Document bBR414xMyk1VJ4DMj6y2M1VD0

HILL an3? KNOW'LTON, Inc:. July 11, 1974 MEMORANDUM TO: E.S. Nuspliger The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. SUBJECT: BNA Coverage of OSHA Hearings A brief tabulation of the coverage of the OSHA hearings in the BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter strongly suggests that SPI acted quite wisely in its decision to cooperate fully with the press vis-a-vis the distribution of the Arthur D. Little data, the "position" press release, and complete copies of the SPI testimony. Of 111 1/4 column inches of coverage in the June 27 and July 4 issues of the Reporter, SPI accounted for a full 62 inches, or more than 55 percent of the total. Dr. Selikoff, on the other hand, earned only 6 3/4 inches, OSHA 7 3/4, and NIOSH 8. The June 27 issue, which covered only the first day of hearings, carried 6 3/4 inches of SPI testimony, based solely on the "position" press release. SPI, as you know, did not testify on the first day and had it not been for the "early" distribution of the press release, would not have been included at all. Instead, SPI earned the lead in the subsequent article. The July 4 lead was also based on SPI testimony. Asa comparison, DOW, whose testimony and cross-examination lasted approxi mately six hours, received only 4 1/4 inches of coverage, largely because DOW did not make copies of its presentations available to the press. Not included in the above calculations is an 11 inch story in the June 27 issue on the A.D. Little findings. This story was based on the SPI press release of June 20. We believe the above comparisons demonstrate the advantages that accrued to SPI as a result of its decision to place its story' in the hands of the press at the earliest possible moment. Matthew M. Swetonic CC: R. L. Harding, J. Lawrence, J. Kiss, Jim Moore, T. McGrath D. White, J. Blizin, W. Durbin, C. Thompson, J. Callaghan 23217070 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. POOL NEWS LOS AitGElES. CALIF. i j JUL 1 1974 . Itui<ie Oifi ImJlMtll) _ By Fay Coupr The PVC Dilemma: -j How Safe Is Safe Enough? A frightening story is emcrginc from the plastics industry. a story which we \ touched on briefly last issue. There appears to be incontrm ertiblc evidence that a rare form of liver cancer is linked to vinyl chloride gas. which is used in the making of polyvinyl chloride, which is used in the pool industry (among many, many other industries) for vinyl liners. PVC pipe and molded fittings, etc. | An Italian cancer research scientist was the first to discover the connection between angiosarcoma and the presence of vinyl chloride gas. under a study I initiated by a Huropean chemical firm. ! According to a story in Chcmutil Fu^ou la-in" /Vo*w May 20. 1974. Prof. , Cesare Mnltoni found the rare form of li\cr cancer in rats which breathed air i containing 250 parts per million ol* -vinyl chloride. At the time (August 1972). l.LS. i Occupation Health and Safety Administration regulations permuted concentra- J tions of 500 parts per million. Thcprescnl level permitted by OSHA is 50 ppm. but Labor Department hearings are under way as this is being w ritten to rule on OSH A s recommendation that the standard be changed so that "no detectable level" of vinyl chloride be allowed, j According to plastics industry spokesmen, such low levels would be impossible ; to obtain. The Society of the Plastics Industry is reported by the Wall Stn'rr Journal (June 25. 1974) as saying. "Sufficient technology doesn't exist to meet the proposed standard and (the society) warned that much of the vinyl and poly viny I chloride industry might have to dose if the standard goes into effect. The society i predicted that 1.6 million jobs and 'at least $65 billion' in sales and production could be lost.' However, according to the June 27 l.t>\ A umcIvs Thnvs. the powerful ATL-CIO * has told the Labor Department hearings that they recommend the "no detectable 1 level'* limitation, even if it means the loss of their jobs { An AFL-CIO spokesman was quoted as saying. "We'v e li\ ed without polyvinyl , chloride for thousands of years. We can exist without it again, if we have to." The plastics industry is pressing for a less stringent standard, plus more time to ( phase in the new controls. What conclusions can be drawn? ! First of all. it seems highly unlikely that the Labor Department will set a standard w'hich would wipe out 1.6 million jobs -- or anvthine approaching that figure. Nevertheless, there are very powerful forces supporting the proposed change, so we would expect some kind of compromise between the "no detectable" level sought by OSH/%, organized labor and consumer groups and the current 50 ppm level -- possibly at the 5 or 10 ppm level that some have suggested is reasonable. This has to mean that PVC. already scarce and skyrocketing in cost, is going to become even scarcer and costlier. Are there any health hazards to people in the industry working with PVC? There have been absolutely no suggestions, so far, that there is any dancer involved in handling a finished product of PVC. w hcihcr it he film, pipe or molded. The primary hazard clearly exists in the process of com cr ting the raw feedstocks of vinyl chloride into resin, while the compound is still a monomer. An industry source tells us that the resin is then polymerized, a process in w hich plasticizers, elasticizcrs. binders, etc. arc added at very high temperatures, with the resulting material extruded in various forms ... a common configuration being the PVC pellets which aic used in injection molding. However, said the plastics expert, if the polymerization is not complete, for whatever reason, it can happen that some viny I chloride monomer may he trapped in the PVC. If. at the next point in the fabrication, very Inch tempetaturcs arc used to process the raw PVC. these trapped monomers could be released into the atmosphere, thus posing a health hazard to w orkers in the area. 7 his would appear to be the linkage between two PVC workers whose deaths have been traced to angiosarcoma. The moral questions which are raided arc disturbing Mow `..ile is vale enough? How many deal hs from angiosarcoma arc accept a hie-) I en a \ car.' Or a hundred ' Or none'.' is any expense justifiable -- and remember we re talking about billions of dollars -- if it saves a life, or lives? It's the same question, in essence, that the ( onsnmer IhoJuct Salcty Comrrus- sion official spoke to. in the story beginning on page I. in v, hich he said. " W c can t take a 10-cent item and make it cost $ |0jusi to make it woi k" . and w e assume he meant, make it work safely. Iheanswcr.nodoubt. lies so mew here betvvecn total idealism and total indiffer- , ence to anything but profit. | E 0 4 .T Z 2 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. . v *2 .-23 o- ;f Sl^J: :: -p- i- x<:j o- _Sr ' \ sfs -gf = I * is- ?S c c3 ss-JS r -i ' Lra < E cr qj 2cc Cj: ' QJ o 1t: P c - "2: 0.-C G3 -C ~E 0c3 03 O d *-> ^ - o_2 &t--- .x. p~. TTO1 k- -- E * ^ w g-g w _2 T3 Is^ ""Co CO oW 0t\3> c.. r-r-t--. C3 b m -n >c a/ -- ^o < JE e 5 E55 12c . < c^-o 2 E S *12 3 S'S Eto E EES C/2 f-i c_____ 1/5 wo 13 CO T3 y. 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Jobs Plastics Industry Mobilizes to Thwart dough Rules on Handling Vinyl Chloride By Walter MoaSBrjtc dustry. a trade group, asserted that suffl-l "Unless a reasonable approach U St if v/ The %v<ll Stuck r Joe anal cicr.t technology doesn't exist to meet the)taken." wrote Frank C'cen^vetd Jr.. presl- WASHINGTON -- Aj the federal govern- proposed standard and warned that much of |dent of a plastic-pipe-oxtruiing firm in Flor- ment moves closer to adoplutg stringentjthc vinyl and polyvinyl chloride J.ndustryjida "it could mean the destruction of many controls over handling of the ubiquitous In-(might have to close if the standard gjes lntojsmali businesses such as ours when* wo <j".<tnaJ chemical vinyl chloride. manufac-jeffect. The society predicted that 1.6 millionjhave invested our life savings." bjrers who use it are mobilizing to try to) jobs and "at least 565 billion'' In sales and R. J. Clayton, chairman of Louver Drape show that tne controls would prove economi production could be lost. jinc., a California maker of PVC window cally disastrous. Ralph Harding Jr., president of the sod-j blinds and folding doors, wrote that "57 The rules would be utl*rlv unworkable, ety, said that the proposed standard "i3| years ago, at the depth of Lhe depression, I the companies say. and industry' wcuid lose technologically infeasible to achieve, evenistar'.cd a one-man business winch has tn essential manufacturing material. In with the hi:hly sophisticated methods cf In-!grown today where we do approximately S7 consequence, they add. makers of plastic plant control that have been developed by;million worth of business and employ over pipe, auto parts, phonograph records ar.Jjthe itiduurv over the years. If the proposed 250 people." If the new rules are imposed, many more products would be driven to the i "no-detectabJe-level*' standard is adopted, he said, "we'd be back to a one-man busi wall. And. they contend, thousands of jobsjthe vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride ness overnight." would vanish. I resin producing industries will be forced to One firm. Custom Trim Products Inc., This gloomy picture Is likely to dominate 1 close down immediately. which makes plastic trim for several big Labor Department hearings, 'beginning The Labor and Health View auto makers, warned that the new rules today, on planned standards tor eliminating A number of labor-union and occupation the exposure of plaslicii-industry vorkcis to al-health experts are expected to dispute the the chemical, which is suspected of causing society's claim at the hearings. They con cancer tend that it is possible to meet the standard Exposure to vinyl chloride, a gas, has] without closing the industry, could cut off its supply of PVC resins, end ing its production and causing it to risk law. suits by Detroit for failure to fulfill supply contracts. The firm, nn officer wrote, "would undoubtedly be forced into bankruptcy." been linked by researchers to 10 cases of aj; harsh p. redictions are contained In Hubbard Apiaries, a beekeeping corn- rare liver ranccr. angiosarcoma. mnny of the more than 123 letters from plas- pany in Ousted, Mich., wrote to declare that workers nandlmg it m the U.S. sr.fl o jtjcs firms already on file with the Labor De-|u wouldn't remain In business if PVC supcour.trier: In 16 cf these 'ascs. death jpartTr.ent. The letters, representing the wnt-|p]jeg Were threatened because Its honey i< suited. In additicr. angiosarcoma has *c*;ers formal "comments" on the planned!sojd jn p\*C bottles and glass bottles are ccntly been burned for the ricaU^of ;u;rujCSi gjv.e ftn jn(j;callon of the probable;scarre as a result of a soda-ash shortage, employes in U.S. plants handling tone of this week's hearings. Although mostj ln furt In*riy 0t the letters contended chloride, the powdered ocrnatiye or 'letters concede that some controls p.re^nnt PVC i- already in short supply, highly chloride gas that is fabricated >*>' a wjj*e needed on vinyl chloride, most corned that] versatile and absolutely necessary lor a va- range of plastic products. (Two other cca.ns(t^fl proposed measures w*.i*ld n:cnn nothlngjrjC|y 0f important uses, from angiosarcoma have been discovered) 1p?3 collapse of their Industry, among people living m the vicinity of plan.Sj Almost all the letters come from users of Spoke.smen for the record siste-J that the plastic is vital Industry into Us opera- I polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC, and not compa- MCA Accords Inc. contended that if in April. pY'C Tj i^`'slar'dards for^PVC P^ct.on to end. ^alional imposed safety a v.tr.prary emergency cs.>ani..ari.rrad_.*.,"lccye eTXLprjra,imn iuha-tn'lheir supJpnlie-rnso-tofcaP.VeCs.*|,.our ..incjuslry would be forced out of bust. limiting workers exposure to vinybrh.onde! ^ave l0-,^ *hem the standards will mal.o It gas to fO ports per million In the pir they:inp..?s:,?Je (or thcm t;) ccntinuc projucirg The National Association of Home Build- breathe, h sharp reduction from the Prc*ith* pias^jc v'rpcd to write to the gov. vious limit of 300 pans. Now. the mgrncy lsjcrftjn?j;:> ^ PV'C users have done so. fore- proposing--and witnesses at this week's tasting their fiiujicial ruin. hearings will debate--a standard cutting ex posure permanently to "no detectable" level at all. Although the plastics Industry opposed the emergency ruling, its v^ire h.*s so far been weaker than that of organised labor and various scientific groups, which back the tough rules. Doom for the Industry? At this week's !;r?r;ngs. however, th- In. dustrv ] c: reeled to j.rgite strongly that ir.- "no-UetcciaMe" r ;o('ure plan v.ou'd ri-cli, doom fur ti c <e\rral cc-icn y'arts tr.nt :*-.'.rej vinyl chlnrid-' gi? or turn it Into rtlnmyi! chloride jV'-.'-'r rv .and fr.:''-'. cf j the hurdre f-? vf plan'^ "vat turn p.Vyv:ryl| chloride p!;:'::' p,r-du''ts. ! Tl'h stand ml *.ouiJ rry.trc 'rat mr*.* orcrati'.'ns n 'he Tu-wicflon o* \ :r.; 1 <.h:rr-' Idc ard po!-v;r.v! vd.^'ii.c. eu'.:-'.o>3; an c.ififTV'.lC'i -U` ! `d ;r.; Uose l-cff. icgu. ,iM ureas w::-. :o r\p'-'..:'A car. be c*' :`.t' 1c.? i'V v.'.lilnf.rn 't'vi -' , ers s.Ud the standards cnulrj dr;ve the rising p.Rhctlc view of the dangers of death from of !SSJlt! rvea higher hy forclr; vin>l chloride. Jameson Crane, of Crane kl.-Udcrs to abandon cccr.on-.ical PVC holtsPlastics Inc., in Columbus. Ohio, wrote, in? componcr-.s. It warred v-at sue), a de"We continue to be J.n;prcs?ed with the com- voiopmfnt cor'd mc.vi "eor-iv .needed hcu- P'nsoa of the number of deaths annually !n- bp hc-'rd tiio jvacli ..f an In- * ,i-N't10 premptod by loss of ;bs. ver crcn.-'r-ly )aI; .'mcr.t o; the pur,hr." pususs the 19 arriosn-t om.a deaths world-wide Xorlon Co.'s sCml.- r:,d ^r.ihotlc* m%1-loyr' years o{ PVC production." w.-mml thai if' C. de- cs tub, 1'.. Ir- niedica] u-cr.. i v new r `'s i ;:'br,i supjilic.' l-.'ly -.-*j 1!r,* rni:.r-n;?ru ir-rd 1 1 r. V. r un.ivwl-bi". Ar-1 r`--/t-vi.i.'- Cn`n '-.de. >.C.. irrilrr f: .T-rct.-siTj > r. ''d ter: n:,i:r.vi. pv'c romr-rciif" in ts rvMj.ir'.H nw.:^ < powder ( tie.-, of r. La.v ' 1 pa \ S-'.'irty of ti-: ri.vriics Jn-; | -,-r^ <_ 11 , K 'npar l-A 1 -- :V'iv :at th drives e ;-r -ire to vinyl' idc uithcut :li ef i o-i of the loiter rv nchnnw.Vdcrd Tri.. *,n pr'->ct worl;rr.< f n llie r-.-aj. of l:v*: con* cr. K.:. i!i-- y.rzid tir'ny f- r.. b'-tli i'j if>c bui.nc.s m .* 1 r h "'. .Ii arv.l 15c la the new t one wr/cr '.c-*:k r. jrd'y !w syni-j T h Jh-S '*? K \ 't i?\ t;;1 -i 8- K I l I l I IJ Co b* *O>3 cn Top of the news What's ahead for vinyl makers: Slowdown or end of the road? Uncertainty beclouds industry as OSHA weight testimony on proposal for sharp cut in VCM emissions within plants Scores of chemical and plastics com panies will be on tenterhooks during the next few weeks or months while Secre tary of Labor Peter Brennan and his asso ciates are deciding what safety standards will be required in U.S. plants that pro duce vinyl chloride monomer, process it into polyvinyl chloride resins and mold those resins into plastic pipe, phonograph records, sports car tops and vinyl floor ing. The immediate question: How much VCM gas should be permitted as an air contaminant in all those plants? Until this question is resolved, management people in this $65-billion/year business will not know whether to invest additional capital in plant expansion, research and market ing programs. Moreover, their suppliers will not be able to project how much ethlene. chlorine, plasticizers and molding equipment will be needed. In last week's public hearing in Wash ington. it became clear that this vinvl fac tory hygiene matter has become the big gest and most controversial case that has yet been faced by the Labor Dept.'s three-year-old Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Because some vi nyl plant workers have contracted a rare and fatal cancer of the liver (angiosar coma). OSHA in April issued a tem porary regulation that the VCM concen tration in the air in such plants must not exceed 50 parts per million. Now the agency is proposing as a permanent rule that the limit be set at "no detectable level," which in practice would mean a maximum of only about 1 ppm. Costs, Jobs, Health: Such an "exces sively and unrealistically restrictive" stan dard is not technologically feasible, and its adoption "would shut down the indus try." according to Anton Vittone. presi dent of B. F Goodrich Chemical Co. and chairman of a special PVC standards committee set up by the Society of the Plastics Industry. As the industry's principal spokesman . last week's hearing. Vittone proposed that the present temporary emergency standard of 50 ppm. for PVC plants be lowered in several stages to 25 ppm. bv Oct. 5. "75. with further imposition of a time-weighted average limit of 10 ppm. Standards for VCM production, he said, could be more restrictive-10 ppm. by Oct. '75, and a time-weighted average maximum of 5 ppm. Meeting these suggested standards would be costly and difficult, Vittone said.' "These proposals represent am bitious, difficult levels of operational ex posure dependent on large expenditures of money, reduced capacity, and the de velopment of technology not currently in hand." But trying to meet the no-detectablelevel standard would be prohibitively ex pensive if not impossible, he warned. Putting OSHA's proposed regulation into elTect, he added, "could displace not only the 6,500 VCM and PVC production workers but also hundreds of thousands of other employees in companies that use PVC." Cutbacks and Renovation: A contrary view was presented in a Labor Dept, re port asserting that the no-detectable-level standard's only over-all impact on the PVC industry would be curtailed produc tion. The report's authors conceded, how ever. that some "marginal" companies might need federal loans to finance the plant alterations necessary to meet the more stringent standard. That standard was defended at the hearing by Daniel Boyd, director of OSHA's Office of Standards Develop ment--where OSHA staff members will analyze the exhaustive and conflicting testimonv given by the 147 scheduled wit nesses during the five-day hearing. Boyd emphasized that he regards the no-detectable-levcl standard as only a proposal, but added: "It represents our best judgment based on the information available to us on Mav 10. We do not claim to know all the answers to all the problems associated with employee expo sure to VCM. Iam... asking Tor your help, your input, so that we can promul gate a standard based on the best and most recent information available." Gas Masks. Chromatographs: Under the Labor Dept.'s proposal, the first step for employers would be to reduce VCM emissions by adopting new engineering controls and production methods "as soon as feasible." Boyd explained that OSHA'S BOYD: 'As soon as feasible' will depend on cost and available technology. SPI'S VITTONE: No-detectable-emission standard 'would shut down the industry.' July 3 '07Z OHEViC^L WEE* 7 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. CHEMICAL LliGlilEERlNG HEW YOP.K, H. Y. E. o. week C3,o:o J1JN 2 4 1974 </<V.`/tt/fj/A NEWS FEATURES . . . VCM-Exposure Standards: ' Too Tough Too Soon? After virtually Ignoring Industry's findings on cancer risk for a dec* ade, the U. S. government Is now calling tor zero-detectable am bient levels of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in plants that make or use M. At hearings this week, some clashes are expected as Industry tells why It thinks the timetable should be extended. Hearings begin tomorrow--June 25ih--in \kjxhingion on |iM uh.it level of exposure to vmvl chloride monomer (VCM) can be tolerated bs workers without scrioush endan gering their health. Once again. anJ irumcalh in tins instance, a clash be tween government jgenctes and industrv seems inevitable. The Occupational Safctv and Health Administration (OSH A) pro pose' to set a standard lor emplovcc exposure at "/cro." as determined b\ a sampling and anal Wien! method capable of detecting v ins I chloride in concentrations of I ppm (with an aceuracs of l0.5 ppm) OK, But . .`. -- VCM manufac- L... k'ij DEVICE measures VCV e*cosure by drawing air through sorbcm tube 110 turers are not basically opposed to reducing exposure levels as much as possible--tor example. B. F. Good rich Chemical Co. (the U. S.'s largest vmvl chloride producer) now oper ates at levels of about 15 ppm in its polvmer plant, and even lower in its monomer facilitx. What bothers manufacturers o having to-achieve, in j telescoped time-period "no de tectable level of exposure" As a Goodrich spokesman ex plains. "The situation we're facing with v in\ I chkiridc exposure lev els is not dissimilar to the zero pollution legislation for controlling water pollution-lhe lin.i) last percentage points are achievable only at enormouslv high costs." The ironv of this particular situ ation is that producers of vinvl chlo ride volunt.trilv alerted the gwernmeni of the chemical's involvement tn several deaths from liver cancer (angiosarcoma) In fact, over 13 sears ago Dow Chemical Co. reported that longterm VCM exposures of animals to I0O ppm VCN. for 41: to b mo. tat the ccjuivalent of "normal working hours") resulted in slight liver dam age. At that time. Dow recom mended that exposure level' he -re duced to 50 ppm. though the government's maximum allowable concentration wjs 500 ppm The Dow recommendation w;n not ac cepted h\ the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hvgienists (ACG1H). In I9b2. on the ba-ix of work done at Vale Unocr-iiv. AC'GIII concluded tli.it 51H*1 ppm oflered an adequate safe tv margin for human exposure to VCM. and published 5f>0 ppm js the recom mended standard. Thai same level was also accepted hv OSHA ,i> a na tional standard in NT I However, beginning in the midI9b0s. the Manufacturing < hcniM' Assn funded an invc'tig.ition oi the possible health dangers mxobed in VCM manufacture. In nuJ-NT" MCA established technical liaison with European researchers who were also investigating the safe-exposure limits of VCM. One decision hv MCA arising from this agreement was to inituie an c p i d c m i o lo a i ca I studs of VCM/PVC (polvvinvl chloride) workers in the L\ S. And tn earls 1973. MCA signed a contract with Industrial Bio-Test Laborjtorie'. Inc., i Northbrook. III.) In late June N?3. MC A requested a meeting with the National Institute for Oecupation.il Safctv jnd Health: litis was arranged for Julv 17. N73, A 'umniarv til'the published toxicitv data on vmvl chloride anJ other pertinent mlorm.ition. wjs presented lo NIOSII ai that time. A phwieian representing the l.uropcjn researchers reported at the meeting on studies m Europe tn which tumors were observed m rat' .it exposure levels .is low as yyu ppm Six months later, in Jamiarv |0"4. B I- Goodnch Chemical Co. mlormed MUSH that the deaths of several of its emplovees from angiosarcoma might have been ocenp.itionallv related. In the succeeding month', similar reports acre made to NIOSH of possiblv joh-relaleJ Iner angiosarcoma hv Union Carbide Corp.. Goodve.ir Toe k Rub. her Co. anJ Tire'tone Plastic' Co In carlv April. OSH \ acted and i-sued an l.mereencv Tompor.irv Standard that reduced exposure levels troni 500 ppm to 5u ppm. wiih the understanding that this new st.mdarj w.is to he m erfcs! or.h until October while the whole question ol VCM exposure s.ifetv level' was explored more closelx. Timetable Too Fast? --Despite what seems to be a \mg hMorx of selt-mv C'i igtiior. and cc-ncern bv toe vmvl chloride inJiisir.. oWv week's scheduled !u ivrgs in >r. The indu'trv is deer" v.orHcrncJ about the possible cu'r, -mic impact JUNE 24,1974/CHEMICAL ENGINEERING I j j \ j ; , j j j j ' j \ | 1 | j j ; | | I i j i j ! I | : 1 23217071 T HILL AND KNOWLTON. Inc. of a "no detectable level** being es tablished immediately. In an effort to assess what the costs might be. the Soc. of the Plastics In dustry, which is expected to partici pate in the hearings, has hired Ar thur D. Little, Jnc.. the Cambridge. Mass., consulting firm, to prepare an economic impact survey. Even the unions concur that eco nomic hardships for workers could result from the proposed standard. However, as Anthony Mazzocchi. legislative director of the Ofi. Chem ical and Atomic Workers Union (which represents about 1.200 VCM/PVC workers) notes. *'The men at Niagara Falls (where Good year has a plant) are caught. They're in a dilemma. Whafs their option? Work and eat today so they can die 20 years from now?" {Goodrich says the morale of its workers is good- men arc still applying for jobs on its vinyl chloride line.) What's Being Done--Simply stated, there arc two major areas of concern in a VCM plant--ambient air containing vinyl chloride mono mer particles, and the need to peri odically enter the reactor vessels for cleaning. Research has indicated that the workers who clean the polymer ization reactors by scraping are ex posed to VCM concentrations of 600 to 1,000 ppm at hand level. One monitoring device being looked at with interest is a personal sampling pump, manufactured by Anatole J. Sipin Co. {Although arcamonitoring instruments have the ad vantage of immediate detection, they may not measure exact working con ditions.) The Sipin device contin uously draws an air sample from a worker's breathing zone through a sorbent tube over an 8-hr working an April of the organic materials breathed by a worker. Thc*pcr<.onal sample pump was looked at with in terest by some Cincinnati-based NIOSH personnel at a meeting on monitoring for VCM. held in Hous ton. / As for reactor cleaning. GAT Cotp. has developed a ssstem whereby a solvent, trademarked M-Pyrol (n-methyl-2-purohdiMie). in pumped through the heating unit and sprayed into the reactor to he cleaned When about onc-quartcr full, the reactor is shut oil and the solvent recirculated. The heavy spray of hoi solvent absorbs the vinyl chlo ride monomer and. at the same time, dissolves the PVC residue. Although PVC itself is considered an unusually inert material, residual monomer can be entrapped within the pores of the polymer. Up to now. the industry has not made it a prac tice to strip the residual monomer from the polymer. However, work i** now underway to develop the re quired technology. Experts say that the residual monomer could he dropped hv dilution with compound ing agents and by the mixing action during such compounding. Goodrich, for one. is already ex ploring possible approaches to re moving the residual monomer, and plans to set up a pilot operation soon.