Document XzJzX58LqB2n28JN5dbe0xO7K

t F tfOM D. R. Bishop - A3NB(N A M E -- LO C A T IO N -- PH O N E OATE February 16, 1979 S U B JE C T i REFERENCE ; TO : C. F. Callis - B2SA w. J. Campbell - A3SA F. J. Holzapfel - B2SB R. G. Isham - BIND L. A. Miller - B3SA F. C. Meyer - A2SA G. Roush - A2SA R. M. Scott - 1670 R. A. Stohr - B2SC J. S. Wonders - B2NB G. F. Barton - A3NC W. D. Carpenter - C2NA E. H. Harbison Jr. - B2SA G. D. IngentHron - A3NB W-. J . McGarvlle^~ A3NC* J. E. McKee - A3NB J. T. Nolan - D1A J. P. Orr - C2ND P. S. Park - E2NE M. C. Throdahl - DID W. W. Withers - C2NJ Attached is the approved preparedness statement re the Nitro Plant Epidemiological Study. ' This information is not for voluntary distribution but may be used to respond to inquiries from the press. As you will note, there is no reference in this statement to 2,4,5-T. The accident occurred during the production of trichlorophenol which is a product in and of itself. It just doesn't make sense to call unnecessary attention to 2,4,5-T at a time when "Agent Orange" is the subject of litigation. D R B :ec Attachment 'Dan R. Bishop CONFIDENTIAL C07497 APPROVED PREPAREDNESS STATEMENT RE; NITRO PLANT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY February 15, 1979 The following statement is not for News Release but may be used to respond to press inquiries only. Vv Monsanto Company said today it is conducting a follow-up health study on some 228 employees and former employees who may have been exposed to a toxic impurity during production of the chemical tri-chloro-phenol (TCP) at the company's Nitro, W. Va . , plant, during the period 1948 to 1969. It is now known that this unwanted impurity, commonly known as "dioxin," can be present in trace amounts in TCP. For economic reasons, Monsanto ceased production of this product i n ? 1969. Following a 1949 process accident in the TCP production unit, some 114 employees developed a skin disorder, known as chloracne, and were treated over a period of time by four Charleston, W. Va., dermatologists. Thirty-seven employees were subsequently referred to Dr. Raymond Susskind, a consulting dermatologist and currently director of the Kettering Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati. Other than dermatitis, no known long term health effects have been detected from the series of physical examinations offered as part of Monsanto's ongoing health monitoring program. Nevertheless, last August, Monsanto decided, in conjunction with Dr. Susskind, to conduct a follow-up study because: 1) The company felt it had a responsibility, in view of new and mounting concerns over dioxin exposure, CQiMriDiLNTlAL -more- C07498 Approved Preparedness Statement Re: Nitro Plant Epidemiological Study --2 to take this additional precaution to ,,ensure that its program had not missed something. 2) Monsanto felt it had an opportunity, by doing this follow-up study some 10 to 30 years after initial exposure, to answer some nagging medical questions about whether dioxin causes long term health effects. This study will be conducted by Dr. Susskind and it is anticipated that his findings will be submitted for publication in an appropriate medical journal upon completion. -oOo- CONFIDENTIAL C07499