Document RKEOjj1wOjbwgv3BmbVXxoYz

ALLIED CHEMICAL CORPORATION MEMORANDUM P. N. S. MAY 7 1974 May 7, 197 4 WCtWW W MAY 8 1S74 j H. QUlMH To: Subject: Mr. P. N. Shellenberger Mr. R. J. O'Leary Additional Epidemiological Studies on Workers Exposed to Vinyl Chloride Attached is a copy of my memorandum of May 2nd on the above subject. We have now received the ORC call for financial support and. based on telephone clearance, I have agreed to commit Allied's funds to this project, as well as to the studies initiated by MCA. (Copies attached.) r ;\ iv Y ^ W. S. Ferguson / EiWIRCrClELTAL SERVICE 3 WSF:mn Attach. cc: Mr. W. L. Sullivan ASI 00023624 Org.Kii.'! Cc"jn:.f 1 C60 L S;r Suite 21 2 We:, n ;?021 8/2- Cs,d!c Au8 May 3, 1974 Memorandum TO: FROM: ORC OCCUPATIONAL SAF'ETf AND HEALTH STANDARDS GROUP Bill Nichols, Legr/^Te'plow, Wayne . Brooks Since a couple of errors were found in the May 1 letter to the Group concerning the polyvinyl study, we enclose a fresh draft and ask that you substitute this May 3rd letter for the one dated May I. There was no error in the protocol which was attached to the May 1 letter. AS I 00023625 Oradnifp;; , n " Ccu^oiwiT. !r'c May 3, 1974 To: From. Bill Nichols Memorandum and Health Standards Group brooks, Leo Teplow Since the polyvinyl crisis surfaced in January, the ORC OS&HS Group formed a PVC Task Force which has been meeting at frequent intervals, both before and after the promulgation of the emergency standard. The PVC Task Force concluded that, in light of the pressure to (1) reduce the present 50ppm limit in the emergency standard and (2) adopt in the permanent standard the NIOSH recommendations to bring the vinyl chloride standard down to ippm, it is essential to bring additional data to the attention of OSHA and NIOSH, in the hope of providing a basis for setting the revised or permanent standard at a level which will still make it possible for the industry to continue m urera^e. There can be only two kinds of additional data made available (1) animal experimentation? and (2) human experience. Animal experimentation is being undertaken by MCA , but will not be available for at least 7-9 months. Human exr-jr ^ once requires chat a rapid mortality study be under taken. NIOSH is making a fast sample mortality study of vinyl producers and polyvinyl compound producers covering seven major plants. AS I 00023626 ASI 00023627 May 3, 1974 Group V _ Page 2 ORC has been asked to initiate and manage a mortality study in the PVC fabricating industry (extrusion, molding, calendering, etc. of PVC) In which employees have been exposed to relatively low con centrations of vinyl chloride momomer -- but substantially above one part per million. Dr. Leonard Chiazze, Director, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Georgetown University School of Medicine, has been retained as ORC con sultant for this project. The protocol he has prepared for the mortality study, entitled "Mortality Among 'Workers Involved in Pro cessing PVC" is attached. Briefly, the protocol calls for (1) identification of the companies; (2) company authorization to its group life insurance carriers to make death certificates for its PVC processing plants available to ORC; (3) classification of these certificates by a nosologist; (4) selection of all certificates giving cancer or liver conditions as cause of death, and follow-up at hospitals named in the certificates to clarify specific conditions; (5) inquiry of hospital pathologists as to any known cases of angio sarcoma; (6) any cases of angiosarcoma that may be uncovered to be followed up to obtain occupatonal histories; (7) cancer or liver deaths to be analyzed to develop proportionate mortality ratios , to be compared with those in the U.S. population. Since It would be impossible to complete the entire project in 120 days (maximum time probably available). Phase One of the study would cover a limited but substantial proportion of the PVC fabricating industry. ASI 00023628 v VC processir.q p r c; n u s a v a r Uij r l.u oi\e ; \ j j c jl a s s j_ x j.c a. i__l un ul c ne s e certificates by a nosologist; (4) selection of all certificates giving cancer or liver conditions as cause of death, and follovz-up at hospitals named in the certificates to clarify specific conditions; (5) inquiry of hospital pathologists as to any known cases of angio sarcoma; (6) any cases of angiosarcoma that may be uncovered to be followed up to obtain occupatonal histories; (7) cancer or liver deaths to be analyzed to develop proportionate mortality ratios , to be compared with those in the U.S. population. Since it would be impossible to complete the entire project in 120 days {maximum time probably available), Phase One of the study would cover a limited but substantial proportion of the PVC fabricating industry. Since it is impossible to make a firm estimate of the cost of such a study, it is proposed that a cost of $200,000 be assumed for Phase One. Tf it is assumed that thirteen to fifteen of the major producers and users of PVC will support the study, a cost of about $14,000 per company may be estimated as an initial commitment per company. ^ One Company has already sent ORC its check for $14,000, in order to ge;t the study scarred. Each company that is involved as a substantial producer or user of PVC is requested to advise ORC: )\te ^ 1. Whether it is prepared to help finance the study; ORGANIZATION RESOURCES COUNSELORS. INC., 1660 L STREET N. W.r WASHINGTON, D. C. 20036 T ^roup Pago 3 2. Regardless of its decision as to point one, identify to ORC major PVC users, either as a list of its substantial customers or, if it wishes, a list of major users knoun to it (which list includes its customers) - preferably by plant identification. This list should include your own fabricating plants; 3. Send to ORC any measurements it may have made in any PVC processing or fabricating plants (either its own or customer nlants) , giving levels of vinyl chloride monomer, nature of operation, location, and method of measurement; 4. Contact the insurance company that contracts your group life insurance to alert them about the study 3. n.d t ^ s i^ t horize their release of death certificates. If any data is to be made available in time to be for consideration before setting a final standard, time is of the essence, and company decisions need to be made with great expedition, and ORC should be promptly advised by telephone as to point 1, and by letter as to points 2 and 3 above. In the meantime we shall proceed to line up the people with rare skills that will be essential to get this study initiated and carried out. We would also appreciat e* your suggestions as to an outstanding toxicologist who might be used as a consultant for the study and to evaluate the results in any hearings that may be held ASI 00023629 ORGANIZATION RESOURCES COUNSELORS, INC., 1600 L STREET N. W., WASHINGTON, D. C. 20036