e c ie s to c l a r i f y the i n i t i a l f i n d i n g , P.uths e x p la in e d . U n til th e s e result.:, a rc known a n d e v a l u a t e d , h e s a i d t h e 3M M e d i c a l D e p a r t m e n t f e l t i t was p r u d e n t to recommend t h i s a c t i o n . Tin: women a r e b e i n g r e a s s i g n e d t o j o b s i n t h e a d j a c e n t 3M I ii;r. and A llie d P ro d u c ts D iv is io n p la n t. This is being done in an. eijui ta b le way that: w i l l p r o t e c t t h e i r p r e s e n t s e n i o r i t y s t a t u s , b e n e f it:, and pay, Rethbpointed out. 3MA00047947 "While we are not aware of any adverse health effects on our men and women cir.p3oye.ae" Rathe said, "we are transfer*-!nj; tliese w b b c h as a precautionary step pending further testa." The three f1uorocheuiicalu are ur.ed in the manufacture of specialty chemical a by 3H and various other industrial firms. -30- Por further information contact: Lovell Ludford 3M Public Relatione Department 3K Company, 3H Center St. Paul, Minnesota 35133 Telephone: (612) 733-6154 3MA00047948