-- JMN 23217072 Top of the news feasibility refers to both technological and economic considerations: "On the one hand, does the technology exist that would allow the employer to achieve compliance? And on the other, What are the costs associated with the application of these technologies?" If the very low level of VCM concen tration could not be attained immedi ately, employees would be required to wear air-filtering devices known as con tinuous-flow and demand respirators. Commented Boyd: "We recognize that respirators are not popular with employ ees and that employees may have diffi culty wearing them 40 hours a week. However, in balancing the feasibility of engineering controls and work practices, respirators and the hazards associated with VCM, we feel that respirators are a necessary temporary means of avoiding employee exposure to VCM." As to in-plant monitoring. OSHA shied away from designating any specific tech niques for measuring VCM concentration in the air. "But a gas chromatograph is fully capable of measuring VCM at the levels required," Boyd stated. Methods Are Optional: OSH A s pro posal is essentially only a performance standard, Boyd pointed out. "We recog nize." he said, "that each employer should be allowed to utilize the engineer ing controls and work practices that are best suited for his plant. However, the proper application of ventilation systems and further enclosure of exposure sources appears to be a rational approach. It is entirely possible that a reduction of the 10-12% unreacted monomer content, which often occurs at the polymerization stage, will reduce some of the VCM ex posure problems associated with PVC." More aggressive support for the no-de tectable-level proposal came from orga nized labor. Union officials denied that such a standard would necessarily result in any extensive shutdown of PVC plants, but declared that even the loss of many jobs would be preferable to continued ex posure of employees to higher VCM con centrations. Peter Bommarito, president of the United Rubber Workers and chairman of AFL-CIO's health and safety committee, demanded Congressional investigation of industry efforts to stir up "hysterical" op position to OSHA's proposal. "Today, this nation will be black mailed," Bommarito averred. "Manage ment will tell you that the proposed stan dard--which they assume without hard data is not feasible--means an end to 1.6 million or more jobs and national disas ter. This country survived for nearly 200 years without PVC and we can survive in the future without it." Bommarito suggested the possibility of a health hazard that had not previously been discussed in connection with PVC: the chance that even a trace of VCM in a pregnant woman's bloodstream might damage the fetus. Evaluating the Evidence: Bommarito asserted that "the medical facts are now in. and the problem is now in the social and political arena." But industry repre sentatives said that the medical and scien tific data are far from conclusive. In fact, one industry spokesman con tended. it's conceivable that OSHA's present temporary standard of 50 ppm. may be entirely adequate. Researchers may never know whether it is or not, he continued, because it takes 11-20 years for angiosarcoma to develop, and so it's possible that the liver ailments turning up now may have been initiated before manufacturing operations provided the present degree of protection for workers. Nevertheless. OSHA is expected to rely to a considerable extent on data devel oped by Director Cesare Maltoni of the Istituto Di Oncologia, a tumor research institute, in Bologna, Italy, and by scien tists at Industrial BIO-TEST Laboratories (Northbrook, III.). -The work at Bologna was sponsored by several large European producers of VCM; the studies at North brook were commissioned by the Manu facturing Chemists Assn. In both cases, the researchers have reported that angio sarcoma was contracted by rats and mice that had been exposed to VCM at various levels down to 50 ppm. "On the basis of what facts we have been given," testified Dr. Herman Kraybill of the National Cancer Institute, "VCM appears to be a potent hepatocarcinogen. If man responds to low-level ex posure to VCM as has the rodent, a lowlev*^continuous exposure of 50 ppm. for man would have a high probability for inducing liver cancer." Deciding on Dicey Data: Jerome Heck man. general counsel for SP1. summed up the industry feelings as to the inadequacy of present scientific information: "Many of these decisions will necessarily have to be based on the rules of probability rather than irrefutable fact. Much of the scientific data obtained by researchers to date is quite inconclusive. A great deal of data remains to be acquired and eval uated. At this precarious state of our knowledge, we believe that misplaced re liance on mere suspicions rather than proved data, or precipitous and emo tional reaction to such incomplete infor mation, together with a narrowly con strued interpretation of interests, could lead to major economic consequences." As the hearing ended. Washington ob servers were predicting that OSHA would stick with the no-dcicciahlc-level limit, with some leewav in timing for older plants to install the necessary safeguards. Meanwhile, the vinyl industrv is oper ating at close to 100% of capacity, and nu merous plant expansion projects are un der way. If producers can meet the new standards without an exorbitant increase in manufacturing costs, it would seem reasonable to expect PVC demand to keep right on growing at 10-15%/year (chart, above). Occupational Health & Safety Letter Vol.4. No. 12 GERSHON W. FISHBEIN, PUBLISHER June 22, 1974 Main Office 1097 National Press Building Washington, D.C. 20004 (202) 347-3868 Published twice a month. Rate: $75 per year; $135 m combination-wnh Environmental Health.Letter Includes free engraved binder (or each publication. 11 iri?riilijDrlits of This Issue A.D. Little study warns of economic hardship under vinyl cldoride proposal................. Page I OSH A revises field operations manual for compliance officers............................................ Page 3 Differing views on workmen's compensation legislation presented.....................................Page 3 Combined study to measure radiation exposure to airline flight attendants....................Page 4 Women in the workplace--its extent and meaning................................................................... Page 5 Carncgie-Mellon Institute of Research created as independent organization....................Page 5 Promising method to protect uranium miners reported..........................................................Page 6 Coal company officials being investigated on dust data..........................................................Page 6 A.D. LITTLE STUDY WARNS OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP UNDER VINYL CHLORIDE PROPOSAL: At least 1.6 million workers may lose their jobs if an "unrealistic" occupational health regulation limit ing worker exposure to vinyl chloride forces widespread shutdowns, according to an A.D. Little study con ducted for the Society of Plastics Industry and disclosed by SPI on the eve of public hearings scheduled by OSHA on vinyl chloride starting June 25 and likely to go on for the rest of the week. However, an environ- ental impact statement filed by the Labor Department does not support the dire economic consequences predicted by SPI (see below). The technology does not exist to meet a "no detectable level" of exposure proposed by OSHA as a permanent occupational health standard, and widespread plant closings could result if the standard is adopted and industry is required to comply with it, warned SPI on the basis of the ADL study. In terms of lost sales and production, the cost would be estimated at not less than S65 billion, it said. Vinyl chloride is used primarily to produce PVC resin, which is in turn fabricated into a wide variety of products, including flooring, pipe, curtains, upholstery', phonograph records, telephone equipment, insulated wire, bottles, packaging, luggage, sporting goods and many others. Employing what is described by SPI as an "Input/Output economic model" for its analysis, A.D. Little was able to estimate the impact on the PVC resin industry itseif, and in addition the effect on other major segments of the U.S. economy by defining the interaction of the PVC industry with primary, secondary and final demand markets, SPI said. For example, it said that the unavailability of PVC resin would have a major effect on the automotive industry, which utilizes PVC in the form of insulated wire and cable, component parts, upholstery and many other products. The automotive and construction industries would be the hardest hit, with losses respectively of at least 600,000 lost jobs and S35 billion in lost sales: and for the construction industry, at least 500,000 lost jobs and S14 billion in lost sales, according to the study. "The effect on the nation's economy and on the social order in terms of the human hardship it would cause would be catastrophic." said Ralph L. Harding. Jr., president of SPI. "We expect that the final results from A.D. Little will show a potential loss in excess of 2 million jobs. This is all the more regrettable in light of the fact that the industry is taking every step possible to reduce worker exposure to VCM. "While the VCM and PVC industries fully recognize their obligation to reduce worker exposure to as low 'vel as possible, the proposed OSHA standard is technologically infeasible to achieve, even with the highly .-phisticalcd methods of in-plant control that have been developed try the industry over the years. "If the proposed `no detectable level' standard is adopted, the vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride resin producing industries will be forced to close down immediately." 23217078 T /. 2 4 Occtip;it ion;iJ I leal t h & Safely Letter, June 22, 1974 The possible use of substitute materials over a short-term basis to replace l'VC' in some applications is currently under analysis by A.D. Little and will be presented at the OSH A hearings. *** * * 23217079 --........................- i b v.`n J. xJ k * t ~ m h J J i. ,. O i ..,'. OSHA SEEKS TOUGHER VINYL CHLORIDE STANDARD EY EARLY OCTOBER Hopeful chat new, tougher standards for vinyl chloride can be issued by Oct. 5 when the current, temporary standards expire, Occupational Safety and Health Admini stration officials last week wrapped up nine days of hearings on the controversial proposal to prohibit worker exposure to any "detectable amount" of the chemical (TMN, July 1, 1974, p. 59). The hearings ended with an official of Merck & Co.'s Calgon Corp. describing laboratory work showing that vinyl chloride gas can be totally re moved from the air by filtering through activated carbon. Industry officials insist ed that the tests did not necessarily show the technique could work in an industrial plant, nor how expensive the system would be to install. Industry continued to take the same basic position that was presented earlier by the Society for the Plastics Industry, that a "no detectable level" standard for vinyl chloride exposure is impossible to meet, both economically and technologically. Rep resentatives of Firestone Plastics, B.F. Goodrich Chemical, and other important makers and users of vinyl chloride monomer and polyvinyl chloride resin, pressed for compro mise with the Labor Department's position. Not all industry spokesmen were even will ing to accept the proposed alternate position offered by SPI. The trade association suggested a phased reduction in permissible VMC exposure, over a period of years, to a final level of 5 parts per million on a time weighted average and 10 ppm ceiling lev el, after Oct. 5, 1977. Reiterating the general industry position, Todd C. Walker, president of Firestone Plastics Co., producer of 400-million pounds of PVC annually, said a zero exposure level to FCM "is not possible," adding that present medical and scientific data "do not justify the abrupt termination" of the VC/PVC industry. Walker said Firestone sees 25 ppm for a time weighted average exposure, with a ceiling of 40 ppm, as a real istic permanent standard. Such a level would provide a safeguard for employes that is "medically prudent and technically feasible." "Firestone is willing to expend all capital necessary for the research, develop ment and implementation of those procedures which will reduce employe exposure to vinly chloride monomer to the lowest technologically feasible level," Walker promised. "Close and careful adherence to the level we propose with appropriate and adequate work rules will assure safe working conditions without destroying the entire indus- Adoption of the no detectable level standard by the Labor Department will result in B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. shutting down its PVC and VCM operations, John L. Nel son, vice president for manufacturing, threatened. Following the SPI line, Nelson summarized Goodrich's position as follows: (1) company is "committed to reduce vinyl chloride exposure to the lowest level that is feasible;" (2) a no detectable level of VCM is not technically feasible; (3) full-time use of respiratory protection by PVC and VCM workers is not feasible; (4) firm has embarked on multi-million dollar re search and development program to reduce VCM exposure levels; and (5) Goodrich pledg es to support and cooperate with programs to obtain needed medical and toxicological date. Interestingly, Kelson also announced that Goodrich is constructing a new PVC fa cility at its Louisville, Ky. , plant, incorporating, the company' s latest PVC technol ogy. The new facility ..ill employ polymer reactors that are much larger than any now used in the company's Pvc existing PVC plants, and will include computerized con trols. "We expect v.:M ; hi oridv. exposure levels to be lesser than those currently ('Misting in our PVC pier.tr-," Nelson explained, but he would not prod ict what those operating levels might be. A mid-1975 production date lor the new facility was anr. o u n cod . Anthony Mazzocciii, citizenship-]egislative director of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union, reiterated organized labor's position that industry has tried to blackmail the public through scare tactics. Presenting workers with a choice of "your job or your life," Mazzocchi said, conflicts with the basic responsibility of f'ne government and employers "to preserve our human resources." ( rvc^ ) 23217080 T CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER -- July 5, 1974 297 Associates, Cambridge, Mass., to conduct an economic analysis of highway de-icing environmental impact. Ollier EPA contract awards included $49,000 to Duke University, Durham, N.C., to develop screening methods for evaluating the neutrotoxic potential of pesticides and toxic substances; $49,000 to Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, N.C., to study oxidant precursor relations under pollutant transport conditions; and $32,000 to SCS Engineers, Long Beach, Calif, to study the cost effectiveness of waste water reuse. Energy U.S.-USSR SIGN COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ON DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGY A U.S.-USSR agreement on cooperation in energy development with proper regard to the protection of the environment was signed June 28 in Moscow by President Nixon and Soviet President Podgorny. The objectives of the agreement are to use the poten tials of both nations to accelerate research and develop ment of existing and alternative energy -sources as well as to increase effectiveness in the use of energy and its conservation. The agreement provides for exchanges of scientists and scientific information and calls for cooperation in de veloping teclinology for exploration and extraction of oil, shale, natural gas, and coal. Emphasis will be placed on finding new ways of drilling that will increase the amount of oil and gas taken from the ground. A joint committee will be set up to meet once a year on the energy situation and outlook in the respective countries and to approve specific projects. The committee will set up the necessary working groups to carry out the projects and exchanges contemplated by the agreement. Chemicals INDUSTRY RECOMMENDS ALTERNATIVES TO OSHA STANDARD FOR VINYL CHLORIDE A standard requiring the gradual regulation of vinyl cldoride in die workplace was recommended by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., during Labor De partment hearings June 25-26. The hearing was scheduled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which proposed a standard requring "no detectable exposure" to vinyl chloride. In its environmental impact statement on the proposal (See p. 259), OSHA said the measures required by the proposed standard probably would reduce vinyl chloride levels in the external environment as well. The following provisions for polyvinyl chloride resin plants were included in the plastics industry recommenda tions: (1) Effective October 5. 1974, a ceiling of 40 parts per million (ppm) of vinyl chloride monomer and a maxi mum daily time-weighted average of 25 parts per million. Levels above 40 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. (2) Effective October 5, 1975, a ceiling level of 25 ppm with no time-weighted average. Levels above 25 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respira tory protection. (3) Effective October 5, 1976, a ceiling level of 25 ppm with a maximunr time-weighted average of 10 ppm. Levels above 25 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. For vinyl cldoride monomer producing plants, the industry proposed the following provisions: (!) Effective October 5, 1974, a ceiling of 25 ppm and a maximum time-weighted average of 10 ppm. Levels above 25 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. (2) Effective October 5, 1977, a ceiling of 10 ppm and a maximum time-weighted average of five ppm. Levels above 10 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. Litigation COURT TELLS RESERVE TO FORMULATE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND DISPOSAL PLAN Reserve Mining Company must find a way to dispose of its Silver Bay, Minn., taconite tailings wastes in a manner that is sound from "the ecology point of view," Judge Miles W. Lord of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota said July 2. Lord made his comment during a hearing held to formulate a plan for on-land disposal of the tailings, which currently are being discharged into Lake Superior. In April, Lord ruled that the discharge of the tailings, which contain fibers similar to the carcinogen amosite asbestos, constituted a public health hazard, and he ordered the discharge stopped immediately (6 ERC 1449). The U.S. Court of Appeals, ruling that no imminent health hazard was shown to exist, stayed that order for 70 days, conditioned upon Reserve's working with the Federal Government, Minnesota, and the other plaintiffs in the case to develop an alternate plan for disposing of the tailings. In the hearing before Lord, Reserve recommended disposal of the tailings at a site near Palisades Creek, located three miles from the Silver Bay plant. Minnesota disputed this site, however, charging that fibers could seep into the lake from the dumping site. The state urged that the disposal area be located near Babbitt, Minn. Reserve attorney Maclay Hyde toLd Lord that the Minnesota plan would cost S307.5 million, compared with a cost of SI 85 million for Reserve's proposal. Lord said, however, that "what we do to the ecology is what I'm interested in at this point in the hearings." and "We're wasting our time talking about economics if we're talking about ecology." Copyright <c' 1974 by The Bureou of Notionol Affairs, Inc. 23217081 T .July 1974To/ic Materials NewsPase 59 OSHA HOLDS HEARINGS ON WORKER EXPOSURE TO VINYL CHLORIDES The Occupational Safety and Health Administration last week opened its hearings on standards for worker exposure to vinyl chlorides. The proceedings were in that sort of atmosphere peculiarly unique to public discussion in Washington of an issue that has gained emotional appeal and where many hard facts are not easy to come by. There was the almost filled hearing room: the glare of lights for the television cam eras; the claims and counterclaims; lawyers for industry trying to trap the govern ment witnesses; industry public relations men scurrying around the hearing room and the press room; the dramatic telegram disclosing new information; and underneath it all the droning voices of the scientific witnesses trying to report as unemotionally as possible the less than exact evidence that points the finger towards vinyl chlo rides as the cause of death to at least 21 human beings. The OSHA hearings, conducted by an administrative law judge, revolve around the proposal to limit worker exposure to less than any detectable level of vinyl chlo rides in the workplace. The plastics industry complained that the standard would be impossible to meet in the first place, and if it were attempted, could cost as much as $90-billion in lost production and up to 2.2-million jobs. Even OSHA isn't so sure. Daniel P. Boyd, director of the Office of Standards Development told the hear ing that "I would like to emphasize while OSHA has proposed a specific standard con cerning vinyl chloride, we regard it as just that -- a proposal.1' However, it was also clear that the evidence is mounting that a low level of worker exposure to VC may be required. Boyd read a telegram from Dr. Cesare Maltoni, director of the Institute of Oncology, Bologna, Italy, who has been conducting much of the leading research on VC. The telegram reads: "Our project on VC carcinogene sis includes 15 experiments, one now completely ended, other ones already with re sults, other ones started few months or few weeks ago. The up-to-date results indi cate that VC administered by inhalation produces in rats zymbal gland carcinomas, nephroblastomas, angiosarcomas of liver and other sites, skin carcinomas and probably hepatomas and neuroblastomas. Over 64 rats exposed to 50 ppm for 1 year we observed in the last 3 animals surviving 135 weeks from the beginning of the experiment 1 liver angiosarcoma, 1 intrabdominal angiosarcoma and 1 nephroblastoma. Moreover in the same group a subcutaneous angiopericitoma was observed. None of these tumors have been observed on control rats. In mice VC produces angiosarcomas and angiomas of liver and of other sites, pulmonary tumors, mammary carcinomas and skin tumors. Over 60 mice exposed to 50 ppm for 7 months at the present moment, after 49 weeks of experiment, we have observed 9 mammary carcinomas, 2 liver fibroangiomas and 2 sub cutaneous angiomas. Only one lung adenoma was observed in one control mouse." Boyd then went on to say that based on Maltoni's work, plus other work, "our present judgment is that VC is a carcinogenic agent." The plastics industry, which brought a parade of witnesses and had requested four hours to give its testimony, offered a substitute standard, presented by Anton Vittone, chairman of the society's VC monomer and PVC producers. Vittone is pres ident of B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. The recommendations: for PVC resin plants the standard by Oct. 5, 1974 would be 40 ppm of VCM, with levels above this requiring "the use of practical and effective respiratory protection." By Oct. 1975, the ceil ing would drop to 25 ppm, with levels above this requiring respiratory protection. For vinyl chloride monomer plants, the ceiling by this October would be 25 ppm, and by Oct. 1977, would drop to.10 ppm. Vittone questioned the ability to use animal data for determining the effect on humans. "We all must be aware of the inherent uncertainties of extrapolating from animals to humans," he said. However, earlier in the hearings this question received a slightly different slant. Dr. H.F. Kraybill of the National Cancer Institute, in answer to a question from the audience, said that there is a "high index of credi bility" in extrapolating data from rats to man. Kraybill, in his testimony, came down hard on the need to control VC. "If man responds to low level exposure to vinyl (Continued on following page) T' 23Z17082 1974Tojcic Materials NewsPa.s.e_ CONTINUED chloride as has the rodent," he said, "a low level, continuous exposure of 50 ppm for man would have a high probability for inducing liver cancer." Since the time it takes for the effect of VC to become apparent is quite long, the OSHA proposal calls for a system of recordkeeping of employe health. The. pro posal now is for a 20-year recordkeeping period. However, during questioning, a spokesman for Ralph Nader's Health Research Group extracted from an official from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, William Lloyd, the prom ise that he would try and have the time period extended to 30 years. The plastics industry contention that $90-billion would be lost in production and up to 2.2-million persons would be thrown out of work by the standard was dis puted by a draft environmental impact statement on the proposed regulation. The plastics industry relied on the prestigious firm of Arthur D. Little for its in formation. The proposed OSHA impact statement, though, says that the standard "for the most part will likely cause a slight decrease in productivity and small increase in costs for the products made from vinyl chlorides." It goes on to say that most companies producing.or using VC or PVC "will be able to absorb such costs, so that the economic impact will be minimal in these cases," however, for some firms, "sub stantial capital costs" may be incurred. Perhaps not too surprising, strong support for the standard was voiced by organ ized labor. Taking an extremely hard line, the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO said it has concluded that the goal of no detectable level for VC "is both necessary and feasible," as was put by United Rubber Worker president Peter Bommartino, who presented the main labor position. He said that the nation is being "blackmailed" by management statements that the standards are not feasible and will mean an end to more than a million jobs. It is labor's position, he said, that the country has survived "for nearly two hundred years without polyvinyl chloride and ;e can survive in the future without it." He went on to say that if PVC cannot be produced and used safely, "then the proposed standard must be replaced by an orderly procedure to phase out 'vinyl chloride production and find substitutes for its prod ucts, or to phase out the products themselves." Opening up another front in the VC area were spokesmen for the nation's meat- cutters. Ralph Quattrocchi, safety director for the Amalgamated Meat Cutters/Retail Food Store Employees Union, alleged that hundreds and perhaps thousands of meatcut- ters are suffering from "meat wrappers syndrome." This is a malady which "afflicted workers who wrap meat and breathe the fumes emitted when the PVC film is cut with the hot wire." The disease, he said,|"is characterized by breathlessness, wheezing, coughing, and dizziness." .................................. He acknowledged that to date tests run by NIOSH, New York's department of labor and others show that VCM is not in the decomposition of PVC meat wrapping film. How ever, he said, this does not mean that "the fumes generated during the process of wrapping meat contain no vinyl chloride." What it does say, he added, is that "with today's technology, none were detected." Also appearing at the hearing was Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, who reiterated many of his earlier statements on VC. Selikoff said that in view of the scientific evidence now being developed, "I suggest that the only prudent course for the prevention of hemangiosarcoma of the liver among vinyl chloride workers is to provide a work environment with no detectable level of vinyl-chloride." Selikoff said he is "optimistic that we will be able to control vinyl chloride hazards" and that the use of PVC will continue to "flourish and expand." However, ,e added a strong constraint, saying that it is critical that "we eliminate health hazards associated with production of the monomer, its polymerization and the use of the polymer." He said he finds it unlikely that the previous "curious calm" about VC over the past years will continue. 