Document QM2Ze36KrXRQqNB83D7r00zZv
THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
January 28, 1987
MIOLANO. MICHIGAN 48674
20 fi CO
c0N0Non1>> -
'""Sd Pursuant
ST0I6I877
Fred Sabel 268 Building
l.
cc: E. A. McLaren
We have begun to collect and computerize the work histories for the vinyl chloride update study. In the process, we have discovered several job departments and titles which we are unsure whether to include in the study. In the original study, Jerry Qtt included five
production units and employees who began work between 1942 and 1960. Their work'experience was considered through 1972. In this study, we will be updating the work histories and exposures for the cohort
members through 1977 and hence there may be departments and job titles which were not considered in the previous study.
As background, I am enclosing a copy of the original vinyl chloride study and some exposure notes which Jerry had included in our
epidemiology files. Please review these notes and I will contact you in three to four weeks to schedule a meeting for us to discuss the exposure categorization.
Let me know if you have any questions about the materials enclosed.
U Epidemiology 1803 Building 636-8102
rt
Enclosures
S?
BACKGROUND ON OTT VINYL CHLORIDE STUDY
The mortality experience of individuals occupationally exposed to vinyl chloride and lesser amounts of vinylidene chloride was studied
Employees were grouped into four exposure categories (high, interned low, unmeasured ) according to highest level of vinyl chloride exposure experienced for at least one month.
v-..?p-^,.ceffpt.r3U3i7f
"l 00-4337
HISTORY
- . v / 'Osrepany
af he1* Yor/c
Research involving vinyl chloride began in mid 1930's
1941 - small copolymer plant 4 operators, 2 miller-packers, 1 foreman, 1 superintendent
on o cn oo oo
Late 1940's - 2 asst, operators added, larger dept, with more operating, clerical and supervisory personnel
Late 1940's - smaller unit to produce VCM and copolymer semiplant were operated
1952 - outdoor homopolymer (PVC) and copolymer plant built
Third copolymer unit begun
3) fio W
s
Oc8n)
1969 - PVC production discontinued . Facilities were used to " modernize copolymer production. Plant built in 1941 closed.
Original study - Population defined as those who began work between 1942 and 1960 . Exposure considered until 1972.
Five Production Units Included :
Unit I Copolymer
1942-1960
Unit II PVC and copolymer
1953-1960
Unit III VC Monomer
1947-1954
Unit IV Copolymer Semi Plant
1946-1955
Unit V Vinyl Latexes and Polymerl946-1960
Plant
D5,"
T; to Ce:
Sum1:
VINYL CHLORIDE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE &ATA (From Ott report)
,,
ouui#U rursuau;<
4337
Surveys were made during the period 1950-1959
Production Unit I - copolymer plant (Saran Plant/Saran Polymer)
Wet end and dry end operations
All job classifications except below
200-300 ppm 1/41-12/59 *
<25 ppm
1/60 + o.
Monomer still and Flash Drier Operator
25-200 ppm 1/57-12/59 3
<25 ppm
1/60 + C
ST0I6I879
Production Unit II- PVC and Copolymer (Saran V1V2)
All job classifications except below
25-200 ppm 2/52-12/66 0
<25 ppm
1/67 + O
Coagulator Operator or Tank and Wheel Operator
200-300 ppm 2/52-12/66 A 25-200 ppm 1/67 + P,
Foreman, Utility Man, Janitor, HtMfdyman
<25 ppm
2/52 + ^
Production Unit III- Vinyl Chloride Monomer Plant (1947-1954)
Production Unit IV- Copolymer Semiplant (1946-1955) Production Unit V- Vinyl Latexes and Polymer Plant (1946-1960)
37 03
8
Ltbtdtj t
fjhvjan
zr UnJ
^U- t/oJ Ct/C, yKJZMc/
/ZZtcf 'JZ-LeJ. ct*&o
't-'rt^A ^(/^C~ cA-t-J `^~- //h--
'A c&-\s 'cK *.Sf *'
&* C/y/t ^ey-Un-*-^ ^iA^s^y 6jciS ^ Pf<l- du&tAi*.-? t*stCi> l*~
z-gaj x<^s JL*ot- ^
Usn~lJ
dl^j^
5 I U I b I d DU
,, -,,,
Dirsi Ci'-C^Cw wni ' -.1 To "roiii-'v;-:-'1^1 Rm-< i ; ' '-
g^j, cjnt i _ .
r-,i. ` '!' '
U-/- ' '
VVentc:w Cv-- "-
JO
e
(/)
l\5 Produced Pursuant cNOnJ
00
-,!
