Document XR35xBk68X4d87zDGBN06OyaJ

Monday, Get. 7 1.974 jp. v OL, LIV NO. 249 k * / Health Hazards Vinyl-Chloride Scare Points Up Dangers ^co Of Other_C__h_e_micals i q Substances Long Believed q . Safe Now Are Regarded O With Greater Skepticism A Hospital's Hidden Perils By Barry Kramer S/aff Rrportrr of The Wall Stkkkt Joi i;nal It's a simple molecule: two atoms of car bon, three atoms of hydrogen and a single atom of chlorine. At room temperature it is a gas. The molecule is called chloroethylene by chemists, but it is more commonly known as vinyl chloride. The chemical structure of vinyl chloride has been known since the 1830s. Since a dec ade after the Civil War, scientists have known how to link, or polymerize, the vinylchloride molecules like beads on a chain to form a plastic called polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Since the late 1930s, when B.F. Good rich perfected a commercial process for po lymerizing vinyl chloride, th^ plastic has come to fce a staple in thousands cl house hold products ranging from kitchen food wraps to construction materials. Last January, the world learned some thing else about vinyl chloride: It can cause ; This is the second of (too stories con cerning implicatibns of the discovery that vinyl chloride can cause cancer. cancer in humans. Twenty-six cases of a rare liver cancer have been discovered among workers in polyvinyl-chloride plants. All of the workers were exposed over many years to large quantities of vinyl-chloride ! gas. In recent months, further evidence has ; come to light Indicating that ihe gas is also . responsible for an increase of other cancers among the workers in the PVC plants. As a result, there now are standards regulating vinyl-chloride emissions in factories. Vinyl- chloride gas has also been banned for use as an aerosol propellant, and the Food and Drug Administration is toughening restric tion of the amount of vinyl-chloride in PVC: food wraps. I Vinyl chloride, of course, is far from the I only man-made chemical known to cause j cancer or, for that matter, other human ail ments. Industry regularly works with toxic substances of all types known to cause ill ef fects ranging from skin disorders to dam aged lungs, kidneys and livers. In fact, the findings about vinyl chloride point up the potential dangers of an entire group of simi- j lar chemicals, which, like vinyl chloride, , contain hydrogen, carbon and chlorine. The chlorinated hydrocarbons, as Ihe chemicais I are collectively called, are used in a broad t range of products to which every human | being has multiple exposures. It would be difficult to find a person any-1 where who hasn't: come into contact with products such as plastics, anesthetic?, Jnsefc ; tlcides and herbicides, solvents and phar maceuticals, all of which can be made from chlorinated hydrocarbons As a result of their widespread manufacture and use, mol ecules from these products can be found ev erywhere on earth afid In the upper atmo sphere. Such molecules are also commonly found In human tissues What is particularly concerning some scienUsts Is the fact that the compounds are rarely found In natural systems unless those systems have been exposed to man-made pollution, "Although all living Uiings contain considerable amounts of chloride Ion . . , very few chlorinated organic compounds ac tually occur In living things," says Dr. Barry Commoner, director of the Center (or the Biology of Natural Systems at Washing ton University in St. Louis. Trial and Error Dr. Commoner further notes that biol ogic evolution is a process of trial and error over millions of years; therefore, he says, the assumption can be made that since the chlorinated hydrocarbons are virtually ab sent from all living things, the compounds are likely to be "evolutionary rejects." And that means, he says, that if such compounds Invade a natural system like that of man, they are likely to be toxic. "This means that Industrial operations that synthesize or make use of such sub stances, and agricultural and other opera tions that disseminate them into the envi ronment, ought to be governed by the level of prudence that is demanded by the inher ently dangerous situation," Dr. Common says. "That we now are discovering, with increasing frequency, health hazards due to dissemination of synthetic organic sub stances, both in the workplace and the gen eral environment, is evidence that we have thus far failed to appreciate the need for such care." ; It is Interesting to consider that vinyl chloride, in the early days following its dis covery, was actively considered as an anes thetic for surgery. But animal tests showed that the gas caused heart irritaiion, and it was abandoned for that use in favor of other ! substances. However, many anesthetics in use today are chemically related to vinyl chloride--and there is growing evidence that they aren't without harmful side, ef fects. For the past several years, for example, there have been scattered reports of ill ef fects suffered by those who administer anes thesia and among others continually ex posed to anesthetic gases while working in hospital operating rooms. It has also been known for some time that there is greaterthan-expected incidences of spontaneous abortion among female anesthesiologists and nurse-anesthetists and, more tellingly, a greater than expected rate ol certain types of fatal cancer among anesthesiologists of both sexes. (There is no evidence that such anesthetics pose long-term dangers to surgi cal patients. 1 Birth Defects One recent survey of nurse-anesthetists in Michigan showed that of those who worked in the operating room during preg nancy, more than 167c delivered infants with birth defects, compared with a birthdefect rate of under 67o among nurse-anes- BFG26938 V Health Hazards: Scientists Take Another Look at `Safe' Chemicals Continued From First Page activity, meaning that "acceptable" risk* thetists who stopped working during their have to be determined for various sub pregnancy. Other surveys have found high- stances. For example, even sugar, If in cr-than-expected r.