80L X Z V Z T Occupational Safety & Health Reporter - June 27, 1974 83 Current Report General Policy STEIGER TO PUSH OSHA CONSULTATION IN HOUSE VOTE ON LABOR-HEW MONEY BILL An additional $5 million for states to provide on-site consultation for occupational safety and health will be sought by Congressman William A. Steiger (R-Wis) when the House takes up the appropriations bill for the Depart ments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare on June 27. The bill includes $100,816,000 for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, $31,986,000 for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and $5,512,000 for the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. It would give NIOSH a $6,138,000 increase over the fiscal 1975 budget request, but would reduce funds for both OSHA and OSAHRC. Steiger's amendment would provide funds for OSHA to give the states, under Section 7 (c) (1) of the Occupa tional Safety and Health Act, to use in providing on-site consultation to employers. The funds would be made available regardless of whether the state had an approved state plan. The Labor-HEW appropriations bill, reported out of the House Appropriations Committee on June 24, would reduce the OSHA 1975 budget $1,684,000 from the Administration request, bul would represent an increase of $30,408,000 above the 1974 appropriation. The committee recommended a 10 percent reduction in the amount requested for office space, and a reduction of SI,427,000 for new positions. The 161 requested posi tions were approved, but the committee said that the positions are unlikely to be filled as early as contem plated. The committee also approved an additional 11 positions requested in the budget for staff to evaluate and accredit testing organizations. In the OSHA budget, $42 million will be used for matching grants for the 30 states whose plans are ex pected to be approved by the end of the fiscal .year. An additional $4 million is provided for matching grants for state statistical programs to develop injury and illness data. The coirunittce also approved an additional 150 posi tions to provide a total of 1,509 positions for federal enforcement activity. The new positions include 90 com pliance safety and health officers, 30 industrial hygienists, and 30 clerical and supporting staff. The total number of compliance officers, including industrial hygienists, will increase from 800 to 920. An estimated 105,000 in spections will be completed, in woiksites involving eight million employees. NIOSH Funding The committee recommended a $6,138,000 increase in the budget request for NIOSH. In providing the increase, which would bring the 1975 level to $31,986,000, the committee allowed for 95 additional positions. This would restore the positions eliminated in fiscal 1974. NIOSH is expected lo produce 26 criteria documents per year. The committee report directed HEW to fill all of the positions provided for in the bill, noting that a substantial part of the increase is to be used to address the problems posed by occupational exposure to petro chemicals and new energy sources. Of the total increase provided, $2 million is for the support of training grants, and the balance of $4,138,000 is to support the additional staff, research, the develop ment of criteria documents and technical services. Review Commission The bill includes $5,512,000 for the review com mission, a reduction of $208,000 from the budget re quest, but an increase of $622,000 over the 1974 appro priation. The committee said it reduced the budget request primarily because the commission has never filled all of its authorized positions and does not plan to do so in 1975. The committee also reduced the budget request for payment of rental charges by $20,000. Health Hazards PLASTICS INDUSTRY, UNIONS CLASH OVER PROPOSED VINYL CHLORIDE RULE A standard requiring a stepped reduction of permissible levels of vinyl cldoridc in the workplace was recommend ed by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., during a Labor Department hearing in Washington, D.C., on June 26. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration scheduled the hearing to entertain comment on its pro posed standard requiring "no detectable exposure" for vinyl chloride (Current Report, May 9, p. 1539). According to the plastics industry, its recommended standard would be feasible over the next several years, assuming the development of new control technology. The plastics industry's recommended standard included the following provisions for polyvinyl chloride resin plants: (1) Effective October 5, 1974, a ceiling of 40 parts per million of vinyl cldoride monomer and a maximum daily time-weighted average of 25 parts per million. Levels above 40 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. (2) Effective October 5, 1975, a ceiling level of 25 ppm with no lime-weighted average. Levels above 25 ppm would requhe the use of practical and effective respira tor)' protection. (3) Effective October 5, 1976. a ceiling level of 25 ppm with a maximum time-weighted average of 10 ppm. Levels above 25 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. For vinyl cldoride monomer producing plants, the recommended standard includes the following provisions: Copyright 1974 by The Bureau o! Notional Affairs, Inc. 23217084 T 84 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER (1) Effective October 5, 1974, a ceiling of 25 ppm and ' maximum time-weighted average of 10 ppm. Levels above 25 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. (2) Effective October 5, 1975, a ceiling of 10 ppm and a maximum time-weighted average of five ppm. Levels above 10 ppm would require the use of practical and effective respiratory protection. Anton Vittone, president, B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company, and spokesman for SPI, said "such a commit ment cannot be accomplished overnight since, in certain areas, the technology for accomplishing it is, as yet, not developed and, when developed, facilities must be install ed requiring time for engineering, procurement, and in stallation." OSHA Testimony Daniel P. Boyd, director, OSHA Office of Standards Development, said the present judgment of the Labor Department is that vinyl chloride is a carcinogenic agent. As a basis for this judgment, Boyd cited recent data obtained by the Industrial BIO-TEST Laboratories of Northbrook, 111., under contract with the Manufacturing Chemists Association, and the work of Professor Cesarc Maltoni, Bologna, Italy, who testified at an earlier OSHA hearing on vinyl chloride (Current Report, February 21, p. 1 189). On June 20, Boyd said, Maltoni sent the following telegram to Assistant Labor Secretary John H. Stender: "Our project on VC carcinogenesis includes 15 exped ients one now completely ended, other ones already with results, other ones started few months or few weeks ago. The up to date results indicate that VC administered oy inhalation produces in rats zytnbal gland carcinomas, nephroblastomas, angiosarcomas of liver and other sites, skin carcinomas and probably hepatomas and neuro blastomas. Over 64 rats were exposed to 50 ppm for 1 year. We observed in the last 3 animals surviving 135 weeks from the beginning of the experiment 1 liver angiosar coma, 1 intraabdominal angiosarcoma and 1 nephro blastoma. Moreover in the same group a subcutaneous angiopericitoma was observed. None of these tumors have been observed on control rats. In mice, VC produces angiosarcomas and angiomas of liver and of other sites, pulmonary tumors, mammary carcinomas and skin tumors. Over 60 mice exposed to 50 ppm for 7 months at the present moment, after 49 weeks of experiment, we have observed 9 mammary' carcinomas, 2 liver fibroangiomas and 2 subcutaneous angiomas. Only one lung adenoma was observed in one control mouse. Ccasare Maltoni." Boyd said there are essentially five manufacturing processes which involve vinyl chloride (VC) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The initial stage involves production of VC monomer. Next, the VC is polymerized- into PVC, which is. then compounded with additives. The fourth stage involves fabrication, or processing the compounded PVC into a finished or semi-finished product. The final 'ge involves the use or handling of the fabricated .oduct. Boyd said OSHA rec0gni7.cs that exposure and control problems confronting employers in each of the stages may differ markedly from those in other stages. Boyd asked that all supportive data be included with any recommendations for any level that differed from that proposed by OSHA of "no detectable level." NIOSH Testimony Dr. Marcus M. Key, director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said the results of NIOSH's first industrial hygiene survey will be available in about one month. NIOSH asked the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Committee to Coordinate Toxicology and Related Programs to define procedures for designing animal studies and to determine the compatibility of the estimated carcinogenic hazard with a socially acceptable risk. These procedures, when developed, should give guid ance to experimental design of animal toxicological studies, he said. It is NIOSH's opinion. Key said, that the number of animals exposed in both the European and American studies have been loo small to make statistically valid projections of no-cffcct levels. Key noted the average age at death for the PVC production workers was 48.5, which is about seven years younger than the average age at death from liver cancer in the U.S. male population. Key said of major importance arc other possible health effects of exposure to VC. Among these is dis abling liver fibrosis. This condition has been noted also in most of the U.S. cases of angiosarcoma of the liver associated with PVC production. It is not yet known whether the fibrosis is a precursor of angiosarcoma of the liver or to what extent it occurs among workers exposed to VC, he said. He said as part of NIOSII's surveillance activities, it has compiled an extensive bibliography of the work literature on VC to provide guidance to the Labor Department and others who are concerned with the problem. Key discussed also a NIOSH mortality study underway at five PVC production plants and a medical cross-section .survey of current and former polymerization workers and controls being designed jointly by NIOSH and the Center for Disease Control. It is the position of NIOSH that the only suitable respiratory protection devices for VC are supplied air respirators or positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus, because the odor threshold of VC is consider ably higher and a worker would have no indication as to whether he is or is not being adequately protected, lie said. NlOSH's recommended work practices standard was meant originally to be applied to the manufacture of synthetic polymer from VC. In view of the finding of appreciable concentrations of VC in fabrication operations and the reports of angiosarcoma in monomer production and in secondary manufacture, NIOSH recommends that exposure to this carcinogen be controlled wdienever it is encountered in the workplace. Key said. Organized Labor View Peter Bonimarito, president; United Rubber Workers, and spokesman for the AFL-CIO. said if PVC cannot be made and used safely, then the proposed standard must be replaced by an orderly procedure to phase out VC Occupotionol Safety & Health Reporter On) 3217085 T CURRENT REPORT production and find substitutes for its products, or to phase out the products themselves. "We have listened to experts from all over the world, and we have concluded that the Government goal of `no detectable level' for vinyl chloride is both necessary and feasible," Bommarito said. The OSHA proposal comes closer to the ideal standard than any yet proposed or adopted for any workplace hazard. The implications of the Italian and German studies for the hundreds of thousands of women involved in PVC processing are a dimension that, despite union persistence, seems to be overlooked, Bommarito said. It is clear that PVC particles with unreacted monomer could pose an obvious threat to the unborn child as well as to the mother in a matter of minutes. A decision must be made whether the proposed stand ard will be met, (not can be met) or VC monomer production must be phased out, Bommarito said. Industrial Hygiene Comments Louis S. Beliczky, United Rubber Workers director, Industrial Hygiene, said certain operations, depending on the type of polymer, could result in concentrations of VC exposure approaching 1,000 ppm or more. Beliczky listed several types of VC operations that provide more concern than others: PVC resin screening, sifting, sizing, blending, dispensing blended PVC into drums or hoppers, banbury mixing, drop milling, feed milling, three or four roll calendaring operations, and other related film, sheet, and coated fabric operations. "It has been my experience during my visits to plants where the PVC products arc manufactured to observe that little to no local exhaust is or has ever been provided to these operations,"- Beliczky said. Beliczky recommended several changes to the OSHA proposed standard including the following: (1) Change one ppm plus or minus 50 percent to read one ppm plus or minus 0.5 ppm. (2) Under "Control Methods," the word insufficient should probably be changed to ineffective. (3) "Scope and Application" should apply wherever VC is present. (4) More specific information must be obtained to qualify decontamination. (5) Some reference should be made qualifying the method of analysis and sensitivity of an acceptable analy tical method. (6) Absorption should specify inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion. (7) Continuous monitoring systems for VC should be required. (8) Any written emergency action plan should be submitted to OSIIA for approval. (9) Positive fail-safe lockout procedures should be re quired. (10) Medical records should be retained for the life time of the employee. "Our general impression is that some good objective judgment was used by the Office of Standards in prepar ing the proposed permanent standard for vinyl chloride," Beliczky' said. 85 Health Hazards DOLIMPACT STATEMENT ON VC DIFFERS FROM INDUSTRY VIEW ON PROJECTED COST A preliminary assessment of the cost of. compliance with the standard proposed for exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) indicates that the expenditures required will not be prohibitive, according to the Department of Labor Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The standard was proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on May 9, and the Labor Department submitted the draft environmental impact statement to the Council on Environmental Quality on June 12. Deadline for comments on the statement is July 17. The statement says the probable impact of the standard will be that, in addition to improving the quality of the work environment, the institution of control measures required by the standard will probably reduce the con centration of the vinyl chloride monomer in the ambient air. The second major impact is the additional capital and other operating costs industry will incur in complying with the standard, the statement said. Compliance costs potentially threaten the existence of marginal firms, will raise prices for vinyl chloride products, and will en courage, to some degree, substitution of other products for vinyl chloride. The statement notes that offsetting these negative consequences is the fact that vinyl chloride is so central to many products that demand will be, at least in the short run, relatively unresponsive to price changes. Further, it states, costs in terms of medical expenses and diminished quality of life otherwise accruing to the worker will be internalized in the production process. Vinyl chloride, a petrochemical, is produced from irreplaceable natural resources, and reduced demand on these resources could be of merit, the statement said. Substitute Materials An increase in product costs may cause eventual sub stitution of other materials for vinyl chloride, the state ment said. These include wood, metal, and rubber. Many of the substitute materials are in short supply, however. Other Federal Actions The draft statement said that since VC and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are found in many places throughout society, many federal agencies in addition to OSHA have become concerned about possible exposures. On April 26, 1974. the Environmental Protection Agency announced an emergency suspension of all pesti cide spray products containing vinyl chloride and gave notice of its intent to cancel the registration of these products. At the same tune. EPA requested dial all existent stock of such products be recalled by the manu facturers (Current Report. April 25. p. 1480). The Food and Drug Administration took similar action (Current Report, February 28, p. 1224). Significant programs arc underway to determine other areas where VC or PVC formulations should be regulated, the statement said. It noted also that despite the fact that VC and PVC have been present in large quantities for many years, little Copyright (c 1974 by The Bureau of Notronol Affoirs, tnc. 23217086 T 86 is known about llicir health effects. As a result, many s' 'ics have been initiated in the past several months, and c s are being proposed. The Center for Disease Control and the National In.itule for Occupational Safety and Health are conducting a national search for records of all deaths from angio sarcoma of the liver since 1965, and are conducting epidemiological studies on many aspects of VC, the statement said. The most signficant effort is a com prehensive survey of workers from 1 1 polymerization and fabricating plants. Employee medical records are being subjected to intense screening to determine the scope and magnitude of VC effects. NIOSH is examining also the types of monitoring equipment that would be feasible for use in the workroom environment. A primary problem was developing monitoring equipment of greater sensi tivity than was used in the past when the principle concern was the explosive potential of VC. The National Cancer Institute is conducting some cell culture studies to elicit the carcinogenic mechanism of VC, the statement said. The National Bureau of Standards is performing some preliminary' investigations into the development of per meation tubes which could serve as more accurate calibra tion sources for vinyl chloride monitoring equipment. NBS also is examining the mechanism by which residual VC escapes from the polymer, according to the statement. Alternatives The statement examined alternatives to the "no dct blc level" of exposure proposed by OSHA including nan VC production entirely; (2) allow zero exposure; ..) retain the level of 50 ppm as specified by the emergency temporary standard (Current Report, April 11. p. 141 1); (4) rely on personal protective equipment as the only source of protection: and (5) set a limit for VC concentrations in the workplace at some point between one ppnt and 50 ppm. The statement points out that in the absence of scientific evidence to conclusively establish a specific safe level, the selection of a permissible levei between one and 50 ppm would be judgmental. Health Hazards OSHA WILL NOT ISSUE IMMINENT DANGER CITATIONS FOR VINYL CHLORIDE STANDARD Imminent danger citations will not be issued for alleged violations of the emergency Temporary Standard for vinyl chloride, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration Program Directive 200-29. As originally conceived, the directive provided for imminent danger citations (Current Report, May 2. p. 1516). The directive was recalled for revision before it was officially issued (Current Report, May 23. p. 1622). .The elimination of provisions for imminent danger citations w'as one of two significant changes made in the Hi -- tive prior to its issuance. The second significant e involved the addition of a provision that em ployers monitoring for vinyl chloride conduct the moni toring on a workday with the maximum number of OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER workshifts and that 75 percent of the workers on each shift be monitored. Other changes to the directive were minor in nature. Health Hazards ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PROPOSED VINYL CHLORIDE RULES STUDIED BY A.D. LITTLE Loss in employment would be a minimum of 1.6 million jobs under the vinyl chloride rule proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to the preliminary results of a study on the economic impact of the OSHA proposal by Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass. The study was undertaken at the request of the Society of Plastics Industry', Inc., following the OSHA proposal which calls for "no detectable level" (Current Report, May 9, p. 1539). The study showed also that if the rule were adopted, the loss in production and sales in industry' would be a minimum of $65 billion. Employing an input/output economic model for its analysis, the consulting firm was able to estimate not only the impact on the polyvinyl chloride resin industry itself, but also the effect on other major segments of the nation's economy by defining the interaction of the PVC industry with primary, secondary, and final demand markets. The study notes that the unavailability of PVC resin would have a major effect on the automotive industry which utilizes PVC in the form of insulated wire and cable, component parts, upholstery and many other prod ucts. The possibility of using substitute materials over a short term basis to replace PVC in some applications is currently under analysis by A.D. Little. Immediate Shutdown Impact The study estimates show immediate shutdown would result in the vinyl chloride monomer industry loss of $0.2 billion, and some $0.6 billion in industries dealing with the PVC resin. In construction-related industries, whose major prod ucts include paint, flooring, pipe, siding, panels, trim, insulated wire, and wall covering, there would be a loss of $14 billion in production and sales, and some 0.5 million jobs. In apparel-related industries, whose major products include outerwear, curtains, draperies, table covers, furni ture, and upholstery, production and sales losses would be $2.5 billion and sonic 0.1 million jobs would be lost, according to the study. Motor vehicle-related industries, whose major products include upholstery, paint, insulated wire and cable, and component parts, would have $35 billion in sales and production losses, and some 0.6 million job losses. Spe cialty products industries whose major products include phonograph records, telephone and telegraph equipment, and lighting equipment, would suffer S8 billion in sales and production losses, and 0.3 million jobs. Miscellaneous products industries, whose major products include bottles, hoses, packaging, film, credit cards, medical tubinb, foot wear, luggage, handbags, toys, and sporting goods, would Occupottonol Sofety & Heolth Reporter T 00 O CO ^3 CURRENT REPORT suffer minimum losses in produclion and sales of S4.7 billion and 0.1 million jobs, llic study showed. The president of SP1, Ralph L. Harding, said "the effect on the nation's economy and on the social order in terms of the human hardship it would cause would be catastrophic. We expect the final results from A.D. Little will show a