Document QgpGDr5JqpKEpz9EpZEqMjz24

pr: 3 j^4 Saturday, March 23, Wi THE WASHINGTON POST ,1 Chemicals in Atmosphere ' i '( i Called Cancer-Producing > ' i ! ! i j. l -i ! i,.- - By Stuart Auerbach they are worried about "the nyl chloride may contain low ride workers in plants in Ken Washington Post Staff Writer vast number of new chemical levels of vinyl chloride gas, its tucky,, New York, West Vir 'ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., agents" that have been Intro duced into the environment in main constituent, which scien tists believe take cancer-caus ginia, Texas and Great Brit March 22--Two leading cancer recent years, including chemi ing ain. Selikoff estimated that experts warned today that the cals used to Improve the "If vinyl chloride isn't safe, perhaps 5 per cent of polyvl- earth's environment is being taste, freshness and appear like motherhood, what is safe nly chloride workers will get filled with chemicals that ance of food. in the environment?" said Sel that cancer, which cannot be could cause cancers that will Scientists estimate that 10,- ikoff. "Here was a plastic, as- cured. not show up tor n^nthcr 20 0(10 r.ew -e-mi'il compel'"Js sumed to be inert, hieng intro "This new occupational can- years. arc introduced into the envi duced into o r environment er promises to be an impor Their warning came just ronment every year. around 20,25 years ago. All of tant cause of death among vi eight weeks after reports of a "There has been and contin a sudden we begin to see this nyl workers," Hammond and rare form of liver cancer ues to be.no pretesting of ma central part of the chemical Selifoff said. among long-time workers in terials for cancer and other se process Industry suddenly In an effort to cut workers' factories making polyvinyl rious diseases," the two ex coming to life and hardly in exposure to vinyl chloride, the chloride, a plastic product perts said. Examination is ert in terms of cancer." U.S. Labor Department's Oc used for everything from for serviceability,, saleability, He added that experts in the cupational Safety and Health wrapping meat to tubings in utility; whether cancer will re chemical industry say that Administration today said it hospitals to auto seat covers. sult is hardly considered, ex cancer specialists should be would limit the allowable ex `The cancers we are seeing cept for radioactive devices." worried about "every" compo posure level in factories to 50 now had their origin 15 to 35 Hundreds of thousands of nent or plastic product on the parts per million. (Selikoff in years ago," Drs. E. Cuyler factory workers arc exposed marketplace. dicated that he would prefer a Hammond and Irving J. Sell- to these new chemicals. More So far, almost 1,000 chemi- zero allowable exposure level.) koff told n Amevlonn Cnncor over, Hammond nml Selikoff nils bnvo brim found to pro Selikoff was instrumental Society science writers' semi said, "A useful chemical or nil duce cancers In either human In showing that thousands of nar here. efficient plastic permeates a or animal tests, but many men and women who worked "Prevention of cancer in the nation, or large parts of the more are suspected. Unfortu with asbestos from 1930 to year 2,000 is the order of the world. There is literally no nately, the two scientists said 1950 have died of cancers day In i974," iiiey cviitiiiued. place io hide." today, many cancer-causing caused by that chemical. Hammond is vice president They declined, however, to agents are not found until To prevent this type of for epidemiology of the Amer warn consumers to stay away long after workers have been death, Selikoff and Hammond ican Cancer Society; Selikoff, from products containing the exposed to them. recommended that any new professor of medicine at plastic polyvinyl chloride. So far, researchers have chemical that is to get wide Mount Sinai School of Medi "There is no evidence that it found 12 cases of angiosar distribution be tested on ani cine in New York City. is a hazard," Selikoff said, al coma, a rare cancer of the mals for its cancer-causing ef , The two cancer experts said though he added that polyvi liver, among polyvinyl chlo- fects. i,,n.,--- '".r*""*"' t I 24218001 !5 BFG29649 34 the touisvmr times, Thursday, march u , W4 24219002 o m cs O tt. PQ Sm v&ssim r*-. o> 1 3u M HCA I >% O0) 0) fSo O 24219003 n v> On <N o tu CO (5-gSflJ 8! x gB.-Ei !% e slss > TJ (0 P<