Document VGKRmbyrme6Gqaq8Z1JYOvEoN

V s t ^ 5 /O S * JOT'S / . . . t ---- : r * r y ~ '" > r r " ` T ' - o p u i D'JZ TC TRiCHLORPKZNGL Persons Present: Dr. K: Oettel Dr. H. T. Hofmann A. Palm (Ph.D.) V i. Soenksen (Plant Supt., part-time) On the 17th of November, 1953, Baaische was producing a batch of trichlorphenol from tetrachlorbenzene when the process exceeded control pressure/ana temperatures similar to our incident at Nitro. No one was injured at the time. Within o n e `week, as clean-up was being carried out, the first cases of chloracne developed. Fifteen or sixteen cases (6 serious)-developed within the next 1-2 months and additional cases showed up during the next 10-12 months until there was a total of 50-60 cases. I did not see our most severe Nitro cases nor have I seen photographs of these cases. The photographs of the worst Badische cases show horrible skin eruptions with nearly blister-like welts and seme ulcera tion where infection ensued. Areas involved included the face, neck, arms, ana upper half of the body. It is my impression that their' severe cases were much worse than ours. In addition to the skin mani festations, their men reported all the additional symptoms as exper iences in our workers, *i;e,- fatigue, vertigo, loss of libido, painful joints, etc. About ten days following the incident, and after initial clean-up-, Dr. Oettel was asked to expose animals to the workroom atmosphere. Rab.bits (in open wire cages) were placed in the operating area for 24-48 hours. There were no obvious symptoms which developed in the animals until one week after exposure - when they died. Autopsy showed liver necrosis. Oettel thought there might be virus infection or seme other cause for death until he exposed additional animals In the department, others in cages suspended inside the 'decontaminated' autoclave, and some in the adjacent department. All died within 1-2 v;eeks following exposure. Subsequently, animals placed in the cages which had pre- beer. in the department died of liver necrosis. i~oupities inthe trichlorphenol process (or residues) -which \ cause tne same effects in rabbits. Liver necrosis will develop in --"Z. '"'I its at the following doses of the indicated materials: 15-20 JL mg ^ mg miw V of pentachl or naphthalene of chlorinated diphenyl oxide of of residue residue from trichlorphenol distillation croher.ol (above C T ^ 0 -~ '/ 005867 *- 4' /\ atoms tne :;.:_5cu_ c _ u;.-- oxide, influenced OetteLu's reasoning. Oettel believes, further, that this impurity can shot:.up in the production of any chlorinated phenols and is probably responsible for any chloracne which has been due allegedly to chlornapthaienes/ pentachiorphenol, chlorinated biphenyls, etc. Dr. Oettel has no faith in any animal shin tests for isolating chloracnogens. He v:as very interested in Kettering ;s work and v;as not aware of the publication referred to in Dr. Suskina's first report and v:hich describes the cyclic skin development in n e w - b o m rats. (Refer ence: Parnell, J.P.: Postnatal-Development and Functional Histology of the Sebaceous Glands in the Rat, Am. J. Anat., 85*41, 19^9)* He is convinced that the Bromsulphaiein test reported in the attached reprint is significant. In this regard, Baaische routinely uses this test on each batch of trichlorphenoi which they now purchase from-Bayer, and refuses to accept material which fails to pass the animal tests. (I also learned at Bayer that they have experienced chloracne during the production of trichlorphenoi but "have nov: licked the problem" according to Dr. Hansen (chemist - Research Director At Elberfeld). 'Baaische has. been able to reproduce in the laboratory the conditions which lead to the incident such as theirs and ours at Nitro and was quite surprised that we had Dot been able to do so. I was not given the Nitro process information, i.e., temperatures and pressures, but if I had had this information I am sure that I could have obtained Badische's. One of.their chemists, a Dr. Palm, sat in on our dis cussions and v;as prepared to go into details. He did mention that "with 3 mais of trichlorphenoi, methyl alcohol, and alkali, and a tem perature of l80Cv the process gets out of control. His remarks are in quotes because, he does not speak English and I'm not certain of his remarks. Dr. Oettel would be very happy to receive samples cf any of cur materials for investigation. He would like oarticulariy: (1) Samples of any cf the materials involved ir. our 1$19 incident including tetrachlorberzone, trichlorphenoi, or ITa salt and , rs.. ^ ^ .. d W __ W --- _ A. V- . .. . `^ U - . ' Z C... w w'C -- C-- -- -- A. .aC. C . -- C--- s* _ Vi C_. .i 1/ :w eouiornent and structurai mer,be-",s. (2) Trichlorphenoi (or Na salt) from regular production. (3) Any samples from raw materials, intermediates, and final product which may have beer, involved in cur cases which developed during cur normal 2,-,3-T production in the years following the initial incident. 00586S U4i W4 w I left with Dr. Oettel'copies of the following: (1) The five (5) reports from the Industrial Hygiene Foundation which discuss their rabbit ear tests. . (2) Kettering's report - "Clinical and Environmental Survey at Nitro, 1953." (3) Kettering's report - -."Environmental Survey Carried Out In . Building 30, Monsanto Chemical Company at Nitro* February 2, ' 1955." Vie reviewed thoroughly to. Weger'-s excellent '"History of Chloracne" which he sent to me with covering memo dated May 15, 1956* and which included descriptions of Kettering *s reports on their human and animal research. I did not give Dr. Oettel a copy of this account because I did not have permission to q o so. As a result of my visit* it may be desirable to edit this report somewhat and add further process information before forwarding this to Badische. Any specific recommendations are implied in the above narrative account of my visit to Badische. and must be based on an agreement that full ana complete exchange of information with Badische is desirable and possible.- * - -. - - -- - .--- ' - - ?\o T T 3 dh ..V W C_>-- i nt 005860