potential loss in excess of two million jobs. This is all the more regrettable in light of the fact that the industry is taking every possible step to reduce worker exposure to VC monomer," he said. Harding noted that while the industries involved fully recognize their obligations to reduce worker exposure to as low a level as is possible, the proposed OSHA standard is "technology infeasible to achieve, even with the highly sophisticated methods of in-plant control that have been developed by the industry over the years." Legislation INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS FAVOR ON-SITE CONSULTATIVE INSPECTIONS On-site consultative inspections for job safety and health hazards were endorsed by major manufacturing and commercial associations in hearings before the House Education and Labor Committee's Select Labor Subcom mittee on June 25. The hearings, which will continue twice a month for the rest of the present term of Congress (Current Report, March 21, p. 1326), are focused on the effects of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and proposed legisla tion to improve its effectiveness. Representatives from the National Association of Manufacturers, Chamber of Com merce of the United States, Associated General Contrac tors of America, and Congressman David Towell (R-Ncv) testified. All of the spokesmen indicated that lhere is wide spread recognition in industry of the need for occupa tional safety and health legislation, although there was wide disagreement with the methods used to enforce OSHA to date. Changes to OSHA most frequently recom mended included elimination of penalties for first nonscrious violations, consultative inspections, and the filing of economic impact statements with proposed standards. NAM View Michael P. Stinton and John Johnson, National Associa tion of Manufacturers, recommended a number of changes to OSHA under two broad categories: administrative and legislative. NAM differed from the view expressed by Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health John 11. Slender that the first phase of standards development is largely complete. "Much work remains to be done." Stinton told the subcommittee. Among the administrative changes to OSHA recom mended by NAM were: Better means should be made for the dissemination of proposed rules, standards, and regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration should propose performance-type standards where possi ble. 87 OSHA should make maximum use of standards ad visory committees. Jurisdictional issues between OSHA and other federal agencies should be resolved now and the Secretary of Labor should issue the overdue 4(b)(3) report-. An effort to reduce recordkeeping should be made by OSHA. Legislative priorities endorsed by NAM include the following recommendations: On-site consultative inspections should be made avail able to an employer of any size. These inspections should be under OSHA. Economic impact statements should be issued with publication of proposed rules setting new and revised standards. First-instance nonserious penalties should be elimi nated. Chamber of Commerce Richard B. Berman, director of labor law, and Richard O'Brccht, labor relations attorney, Chamber of Commerce of the United States, stated that the fundamental problem concerning OSHA was one of perception. OSHA, they stated, is "dominated by the erroneous assumption that employers simply will not act voluntarily to eliminate workplace hazards." Among the legislative changes to OSHA recommended by the Chamber of Commerce were: On-site consultations. Filing economic impact statements with proposed standards. Modification of Section 17(c) to prohibit imposition of a penalty for a first-instance nonserious violation. Permission to use equipment in non-compliance with OSHA where the continued use would not result in a serious hazard. Extension of lime for the effective dates of emer gency standards so that they will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Certain other changes involving posting requirements, contest period, and walkaround rights. All of the proposed changes would encourage desired voluntary compliance with OSHA, the spokesmen stated. AGC Recommendations Leonard E. Dodson, chairman of the safety committee. Associated General Contractors of America, stated that bills which would discriminate in the application of OSHA based on size of the firm are unacceptable to AGC as arc bills which would differentiate between light and heavy construction. Dodson testified. Specific recommendations from AGC concerning OSHA were: Application of OSHA equally to all state and munici pal operations involving state and municipal employees. "Good Samaritan" coverage for both employer and employee. Uniform standards or requirements for OSHA and state plans. . Consultative services to all without penalty. Provisions of OSHA area directors to grant variances. 23217088 Copyright @ 1974 by The BureO' of National Affairs, Inc. 115 Current Report OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER - July 4, 1974 Appropriations HOUSE VOTES TO LIMIT ENFORCEMENT OF OSHA, PROVIDE ON-SITE CONSULTATION A ban on Occupational Safety and Health Administra tion inspections of firms with fewer than 25 employees and a provision allowing up to $5 million for states to provide on-site consultation were approved by the House June 27 during floor debate on the appropriations bill (HR 15580) for the Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare. Funds for occupational safety and health were ap proved as recommended by the House Appropriations Committee (Current Report, June 27, p. 83) -- 5100,816,000 for OSHA, $31,986,000 for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and $5,512,000 for the Occupational Safety and Health Re view Commission. An amendment, by Congressman Steven D. Symms (R-Idaho) to reduce OSHA funds to last year's level of $70.4 million, was rejected by a vote of 179 to 218. Another amendment, by Congressman John N. Happy Camp (R-Okla), to delete all funds for OSHA was rejected by a vote of 97 to 295. A ban on OSHA enforcement in small businesses, which prohibits the use of any funds to pay the salaries of OSHA inspectors inspecting Firms with fewer than 25 employees was agreed to by a vote of 201 to 194. The effect of the amendment, which was offered by Congress man Paul Findley (R-Ill), will be to exempt 90 percent of all establishments and 30 percent of all employees from OSHA coverage. Congressman William A Steiger's (R-Wis) attempt to obtain funds for states to provide on-site consulation was only partially successful. Steiger attempted to add $5 million to the bill for consultation and had the support of the Secretary of Labor, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Retail Federation, the Menswear Retailiers of America, and the National Small Busi ness Association. Subsequent amendments specified that the $5 million must come from the $100.8 million OSHA appropriations. A similar 25-employee limit, also urged by Findley, was voted by the House last year only to be limited by the Senate and during conference to 15 and ultimately drop ped with the President's veto of the Labor-HEW money bill. The bill now goes to the Senate, where appropriations hearings are in progress. Health Hazards SPI "CRASH" EXPOSURE STUDY SHOWS SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY POSITION ON VC Data from a "crash" study of worker exposure to vinyl chloride in 36 plants of 20 producing companies failed to support the need for the "no detectable level" standard proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis tration, Dr. Carl U. Demehl, associate medical director, Union Carbide, said during OSHA hearings on June 26-28. The OSHA hearings on a standard for vinyl chloride (VC) continued from June 24 to 29 (Current Report, June 27, p. 83), and will resume July 8. Advancing the position of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., Demehl said examinations of the men studied "have failed to show the existence of abnormal liver function tests in greater proportion than would be found in a control population." The study was conducted in the last few weeks prior to the beginning of the public hearings on June 25 and was done in preparation for the industry's testimony. Some 3,843 persons were involved. Of these, 787 had more than 10 years exposure. Of the total, 1,402 workers had a significant time lapse since first exposure, some 104 being exposed longer than 20 years, and 416 workers having had 20 years time lapse from first exposure to the present, Demehl said. He noted plants where cases of angiosarcoma of the liver were found were, obviously, excluded from the study (South Charleston, S.C., Louisville, Ky., Pottstown, Pa., and Niagara Falls, N.Y.) as were plants with less than 10 years exposure. Sufficient exposure in terms of time and levels, up to at least 250 ppm. were characteristic of these men, Demehl said. Some 416 men had been ex posed for the recognized latent period of 20 years. There is no case of angiosarcoma of the liver among these 1,402 men even though their exposure time is sufficient for disease to have occurred and exposures are believed to have been in excess of 50 ppm, Demehl said. Dernehl conceded that the sample examined may have been too small. Bio-Test Inhalation Study Dr. M. L. Keplinger, manager, Toxicology Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories, Northbrook, ILL, reported prelimi nary results of a study being conducted to determine the effects from inhalation of VC monomer to rats, mice, and hamsters. The protocol for the study was designed by the Manufacturing Chemists Association, he said. The study was designed as a life-span study in these species which means one and a half to two years for the "in-lifc" portion, with tissue examination of pathologists and data evaluation to follow this period. The exposures of the animals were started on September 10, 1973, and final results should be available about December, 1975, Keplinger said. The study was designed to complement the studies of Dr. Cacsarc Maltoni of Italy. There were 600 animals exposed in a single chamber operated under dynamic conditions, scaled, and operated under slight negative pressure to accomodate leaks, he said. The concentrations in the chamber are analyzed and monitored daily, and are accurate, Keplinger said. Mori bund and dead animals receive gross autopsies and gross lesions are photographed. The major organs of all animals Copyright 197a by The Bureau of Nationol Affatrs, Inc. 23217089 T 116 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER are fixed for histological examination. Kcplinger said only sues from a few animals have been examined histologi cally so far. Study Results Preliminary examinations of tissues from mice which died after about six or seven months of exposure indicat ed "possible tumors in the livers, lungs, mammary glands, and/or skin," Keplinger said. On April 15, 1974, MCA and Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories presented these find ings to the Environmental Protection Agency, OSHA, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Current Report, April 25, p. 1478). Conclusions from the data are preliminary, Keplinger said. He added that the relevance of these findings for prediction or extrapola tion to effects in man at the same concentrations and durations of exposure are "quite conjectural." Tissues other than those of the liver have not been studied to determine other toxic effects from VC and more animals appear to be lost at higher doses, Keplinger said. A. D. Little Study Vince P. Ficcaglia, manager of economic analysis and forecasting. Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., said the "United States Polyvinyl Chloride Resin Industry Impact Analysis" done by ADL, commissioned by SP1, will be available within 30 days (Current Report, June 27, 86). He indicated ADL research showed the extent to which materials could be substituted for PVC resin in the mmediate future (to about one year) is "quite limited" and would have an insignificant effect on reducing ADL's prediction of 1.7 to 2.2 million job losses and the loss of domestic production value of $65-$90 billion. Ficcaglia said because PVC resins can be compounded to yield a wide range of materials witli specific properties, the PVC resins are used in more applications than any other type of plastic material. He noted methods used by ADL to prepare the forthcoming report and said "we focused on measuring the magnitude of the economic impact resulting from an immediate shutdown of all PVC resin plants in the nation. Three steps for analysis includ ed identification of PVC resin usage by product and end-use application ("modules"), assessment of the extent of PVC resin dependency in each module, and assessment of the potential for immediate substitution of other raw materials. Among ADL conclusions was that it would not be possible to duplicate the exact properties of vinyl plastic products by using raw materials, primarily because it would still take up to an additional three or four years to complete all of the necessary research and development leading to the required changes in product, process, and equipment design and (he actual delivery and installation of new equipment. He noted also the extreme "tight supply" of substitute raw materials. 'hose substitute products which would take the longest me to develop are those that are critical products for ,ie construction and motor vehicle industries, according to ADL. Angiosarcomas Characterized John E. Ertel, general manager, Robintech, Inc., Fort Worth, Tex., described a recent meeting of a subcommit tee of the Vinyl Cldoride and Polyvinyl Chloride Produc ers Committee at which histories of the 13 U.S. cases of liver angiosarcoma were characterized. These commonali ties were: Each individual case was exposed to VC for a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 30 years prior to diagnosis; Each case was exposed to high lime-weighted average exposure to VC for a minimum of ten and a maximum of 28 years; Of the 13 angiosarcoma cases, 12 were employed for many years in PVC manufacturing plants, and one in a VC plant. The latter was employed for a brief period of time in a PVC plant as well; None of the 13 cases were reported to have had Acroosteolysis; No agent other than VC monomer was found to be related consistently to the 13 cases; Four of the 10 fatal angiosarcoma cases were detect ed only upon retrospective examination of histopathologic 'preparations from the autopsy at the time of death; and No maintenance personnel such as pipefitters, electri cians, and the like who could have been exposed to high levels of VC monomer were among the 13 cases. Among conclusions from these characterizations reached by the group were: All 13 cases of angiosarcoma of the liver were employees who had been exposed over long periods of time to continuous high levels of VCM. These levels were frequently above the odor threshold and were estimated to be a minimum of 500 ppm TWA, and may have been as high as 2,000 to 4,000 ppm TWA. There is some controversy in the literature as to what the actual thresh old level is for the olfactory detection of VC; The data reported last February by Maltoni (Current Report, February 21, p. 1189) indicated that the develop ment of angiosarcoma in rats is does related. Ertel said the group concluded that the emergency temporary standard of 50 ppm "appears to assure that employees will no longer be exposed to any undue occupational hazards." He noted, however, "additional angiosarcoma cases from among the VC industry' work force are likely to be reported over the next 10 or 20 years since there are still many veteran workers employed who held their jobs during the 1940's, 50's, and early 60's." He said the new attention being given VC "is very likely to lead to increased diagnosis of this condition in die general population." He added there should not be great reliance on the 25 cases per year figure for the general population as an average as a basis for comparing the occurrence of the disease in the general population with its occurrence among workers in the VC and PVC producing industries. Fabricators and Processors Several concluding witnesses for the extensive SPI testimony provided evidence of low levels of exposure in processing and fabricating operations and recommended these types of operations be exempted from inclusion in Occupotiono! Sofety & Health Reporter 23217090 T CURRENT REPORT 117 the final standard. These witnesses called for'continual Plastics Industry Stand monitoring and OSHA surveillance of VC and PVC fabri- Industry spokesmen, led by the Society of the Plastics "v eating and processing operations. Companies supporting Industry, Inc., recommended changing the scope of the these exclusions included B. F. Goodrich Chemical Com standard for exposure to VC proposed by OSHA. pany, Diamond Shamrock Chemical Company, Goodyear The standard should encompass only those areas and Tire and Rubber Company, and Gollob Analytical Service operations that pose or may reasonably be expected to Corporation. pose problems and be made inapplicable to certain types of operations, primarily processing and fabricating plants, , Canister Respirators Jerome H. Heckman, SPI counsel, testified. Heckman said there are few problems in the cited Robert D. Soule, vice president, industrial hygiene operations that could not be handled by proper ventila services, George D. Clayton and Associates, Southfield, Mich., said it is not practical and in many ways it is tion and work practices, and said for these operations, there should be a separate standard or work practices unsafe to operate a chemical production facility when prescribed. Fabrication plants and processing plants workers are required to wear any type respirators on a should be excluded from the scope of the standard, he full-time basis. said. The only problems in these plants are found in It is not unreasonable, he said, to require such respira unloading or mixing areas and these problems should be tory protection during only a part of the working day. He handled apart from the proposed standard, he said. recommended canister-type masks, with necessary precau SPI recommended a change in section (b) (4) of the tions, be used where the concentration of VC permits, OSHA proposal that would provide "no area be consid because of the greater mobility and freedom of motion ered contaminated where the polyvinyl chloride received that is permitted the wearer. He said also where the or used therein contains less than 0.1 percent residual concentration of VC exceeds the safe working range of monomer now or less than 0.01 percent residual canister-type respirators, only air-supplied respirators of monomer by October 5, 1977." suitable design should be used. Roger W. Strassburg, director of environmental affairs, B. F. Goodrich Company, said respiratory protection with The definition of "emergency" in Section (b) (8) should be altered, SPI said, to follow the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommen canisters is necessary only when exposure exceeds the dations of March 11, 1974, which defined the term as established level, but remains well below emergency con "an unforeseen circumstance or set of circumstances, such ditions. as a ruptured transfer line, resulting in the release of vinyl ^ He indicated there are certain types of operations that chloride sufficient to produce acute symptoms among require either air-fed hose, such as cleaning "polys" or air workers exposed or having contact with vinyl chloride." tanks, as in the case of tank car unloading and emergency He said the industry position favors constant sequential situations. He urged that OSHA allow management the monitoring, with specified procedures in lieu of the necessary flexibility to select and use the most appropri presently proposed 95 percent confidence level require ate respiratory equipment for the protection of employ ment which SPI considers "vague and meaningless." ees. The employee monitoring observation provision (Sec tion (c) (3)) should be revised so that the observation of Medical Surveillance Dr. Maurice N. Johnson, director of environmental health, B. F. Goodrich, said the proposed medical surveil lance provisions have three major deficiencies. The pro posal is directed to detection of angiosarcoma of the liver or other liver disease, rather than to evaluating the general health of employees. Tire examination should not be directed exclusively toward liver pathology, he said. The proposed standard attempts to define which tests should the monitoring would be handled by an elected employee, he said. Heckman said SPI is "unable to see how the public interest would be served by the type of sign and labeling language recommended by OSHA, and noted the need for instruction of employees in the hazards involved inde pendent of labeling. He cited the obvious example of labeling of cigarette packages. B. F. Goodrich be done to discover liver angiosarcoma, or the pathology Anton Vittonc, president of B. F. Goodrich Chemical which may precede it even though it is generally recog Company, Cleveland, Ohio, appearing with the plastics nized that none of the proposed tests has yet been industry panel, died the "inherent uncertainties of ex demonstrated to be definitive for this purpose, he said. trapolating from animals to humans, and referring to Johnson said the proposed standard leaves little room Maltoni's experiments (Current Report, February 21, p. for the clinical judgment of the examining physician in I 189) said the recent results of Malloni's data, where rats evaluating the health status of the employee and recom were exposed to 50 ppm of VC. indicated that the mending the advisability of his working in any given latency period was approaching the life span of rats which environment. "we understand is equivalent to an 80-year human life Johnson said a better approach was used by OSHA in span." dealing with its standard for other carcinogens. "Adoption It is the position of industry that it will commit itself of a medical surveillance standard similar to that already to lowering exposure of its workers by a combination of promulgated for the other carcinogens would best accom lower levels of vinyl chloride in the work atmosphere and plish" evaluation of employees' health, he said. work practices, he said. Vittone noted that SPI (Current Copyright 1974 by The Sureou of Notionol Affoirs, Inc. '2 3 2 1 7 0 9 1 T 118 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH REPORTER Report, June 27, p. 83) recognized that its proposal benchmarks, Selikoff said. The only safe level that is known -Hakes "projections for improvement which are not in to avoid VC-associated hemangiosarcomas, is zero, and at ind but depend on new developments and additions to the other end of the spectrum, it is known that hemangio facilities." sarcomas have occurred at levels of exposure wliich were He said further that the product of VC, its polymeri obtained in the past in polymerization plants. zation into PVC resin, and the processing of PVC resin into semi-finished products, is treated in the proposed Although there was a published threshold limit (TLV) standard as "one industrial health problem,"' and noted for VC of 500 ppm, recommended by the American the difficulties in such an approach. That segment of Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, appar processes involving the manufacture of VC and PVC resins ently little monitoring or surveillance was done and few "are not a monolithic operation," he said. companies had any significant number of measurements Vittonc said the imposition of the "no detectable made, until recently, lie said. There are no data whatso level" would require the full-time utilization of self-con ever concerning populations or workers exposed at five tained breathing apparatus during the work period in VC ppm, 10 ppm, or 15 ppm, that might correlate with and PVC resin-producing facilities which would impose a observations concerning long-term risks at 15, 20, 25, or "severe and unnecessary physical burden on workers as 30 or more years from onset of exposure, Selikoff added. well as potential health and safety problems." Selikoff discussed numerous ongoing medical experi Need for Variances ments being conducted by himself and many scientists, the results of which are not all complete. He said the Vittone said it should be recognized that SPI's proposal proposed standard states that "if liver function abnormali would require ambitious and diffipult expenditure prob- ties are determined to be unrelated to liver disease, the lems and many companies probably would require vari employee may be permitted to return to VC-related ances of time or methods. Such provision for variances employment subject to individual medical evaluation," should be included in the standard, he said. It should be and expressed doubt about the wisdom of the phrase. recognized also that medical and epidemiological data may be developed in the meantime that will require or Exposure of Women allow a reexamination of the proposed levels. Selikoff referred to the demonstration by Maltoni that SPI President Ralph L. Harding, Jr., said total plastics production in 1973 was 27 billion pounds, including PVC and other vinyls, 5.4 billion pounds,- according to SPI atistics. Dr. Joseph F. Tomashefski, chief, pulmonary disease exposure of pregnant rats to VC may result in angiosar coma in the offspring. This indicates that women in the childbearing age should not work in any area in which there are detectable levels of VC and "this should be made a hard and fast rule," he added. department, Cleveland Clinic, said respirators, if used, should be selected carefully for the specific hazard. He Harvard Study noted undesirable features and hazards associated with A 50 percent excess of deaths due to cancer was found respirators including increased resistance to breathing, in a study of two Kentucky B. F. Goodrich plants where decreased efficiency of function, poor fit, leakage, false workers were exposed to vinyl chloride monomer and security, allergic