30 99 0)
- r1< 1L V\ , tr~> --
> 1 : Tt^ ' fi
.'- r
C/> -it--i------'--'-j---r-------*---'-- cGc,o---1? -- L. t.
-n-,-
/ -> V
i " --' :
.-H ^ * r
0 ` , 1 Jfi A 4-* , . < Q i .J .- -________
*" o
/ J ? ."
^/
r,, r
f--.. ~, t , '-i..
'- < C; *' ,-Y
/-.' .---f'y//cf-J
'/r ^' A'O > `
4-" /j-1.-; / - / V ' .
byn! --- 7
, '*! ^
rr* l A/ . ru
V-' dr
-r r C _> w-1 1 ^
.r
i r;
Cr
-r n CL
A o-
:er C .
/ /, ^
-00
o
cn CD
-GO
-/ ci *=> Iri
13 - ^ *//TK Pt<J
________________
fei__ kai___ jo(} frtfcs/ Jtfpa/ W
juI^S^:....................................jo^t _ ^e &(CA-Ujtfyira,A^n___^ojk^______
_ faefj ^c( fs e$se/LJid.((tj
____________________________
urv* . " -r '*; *;
Pursuant
!. f -ir
!...
::.! ''1-42.57
`
~- --4 --
rssTTT:^ :.'
' "4.."-T.L,i>r,y
:
WLiti;,n L';L;ri;i i;i i'-fc/,1 York
. V '
------------ --.------ -- - ...............................------------ -r,jr%fc-
COPQLjM-&R tLrtfJj
Table 1.--Summary of Vinyl Chloride Measurements, by Job Classification,
in Production Unit 1,1950-1959 Dc^
^oRfWpntin,'t
i iTable 3---Summary of Vinyl Chloride i LrMea^j?JRffit>ts. by Job Classification,
~ fej'ln Production Unit 1,1960-1963
Job Classification
...... ..... Protect'.'#! TWA S-hr g, V i'-v ppm by Volume 71
-"r? .
TWA S-hr
' Job Classification ppm by Volume
Dry end operations
r
Foreman .
i
5
Shipping clerk
' 5-10 - ' 1
Utility
.........5-10 '
u
Packer
5-10
Assistant operator
5-10
Shift miller Wet end operations*
5-10 -.
Foreman
10-50
Crew leader
10-50
Mechanic
50
Polymer assistant
operator
120-385
Class 1 operator
120-385
Class 2 operator
120-385
Alternate
120-385
Spare
120-385
Dryer operator
95-350
['Monomer still
operator
50-85
[Flash dryer operator
15-100
Tankcar unioader
100
iew York
SI Dry end operations
Foreman Shippingdgrk Utiiitr"'* *
Packer Assistant operator Shift miller Wet end operations Foreman Crew leader Mechanic Polymer assistant
operator* Class 1 operator* Class 2 operator* Dryer operator Monomer still
operator Flash dryer operator Tankcar unioader Monomer transfer
operator
5 5 5 5 5 .......... 5
10 10 25
25-80 25-80 25-80 25-35
25-45 10-15 25
25
Monomer transfer ooerator
100
* Excursions up to 500 ppm were measursd.
* Excursions up to 4,000 ppm were mea sured in the wet end operations.
Table 4.--Summary of Vinyl.Chloride
Table 2.--Summary of Vinyl Chloride
Measurements, by Job Classification,
Measurements, by Job Classification,
in Production Unit II, 1960-1966
in Production Unit^l^1953-1,9^9~^)
TWA S-hr Job Classification ppm by Volume
Foreman Utility Janitor Handyman Alternate Blender-Packer Tank and Wheel
5-10 10 10 10 50-65 10-25
operator Dryer operator Polymerizer operator' Clerk Mechanic
Coagulatort
125-140 50-60 50-65
5 50 135-825
Job Classification
Foreman Utility Janitor Handyman Spare Alternate Blender-packer Tank and wheel
operator* Dryer operator Polymerizer operator
Clerk Mechanic Coagulator
TWA 8-hr ppm by Volume
5 10 5-15 5-15 20-40 20-50 10-20
140-240 20-100 20-50
5 50 30-240
* Excursions up to 600 ppm were mea sured.
For excursion levels see Baretta et al.17
t Excursions up to 1,300 ppm were mea sured.
OO
-H O
cn
oo
oo
ro
30 > (n oocIIMOn o
"IjCc
ftC&fH ~TLV f\ ( A- * Oo/f/f
33
&
CO
8 fo o
z\ ? V*c~n?t v ?d pursuant
`. ..":
'
Cas& .i- >
'
Wests:r> D'.scrirt sf tew
*