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IN D U S i n i E S PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL DIVISION - U. S. P.O.BOX 1000 LAKE CHARLES, LA. 70602 H. B. LOVEJOY, M. D. Plant Physician July 5, 1979 Charles E. Becker, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine 1001 Potrero Avenue San Francisco, CA 94110 Dear Chuck: I found your letter waiting for me when I returned as well as a stack at least two feet tall and I am just getting around to answering you. The primary products of PPG in Lake Charles are Chlorine and Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic) manufactured by the electrolysis of brine. We also manufacture chlorinated organics with our own chlorine and ethylene from a nearby oil refinery as raw materials and sell the various solvents as well as vinyl and vinylidene only in monomer form. We use mercury only in one of the chlorine manufacturing processes. Operators, cell repair people and some maintenance people are exposed to mercury. I am enclosing an area monitoring report with an outline of the mercury cell room and the various air levels. We also do personal monitoring for mercury at varying intervals. These individuals always carry with them the "Comfo II" respirator and use this when exposure to mercury is likely. We monitor individuals biologically only by urine mercury levels and use 200 ug/1 as a warning level calling the employee and his supervisor in for a conference concerning work and personal hygiene habits. This also alerts the supervisor that he may have to replace an employee. If the mercury level in the urine reaches 250 ug/1, the employee is shifted to a different area of the plant and urine mercury levels will be repeated at weekly intervals until the employee has returned to less than 150 ug/1 on two successive weeks. Fortunately, this does not happen very often. We also have a few people in inorganic lead. Molten lead is used in the diaphragm cell area where it is poured around carbon anodes in the diaphragm cell repair area. I am sending a copy of the recent blood lead levels. Also a copy of my thinking on the classification of chlorine inhalation cases is enclosed. SL 085136 % Charles E. Becker, M.D. Page 2 July 5, 1979 I am not certain what you mean by learning more about the actual processes that go on with PPG, Inc. If you will be more explicit, I will try to supply the information. I appreciate you sending me the bibliography on lead and will be happy to work with you in any way I can concerning evaluation of mercury exposure problems. Enjoyed being with you in Cincinnati and hope to see you again soon. Sincerely, H. B >vejoy, M.D /lb enclosures (3) t SL 085137 CHEMICALS INDUSTRIES INTEROFFICE / LAKE CHARLES TO FROM Fred Dehn H. 3. Dovejoy, M.D. DATE SUBJECT May 15, 1979 NIOSH Guidelines on Pregnancies and Work I am enclosing title page from page 16 of "NIOSH Guidelines on Pregnancies and Work" which lists vinyl and tetrachlorethylene but not trichlor. It lists perchlor as both a mutagen and teratogen. I was guoting from memory and I am sorry that I misinformed you; however, I feel that there is very little difference between the two in this respect. If I can find any additional information, I will forward it to you, I still feel that women who may become pregnant should not be exposed to any chlorinated hydrocarbons. lb enclosure t SL 085138 H GUIDELINES ON PREGNANCY AND WORK The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Chicago, Illinois 60601 2a- Contract No. 210-76-0159 t U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Public Health Service Center for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, Maryland 20857 September 1977 Wo* eale bf the Superintendent oi Document*, u,s, Government printing Office, Washington, D.C. 3040) Si 085S CHART OF TOXINS AND EFFECTS ttflwnvf ITTTEMC iwicnr wvtero WWOUCnVI tmcT9 mm mwwmw *W*M - m pngponcy. wood koi in ffiqn 4Qu 100 yw fotrct on*i tra +*mtr. m daw on imvim 16 SL 085140