reactions, irritation from perspiration and polyvinyl chloride, according to Dr. John M. Peters, other particulate depositions, rebrealhing, dead-space ven associate professor of the Harvard School of Public tilation, poor vision, fogging of the eyepieces, speed Health. impediments, and psychological and contamination prob The study, preliminary results of which were given by lems. Also, he added, a large segment of the population, Peters during the hearing, showed multiple cancer sites in many already working within industry, have chronic ob those studied, and an increase in cancers in the population structive pulmonary diseases such as bronchitis and em studied. physema and should not be employed in a work environ ment which requires the continued or frequent use of tespirators. Tomashefski added he did not see how wearing of Death certificates of 161 white, deceased males from the two plants were tabulated. The expected cases to which the subjects were compared, were derived from data on U.S. white males based on age, time, and cause of respirators could be enforced. Support for Proposal death. Of the 50 percent excess deaths that were found, eight were liver cancers, five of which were angiosarcomas. The Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, professor of medicine, Mount observed number of liver cancer cases was 10 times the Sinai School of Medicine, and co-chairman of the Winking expected number, Peters said. There was a 60 percent Group on Toxicity of Vinyl Chloride-Polyvinyl Chloride, excess of lung cancer (13 cases with 7.4 expected), and a New York Academy of Sciences, said "the only prudent 320 percent excess of brain cancer (5 cases with 1.2 course for the prevention of hemangiosarcoma of the liver expected). Peters noted suicide was excessive also, 10 among VC workers is to provide a work environment with cases with 5.3 expected. Single cases of unusual cancers no detectable level of VC." were also observed, he said. Accidents will occur and higher levels of VC will result, Peters said "the time trend is also alarming." Cancer d in such circumstances, as the proposed standard states, experience in this population before 1965 was almost as appropriate personal protection should be provided, he expected. Since 1970, there have been 19 cancer deaths .said. In terms of human experience, there are only two with 9.2 expected, he said. Occupationol Safety & Heolth Reporter 23217092 r CURRENT REPORT 119 This proportional mortality analysis does not allow the calculation of cancer rates. It is possible that this group of workers does not suffer a greater overall mortality than the general population, Peters said. "The excess of several specific cancers plus the time trend suggest a causal link between occupational exposure to VC and cancer," Peters said. The study was directed by Dr. Richard R. Monson, Harvard University, and was initiated in February. The study was financed by Harvard and all information was obtained exclusively from the death certificates, according to Peters. Dow Chemical A team of witnesses from Dow Chemical Company presented evidence that operations are limited generally to worker exposure of 10 ppm on an eight-hour time weighted average in most operations. Occasional malfunctions of equipment or other tempo rary situations can cause brief periods when VC con centrations are higher (often called "excursions"), spokes men said. K. H. Oelfke, production manager, Texas Division of Dow, said medical records indicated the Dow worker population exposed to VC had a malignancy rate no different than that expected for the unexposed group with which they were compared. The accumulated records show no evidence of any deaths due to angiosarcoma or other liver malignancy of any kind in Dow workers exposed to the chemical. Other Dow witnesses described monitoring systems in use. It was pointed out that flexibility in design of monitoring systems to allow the use of methods most appropriate for each plant situation was "very impor tant." Continuous area monitoring was suggested as the best way to provide early detection of equipment failure or malfunction that could result in worker exposure. This equipment can be coupled to alarm systems to give immediate alerts when concentrations rise, it was noted. Tenneco Chemicals Joseph Fath, vice president, Tenneco Chemicals, Inc., said Tenneco proposed sequential monitoring of all areas within the PVC polymerization plant sites. This is considered a vastly superior and a more consci entious technique of checking existing levels than person nel monitoring, Fath said. He said it is essential that the permanent standard recognize the need for a time period during which engineering and operational changes can be made in line with the more detailed proposals. A vital element in Tenncco's proposal is the proposed "drastic reduction" of residual monomer content in the PVC resin to be delivered to Tenneco customers to 100 ppm or 0.01 percent maximum by October 5, 1977. ``This residual monomer constitutes the only source of VCM which is released from PVC resin because PVC does not depolymerize," Fath said. Fath said it would be feasible to comply with the levels of exposure presented in the proposal of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (Current Report, June 27, p. 86). Air Products Richard Fleming, group vice president. Air Products and Chemicals, Irrc.. said the proposed standard fails to meet the basic requirements in the Occupational Safety and Health Act either as to necessity or technical and economic feasibility. It represents a substantial departure in principle from other standards, he said. 1 Fleming proposed a limit of 2S ppm with a 40 ppm ceiling, in place of the no detectable level. Monitoring should include both the work done and the employee, he added. Respirators should be of the half-face or full-face, air supplied type, and should be worn as soon as possible after it has been detected that the ceiling has been exceeded. Impervious suits should not be required, but clean work clothing should be furnished as appropriate. "We propose that the permanent standard not apply to PVC, waste streams, or finished or semi-finished products, including compound, which contain less than 0.05 percent by weight uncombined VC, or to transportation or process ing of PVC with this level of free VCM," he concluded. Health Hazards PROPOSED VINYL CHLORIDE STANDARD TO BE DELAYED UNTIL FEASIBILITY STUDY The standard on vinyl chloride will not be issued until a study of the technological and economic feasibility of safe levels recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has been made, Daniel P. Boyd, director, office of standards development, Occupa tional Safety and Health Administration, told OSHR. It is understood that the contract for the study will be awarded to Booz Aden Applied Research, Inc., Bcthesda, Md., OSHR learned. "Now that we have the drift of the hearings of VC (Current Report, June 27, p. 83), we are able to focus on the cost-benefit elements which must be part of our decision-making process," Boyd said. Included in this process are ideal standards for total protection of workers in all circumstances, technological and economic feasibility of achieving these standards, and psycho-social and political considerations, he stated. "What we in OSHA have to do is to arrive at a practical solution based on a subjective, but detailed, analysis of all of the factors under consideration," Boyd stated. He doubted that the final standard would require "no detectable exposure" as originally issued by OSHA (Current Report, May 9, p. 1539). OSHA will issue a final standard on or before the deadline of October 5, he said. Other Standards Boyd said proposed standards for lead, beryllium, car bon monoxide, and toluene diisocyanate (TD1) will be issued during the next few months (Current Report. June 13, p. 35). "There is action being taken on all 12 NIOSH criteria documents that we have in-house now.' he said. Action on the criteria documents will receive top priority as soon as the VC standard has been issued, OSHR was told. Boyd mentioned that negotiations with the Environ mental Protection Agency on the draft noise standard issued by OSHA in June (Current Report, June 6, p. 4) 23217093 Copyright 1974 by The Bureou of Notional Affai rs, Inc. VwidiiiiMO iUl>i JPUi 1, June 2ti i J i ` Proposed Vinyl Chloride Rules Hit as Costing 2 Million Jobs . j By Tim O'Brien , * / WA*htnrton Posl Staff Writer The American plastics in dustry warned yesterday that proposed government rules to slash vinyl chloride levels in .factories to eliminate the dan ger of cancer could cost the nation up to 2.2 million jobs and as much as $90 billion in .annual production. Anton Vittone, president of B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. and an official of the Societv of the Plastics Industry, said .the proposed health rules could virtually shut down his industry. Vittone appreared at a pub lic hearing with scores of other industry representatives I to oppose implementation of Ithe new regulations, which Id limit factory air levels nyl chloride to less than ne part per million--so small s to be undetectable. In recent months vinyl chlo ride -- a key chemical in the manufacture of many plastics -- has been linked to a rare form of cancer called angios arcoma of the liver. The evi dence has been rapidly accu mulating. Within the past two weeks, testified Dr. Marcus M. Key of the National Institute for Oc cupational Safely and Health, 'we have identified two deaths from angiosarcoma of jth,e liver.in men employed at plants utilizing polyvinyl chlo ride to fabricate other prod ucts." Key said seven cases have been reported at a Goodrich plant in Kentucky, three cases at a Goodyear plant in New York, two cases in a Union 1 Carbide plant in West Yir Icinia and one case in a Fire| stone plant in Pennsylvania. i Of the 1.3 reported cancer leases linked to vinyl chloride, jonly three victims remain | alive, he said. addition, experimental ,es conducted by Indus trial Bio-Test Laboratories of Northbrook. 111., and by Prof. Cesare Maltoni of Bologna, It1 aly, have strengthened the. be lief that vinyl chloride causes cancer. In a just-released telegram to John Stender, head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the Department of Labor, Maltoni reported that vinyl chloride produced "zymbal gland carcinqmas, nephroblastomas, an giosarcomas of liver and other sites, skin' carcinomas . and probably hepatomas and neu roblastomas" in rats. In another experiment, Mai-! toni said, more than GO micei were exposed to 50 parts per million of vinyl chloride for seven months. After 49 weeks of dosage, he said, "we have observed nine mammary carci nomas. two liver fibro-angiomas, and two subcutaneous anigiomas." `` As a result of the Maltoni and Bio-Test Laboratory exper iments, plus the known cases :of liver cancers in humans exI posed to vinyl chloride, the i Occupational Safety and | Health Administration con cluded that "our present judg ment is that vinyl chloride is a carcinogenic agent." In April, the agency issued , an emergency standard limitling vinyl chloride air levels to 150 parts per million--the same i daily dosage administered to Maltoni's mice. Nov/ the agency proposes to reduce al lowable vinyl chlo-ide air lev-1 els to less than one part per] million, the so-called "no rie-| tectablc level" standard. A key objection from the I : plastics and chemical industry j I is the feasibility of meeting! | the "no detectable level"! j standard. Vittone said, "Such a commitment f-annot be ac complished overnight since, in certain areas, the technology for accomplishing it is. as yet, not developed, and when de veloped, facilities must be in stalled requiring time for en gineering. procurement and installation." Tlalph L. Hardin? Jr., presi- dent of the plastics associa tion, said the companies "Pre| sincerely concerned with pro viding all appropriate and nec essary safeguards." The plastics association cited a study by the Arthur D. Little company of Cambridge, Mass.: "An immediate shut down of all polyvinyl chloride | resin plants in the U.S. and the subsequent unavailability of PVC resin could result in a | loss of 1.7 (million) to 2.2 mil lion jobs in consuming and re lated industries and a loss of domestic production value of SG5 (billion) to $90 billion an nually." Vinyl chloride goes into tlie I manufacture of such diverse I products as sporting goods, packages, phonograph records, I electric insulation, floor tiles, (clothing and paints. 1 While fewer than 7.000 American workers are directly involved in making vinyl chlo ride and turning it into polyvi nyl chloride, scientists suspect that hundreds of thousands of associated workers may be ex posed to the danger. Dr. Irv ing J. Selikoff. who was in strumental in linking asbestos to cancer, said "the hazard might not stop at the factory gate but . . . might invade workers' homes and the heighborhoods about vinyl cbloridepolyvinvl facitlities, (and) . . . .transport and storage might present unsuspected risks." ` 23217094 T NEW YORK TIMES , June 26, 1974 Vinyl Chloride Exposure Limit Is Opposed by Plastics Industry By JANE E. BRODV Silfciil to The Ne'v York Times WASHINGTON. June 25 This standard, according to Representatives of the plastics the industry plan, would be industry pressed today for gradually reduced to a daily relaxation of proposed Federal average of 10 parts per million rules governing worker ex with maximum exposure of 25 posure to vinyl chloride, a parts per million bv October, chemical that has been linked 1976. to 21 cases of a rare, fatal liver cancer. Industry spokesmen said that the proposed standard was medically unnecessary, tech nologically unfeasible and would lead to the loss of as many as 2.2 million jobs. At the opening of what is expected to be a long Labor Department bearing on the pro posed new sLandard of no ex posure to detectable levels of the widely used chemical, in dustry spokesmen clashed with representatives of labor and Government and university sci entists who testified that even stricter standards than those proposed must be implemented Somewhat stricter standards were proposed for workers en gaged in the synthesis of vinyl chloride, a sweet-smelling gas. But for those workers who fabricate polyvinyl chloride into any of thousands of consumer and industrial products, the in dustry said that no vinyl chloride standards should be applied. I Scientists from the National. Institute for Occupational Safe ty and Health noted, however, that earlier this month two cases of angiosarcoma of the liver were uncovered in em ployes in fabrication plants in Connecticut. i to protect the health of hun dreds of thousands of American The plastics industry's posi tion was outlined by Anton workers. Vittone, presiden of the B. F. The debate today illustrated Goodrich Chemical Company, the difficulties faced by the where the vinyl chloride cancer Labor pational Department's Occu Safety and Health risk was first uncovered last January. Mr. Vittone. chairman Administration in protecting of the industry's committee ofj workers in the face of industry vinyl chloride and polyvinyl opposition. Until the new vinyl chloride producers, said in his chloride standard was proposed last month, the three-year prepared statement, mittee is unanimous "The com in its posi-; history of Administration ac tion that the proposed stand tion has leaned toward capitu lation to industry demands. ard is not technologically feasi ble and. if adopted, would shut; down the industry." 1 Emergency Limit Set Mr. Vittone said. "There is Currently, the industry is no data showing that exposure operating under an emergency levels as provided for under temporary exposure limit of 50 the emergency standards are. parts of vinyl chloride per mil- not safe or of low degree of; I lion parts of air, a level that risk." He noled further that the; has been shown to cause angio rats exposed at 50 parts perj sarcoma. a liver cancer, in million got cancer only afterj rats and mice in studies con- a life span equivalent to 801 dcctcd by industry and uni years in man. ! versity scientists. An industry news release' Although scientists from thejstated that later testimony: National Cancer Institute testi-(would show that enforcement jfied that there was no known of the no-exposure standard (safe level of a cancer-causing could result in an over-all loss; Igeagent, the Socictv of the of 2.2 million jobs. j Plastics Industry proposed in; Labor representatives decried ; (prepared testimony an aver-1these statements as "black-1 I age daily exposure limit of 25imail" that ignores "overwhelm- j parts per million a maximum ing medical evidence." Peter | momentary exposure of 40 Bommarito, president of the. parts per million, for workers United Rubber Workers Union, exposed to vinyl chloride in said that workers' lives were the process of transforming it more important than any into polyvinyl chloride. product. 23217095 T WALL STREET JOURNAL, June 26, 1974 U.S. Unit Defends Vinyl Chloride Curbs Saying They Aren't Too Hard on Firms By a XVall StreetJournal Stag Reporter which warns of economic chaos, was at WASHINGTON -- A Labor Department tacked at the hearings by the AFL-CIO as report disputed the plastics industry's claim "blackmail." Peter Bommarito. president that a proposed government standard tor re of the United Rubber Workers Union, said, stricting handling of vinyl chloride'would "This country survived for nearly two lorce numerous plastics plants to close. hundred years without polyvinyl chloride The industry has contended that the pro and we can survive In the future without it." posed ruling, which would bar exposing But he also disputed industry contentions workers to any "detectable" amount of the that the standard would end polyvinyl chlor chemical, can't feasibly be met, and the in ide output saying older plants can be al dustry warns that adoption of the ruling tered, and in new plants the task of meeting would close down the large part of the plas the standard is a problem "characterized by tics industry that uses vinyl chloride and its the will, not the ability, to do the Job." derivatives as raw materials. Mr Bommarito also accused the indus But the government report says flatly try of trying to whip up a ''hysterical" pub that evidence to date doesn't indicate "that lic relations campaign predicting the de promulgation of the proposed standard will mise of the industry, and he said the AFL- stop vinyl chloride production and use." CIO will call for a congressional Investiga The report, a draft version of an environ tion of the industry's public relations effort. mental impact study on the proposed strict ' The industry also proposed its own stan vinyl chloride standard, was made public dards for. handling vinyl chloride. Instead of yesterday at the start of a week of hearings barring any "detectable exposure," it urged on the standard. The hearings are expected gradually decreasing exposure ceilings, to be dominated by plastics-industry spokes starting with 40 parts per million this year men questioning the scientific research on in polyvinyl chloride plants to be decreased vinyl chloride and warning of economic dis to 25 parts in late 1976. ruption if the standard is issued. In plants handling raw vinyl chloride, the Vinyl chloride, a gas. is thought to be re industry plan calls for a 25-parts-per-million sponsible for 21 world-wide cases of a rare celling this year, decreasing to 10 parts per and fatal liver cancer, angiosarcoma. Tens million by 1977. In both kinds of plants, ac of thousands of U.S. workers are directly tual average exposure over an eight-hour and indirectly exposed to the chemical daily day would bo less than the full ceiling, due because it is the base product from which to differing emissions of the chemical at dif companies make polyvinyl chloride, a pow ferent times of day. dery substance used to form a multitude of There also was evidence at the hearings, everyday plastic products. however, that even average exposures In April, tho Labor Department cut below a 10-parts-per-million level can cause workers' allowable exposure to vinyl chlor disease. Dr. Irving Selikoff, noted occupa ide to 50 parts per million in the air they tional health researcher, reported he has breathe. The proposed rule being debated at found noncancerous liver diseases among the hearings would slash that further, bar- workers at a Dow Chemical Co. plant in .ring any "detectable exposure." Michigan where levels of average exposure The study concedes that "production in last year were generally below 10 parts. He Jsome plants could be curtailed if reengi cautioned, however, that it wasn't known neering is required," and it predicts "mar whether the diseases were contracted before ginal" companies may need federal loans to or after exposure was dramatically lowered | help pay for improvements. But it 6ays by Dow In the early 1960s. equipment needed to meet the standard doesn't necessarily need to be elaborate, and much progress can be made by improv- ing "poor housekeeping and inadequate maintenance.'' It concludes that "the tech nology appears to be readily available," and thus "substantial development costs" won't be needed. | The contradictory Industry position, 23217096 T i 23217097 l>!f v> : 1 r 1 / 1:. - | JO s..'.jl ,11 .. ' is' .>| 'tm: > :u A: l'l J. 1 . 10 A*-; >; ; m .ui' M1V no sm i ;; i o pUi! .vijs-rp }}'< ui r-'\> O'.UIOU O'M >!. 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UBiuioncris Aip-npin sDi)?e; 'sqof uorjiuu o.i yum o.ic jo ssoj ai,i osisco pfno.i pi -<iiEAi;o;uui;oai p o.ic o'.';,io;ip p'l'ia oi ounsod' joy io.n uo spun; jyovuuw.v pJ-.'Odiij -- \'0.10.\'JKSVA\ jjuip oAjjuiUjM ) ju [inunoj \\ a <u (PA 3.cf,j ui; p niupmo1 -X pun '/i !i 'i i Ui .in.iAO c^'/r ..'row s'>[joU0|i1CX( wvo.ii'.iiOJri j : 0.\<i ' a, 11.- ipu. ,vi -0 Jj oa i./ui.. .-.pui in D-nv.-oq '.upp.iuq .Ci.it; n ::i-u X! i'';'.'1". i.mi-ais' 3] n[ -:*.\ .loibu: pJU '.ic:. u.l.'0,-) X;i 1VU1 JU-jCJo Oi'U Al.r.ii o;.;x T( OpT.TOT Trr -k 1AI,LV VF"( P6l '9Z aur.f 'AcpscupoM '3Dc5v:WCD GO IVULP.Cr 3HI 6^LTA^orifc t MP. THE 5TT&, Friday, June 21, 1974 Job loss feared , from vinyl curb c Washington (Reuter)--More 1 than 1.6 million Americans ` might lose their jobs if pro- ` posed government regulations ' for reducing hazards in vinyl f chloride production are put F into effect, a plastic industry ^ study published yesterday ^aid. Vinyl chloride, used in prod- r ucts such as car upholstery P and phone equipment, has r been linked recently with 16 1 deaths in the United States P caused by a rare type of cancer c of the liver among workers in the industry. Five deaths have i been reported elsewhere. The study, commissioned ' from economic consultants Ar- * thur D. Little, Inc., by the Society of the Plastics Indus try, said at least 1.6 million I Americans could be thrown out of work in various industries if the government's steps were 1 implemented. i 23217098 T PETALS CHEMICALS A1 Tiinum producers buy time on bauxite The spreading fight over vinyl chloride With only mild public protests, the maor U.S. aluminum companies-Alumimm Co. of America, Reynolds Metals, tnd Kaiser Aluminum-this week subnittod to the will of the Jamaican gov ernment. They agreed to increase the tax and royalty payments on their lauxite mining and alumina processng activities in Jamaica this year from ?25-million to $200-million. The result .vill be higher prices for aluminum products in the U. S. In effect, they had no choice. The LI. S. aluminum companies have a gross npital investment in Jamaica of $800million-which they could have lost if limy bad refused to bow to the Jamai- government's order. Even more important, .Jamaican bauxite and alu mina supplies today account for a criti cal 40% of the aluminum produced in this country. "We will pay the additional revenues . . but will do so under protest," ac knowledges John D. Harper, chairman and chief executive officer of Alcoa. Along with Reynolds and Kaiser, Alcoa has --quested that the International Ce for Settlement of Investment lutes (a body formed under the ausp..es of the World Bank) rule on the le gality of the Jamaican government's increased tax and royalty action which, the companies claim, breaches long term contract agreements. While the investigation proceeds, however, the increased payments will lie made. And this, plus a growing shortage of aluminum in the U. S . could force the price of aluminum ingot, now running at 33'^c per lb., up to 36c to 38c by August and maybe as high as 40c by yearend. V/here II hurls. Because they do not de pend equally on Jamaican bauxite and alumina, the big U.S. aluminum pro ducers will not be equally hurt hv the Jamaican tax boosts. Alcoa, for ex ample, will have to pay only an addi tional $21-million because it gets only about 15% (or 775,000 short tons) of its alumina from Jamaican bauxite. For Kaiser and Reynolds, the in crease will be a much tougher pill to swallow. Reynolds gets 60% of its baux ite from Jamaica, and its royalty bill "will climb to about $50-million gross before any tax effect, based on esti mated production of about 4.5-million s year," says Richard S. Rcy. .u. ,ir., president and board chair man. Reynolds, the largest U. S. user of Jamaican bauxite, pays export taxes Alcoa's Harper: Aluminum expansion will more likely be in the U. S. not only on the 3.4-million tons of Jamaican bauxite it ships to its U.S. plants each year but also on 1.1-million tons of ore it sends to the Jamaican alumina plant it owns with Kaiser and Anaconda Copper, t The Kaiser bite will be somewhat smaller--an additional $46-million pay ment. But between 70% and|: 75% of Kaiser's U.S. alumina requirements are totally dependent on Jamaican bauxite. So the effect on the company's over-all costs-and thus on its pricescannot fail to be more sweeping. Looking elsewhere. Over.the longer haul, though, the Jamaican "tax boost could force even more important changes in the U. S. aluminum industry. The outlook is for higher prices for aluminum products in the U. S. "Bauxite may well be pricing itself out of the market," concedes Alcoa's Harper. "This doesn't mean that we arc walking away from Jamaica. But it means (hat our future expansion will more likely be in the U. S." Aluminum, he continues, is a very common element in the earth's crust. It is contained in anorthosite, in laterite ore, in clay, and there are big amounts in coal mine wastes. "We will not go ahead with domestic rues until we have demonstration plants built," says Harper. "And then it will take two to three years to get new facilities operating." But implicit in the active interest of U. S. aluminum producers in developing alternate sources of aluminum is the knowledge that other bauxite-rich countries in the Caribbean and Africa may not be long in following Jamaica's lead in demand ing far higher taxes on bauxite. In May, the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration issued a proposed standard that would limit the concentration of vinyl chloride in a plant's atmosphere to "no detectable level"--in practice, about one part per million. Next week, producers and users of this chlorinated hydrocarbon, which is the monomer used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), industry's most versatile plastic, will square off against OSH A at public hearings in the hope of squashing the new standard. Already, osha has extended the Washington hearings beyond the four days originally scheduled. Some wit nesses have asked for as much as three hours to testify. Controversy is hardly new to OSHA, which has seen most of its standards hotly contested, but this, says an official, "is going to be the big gest show we've ever had." The fight is over OSHA's attempt to protect workers against angiosarcoma, a rare form of liver cancer. Vinyl chlo ride, normally a gas, has long been a suspected carcinogen, and European scientists had previously reported tu mors in rats exposed to heavy doses. Then in January, B. F. Goodrich Chem ical Co. reported that several of its long-time vinyl workers had died of angiosarcoma. OSHA quickly dropped the previous exposure limit of 500 ppm to 50 ppm as a temporary measure. In April, studies sponsored by the Manu facturing Chemists Assn, showed that 2 of 200 rats exposed seven months to 50 ppm developed tumors. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed deaths due to angiosarcoma among vinyl workers, worldwide, has reached 21. "And we've only begun to look at the problem,'' says William Lloyd, head of the health surveillance office of the National In stitute of Occupational Safety &. Health (Nio.su). Under the proposed standard, work ers exposed to detectable amounts of vinyl chloride would have to wear res pirators. But, .as it did in earlier stan dards, osha says it will insist, where feasible, on engineering controls and work practices that avoid contamina tion of the air in the first place. Crippling standard. The vinyl industry's position is, first, that rat tests to date do not prove the need for a 1-ppm limit for human beings, and second, that such a limit is technologically and eco nomically not feasible. The Society of the Plastics Industry (sl'l) has called the proposed standard "excessively and Businessweek June22, ism T' unrealistically restrictive." Anton Vit- MONEY & CREDIT tone, Jr., president of B. F. Goodrich moncy from newly rich oil nations that will help poorer lands pay their oil bills. Chemical, states bluntly that the Most significant, though, was the 1-ppm level "cannot be obtained at this agreement on rules for floating. Much time or in the future." A spokesman for Firestone Tire < Rubber Co. puts the case more strongly: The standard, he says, "would literally cripple this in A new set of rules for floating currencies of the technical side of these rules re mains to be worked out, and there is no guarantee that nations will follow the rules. The IMF will help draft them, but dustry." it cannot force a government bent on The threat, moreover, is not confined "We hope we have taken a first step competitively devaluing to obey them. to those companies that make the hack toward more stability in cur "The rules simply express a hope," as f l monomer and the polymer. The stan rencies," said a central banker fresh one central banker secs it. dard, says Vittone, "could displace not back in Europe from last week's Com Tinkering. The aim of these rules for only the 6,500 vinyl chloride workers mittee of 20 monetary reform negotia floating is to insure that governments and I'vc production workers, but also tions in Washington. That first step avoid competitive devaluations that hundreds of thousands of other em was an agreement on some rules for might damage the exports of other na ployees in the companies that use pvc." managing today's floating exchange tions. Technically, the rules went into Some 5-billion lb. of the plastic was rates, and this week monetary author effect last week. In practice, it will be a used in the U. S. last year to make such ities in both the U. S. and abroad were while before they are applied, and products as pipe, wire insulation, pack mulling over how to make those rules there probably will he tinkering with aging film, and floor tiles. work. the present relationship of rates first. The danger to PVC processors lies in There is no longer a prayer of the In coming months, governments in the small amounts of unreacted vinyl sort of full-scale reform that govern bilateral talks with the IMF staff will chloride that remain in the polymer. That danger took on added weight last week with reports of deaths due to liver cancer of two Connecticut PVC workers. One had worked on a General Electric Co. wire-coating line in Bridgeport, the other on a fabric-coat ing line at Ross & Roberts, Inc., in Stratford. "We're afraid the problem extends far out into the plastics indus try," says NiOSH's Lloyd. Disputed report. No one has had time to calculate fully the economic impact that the new standard could have, but Si'l this week released some prelimi nary findings of a study made for it by Arthur D. Little, Inc. ADL researchers figure that a shutdown of vinyl produc ers would result in a loss of at least 1.6- miliion jobs and $35-biIlion in annual sales. Hardest hit would be the automo tive and construction industries, heavy pvc users. ADL is studying the possible use of substitutes for rvc in some ap plications and will present its findings Delegates (rom 20 nations conferred on money at a two-day meeting in Washington at next week's hearings. Even in advance of the spi report, ments had in mind when they created work out confidential "target zones"however, Sheldon Samuels, director of the C-20 two years ago: a dramatic re or ranges of (luctuation-for each cur occupational health, safety, and envi turn to fixed exchange rates. "We'll rency. Thereafter, a government would ronmental alfairs of the API, CIO, called never see the 'big reform'-just a lot of be obliged to keep its currency trading it "meaningless." The report, he says, small steps," says one European. within these zoncs-intervcning if nec assumes that the standard cannot be met. "But we're getting data showing that the standard can, in fact, he met." His data show, Samuels says, that Yet in a world of floating rates, roar ing inflation, and deteriorating eeono-mies, even small steps look important. At the least, the negotiators have in essary to keep it there. If a govern ment wants to change its zone, either to correct a past mistake or to accom modate future economic policy, it will plants making less than 100-million lb. a year of vinyl chloride will have to re sort to respirators; plants of 100-million lb. to 200-million lb. can alford to put in engineering controls; and larger plants could be made "airtight." sured that international monetary co operation is not dead. Faced with the unpleasant prospect of returning home empty-handed, the olficials buckled down in Washington and reached some substantive agreements. Further, the be expected to consult with the IMF. And the fund staff, based on its own models, may suggest when it thinks it is time for a government to move a zone up or down a bit. The IMF can only suggest-imt. order. The AFL-CIO says it is determined to Washington meeting produced a much- It does get some muscle from the crea fight for the tough standard even if it slrengtiicned International Monetary tion of a new, ministerial-level interim does mean throwing some people out of Fund. The IMF has a new, more attrac consultative committee. This com work. But Peter Bommarito, president tive special drawing right (SOU) to mittee, including the same 20 ministers of the United Rubber Workers' union, hand out-one that will be of use not who made up the Committee of 20, is to echoes Samuels' confidence. Industry, only in government but in private meet yearly to supervise the implemen he says, is trying to "scare everybody transactions as well. And the IMF gets tation of the rules for floating. The about losing a job." to manage a $3-billion "oil facility"-- committee per se will have no real 30 8US-NESS WEEK June 22. 1974 232171Q0 T 23217101 oos'vi 'a S.VJ:i-liJ30S-80 to CJ3 Co :,, o s e C/5 s a x r** ft* o o <5 <"H *1 onj 'NOn.WONM a-s;v T1IH HILL an'd KNOWLTOK, Inc. / Less Vinyl Chloride Exposure Is Opposed DANVILLE, VA. BEE D. 17,000 WASHINGTON (AP) -- The to close immediately, resulting JUN 2 5 1974 plastics industry warns that in the loss of 1.6 million jobs at proposed government rules to a cost to the economy of S65 drastically reduce workers' ex billion. posure to a cancer-causing Labor Secretary Peter J. chemical could mean the loss Brennan, in a statement issued of 1.6 million jobs. before the hearing, did not This was one of the points to comment on the industry's be made by the industry during claim of lost jobs. a week-long public hearing "The purpose of this hearing opening today at the Labor De this week is to elicit additional partment. information from those in the The department's Occupation industry -- employers and em al Safety and Health Adminis ployes -- and others concerning tration has proposed permanent the hazards from exposure to restrictions that would limit air vinyl chloride, the best means levels of vinyl chloride in of protection and the impact of plants to less than one part per the proposed standard," Bren million, or too small to be de nan said tected. The current emergency The industry argues that standard is 50 parts per mil while it favors reducing work lion. ers' exposure "to as low a level Vinyl chloride, the foundation as possible." the proposed for much of the modern plas standard is impossible to tics industry, is the center of a achieve with today's engineer growing worldwide controversy ing technology. over its potential health hazard Industry sources indicated to workers and possibly con that the industry will propose sumers. an exposure level below the The government imposed the current temporary level of 50 temporary emergency standard parts per million, but some after the discovery earlier this what above the government's On Yiui}l diloriifr Industry Urges Reducing Controls fly ;t.\VII> JIGS'-; Beacon .Itrrul W.nhinfjfo 1 Burf.iu WASHINGTON -- Warning of industry shutdowns if strict controls on vinyl chloride are adopted, a spoke-man for the pi.'stirs makers T n e s d a v railed for a phased reduction of vinyl chloride particles in Labor nfficuls a! the hearings Ilia! "liie proposed permanent standard is not technological ly feasible and, if adopted, wuuld shut flow n the indus try." It could cost as many as 2.2 miiliuii jobs, industry spokesman said. Prolonged exposure to vinyl year that exposure to vinyl .chloride may be a cause of a rae form of liver cancer known as angiosarcoma. The B. F. Goodrich Co. dis closed in January that four 'workers at its vinyl chloride proposed zero level. the air in their plants. Anton Yitlono, president ef B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. and chairman of the Society c( the Plastics Industry Vinyl Chloride cominiltec, testified elilej ide has been closely linked to a rate form of liver cancer, as well as to other or ganic diseases. Twenty-one deaths from liver cancer have struck vinyl chloride workers. conversion plant in Louisville, at tile opening hearings on a Kv., died from the disease. Since then. 20 cases world-wide have been linked to workers at plants where the vinyl chloride gas is produced or converted into polyvinyl chloride About 6.500 U.S. workers are involved in making vinyl chlo pii'pn.'",; iic.iliii r.rd sefcfy standard lor vinyl chloride workers. Yitttrne asked (he Federal Ordinal ional Safety and Jh'allh A d in i n i s I r a t 1 o n it.'SlIA) to phase in a now PTL HIVING Sclihrff, medi cal professor at Alt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and a recognized nutheiiiy on industrial diseases, told licai ing examiners: "Clinical examinations of ride and turning it into poly vinyl chloride, a solid plastic used in countless products in cluding paints, pipes, floor tiles, toys, food packaging, phonograph records and cloth- , in g. At first it was thought the danger involved only the work ers at the first stage of the manufacturing process but sci entists have now turned up evi s'andaui over the next three years lalltcr than pu! a per manent standard into effect lhis Fall. CM)Fit an existing emer gency Standard srf in April AKM IMCW JOLR't'AL hyUSlIA, ers must vinyl k"cp chloride mak Ike r 1 ic-iiiiI AKRON, OHIO lore',; down to 50 polls per 1). 175,153 SU1I. 203.113 million. 3''l workers exposed to vinyl chloride . . . demonstrated a significant prevalence of liver abnormalities, nniphcia! vas cular (vein) changes and lung almetmalitics. The latter may reflect exposure lo polyvinyl clitot ii'e dust, rather than to the tmtamier gas." Pr. H F. Krayliill, a staffer dence indicating that as many Labor union ruLci-il? am! in at the National Cancer InMi- 'as 700.000 workers could be ex- dustrial hygienists urged tule, tcM'fied that experi posed to the danger. A total of 95 witnesses, repre senting government, the medi cal community and' the big plastics and chemical manufac turers. have asked to testify at JUN 2 6 1974 OSliA lu Mick to a proposed pcrniu.cnt standard, to go into effect in October, of "ro dmoelable level" of vinyl chloride in factory working ments with rats, mice an hamsters by the Mainifactup-' ing Chemists Association als linked vinyl chloride to liv'd cancers at relatively low lew , the hearings. The Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. contends that if spaces. els of concentration in thfN Vittore told Department of air. o the government's proposed "no N delectable level" is adopted. crnmc nf pin-<*<: m J11 hn fr> r*r< r> T HILL ,vNn KNOW'LTON, Inc. KNOXVILLE, TENN. JOURNAL 0. 67,000 JUN 26 1974 Health Rule Would Ruin Industry, Moans Official. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government and labor witnesses dirpn'H claims by the plastic industry Tuesday that as many as 2.2 million jobs would be eliminated by further restrictions on vinyl chloride. The AFL-CIO called the warning blackmail and accused the industry of "ignoring the overwhelming medical evi dence" linking vinyl chloride to cancer among workers han dling the chemical. Vinyl chloride, a gas, is converted into polyvinyl chloride, a white powdery chemical rrsembling sugar, which is used in the manufacture of plastic products ranging from toys, food packaging, floor tiles, pipes, auto parts and phonograph records. I'nited Rubber Workrrs President Peter Dommarito said the AFL-CIO supports at the risk of losing jobs, proposed federal regulations that would reduce worker exposure to vinyl chloride in plants to "no detectable leve." He represented the AFL-CIO as chairman of its health and safety committee at the opening of Labor Department hearings on the planned regulatins. Temporary standards now in effect limit worker exposure to vinyl chloride to 50 parts per mdlion, a sharp reduction from the previous 500 parts per million. "This country survived for nearly 200 yrars without -5*. prlyvinyl chloride and we can survive in the future without it," Bcmmarito declared. The Industry had asserted that v factories would be forced to close if the new regulations were adopted. "This is nnt an easy position to take, but there is no alternative," Bommarito added. "We have both our Jobs and our lives at risk." Anton Vittone, rhnlrmniybf the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co and on official of Ihe Society of the Plasties Industry Inc. Uiljp S>an LUnjn lli0n SAN DIEGO, CALIF. D. 178,147 SUN. 292,966 testified that the "no detectable l,vel" is impossible to achieve and. if adopted, would shut down the industry. Vittone offered a proposal lo redure by October, 1977, worker exposure to the chemical of 10 parts prr million. The industry submitted an independent study showing that an immediate shutdown of all polyvinyl chloride plants rould result in Ihe loss of betwee.it 1.7 and 2.2 million jobs in the plastics industry and other industries dependent on plas tics products. This would result in lost production valued at between $05 and $90 billion a year, the study said. This was disputed by the Labor Department's Occupa tional Safety and Health Administration in an environmental impart statement. The report said there was no evidence that adoption of the proposed regulations would stop vinyl chloride production and use. It added, however, that the existence of some mar ginal firms might be threatened if they are forced to raise prices to pay for safety measures. Vinyl chloride has breu used by the plastic industry sinre World War II. The government imposed the temporary emer gency standard after the discovery earlier this year that exposure to the chemical may be a cause of angiosarcoma, a rate form of liver canrcr. Since .January, 20 cases world wide have been linked to workers at plants where the vinyl chloride gas is produced or converted into polyvinyl chloride. Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, who has been doing extensive re search into the potential health hazard of vinyl chloride at iIreMount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, testified mil "the only prudent course" fer preventing liver cancer i.r.iong ! plastic industry workers Is to reduce exposure to li no de- j Ifruble level propos'd by 'he government..-------------------- ,JUN 2 1 1974 r- / ^ Job Losses Feared If Chemical Curbed new rules to limit the expo sure of workers in vinyl chlo ride plants to a zero level. The standards were pro ; posed after cases of a rare liver cancer -- 21 of them worldwide so far -- began showing up among workers in such plants. i--; . ` ~ WASHINGTON (UP1) --: automobile and construction The. plastics `industry said- industries, the Society of the! yesterday more than 2 mil-: Plastics Industry, Inc., said)' lion Americans could lose: in a study released in ad- ;their jobs if the government ,vance of next week's Labor) imposes stricter controls on Department hearing into the i The industry said it cannot meet a zero level, and that it would be forced to shut down. While 6,500 workers are involved directly in plants which turn out vinyl 'industrial exposure to vinyl, problem. j chloride, a suspected can-1 The department's Occupa-! cer-causing chemical. tional Safety and Health Ad-' Hardest hit would bp the ministration has proposed chloride gas, or its solid form, polyvinyl chloride, many thousands more de pend on the plastics products to which the material is basic. "The effect on the nation's economy . .. would be catas trophic.'We expect that the final results (from the study) will show a potential loss in excess of 2 million jobs," said Ralph L. Hard ing, president of the society. T 23217103 HILL and KNOM'LTON, Ixc. if) $ JD 2 Oo s|l|l3 I A U ** M C * 1 |r = e^-Ss- HU*?*a. firs ;!-==* `~1 "C -a c o HI II Ellis fils w ? ~ "Eo o & "Uiills iz flfipPIW <N i s -= ? E > r: & * cvi 2 ": XtL 5Z .S -S s 3.- - 8 jg S- I.5|g^a (D U) C (0 T3 tz o to m H-.I2lll , D-*q - _ ^ it stiiilii |jtlililil!ii St = &=; o|?. > 2 - IWi8 o pafc&tlHi J***i Sdyl=r nig si~.Se - t r^ii IPli:it >a5rtT5Tc'ri .n~lt - - 2 .a .. 2 e ?Ig55f fi 5 iSl ?sJw: ~o- 'Swo "5 if) E m o |J*ii=l >-n-|ic <i!>*;i!n<.T f " = = S L t !2 ^ ^-2 bt!2 t- >, 5 * r; e SgS?"H5S- =l. E-piEpiin 2 ' r f a r 2 . II- ioJilsIlit! 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Jc -- - ^iinyj^iyiiy 'i~i i jissiii i mi ?VE? = L= - 'I v; ^ S - :1s :^?nn i35i-^ : | .2 b-#.5 ! / = 55 yftiibi ^D J1 ? : r L5-i.ni!: tililMlii^ liiiMli = 3""=-_.- = --'"- - = I r - ' = -- == ri =2if'53; =: ;r.- ,f v r _ = ii t- * 1; i : E : i S z. I ?-z-z s4= "i'i^" li rM?.ii=j S?S2f"t' = ^ ? = n C:::L.Sr%i=xi ix:'iLL;^..-::.;, ' ? j T HILL AKD KNOWLTON, Lx. CHARLESTON, S. C. NEWS AMD COURIER 0. 66.000 S. 81.500 JUN 21 1974 mx. C"a Plastics Industry Says 7 Million Could Lose Jobs WASHINGTON (UPI)-The ministration has proposed new chloride, many thousands plastics industry said Thurs* rotes to limit the exposure of more depends on the plastics day more than 1.6 million workers in vinyl chloride products into which the) Americans could lose their plants to no detectable level, material is turned. . jobs if the government im- The standards were proposed "The effect on the nation's( poses stricter controls on in- after cases of a rare liver economy and on the sociaL dustrial exposure to vinyl cancer --21 of them worldwide order in terms of the human chloride --the suspected' s0 far "began showing up hardship it would cause would, cancer-causing chemical. among workers in such - be catastrophic. We expect- Hardest hit would be the plants. ' that the final results from (the1 automobile and construction The industry said that it can- study) will show a potential' industries, the Society of the not meet a zero-level, and the loss in excess of 2 million jobs. Plastics Tnriiistry Inc said in a result of such a rule would be This is all the more regrettable , study released "in advance of f force it to shut down. While in light of the fact that the in- next week's Labor Department only about 6,500 workers are dustry is taking every step to hearing into the problem. involved directly in plants 'reduce worker exposure..." The department's' Occupa- which turn out vinyl chloride sajd Ralph L. Harding, i tional Safety and Health Ad- gas. wits solid form, polyvinyl president of the society. / AUTOMOTIVE CHAIN STORE AKRON, OHIO MONTHLY 19,000 JUL 1974 4M 0 JOBS THREATENED BY REGULATION At least 1.6 million Americans may lose their jobs if an unrealistic occupational health regulation, limiting worker exposure to vinyl chloride, forces a shutdown of the industry. According to preliminary results of an economic impact study con ducted for The Society of The Plastics Industry (SP1). a minimum of 1.6 million jobs would be lost if the producers of vinyl chloride, an industrial chemical, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely used plastic resin, were forced to shut down because the technology does not exist to meet a ``no detectable level" of exposure. In addition, the cost, in terms of lost sales and pro duction, would amount to at least $65 billion. For example, the unavaHability of PVC resin would have a major effect on the automotive industry, which utilizes PVC in the form of insulated wire and cable, compo nent parts, upholstery, and many other products. SPI says the automotive and construction industries would be the hardest hit, with losses respec tively of at least 600.000 jobs and S35 billion in sales; and for the con struction industry, at least 500.000 lost jobs and S14 billion in lost sales. "The effect on the nation's economy and on the social order in terms of the human hardship it would cause would be catas trophic." said Ralph Harding, Jr., president of SPI. ___________. 7 YORK, PA. dispatch D. 44,500 JUN 26 1974 ! ' Plastfe^affling j j .Vinyl Chloride Ban Said Danger Hi ' Tt yt; (o. Industry,-vV'r 1-1 LA Times. Washington Poet j i i News Service -t - ^ V*4 f WASHING ` Tk4 American plastics ' industry! warned that proposed govern--) ment rules to slash vinyl] chloride levels in factories to 'minimize the 'danger'of cancer: 'could cost the nation up to 2.2 :million jobs and $90 billion in (annual production. ; - Anton Vittone, president of B.- F. Goodrich Chemical Co. and' an official of the Society of the; Plastics Industry, said the pro-i posed health rules could vir tually shut down his industry. ! Vittone appeared at a public' hearing with scores of other in-j dustry representatives to oppose, implementation of new regula tions, which would limit factory lair levels of vinyl cholride toi 'less than one part per million so small as to be undetectable, "j In recent months, vinyl- chloride--a key chemical in the' manufacture of many plastics--! has been linked to a rare form of cancer called angiosarcoma' 'tA the liver. The evidence has I been rapidly accumulating. 23217105 T HILL and KN O1.1 ON , Ijs c . The Lonisvilh Times LOUISVILLr, KY. D. 173.1E3 ,JUN 2 5 1974 Goodc ich, spokes m a n testifi es :;liV /( y\: ''I -Zercg/inyl-chloride would kill industry' By CHARLES R. BABCOCK Courltr-Journal t Tlmtl Stall Writer ASHINGTON -- A proposed "zero" standard for exposure to vinyl chloride would shut down his industry and mean the loss of more than 1.5 million jobs and billions of dollars in sales, a chemical- industry executive said today. " That was the testimony of Anton Vittone, president of the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co., at today's opening round of hearings on a proposed federal stan dard that "no detectible level" of vinvlchloride gas be permitted in the air in .plastic plants, where it's used. Though the plastics-industry testimony 1 was not scheduled until later today. The Society of the Plastics Industry released rtr~pr'op6sar7br a'T15p:by-sfepreduclion of permissible vinyl-chloride levels over a period of years. . '. The first government witnesses at the hearings were challenged sharply by pla - . lics-industry attorneys. 1 'The testimony of U.