-jtes of miscarriage and jected In sufficlenUy large does, will cause stillbirths among the wives of anesthesiolo cancer in laboratory animals: yet no one is gists, even though these wives presumably suggesting that sugar use be drastically cur didn't enter an operating room until the tailed among humans for that reason. time of their deliveries. One explanation ad To arrive at a balance between risks and vanced by observers is that the anesthesi benefits, the risks must be fully understood. ologists somehow carried home sufficient But very little Is known about the dangers amounts of anesthetic gas in their breath or posed to workers by the thousands of sub on their clothes to affect their spouses. stances they work with, and there ts little Studies are currently under way to deter optimism that such substances wlU be fully tested in the near future. Government agen mine whether or not the wives of vinyl- cies are understaffed and working with lim chiorldc workers have been affected by min ited funds. A Toxic Substances Control Act, ute amounts of the gas unwittingly carried which the Labor Department says it needs home by their husbands from the plants. Of to strengthen its hand in controlling indus particular interest is the rate of stillbirths trial chemicals, ts stuck in a House-Senate and miscarriages among these women. The conference committee. studies are by no means simple, since the Of course, even If such an act were to be true rate of fetal wastage throughout the na passed, even the most sanguine aren't sug tion isn't exactly known and therefore a gesting that the workplaces of American In basis of comparison is difficult. Further dustry will be cleared of danger. Neverthe more, the women's husbands are also ordi less, it is becoming more and more evident narily exposed to a wide variety of chemi that there is less willingness to accept cals other than vinyl chlorides, hampering chemical dangers as simply an Inescapable direct correlations. part of working life. There are, of course, other carcinogens, '.'Whatever happens," editorializes Lan or cancer-causing agents, and toxic chemi cet, the British medical journal, "the vinyl- cals in widespread industry use that are chloride episode will have provided a salu even more dangerous than vinyl chloride. tary lesson. It will not be quite so easy in Before the Labor Department began setting the future as it has been in the past for any standards for vinyl-chloride emissions in chemical manufacturer to assume, until factories--by an emergency decree in May proved otherwise, that a chemical to which and then by a "permanent'' standard effec workers are exposed Is carcinogenlcally tive next Jan. l --it had issued standards safe. There must surely be more systematic last January for H other carcinogens. The implications of all these studies and evaluation of industrially used chemicals for carcinogenic risk to workers." standards are clear: Industry will no longer be able to assume blithely that untested chemicals in the work environment are safe Illinois, Utah Utilitiessimply because they've never demonstrated any overt harm. Like vinyl chloride, which took years to take its toll on worker health, Seek Rate Rises; Firmmany chemicals thought to be harmless may be equally insidious. This may well In Idaho Wins Boostmean that there will have to be extensive animal testing of new chemicals before they are introduced and that workers' health will have to be continually monitored to detect A WlU. STKXKT Jn* KN.U. Vru-1 R.j.in'f-fp clusters of disease. Two utilities, in Illinois and Utah, filed The task of such testing and monitoring for rate increases and third, in Idaho, said would be mammoth indeed. There are cur it had won an Increase. They are Common rently 25,000 industrial chemicals. More wealth Edison Co.. Chicago; Northwest than 500 new ones are Introduced every Pipeline Co.. Salt Lake City, and Idaho year. With an array like this, it's iikeiy that Power Co., Boise. other vinyl chlorides are lurking in the Commonwealth Edison said It asked the background. Illinois Commerce Commission to authorize Allied Chemical Corp. and Dow Chemical rate increases that would provide It with Co., tor example, recently reported to the 5211 million of additional revenue annually. Labor Department's Occupational Safety The request calls for an interim "emer and Health Administration that they had gency" rate increase of 7 3~c that would found excess cancer mortality among work provide additional revenue of 5113 million ers at two plants Unit made pesticides with but leave an after-tax gain of 552 million. inorganic arsenic. One study, conducted by The second part of the request asks for an Johns Hopkins University's School of Hy S 30c rate Increase to take effect alter hear giene and Public Henlth, found that of the 22 ings and provide another 5128 million of rev retired male workers from Allied's Balti enue. which would be reduced to 559 million more pesticide plant who died between 19*12 by taxes. and 1972, 17 had died of cancer. At Dow's The higher rates are needed to permit Midland. Mich., arsenical pesticide plant, Commonwealth Edison to finance Its con which was closed down 20 years ago, Dow struction program. Thomas G. Ayers, chair reseurchers found that of 173 workers who man and president, said. died between 1W0 and 1972. 57 died of can Northwest Pipeline said It has asked the cer. Both studies show hlgher-than-expected Federal Power Commission lor a natural- rales of cancer death. gas rate Increase of 5135 million annually. Baaed on orevious less-conclusive evi- Th- cola 11- ------ i,,. -- Go-3 ON m ON no <N t: UT ?2 Uonal Institute (or Occupational Safety and gas. Northwest Pipeline, which serves utili Health last January recommended reducing ties and towns In seven Western states, buys maximum levels o( arsenic In the air of fac about two-thirds of its gas from Canada. tories from the present 0.