Document NGD2BzRj1m4omvZ682NxXQj3y

bcc Mr. W. f. Gafford Ju. Pr.. Guiiububas, Mri..uD. / G. B. Meyers, M.D.?^ Mr. E. J. Panichas Mr. L. B. Reynolds Mr. P. J. Sanders Dr. G. L. Ter Haar ETHYL CORPORATION HOUSTON PLANT December 4, 1985 G.fi.MEYtftS, M.D. Mr. Matthew A. London, i.H. Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch' National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health 4676 Columbia Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998 Dear Mr. London: Pursuant to your November 14, 1985, request for information germane to the Health Hazard Evaluation Request submitted by Fabian Greenwell (OCAW) on June 28, to your subsequent initial survey at Ethyl's Houston plant on November 5, and to your further evaluation, you will find enclosed: 1. Physical exam form, with a list of tests administered. 2. Data base of the liver function test results, with job classifications. 3. List of employees' abnormal test results. 4. Metpath comparative data on liver enzyme levels. 5. Metpath's age-specific range of normal enzyme levels. 6. Chemical analysis of the ethyl chloride recovery column bottoms. 7. Chemical analysis of the ethyl chloride polymer. 8. Map of the facility. If we can be of further assistance, please let us know. Very truly yours CBH:G Enc. C. B. Hunt Resident Manager EC ?987 DEPARTMEN TOt HE\M II M SERVICES Public Health Service li. 6. Mtl'tSS, M. 0. 0C 02133j [kr Centers for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Robert A. Taft Laboratories 4676 Columbia Parkway Cincinnati OH 45226-1998 November 14, 1985 HETA 85-437 Mr. Charles B. Hunt Resident Manager Ethyl Corporation Box 472 Pasadena, Texas 77501 Dear Mr. Hunt: "J.OC'/H rfjyesA*' /?'*- a/* Af * <= yJTf ATS This letter will serve as a summary of HIOSH personnel's recent, visit to Ethyl Corporation's Pasadena Plant, as well as a reauest for information which is germane to the Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE). On November 5, 1985, NIOSH investigators conducted an initial survey as part of an HHE revested by OCAW Union, Local 16000. After an opening conference, a walk-through survey was conducted of all areas of the facility in which one or more hepatotoxin is used. Following the walk-through, NIOSH's epidemiologist met with the company's physician and a consultant to the union, primarily to discuss the results of company-performed liver function tests. Simultaneously, the NIOSH industrial hygienist examined and discussed the company's industrial hygiene monitoring records. To proceed with the evaluation, we request copies of the following information. 1) a physical exam form, with a list of tests administered; 2) the data base of the liver function test results, with job classifications; 3) the list of employees' abnormal test results; A) the Metpath comparative data on liver enzyme levels; 5) Metpath's age-specific range of normal enzyme levels; 6) the chemical analysis of the ethyl chloride recovery column bottoms; 7) the chemical analysis of the ethyl chloride polymer; 8) a map of the facility. Items 1-5 should be obtainable from Dr. Gibbs. Items 6 and 7 were mentioned by Dr. Gibbs as being available from the lah. After analyzing the liver function tests, a determination will be made as to whether further medical and/or environmental evaluation of the reported "liver ailments" is warranted. EC 2988 Page 2 - Charles B. Hunt If you have any questions, I can be reached at the above address, or by telephone at (513) 841-4386. Thanks again for your cooperation during our recent visit. Sincerely yours. Matthew A. London, I.H. Medical Investigator Medical Section Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies FC 2989 ETHYL CORPORATION INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE TO FROM SUBJECT C. B. Hunt P. J. Sanders NIOSH Visit ADDRESS ADDRESS DATE Houston PI Baton Rouge Tower November 5, 1985 The following is . a summary of my notes concerning the NIOSH visit on Tuesday, November 5, 1985. 1*. Opening Meeting 2. Plant Tour a. Participants: London, Markel, Suttle, Matherne, Gibbs, Guinn, Sanders b. Areas: DF2, DF1, CHA, HB2, HA3 c. Observations: The tour lasted approximately one hour. The plant appeared to be operating well. There was limited activity in the processing units. Housekeeping and general appearance of the operating areas were very good. Neither London nor Markel expressed much interest or concern about exposure or work practices in the plant. The only area they seemed interested in, particularly, was CHA. They asked several questions about handling of the RCB and EtCl polymer streams. 3. Discussions a. London - Gibbs Dr. Gibbs showed Mr. London the printout that he had prepared, which listed the most recent liver enzyme tests for each employee at the plant, identified only by job code and work area code. They discussed a list of 38 employees with at least one liver enzyme elevation. This number is consistent with the number .statistically expected for a plant population of 765 employees. During the discussion. Dr. Gibbs advised Mr. London of the origin of the list of chemicals and the "twenty or so liver ailments". During the opening meeting, the union had indicated that the chemical list had been developed by Mr. Clapp. Also, during the tour, Mr. Guinn had implied FC 2990 that the "twenty or so ailments" had been discoverd by Mr. Clapp. I believe that it was good tOithe origin of the information. ClcJL b. Markel - Matherne - Clapp - Sanders We reviewed the company's approach to providing industrial hygiene coverage at the chemical plants. We reviewed, in general terms, the industrial hygiene monitoring that has been done in the plant. Mr. Markel appeared disinterested and did not ask to see any data. None was offered. Mr. Clapp asked a number of "leading and provoking" questions about the work practices and exposures at the plant. He, also, asked a number of questions about unrelated areas of-the plant. His questions failed, to generate any interest on Mr. Markel's part. 4. Closing Meeting a. Participants: London, Markel, Gibbs, Matherne, Suttle, Clapp, Greenwell, Sanders, (Guinn, last five minutes). b. H. Markel - Will send written request for "simple flow diagrams" of the areas involved in the tour - Will not make any decision about the need for I. H. monitoring until he has reviewed information with M. London. c. M. London Reviewed his discussion with Dr. Gibbs Indicated that he will send a written request (to you) asking for the printout of the liver enzyme data that Dr. Gibbs had reviewed with him and an analysis of the RCB and EtCl Polymer streams. The request should be mailed to you within a week. The liver enzyme data will be turned over to the NIOSH statisticians for evaluation. M. London indicated that their back log was large and it would probably be months rather than weeks before the data was evaluated. If the statistical analysis of the data shows no trends or apparent "problem areas" in the plant, the Health Hazard Evaluation will be terminated. A letter would FC 2991 **< be issued to that effect. - If there appears to be a pattern in elevated liver enzyme levels, NIOSH would want to conduct more in-depth evaluations, which could include: Employee interviews. Individual Medical Histories; NIOSH MD's conducting physicals; Industrial Hygiene Monitoring. d. Comments London- stated that the absolute number of 35 - 40 individuals with one or more liver enzyme elevated was not an alarming number. - London indicated that he recognized the difficulty in drawing conclusions about liver dysfunction based on liver enzyme data due to the impact of life style on these screening tests. - London pointed out that Mr. Clapp's suggestion that he do a retrospective and speculative study of plant employee historical exposures was outside the realm of the NIOSH study. If you have questions, please call. PJS:iz cc: W. A. Gafford J. P. Gibbs, M. D. D. E. Johnson/G. L. Ter Haar R.'N. Matherne G. B. Meyers, M. D. P. J. Sanders EC 2992