`S. Department of would require the use of respiratory proj Labor and National- Cancer Institute of tection, Vittone's proposal said. ficials that the new standard is necessary By October .of 1976, the level of vinyl- to protect plastic workers from exposure chloride gas would be down to an average to the cancer-causing chemical was ques-' of 10 parts per million in polyvinyl-chlo- tioned by representatives of several com . ride plants. And by October 1977, the panies. It appeared to be a concerted ef level would be reduced under the in fort by the industry ,to get the . "zero" dustry proposal to an average of 5 parts liptit revised,ft;;',4':>. ' 'A. per million'in vinyl chloride production 'The industry proposes a new standard to begin Oct. 5, when the Department of Labor's emergency standard that allows 50 parts of vinyl chloride per million parts of air-expires^ Under the industry proposal, an average daily level of up to 10 parts per million would be permitted without respiratory protection in plants where vinyl chloride is made, and 25 parts per million where polyvinyl chloride plas tic is made--such as in the Louisville plant. plants. ' - The federal standard earlier permitted 500 parts of vinyl chloride gasyer million parts of air. After the findings of "cancer deaths, the standard was lowered , to 50 parts per million on an emergency basis and then, last month, a federal job-safety agency advised that it could not "de scribe a safe exposure level" to vinyl chloride, and the "zero" standard was proposed. "Such a commitment cannot be accom plished overnight since, in certain areas, ! Levels above 25 parts per million in vinyl-chloride plants and above 40 pails See NO-VINYL-CHLORIDE A . per. million in polyvinyl-chloride plants Back page, col. 2, this section No-vinyl-ch loride rule said to be fatal to industry Continued From Page One the technology for accomplishing it is, as yet, not developed," Vittone's statement said. The plastics industry proposal also notes, "At this precarious state of its knowledge. The Society of the Plastics Industry believes that misplaced reliance on mere suspicions ralher than proven data, or precipitous and emotional reac tion tp_ such incomplete information, togclhcr with a narrowly construed inter pretation of interests, could lead to major economic consequences." This industry concern was shown in its attorneys' questioning of today's first speaker? at the Department of Labor's main auditorium. Dr. Daniel P. Boyd, director of the Of fice of Standards Development for the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis tration. reviewed the history of the con- * '.cern over vinyl chloride that started with the Goodrich announcement of two ^workers' deaths in Louisville in January." ir"Our present judgment is that ..vinyl chloride is a carcinogenic (cancer-pro ducing),'' Boyd said. He noted that 19 deaths, including 13 in this country, have been linked to working with the chemi cal. And Boyd added that the most recent data from Italian researcher Cesare Mai-toni shows that other cancers besides the rare liver cancer, angiosarcoma, have been found in laboratory rats and mice exposed to the current emergency stand ard of 50 parts per million for periods of less than a year. Dr. Herman Kraybill. of the National Cancer Institute, then said that prelimi nary medical data from Maitoni and other sources shows that vinyl chloride could cause cancer in perhaps 5 per cent of the persons exposed to it. The hearings will continue all week. And the federal job-safety agency's Dr. Boyd emphasized at the beginning'of to day's hearings that "we regard the pro posed standard as just that--a proposal." / 23217106 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. Des Moines Tribuni i /? DES MOINES,. IOWA 1,0 son D. 113.781 Vinyl Job lEnrntag Strife EROMENGEaEU D, J49.463 JUN 2 5 1974 JUN 2 5 1974 Industry Warning on Vinyl Chloride p 1.6 Million Jobs to Go? Annoclated Tret* *. WASHINGTON -- The plas tics industry warns that pro posed government1 rules 'to drastically . reduce workers' exposure to a cancer-causing chemical could mean the loes of 1.6 million jobs. ' This was one of the points to be '.made by the industry duringjr.a week-long ^public hearing- opening todayi the Labor Department.' V j. The depaHroent's 'Occupa tional.Safetj^iand Health Ad ministration 1''has proposed permanent _ ^restrictions that would limit" air levels of vinyl chloride in plants to less/than one part per million. The cur rent emergency standard is 50 parts per million. ! f Vinyl chloride, the founda tion .for' much of'the plastics 'industry, is the center iof a gg rowing worldwide con troversy over its potential , health hazard to workers and ' possibly consumers. The government imposed the temporary emergency standard after the discovery earlier, this year 'that- ex The Society of the Plastics. posure to vinyl chloride may Indusffv.~~Inc.. contends that*' be a cause of a rare form of if the .government's proposed, liver cancer known . as an level is ' adopted, scores of' giosarcoma. ' .......... , plants will be forced to close . The B. F. Goodrich Co. dis closed' in January that four immediately, resulting in the workers at its vinyl chloride loss of 1.6 million jobs at a conversion plant in Louisville, cost to the economy of $65 Ky., died from ' the disease. billion; > (' Since then," 20 cases world- ' The industry argues that wide have ' been linked to . while it favors ' reducing workers ' at plants where the workers' exposure "to as low vinyl chloride gas is 'produced . a level as possible,",the pro or converted into polyvinyl posed standard is impossible chloride. `.I J to achieve with today's engi- ' About 6,500 -U.S. .workers., -neering technology. are involved in making vinyl Industry sources indicated chloride and turning ' it into ' that the industry will propose polyvinyl chloride, a solid an exposure level below the plastic used in countless prod 'current temporary level of, 50 ucts including 'paints, pipes, parts per million, but some floor tiles, toys, food packag what above the government's ing, phonograph records and ..proposed level. ciothing. - At first it was thought the danger involved only the workers at the first stage of the manufacturing process but scientists have now, turned up evidence indicating that as many as 700,000 workers could be exposed to the danger. A total of 95 witnesses, re presenting government, the medical community and the big plastics and chemical manufacturers, have asked to testify at the hearings. Loss Feared WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - The plastics industry warns that proposed government rules to drastically reduce workers; exposure to a cancer-causing chemical could mean the loss of 1.6 million jobs. This was one of the points to be made by the industry during a week-long public hearing opening Tuesday at the Labor Department. The department's Occupation al Safety and Health Adminis tration has proposed permanent restrictions that would limit air levels of vinyl chloride in plants to-less than one part per million, or too small to be de tected. The current emergency standard is 50 parts per mil lion. ! , Vinyl chloride, the founda-- tion for much of the modern i plastics industry, is the ccn-1 ter of a growing world-wide controversy over its potential : health hazard to workers and , possibly consumers. The government imposed the temporary emergency standard after the discovery earlier this year that exposure to vinyl chloride may be a cause of a rare form' of liver cancer known as angiosarcoma. - The B. F. Goodrich Co. dis closed in January that four workers at its vinyl chloride conversion plant in Louisville, Ky., died from the disease. Since then, 20 cases,world-wide have been linked to workers at plants where the vinyl chloride gas is produced or converted into polyvinyl chloride. About 6,500 U.S. workers are involved in making vinyl chlo ride and turning it into polyvi nyl chloride a solid plastic used in countless products including paints, pipes, floor tiles, toys, food packaging, phonograph * records and'clothing. The Society of .the JHa^tiqs. j Industry, Inc;., contends that ifj the government's proposed "noj detectable level" is adopted.' scores of piants will be forced to close immediately, resulting. in the loss of l.G million jobs at. .a cost to the economy of $65 billion. 1I 23217107 HILL and KNONV'LTON, Inc. SAM GABRIEL, CALIF. SAM GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE D. 66,500 S. 68,000 JUN 2 6 197-4. AIR STANDARD HIT Plastics Industry In Dire Warningi WASHINGTON (AP) - ; ease. Since then, 20 cases .The plastics industry warns world-wide have been'linked, that proposed government to workers at plants where rules to drastically-reduce the vinyl chloride gas is pro workers' exposure to a can- duced or converted into poly cer-dausing chemical could vinyl chloride. mean the loss of 1.6 million About 6,500 U.S. workers jobs. are involved in making vinyl i J'his was one of the points chloride and turning it into to-be made by the industry polyvinyl chloride, a solid iduririg ' a week-long public plastic used in countless ihearing which opened Tues- products including paints, .day at the Labor. Depart pipes, floor -tiles, toys, food ment. packaging, phonograph re The department's Occupa cords and clothing. tional Safety and Health At first it was thought the Administration has proposed danger involved only the, permanent restrictions that workers at the first stage of would limit air levels of vinyl the manufacturing process chloride in plants to less than but scientists have now Jjie part per million, or too turned up evidence indicating wiall- to be detected. The that as many as 700,000 work c&B'ent emergency standard ers could be exposed to thej is 50 parts per million. danger. ' .Vinyl chloride, the founda tion for much of the modern plastics industry, is the cen A total of 95 witnesses, representing government, the medical community and the ter of a growing-controversy over its potential health haz ard to workers and possibly big plastics and chemical manufacturers, have asked to testify at the hearings. consumers. ' i The government imposed : the temporary emergency `standard after the discovery' earlier this year that expo sure to vinyl chloride may be a cause of a rare form of liver cancer known as angio- . sarcoma. The Society of_the_Plastics industryfine., contends that if the gnverrtmehr3~proposed `'no' detectable level" is adopted, scores of plants will be forced to close immediate ly. resulting in the loss of l.f million jobs at a cost to the economy of $65 billion._ 1 The B.F. Goodrich Co. idis- r closed in January that four-1 workers at its vinyl chloride conversion plant in biuis- ville, Ky., died from thp rits- SAM FRANCISCO, CALIF. DAILY COMMERCIAL MEWS D. 3,554 JUN 2 1 1974 ^ Exposure To Vinyl Chloride 1 1 JAGE ONE] By Dennis Connaughton*"" ; |! /The plastics industry is in a huff over reports linking vinyl chloride to cancer and the-resultant, possibility of stricter^ controls on the industry. ' " f A report issued yesterday by the Society of Plastics, . Industry Inc._.in Washington said more than 1.6 million Americans could lose their jobs if the government imposes tighter controls on industrial exposure to.vinyl chloride--the suspected cancer-causing chemical. Hardest hit would be the automobile and construction industries, the Society said in a study released in advance of. next week's Labor Department hearing into the problem. > The department's Occupational Safety and Health Admi-, . nistration has proposed new rules to limit the exposure of1 workers in vinyl chloride plants to no detectable level. The' standards were proposed after cases of a rare liver cancer --; 21 of them worldwide so far -- began showing up among workers in such plants. " " ; The industry said that it cannot meet a zero-level, and the result of such a rule would be to force it to shut down. While only about 6,500 workers are involved directly in plants which ' turn out. vinyl chloride gas. or its solid form, polyvinyl chloride, many thousands more depends on the plastics products into which the material is turned. "The effect on the nation's economy and on the social order in terms of the human hardship it would cause would be catastrophic. We expect that the final results from (the study) will show a potential loss in excess of 2 million jobs. This is all the more regrettable in light of the fact that the industry is taking every step to reduce worker expQsure . . said Ralph L. Harding, president of the Society. "If the proposed `no detectable level' standard is adopted the -vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride resin producing industries will be forced to close down immediately,", he; added. . Current temporary government rules limit exposure in: factory air to 50 parts per million. '; Vinyl chloride is used primarily to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is in turn fabricated into a wide variety of products, including flooring, pipe, curtains, upholstery, phonograph records, telephone equipment, insulated wire,, bottles, packaging, luggage, sporting goods and many others. In May the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor proposed that exposure of employes to vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in workplace air should be reduced to "no detectable level." VCM has been linked in recent months with higher than normal incidence of angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare type of cancer, among previously hiehlv exposed workers. ______ Od N H* O 0D T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. POTTSTOWN, PA. MERCURY D. 25.500 JUN 21 1974 ^ Plastics industry Fears Ma$sive~Job LosseUQyer Vinyl Chloride^ Controls ; jt ONE. WASHINGTON (UPI) - The department's The plastics industry said OccupationalSafety kand Thursday more than 1.6 Health Administration has 1 million Americans could proposed new rules to limit j lose their jobs if the govern the exposure of workers in ment imposes stricter con- vinyl chloride, plants to no . trols on industrial exposure detectable level.''The stan i to vinyl chloride --the dards were proposed after' suspected '^cancer-causing cases of a fare liver cancer chemical. --21 of them worldwide so Hardest hit would be the far --began . showing up automobile and construction among workers in such plan industries, the Societyof the ts. ' V : Plastics Induitry Inc., said The industry said that it . in a study released in advan cannot meet a zero-level, ce of next week's Labor and the result of such a rule Department hearing into the would be to force it to shut _problerr)-: (Continued on Poge 10)__r*" , * (Continued from Page One) down. While only about 6,500 workers are involved direc tly in plants which turn out vinyl chloride gas. or its solid. , form. polyvinyl chloride, many thousands more depends on the plastics products into which the material is turned. "The effect on the nation's economy and on the social order in terms of the human hardship it would cause would be catastrophic. We expect that the final results from (the study) will show a potential loss in excess of 2 million jobs. This is all the more regrettable in light of the fact that the industry is taking every step to reduce worker exposure..." said Ralph L. Harding, president of the society. "If the proposed 'no detec table level' standard isado|>ted the vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride resin producing industries will be forced to close down immediately." he added. Current temporary government rules limit exposure in factory air to 50 parts per million. 14* IfC Spirlfari (Houraut HARTFORD, CONN. D. 170.459 SUN. 219,365. iJUN 2 1 1974 Chloride Control. Held Threat to 1.6 Million Jobs ! WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The plastics industry said Thursday : more than 1.6 milliop Ameri cans could lose their jobs if the ! government imposes stricter controls on industrial exposure to vinyl chloride --the suspect ed-cancer-causing chemical. Hardest hit would be the automobile and coYistruetion industries, the Society of the Plastics IndustryTnc. said in a study i'ele'ased in advance of next week's Labor Department hearing into the problem. . The department's Occupation al Safety and Health Adminis tration has proposed new rules to limit the exposure of workers in vinyl chloride plants to no detectable level. The standards were proposed after cases of a rare liver cancer --2L of them worldwide so far --began showing up among workers in such plants. . The industry said that it cannot meet a zero-level, and the result of such a rule would be to force it to shut down. While only about 6.500 workers are involved directly in plants which turn out vinyl chloride gas. or its solid form, polyvinyl chloride, many thousands more depend on the 'plastics pro ducts into which the material is turned. 23217109 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. THE KANSAS CITY STAR KANSAS CITY, MO, D. 303,862 SUN. 400,110 JUN 2 6 1974 ti 1 m Caxhington (AP>--Tho plas tics Industry jay* proposed government rules to drasti cally reduce workers' expo sure to a cancer-causing chemical could mean the loss ft 1.6 million Jobs. That was one point to be mace by the industry in a wcoklcr.g public hearing open ing today at the Labor De partment. The department's Occupa tion ti Safety and Health Ad ministration has proposed aerninert restrictions that wou>J limit air leveis of vinyl chkmdo In plants to less thin me part a million--too little to to detected. The emer gency standard now is 0 parts a million. Vinyl chloride, the founda tion for much of the modern plastics Industry, is the center at a growing worldwide con troversy over its potential health hazard to workers and possibly consumers. The government Imposed the temporary emergency standard after the discovery earlier this year that expo sure to vinyl chloride may cause a rare lorn of liver cancer known as angiosar coma. The B. F. Goodrich Com pany disclosed in January that four workers at its vinyl chloride conversion plant In Louisville, Ky,, died of the disease. Since then 20 bases worldwide have been linked to workers at plants where vinyl chloride gas is produced or converted into polyvinyl chlo ride. About 6A00 U.5. workers produce vinyl chloride and turn it into polyvinyl chloride, a solid plastic used In pro ducts Including paint, pipe, floor tile, toys, food packag ing, phonograph records and clothing. It had been thought the dan ger faced only workers at the first stage of the manufactur ing' process, but scientists have turned up evidence indi cating that as many as 700,000 workers could bo in danger. Ninety-five witnesses, representing government, the medical community and plas tics and chemical manufac turers, have asked to testify at the hearings. The Society of the Plastics Industry, Ir.c., contends that tf the government's proposed "no detectable level" t s adopted, scores of plants will be forced to close immedi ately, resulting in the loss of 1.6 million Jobs and 665 bil lion. Peter J. Brennan, secretary of labor, in a statement issued before the hearing, did not comment on the industry's claim of lost jobs. "The purpose of this bear ing this week is to elicit addi tional information from those in the industry, employers and employees, and others concerning the hazards from exposure to vinyl chloride, the best means of protection and the impact of the proposed standard," Brennan said. The industry argues that while it favors reducing work ers' exposure "to as low a level as possible," the pro posed standard is Impossible to achieve with engineering technology. Industry sources Indicated that tho industry will propose an exposure level below tho current temporary level of 50 parts a million but above lha government's proposed leveL IRON AGE RADNOR, PA. IV. 105,000 JUL 8 1974 fygJL Vinyl chloride scare The vinyl chloride scare is scaring a lot more people than just those directly exposed to the suspected cancer-producing chemical. About 1.6 million more, roughly speaking. The number, says the ^Society of the__Plastics Industry, Inc., matches the amount of jobs that would be eliminated if the government goes ahead with a plan to cut vinyl chlo ride plant emissions to zero level. One of the hardest hit, the Society predicts, would be the auto industry, with projected losses of 600,000 jobs and sales of $35 billion. Vinyl chloride, a toxic chemical, is used to_make a wide variety of plastic products, including automotive parts, wire coatings, vinyl roofs and car up holstery. Direct exposure to the sub stance has been linked with a rare form of liver cancer. Under current standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Ad ministration, emission levels at pro ducing plants are temporarily estab lished at 50 ppm. However, the gov ernment is now considering a per manent OS11A proposal to limit am bient levels to "no detectable levels Labor Dept, hearings on the proposal opened June 24. 23217110 T HILL and KN'OWLTON, Inc. TOPEKA, KANS. 0. 28,802 JUN 2 5 1974 `OMCJHlIJLCSL WASHLNGT9N (AP) - The plustics industry warns that proposed government rules to drastically reduce workers' ex posure to a cancer-causing chemical could mean the loss of 1.6 million jobs. This was une of the points to be made by the industry during a week-long public hearing opening today at the Labor De partment. Thcdepartment'sOccupatipnal Saiety and Health Adminis tration has proposed permanent restrictions that would limit air levels of vinyl chloride in Diems to less than one part per million, nr ton small to be de cried. The current emergency standard is 50 parts per mil-ion. Vinyl chloride, the foundation or much of the modern plus* ics industry, is the center of a. growing worldwide controversy over its potential health hazard to workers and possibly con sumers. The government imposed the temporary emergency standard after the discovery earlier this year that exposure to vinyl chloride may be a cuase of a rare form of liver cancer know n as angiosarcoma. The B. K.'Goodrich Co. dis closed in January that four workers at its vinyl chloride conversion plant in Louisville. Ky.. died from the disease. Since then. 20 cases world-wide have been linked to workers at plants where the vinyl chloride pas is produced or converted into polyvinyl chloride. - About 6.500 U.S. workers are involved in making viny l chlo ride and turning it into polyvuiyl chluride, a solid plastic used in countless products in cluding paints, pipes, floor tiles, toys, food packaging, phonograph records and cloth ing. At first it was thought the danger involved only the work ers at the first stage of the manufacturing process but sci entists have now turned up evi dence indicating that as many as 700.000 workers could be ex posed to the danger. A total of 95 w finesses, repre senting government, the medi cal community and the big plastics and chemical manufac turers, have asked to testify at the hearings. The Society of the Plasties Industry Inc. contends that if the government's proposed "no delectable level" is adopted, scores of plants will be forced lo close immediately. resulting in the loss of 1.6 million jobs at a cost lo the economy of $65 billion. Labor Secretary Peter J. Brennan, in a statement issued before the hearing, did not comment on the industry's claim of lost jobs. "The purpose of this hearing this week is to elicit additional information from- those in the industry -- employ ers and em ployes -- and others concerning the hazards from exposure to vinyl chloride, the best means of protection and the impact of the proposed standard." Bren nan said. The industry argues that while it favors reducing work ers' exposure "to as low a level as possible." the proposed standard is impossible to achieve with today's engineer ing technology. Industry sources indicated that the industry will propose an exposure level below the current temporary level of 50 parts per million, but some what above the government's proposed zero level. k'TIiE SUN ' BALTIMORE. MD. 0*' (MORNING) o D. 183,543 SUN. 351.8.19 ft ',JUN 211974 Job loss feared 'from vinyl curb | Washington (Reuter)--More than 1.6 million Americans might lose their jobs if pro posed government regulations for reducing hazards in vinyl. "chloride production are put into effect, a plastic industry study published yesterday^aid.i Vinyl chloride, used in prod-1 ucts such as car upholstery and phone equipment, has been linked recently with 16 deaths in the United States caused by a rare typ of caneer! of the liver among workers in i the industry. Five deaths have: been reported elsewhere. . The study, commissioned from economic consultants Ar thur D. Little, Inc., by the Society of the Plastics indus try, said at least 1.6 million, Americans could be thrown out of work in various industries if the government's steps were implemented. Ijc ifiartfnvii uJtinra HARTFORD, CONN. D. 123.376 SUN. 122.857 JUN 2 1 1974 : Plastic Industry Job Losses t 1. Special to The Times . Polyvinyl Chloride, a widely packaging. luggage, sporting WASHINGTON -- A tl east 1 6 used P*astic res*n- were forced goods and many others. f,\ . ; million Americans may lose | down because the Employing an economic 'their jobs if an occupational techoology does not exist to m0Cjej for jts analysis. A.D. Eit-^ health regulation, limiting meet a nf* detectable level of (|e was able to estimate the im-' worker exposure to vinyl exPsurO-In addition, the cost in pact on the resin industry itself.' chloride, forces a shutdown of tarms of lost sales and produc- an(j jn addition, the effect on , the industry. tion would amount to at least $6o otf,er maj0r segments of the. According to preliminary P* lon' economy by defining the ^results of an economic impact Vinyl chloride is used interaction of the PVC industry study conducted for the Society primarily to produce PVC resin with primary, secondary and of the Plastics Industry by the which is in turn fahrimteH into a final demand markets, economic consulting firm of wide variety of products, For example, ilie unavnilabiliArthur D. Little, Inc., a including flooring, pipe, cer- tv of PVC resin would have a minimum of 1.6 million jobs tains, upholstery, phonograph major effect on the automotive would be lost if producers of the record, telephone equipment, industry, which utilizes PVC in industril chemical, and insulated wire, bottles, the form of insulated wire 23217111 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. The