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air to 0.05 milligrams. Indus try has opposed that reduction, but there is growing pressure on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to impose Idaho Power said It was granted a #.45% Increase in Idaho electric rates by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. The boost Is expected to provide an additional S6.S mil lion In revenue, compared with an esti a "no detectable" limit on arsenic. mated $9 million that would have been real Obviously, It isn't enough to learn that ized from the full 12.8% Increase the com workers exposed decades before to vinyl pany requested 10 months ago. chloride, arsenic and asbestos--to name a Idaho Power said It also has an applica few carcinogens--are dying today-of cancer tion for a 12.8% rate Increase pending in Or or of other toxic effects of those substances. egon and expects to file for an Increase in | But the question of how to go about deter- Nevada soon. i mining whether chemicals are indeed lethal : in the long term Is the subject of some dis pute. Suggested Solution AMC Workers Ratify One suggested solution Is to test all Pacts, Ending Strikechemicals already in the workplace and to test other chemicals before they are used. However, Dr. Irving J. Sellkoff, an expert on environmental carcinogens at Mount Sv Wall Strict jm ssai Sih *rponrr Sinai School of Medicine In New York, DETROIT -- Workers ratified new con claims that this would be "unrealistic and tracts at American Motors Cbrp. facilities, scientifically impossible. . paving the way for their return to work i "Resources are limited," he says, "so we today after a three-week strike. Also, about can't go charging off in all directions at 1,400 workers at Arvin Industry Inc.'s once." Instead, Dr. Sellkoff says that he and Franklin, Ind., plant will return today end Dr. E. Cuyler Hammond, the chief health ing a two-week strike that forced the closing statistician of the American Cancer Society, of auto plants across the Industry. have worked out some tentative testing AMC said that while employes at Us U.S. guidelines. First, he says, chemicals to be plants approved both their local and na tested should be those to which large num- tional agreements and will return today, . bers of workers are exposed. If many con employes at Us Brampton, Ontario, plant sumers are exposed to the chemical as well, were still negotiating a local agreement and . he adds, the substance is an even likelier would remain on strike. target for study. The Brampton plant has approved Its na j An example of one such chemical Is car- tional contract. S bon black, an Ingredient in rubber tires and, Even though the Arvin workers will consequently, a widespread aii pollutant. begin producing parts today, some auto ' "We ought to be taking a look at what's hap plants will close this week, but probably, pening to carbon-black workers," the doctor fewer than last week. Only two assembly says. (Scientists currently know that mas plants are scheduled to be closed today, sive doses of carbon black painted on the Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn, Mich., plant skin of mice has caused tumors.) Other and Chrysler Corp.'s Hamtramck, Mich., prime study targets, he says, are sub plant--compared with more than a dozen fa- stances whose chemical structure Is "suspi ciUtles that were affected last week. The cious" (or not unlike the structures of Arvin plant makes key psu-ts, such as catal known carcinogens). ytic converters and tall pipes for the auto The testing envisioned by Dr. Selikoff makers. would be a combination of animal trials. In The Arvin employes approved their con which hundreds of animals would be ex tract late yesterday. posed for long periods to the chemicals being studied, and statistical surveys of Fiat Sets 3-Day Weekworking populations that have handled the chemicals. "There are agents to which mil lions of people have been exposed which For 70% of Auto Crewnow can be evaluated In terms of long-term human experience," he says. "The human data is there waiting for us to evaluate it." i (Because animal studies don't always pre dict what will happen In humans exposed to By a Waix STHfXt Joi xnai Stuff Rr^rorter TURIN, Italy --Fiat S.p.A. put 70% of its the same substances, he says, the human automobile work force on a three-day work monitoring is essential. I week, a move that intensified the Italian po A Complication litical crlal3. All this testing would be complicated by Hie company Is Italy's biggest private the possibility that some chemicals In the employer, with a work force of over 200,000 workplace cause cancer only in combination employes, of u+.om almost half are In the with other chemicals. And the exposure of auto sector. About 71,000 of the auto workers most workers to many chemicals at the are being put on short time. same time would make It difficult to pin The company Is said to have an abnor point the offending chemical. mally high stock of unsold autos, possibly as The cancer danger of vinyl chloride was many as 300,000, which would be one-fifth of spotted only because It caused an exceed annual production. Flat management re ingly rare tumor, liver angiosarcoma, of peatedly has stated Its concern over rising which there are only slightly more than 100 pay demands and the generally parlous cases in medical literature. If vinyl chloride slate of the Italian economy. were to cause a more common malignancy, The Italian center-left government of such os lung cancer, it wouldn't have been Premier Mariano Rumor resigned last so readily detected as a carcinogen. Thursday. Formal consultations to form a But testing is only one part of the prob new government begin today, with the slide lem, tiie other part oeing what do dq about of the economy as the most urgent Issue. toxic substances once their dangers are ex The Fiat three-day workweek is to last posed. There's some risk In almost every until Jan. 31 at the latest, the company said. O Oh VO CNJ p PQ 3705003