Document VmNnE5RwDgYmabg8xa1On14Z

CHEMICAL MARKETING REPORTER November 16, 1981 Carbide Results Negative among 6,588 employees, twelve were due to primary malignant brain cancer, the com pany says. By comparison with national in a Brain Cancer Study rates, 7.42 would have been expected. Fi nally, no correlation could be found be tween brain cancer cases and employee ex Union Carbide Corporation has told posure to chemicals used at the Texas City plant or manufactured employees at its Texas City, Tex. pet In a letter mailed to each employee of rochemical plant that epidemiology the Texas City facility, plant manager studies could find no correlation be Damon L. Engle and plant physician Dr. tween ployee brain cancer cases and em exposure to chemicals used or David H. Glenn stated that they believe the four to five cases of brain cancer "may rep resent a chance occurrence and that these manufactured at the plant. cases are not due to chemical exposure at Both Union Carbide and the National In our plant" stitute of Occupational Safety & Health The letter listed three reasons for this: have been conducting separate studies -- "First, we have not been able to associate using the same data base -- to determine these brain cancer cases with any particu whether there might be an excess of deaths lar chemical exposure. Second, the types of due to brain cancer among the plant popu brain cancer are present in the same per lation and, if so, whether the excess could centages as that seen in the general popula be associated with occupational exposure to tion. Ordinarily, chemically caused cancer chemicals. is a specific and often unusual type, differ The results of Union Carbide's investiga ent than those seen in the general popula tion indicated that the overall mortality tion. Finally, excessive brain cancer has rate of employees working at Texas City not been confirmed in chemical plants simi since 1841 is significantly less than the na lar to ours in other parts of the country." tional average (765 observed versus 923.83 Commenting on the epidemiology study expected). Of the 765 deaths which occurred and the company's internal communica tions efforts, Mr. Engle said, "In any study of this nature, our foremost responsibility Is to the employees. My message to them Is that there Is no cause for alarm. However small in number, deaths due to cancer have and wlU continue to receive our attention and concern. "Our exhaustive studies," he continued, "neither Indicate that any deaths due to brain cancer have been caused by occupa tional exposure, nor do they suggest any changes to our existing employee health programs or production procedures. We do, however, plan to continue our investiga tions as well as our cooperation with NIOSH. "We firmly believe the present stan^ dards and practices employed by Union Carbide at Texas City provide adequate protection (torn known health hazards," Mr. Engle adds. "In the unlikely event we learn of a hazardous exposure, we will take, whatever action necessary to further pro tect the health of our employees." UCC 096524