Document ZB6O5MNb8yga03NkaX0mRJX8d

15M <BNNC<?U < SiSlo rJ2S To: From: Subject: Date: K.John F. Finklea, M.D., Director, hM.O.S.H. \A. ^ * W John Lewis, K.D., K.I.O.S.E. physician assi^^ to the Division of Occupational Hygiene, DepartsV. of Labor and Industries, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Monsanto Polymers and Petrochemicals Company, Indian Orchard, H&s3 September 9, 1975 r Since July of this year, this office has been Informed of eighty-six deaths among past workers at Monsanto, Indian Orchard- This information was provided by X.O.S.K.A., Committee for Occupational Safety and Health Action, a group of workers fcmed at the time of the vinyl chloride alert to coordinate information on work-related health problems. This group has no official connection with the union. The data were obtained from active and retired Monsanto workers who recalled fellow workers in the vinyl .chloride and PVC operations who had died of any cause. lighty-six of these deaths were confirmed by finding a Massachusetts death certificate, and the causes of death were tabulated. These diagnoses are shown in the table using the I.C.D. code numbers (eight revision). "Vinyl Chloride" workers v-ere said to have worked in buildings 34, BS, or 92 in which vinyl chloride monomer tas used. "P.Y.C. fabrication" workers were said to have worked in building 85 in which Y.C.M. was not used. "Maintenance" workers were said to have worked in any of the above buildings. ( Among workers said to have'worked in P..V.C. fabrication (building 35), 7.55 of the deaths, 14 of 51, were from cancer. This compares to 16*55 of deaths caused by cancer nationally. Furthermore, 4 of these 14 cancers were pancreatic. Cancer of the pancreas accounts for only 5-5' of cancer deaths nationally. 'n Officers of Monsanto, Indian Orchard have been informed of this apparent excess of cancer deaths, and they have expressed doubt about the reported employment history of some of the de ceased workers. They have teen asked to permit review ty this office of the complete employment records for the P.V.C. fabri cation area. Employment records of the deceased workers have also been requested. We propose to investigate the mortality experience among these workers by means of a cohort study. JWL/nic cc: Paul Alvarado, N.I.O.S.H. Paul E. Bureau, Monsanto RSV 0020801 K.O.S.K.A. -- Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, Local 288