Document YjLvodbbj0KdBekweb4jVpNaD

v5/ ^Uy u) p u) April 26, 1974 To: Management Committee Briefing Group From: W. Z. Duke (CHEMICAL COMPANY; A. Vlttoae cc: E.W. Harrington J.L. Kelson E.B. Osborne B.H, Zwicker F.J, Weaver R.D, Downey) The attached news release concerning public exposure to vinyl -chloride moved on the DPI wire late yesterday end in an altered version this afternoon. One query from a newspaper has resulted from the wire story, Ben Zinser, who is science editor for the Long Beach Independent Press Telegraph, called the Long Beach plant end inquired about the report. The Long Beach plant referred the call to me. X returned the call to Hr, Zinser and told him that ve had Just seen the story and that for further information he should cheek with the Environmental Protection Agency. 1 gave him background information about the Long Beach plant in regard to number of employees and products manufactured, stressing the fact that it is an extremely small plant which was started in 1960. 1 then gave him previously released information on the current P?C situation. Hr, Zinser has not used any of the PVC stories in his newspaper up to this point and will point out in a shore story in the Long Beach paper that there have been no employee fatalities at the Long Beach plant. Hr. Zinser mentioned to me that he felt the report was most inaccurate from a scientific standpoint. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is located at 1779 Church Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, Tel. 202-332-6000. It was organized in 1971 as a Ralph Nader operation but apparently operates independently with support from some foundations and the public. It's a non-profit organization and has investigated lead and other gasoline additives, aerosols, asbestos and food additives, among others. Its principals include Albert Fritsch, a Jesuit priest with a Fh.D. is organic cheaistry from HU; and James Sullivan, with a Fh.D. in meteorology and oceanography from HIT. W. T. Duke :plh Attachment BFG29339 24079001 TT WASHINGTON (UK) -- A RESEARCH GROUP TOLD THE GOYEBSMEXT TODAT THEBE IS A "FEAiMTL POSSIBILITT1 THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN AT LEAST THREE INDUSTRIAL AREAS OP THE NATION ABF- BRING EXPOSED TO AlftBOBXE , fp^j 13 f: i. -J \ DOSES OP Vm CHLORIDE, A CHEMICAL LINKED TO LIVER CANCER. I\ ,a -t THE CENTER POR SCIENCE IK THE PUBLIC INTEREST URGED THE ENVmSMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO HAVE STATE AGENCIES MAKE MEASUREMENTS NEAR FACTORIES IMMEDIATELY TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT . OF THE HAZARD. "> "WE REGARD THIS AS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM," IT SAID, "AND WORTHY OP IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION. OUB RESEARCH INDICATES THAT CERTAIN TOWNS AND CITIES MAY BE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY VINYL CHLORIDE POLLUTION," IT SINGLED OUT THE HOUSTON, TEXAS. AREA, SOUTHERN UOI3SJANA AND WESTERN KENTUCKY, AS THE THREE PRIME AREAS WHERE FACTORIES PRODUCE SO MUCH VINYL CHLORIDE THAT SMOKESTACKS AltE VESTING THE CHEMICAL. mH IIUWWTY AND OTHER CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IS THOSE REGIONS, IT ADDED, COULD MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE. IT ALSO St\JD THEBE 5UV BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN the PALVSVJLLT. OHIO, AREA AND AROUND MJKtt BEACH, CALIFORNIA. TDK CENTER SAID IT HAD LEARNED THAT klPA'S OWN MEASUREMENTS SHOWED 0.37 PARIS PEE MILIAON VINYL CHLORIDE ALONG ROUTE 225 IN PASADENA, TEXAS, 'IN' THE HEART OF THE LARGEST VINYL CHLORIDE HBOduONG REGION IN THE UNITED STATES. " IT CALCULATED THAT AT THE END OF EACH BATCH OF POLYVINYL Clli/jfllDK MADE IN A JO.OOO-GALLOX REACrrOH THERE IS A STACK EMISSION kfs C -gj OF , OfiO GRAMS OP VINYL CHLOniDE CAS. "A PERSON UNFORTUNATE EXOUCRI TO BE DOWNWIND 100 METERS FROM THE EMISSION WOULD BE EXPOSED TO 200 PARTS O O w PER MILLION," IT ADDED. BFG29340 TT