Pittsburgh Fress PITTSBURGH, FA. D. 287,405 SUN. 695,157 JUN 27 1974 Cancer Crackdown To Cost Jobs, Plastics Industry Says By TIM O'BRIEN WASHINGTON - The American plastics industry has warned that proposed government rules to slash vinyl chloride levels in facto ries to minimize the danger of cancer could cost the nation up to 2.2 million jobs and $90 billion in annual production. Anton Vittone, president of B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. and an official of the Society of the Plastics Industry, said the proposed health rules could virtually shut down his , industry. Vittone appeared at a pub1 1 c hearing with scores of other industry representa tives to oppose implementa-' r.tion of new regulations, which would limit factory air levels of vinyl chloride to less than lone part per million -- so small as to be undetectable. . In recent months, vinyl , chloride -- a key chemical in L t h e manufacture of many f plastics -- has been linked to ^ a rare form of cancer called angiosarcoma of the liver. The evidence has been rapid, ly accumulating. Dr. Marcus M. Key of the National Institute for occupa tional Safety and Health, ' testified seven cases h a.v e been reported at a Goodrich plant in Kentucky, three at a Goodyear plant in New York, ; two at a Union Carbide plant 1 in West Virginia and one case : in a Firestone plant in Penn sylvania. , Of the 13 cancer cases linked to vinyl chloride, only three victims remain aliye, he said. A key objection from the plastics and chemical indus try is the feasibility of meter ing the "no-detectable level" standard. Vittone said, "Such a com mitment cannot be accom plished overnight since, in certain areas, the technology for accomplishing it is, as yet, not developed, and when developed, facilities must be installed requiring time for engineering, procurement and installation." . ' The U.S. Labor Department, in an environmentalimpact statement, disputed the industry prediction of massive economic disloca tions. While noting that some marginal firms may be af fected, the department said there is no evidence the health rules would eliminate the production or use of vinyl chloride. The AFL-CIO called the industry's economic warning a form of blackmail, charging the chemical companies have ignored "overwhelming medi cal evidence" about the vinyl- chloride danger. The plastics industry is proposing exposura standards that would become gradually tougher. Washington Post Servlet 1 rOMPANO BEACH, FLA. SUN-SENTINEL D. 33.500 a JUN 21 1974 ^ r --. - -A- * r 4 <- - I. WASHINGTON -- The plastics industry yester- ' (day said more than 1.6 million Americans could lose their jobs if the government imposes stricter^ I controls on industrial exposure to vinyl chloride -- 1 ) the suspected cancer-causing chemical. (si Hardest hit would be the automobile and con-! h struction industries, the Society of the Plastics In-1 L dustry_ Inc., said in a study released in advance of ? nexf week's Labor Department hearing into the ^problem. ! The department's occupational safety and health administration has proposed new rules to f .limit the exposure of workers in vinyl chloride if plants to no detectable level. The standards were- proposed after cases of a rare liver cancer -- 21 of them worldwide so far -- began showing up ( among workers in such plants. '[ THE SUN BALTIMORE, MD. (MORNING) D. 183,549 SUN. 351,849 tJUN 2 61974 ' Chloride exposure cut argued Washington W--Government and labor witnesses disputed claims by the plastic industry yesterday that as many as 2.2 million jobs would be elimi nated by further restrictions' on vinyl chloride. The AFL-CIO called the warning blackmail and ac cused the industry of "ignoring the overwhelming medical evL dence" linking vinyl chloride to cancer among workers han-j dling the chemical '| Vinyl chloride, a gas, is con-j verted into polyvinyl chloride, j a white powdery chemical re-` sembling sugar which is used' in the manufacture of plastic products, including toys, food packaging, floor tiles, pipes,1 auto parts and phonograph re-, cords. ' Peter Bommarito, the United Rubber Workers president, said the AFL-CIO supports, at the risk of losing jobs, pro posed federal regulations that would reduce worker exposure to vinyl chloride in plants, to "no delectable level." Mr. Bommarito represented; the AFL-CIO as chairman ofl Us health and safety commit- tee at the, opening of Labor,' ' f':/?'i 23217112 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. Ermrm Irnutie SAW DISSO, CAUFORHIA jumjzfi JUN 2 6 1974 Plastics W: jobloss explained: : ' WASHINGTON (AP) - The plastics industry warns that proposed government rules to drastically reduce workers' exposure to a can cer-causing chemical could mean the loss of 1.6-million . jobs. :( This was one of the points to be made by the industry- ! during a public hearing at , the Labor Department. - j The department's Occu- < pational Safety and Health ! Administration has pro- (posed permanent restric- tions that would limit air : 'levels of vinyl chloride in plants to less than one part , 1 per million, or too small to ; be detected. The current '\-s'sr ; emergency standard Is 50. j-parts per million. rt | . Vinyl chloride, the foun- : i datlon for much of the mod- p ! em plastics industry, is the j Lcenter of a growing world- ; wide controversy over its ; 1 potential health hazard to ' workers and .possibly con sumers. ' ` The government imposed . the temporary emergency standard after the discov ery earlier this year that - exposure to vinyl chloride may be a cause of a rare form of liyer cancer known as angiosarcoma. The B.F. goodrich Co. disclosed in January that four workers at its vinyl chloride conversion plant in Louisville, Ky., died from the disease. Since then, 20 cases worldwide have been linked to workers at plants '.where the vinyl chloride ' gas is produced or convert ed into polyvinyl chloride. !' About 6,500 U.S. workers are involigd in making : vinyl chloride and turning it into polyvinyl chloride, a solid plastic, used in count less products including paints, pipes, floor ` tiles, toys, food packaging, pho nograph records and cloth ing. r At first it was thought the danger involved only the workers at the first stage of the manufacturing process but scientists have now turned up evidence indicat ing that as many as 700,000 workers could be exposed to. the danger. ) ! " A total of 95 witnesses, - representing government,. the medical community and tne big plastics and chemi- cal manufacturers, have asked to testify at the hea rings. The^SQ.cleiy.of .the-Pias-, ticsjndustryJAc: contends' that if the govemments's i proposed "no detectable ! level" is adopted, scores of ; plants will be forced to \ close immediately, result ing in the loss of 1.5-jnillion jobs at a cost to the econo-.- my of $65 billion. . Labor Secretary Peter J... Brennan, in a statement is- ' sued before the hearing, did not comment on the indus try's claim of lost jobs. "The purpose of this hearing this week is to elicit additional information from those in the industry -- em-: ployers and employees -- and others concerning the hazards from exposure to vinyl chloride, the best means of protection and the impact of the proposed standard," Brennan said. The industry argues that while it favors reducing workers' exposure "to as low a level as possible," the proposed standard is impos sible to achieve with ti lay's engineering tech nology. Industry sources indicat ed that the industry will propose an exposure level below the current tempo rary level of 50 parts per million, but somewhat above the government's pioposed zero level. ^ CHEMICAL MARKETING REPORTER NEW YORK,. It Y, -- D. 16.030 JUN 2 41974 Vinyl Industry Can't Live With `No Exposure' Rule At least 1.6 million Americans may lose their jobs if "an unrealistic health regula tion limiting worker exposure to vinyl chlo ride forces a shutdown of the industry", ac cording to preliminary results of an econo mic impact study conducted forj>ociet.SLQf the PlasticsJndustty.by Arthur D. Little, rflct,' economic consultants. The study says technology does not exist to meet a "no detectable level" of expo sure. In addition to the jobs lost, it's esti mated a shutdown would cost $65 billion in terms of lost sales and production. . The A.D. Little study says automotive and construction industries would be hard est bit, with losses respectively of (100.000 jobs and $05 billion in sales: and for the construction industry at least 500.000 jobs and $M billion in sales. Final results from the study are expected to show a potential loss in excess of 2 million jobs. "If the proposed `no detectable levef' standard is adopted, the vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride resin producing in dustries will be forced to close down imme diately." according to Ralph L. Harding, Jr.. SPI president. The possible use of substitute materials over a short term basis to replace PVC in some applications is currently under analy sis by A.D. Little and will be presented at the public hearings on the standard, sched uled to be held by Occupational Safety & Health Administration in Washington be ginning tomorrow (June 25). ' In another development. Diamond Shamrock Corporation, a major PVC pro ducer. said last week that preliminary re sults of an in-depth health study of 709 of its employees exposed to vinyl chloride mono mer vapor in the past showed-that none of them showed any evidence of angiosarco-. ma of the liver A study of health records of employees who had retired or left the company, as well as records of deceased employees, also showed ho evidence of angiosarcoma. Diamond says present exposure levels at its plants arc within the 50-parts-per- mil lion emergency standard set by OSHA anc the firm says continuing technological anc operating changes will further reduce lev els. as early as March, 1975. Diamond provides over 350 millioi pounds'annually of PVC to a variety of in dustries, including automotive, pipe, con struction and electrical and wire and cable 23217113 T HILL axb KNOVLTON, Inc. el;t 3Uorum Simtfl-SnUia JACKSONVILLE, FLA. D. 150,098 SUN. 172,515 .IUN o r vw fiJ'jL. Firms Warn ' v; - ' Srs '=- ' t\.\ ' v- . ...'I l: l WASHINGTON <UPI) -- posed to vinyl chloride, our The Labor Department was present judgment is that vi told Tuesday it should not nyl chloride is a carcinogen list; the jobs of 1.6 million ic agent." Americans because of "over- A carcinogenic agent is reaction and Inadequate and one that induces cancer. inconclusive information" Boyd said the department about cancer deaths blamed was aware of the costs that on vinyl chloride. might be involved in ridding Earle F. Webster, repre- vinyl chloride from the , seating' the Polyvinyl Chlor workers environment , but ide Belting Manufacturers "the proper application of Committee, said in testimo ventilation systems and fur ny for department hearings ther enclosure of exposure on a proposed health stand sources, appears to be a ra ard that, ' serious, economic tional approach. ; ,, disaster" cpuld foUow~!f-it IS"v'~'"Wherd The1*vinyl chloride- ..adopted permanently.-'! cannot be removed by ventb- Because scientists have lotion, workers should be linked 19 cases of angiosar equipped with respirators coma. a form of liver can and protective clothing ami cer, to : exposure to vinyl the gas should be enclosed chloride the government has in a regulated area." - proposed that workers should be exposed to "no de AND, HE SAID, in spite of tectable level", of '-.vinyl employer opposition to post chloride. : ing labels and signs using Vinyl chloride is a gas the word "cancer," such which is processed into a signs should be required "to wide range of. plastic prod ensure that employes arc ucts including telephone in ' apprised' of all hazards to struments. floor tiles, toys, . which they are exposed." bottles, and phonograph rec- r- ords. ` ;' Ralph L. Harding Jr., president of the Society of - DANIEL' 1'. Boyd of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration told scores of lawyers and indus try representatives at tiie . opening round of hearings the Plastics Industry, said if the government standard is adopted "the vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride res in-producing industries will be forced to close down im flic department's proposal mediately." was justified. "At least l.G million Amer He said that based on lab icans may lose their jobs if oratory experiments "and an unrealistic occupational the 19 cases of angiosar health regulation" is im coma found in persons ex posed, he said. TEE KEEUKTEK ElMCH WHITE PLAINS, N,.Y,, JNEW. YORK CITY MARKET AREA! E. 46,656 JUN 2 6 1974 newsletter (yttllmi ok'Mtltl'Y iJm ltd yUi Uh . UMmHh <(llui* iIHImNmI l| 11(1 t (I, ".^.-Commentary. 'y.ill.m oku.ikl.y ,Jm IU.I rlk. lu o! Trends /At least 1.6 million Americans may lose their jobs if an unrealistic occupational health regulation limiting worker exposure to vinyl chloride forces a shutdown of the industry, according to the Sj3riftt.y.nf,.the Plastics .Industry. It says the technology does not exist to meet a "no detectable level'' of exposure,. / Vinyl chloride linked to a form of can cer found among highly exposed workers, is_ | used primarily to produce PVC resin, which is in turn fabricated into a wide variety of products, including flooring, pipe, curtains, upholstery, phonograph records, telephone equipment, insulated wire, bottles, packag ing, luggage and sporting goods, / The AFL+CIO is urging severe restric tions on exposure of workers to vinyl chlo ride, however, even if it means a massive loss of jobs. _____ ________________________ WALL STREET JOURNAL NEW YORK, N. Y. D. 518,065 __:J_U_N 2 8 1974 *6__ Corrections b Amplifications [: 1 SOCIETY-OF .THE. PLASTICS--INDUSTR^jald its proposal for reducing atmos-. pheric concentrations of vinyl chloride In plants handling the chemical in raw form calls for a limit of 10 parts per million by 1975. In a story printed In an earlier edition, the trade association Incorrectly stated Its proposal calls for such a reduction by 1977. I * * t- 23217114 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC PHOENIX, ARIZ. D. 211,962 SUN. 318,839 thfje TUctfiSjUtitfim $nnl ' WASHINGTON* C, P, 535,016 SUN. Z1.0J14S JUN 2 1 1974 |JUN 211974 &* 1.6 million face job loss \in plastic-control plan Plastics Firms Hit Curbs ^s UnlUd Prtw International The plastics Industry said yesterday that more than 1.6 million Americans could lose their jobs If the govern ment imposes stricter con- level, and the result of such a rule would be to force its to shut down. While only: about 6,500 workers are in volved directly in 'plants which turn out vinyl chlor trols on industrial exposure ide gas,- or its solid form,; : to vinyl chloride--the sus- \ polyvinyl chloride, many, . pected cancer-causing chem- thousands more depends on. , ical. ; . . the plastics . products ' into Hardest hit would be the which the . material is automobile and construction . turned. '' industries, the Society of Current temporary gov -the ..Plastics, industry,' ernment rules limit expo said in a study released in 1 sure in factory air to - 50 advance of next week's La- ' parts per million. bor Department hearing ' into the problem. ' ' The department's Occupa-, tional Safety and Health Ad- . ministration has proposed new rules to limit the expo- 1 sure of workers in vinyl _ chloride plants to no detect- .' able level. The standards ' were proposed after cases of : a rare liver' cancer--21 l'i worldwide . so far--began I showing up among workers in such plants. The .industry said that it cannot meet that exposure . /.nrirntiig Sums WILMINGTON, DEL. D. 44,027 ! United Press International - WASHINGTON - The plas . many thousands depend on tics'industry said Thursday the plastics products into more than 1.6 million 'Ameri - which the material is turned. cans the could lose their jobs if government imposes "We results expect that the final from (the study) will stricter controls on industrial show a potential loss in ex exposure to vinyl chloride -- cess of 2 million iobs. This is the suspected cancer-causing all the more regrettable in ichemical. light of the fact that the I Hardest hit would be the industry is taking every step (automobile and construction . to reduce worker exposure. , (industries, the .Society, of. the , ." said Ralph L. Harding, 'PlasJics_ Industry Inc., said( president of the society. '___ in a study released in ad vance of next week's Labor | Department hearing into the problem. i The Labor Department has (proposed .rules to limit the exposure of workers in vinyl chloride plants to no detect able level. The standards 'were proposed after cases of a rare liver cancer - 21 worldwide -- began showing jup among workers in such plants. ' The industry said it cannot meet zero level, and the result'oP such a rule would be to force it to shut down. While only about 6.500 work ers are involved directly in plants that produce vinyl chloride gas, or its solid form, polyvinyl chloride, .JUN 2 1 1974 Industry warns of restrictions WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The piaslics industry yesterday said that more than 1.6-million Americans could lose their jobs if the government imposes stricter controls on industrial exposure to vinyl chloride--the suspected cancer-causing chemical. Hardest hit would be the automobile and construction industries, the Society cf the Plastics Industry Inc., said in a study released in advance of next week's Labor Department hearing into the problem. The department's occupational safety and health ad ministration has proposed new rules to limit the exposure of workers in vinyl chloride_plants to no detectable level. _. __ 23217115 T HILL AND KN'OWLTOX, Inc DECATUR, IL-. HERALD D. 35.500 JUN 2 6 1974 Job Loss, Chemical Limit Claims I Disputed Washington (AP) of Labor Department' hearings Government and labor on the planned regulations. witnesses disputed claims by the Temporary standards now in plastic industry Tuesday that as effect limit exposure to vinyl many as 2.2 million jobs would chloride to 50 parts per million, be eliminated by further restric a sharp reduction from- the tions on vinyl chloride. previous 500 . parts - > per !' The AFL-CIO called the million..' " '` warning blackmail and accused "This country survived for the industry of "ignoring the nearly 200 years without overwhelming medical polyvinyl chloride and we can evidence" linking vinyl chloride survive in the future without it," to cancer among workers Bommariot declared. The in handling the chemical. dustry had asserted that fac Vinyl chloride, a gas, is con tories would be forced to close if verted into polyvinyl chloride, a the new regulations were white powdery chemical adopted. resembling sugar, which is used "This is not an easy position 'in the manufacture of plastic to take, 'but' there is no products ranging from toys, food alternative," Bommarito added. packaging, iloor tiles, pipes, "We have both our jobs and our auto parts and phonograph lives at risk." > records. " Anton Vittone, chairman' of , United Rubber' Workers the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. President Peter Bommarito said and an official of the Society of the AFL-CIO supports at the the Plastics Industry . Inc.i `risk of 'losing jobs, proposed testified that the "no detectable! {federal regulations that would level" is impossible to achieve reduce worker exposure to vinyl and, if adopted, would shut down! chloride in plants to "no detec the industry. table level." Vittone offered a proposal to! * He represented the AFL-CIO reduce by October, 1977, worker {as chairman of its health and .exposure to'the chemical of 10 jsafety committee at the opening parts per nyllion. "L DAILY NEWS RECORD NEW YORK, N. Y. D. 25,000 JUN 26 1974 WARNING: At least 1.6 million Americans may lose jobs if occu pational health regulation limiL ing worker exposure t(K vinyl chloride forces shutdownvof industry. According to prelimi nary results of an economic im pact study done for Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) by Arthur D. Little, Inc., economic consulting firm, a minimum of 1.6 million jobs would be lost if producers of vinyl chloride were forced to shut down because .technology doesn't exist to meet a "no detectable level" of expo sure. In addition, cost in terms of lost sales and production would amount to at least $65 billion. dljc Dalian fdoniitiij Isrins DALLAS, TEXAS D. 266,667 SUM. 310,530 JUN 2 3 1974 Vinyl'Chloride Control Called `Catastrophic' 1c ^WASHINGTON (UPI) -- 1 The department's Occupa TiieIiplasti.cs industry said tional Safety and Health Ad-. niW^tnan j.6 million Ameri-' ministration has proposed ca'ns.-could lose their jobs if.,Anew rules to limit the expo- the j" government imposes . sure of workers in vinyl stricter controls on industrial chloride plants to no detecta- exposure to vinyl chloride -- ble level. The standards were a suspected cancer-causing proposed after cases of a chemical. rare liver cancer -- 21 of Hardest hit would be the them worldwide so far--be autornobile and construction gan showing up among work- industries, the SocietyjiI.Lhe---ers in such plants. Plastics Industry. Inu_.said The industry said that it in" a'study released in ad cannot meet a zero-level, and vance o'f this week's Labor the result of such a rule Department hearing into the ' ' would be to force it to shut problem. ^ down. While only aboutJJ500 workers are involved directly in plants which turn out vinyl cloride gas, or its solid form, polyvinyl chloride, many thousands more depend on the plastic products into which the material is turned. "The effect on the nation's economy and on the social order in terms of the human hardship it would cause would be catastrophic. We expect that the final results (from the study) will show a potential loss in excess of 2 million job's. - -i. 23217116 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Jnc. green, bay, wis. NEWS D. CIRC. N. AVAIL ,N 2 5 1974 Viny! Chloride Rules Could End Jobs WASHINGTON (AP) -- The troversv over its potential plastics industry warns tli.it health hazard to workers and proposed government rules to possibly consumers. drastically reduce workers' The government imposed exposure to a cancer-causing t h e temporary emergency chemical could mean the loss standard after the discovery of 1.6 million jobs. earlier this year that exposure This was one of the points to to vinyl chloride may be a be made by the industry dur cause of a rare form of liver ing a week-long public hearing cancer known as angiosar- opening today at the Labor . coma. ,- Department. The B. F. Goodrich Co. dis The department's Occupa closed in January that four tional Safety and Health Ad workers at its vinyl chloride ministration has proposed per- conversion plant in Louisville, economy of $65 billion. Labor Secretary Peter J. Brennan, in a statement is sued before the hearing, did not comment on the industry's claim of lost jobs. "The purpose of this hear ing this week is to elicit addi tional information from those in the industry -- employers and employes -- and others concerning the hazards from exposure to vinyl chloride, the best means of protection and the Impact of the proposed standard," Brennan said. The industry argues tha, while it favors reducing work ers' exposure "to as low a lev el as possible," the proposed standard is impossible to achieve with today's engineer ing technology. Industry sources indicated that the industry will propose an exposure level below the current temporary level of 50 parts.per million, but some what above the government's proposed zero level.,' manent restrictions that Ky., died from the disease, i would limit air levels of vinyl . Since then, 20 cases world-w chloride in plants to less than wide have been linked to The Detroit Ni one part per million, or too small to be detected. The cur rent emergency standard is 50 parts per million. workers at plants where the vinyl chloride gas is produced . or converted into polyvinyl chloride. DETROIT, MICH. D. 699,652 SUN. 843,53! Vinyl chloride, the founda About 6,500 U.S. workers tion for much of the modern are involved in making vinyl JUN 2 6 1974 plastics industry, is the center chloride and turning it into of a growing worldwide con-_ _ polyvinyl chloride, a < solid plastic used in countless prod-, uets including paints, pipes, < Plastics floor tiles, toys, food packag ing, phonograph records and. firms assail clothing. ( At first it was thought the . danger involved only the ` health rules workers at the first stage of , the manufacturing process but ' i scientists have now turned up : evidence indicating that as many as 700,000 workers could ' be exposed to the danger. A total of 95 witnesses, rep- j 'resenting government, the medical community and the big plastics and chemical manufacturers, have asked to testify at the hearings. The Society of the Plastics,. Industry, me., contends that if the government's proposed "no detectable level" is adopted, scores of plants will be forced to close immediate ly, resulting in the loss of 1.6 million jobs at a cost to the *./, Frtm Wahin*fn Pl nd ap DitpjfcMi <* (WASHINGTON ' - The-, American plastics1' industry," warned yesterday that pro-posed government : rules - to 1 slash vinyl chloride levels in' factories to minimize the dangetv'of cancer could cost the nation up to 2.2 million jobs and S90 billion in annual production. .Anton .Vittone, president of, R.rF. Goodrich Chemical Co. and an official of the Society of the Plastics Industry,~said the proposed health rules could virtually shut down his industry. Vittone appeared at a Labor Department public hearing with scores of other industry representatives to oppose implementation of new regula tions which would limit factory air'levels of vinyl chloride to less1 than one part per million -- so small as to be undetectable. LW LXZ *ZZ T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. The Ann Arbor News ANN ARDOR, MICH. 0, 38,133 SUN, 37,333 JUN 2 6 1974 '7A1 Chemical Ban proposed a different standaid in prepare testimony. His prnimsal would reduce worker exposure lo vinyl chloride from Could Cut Jobs 50 parts per million ol air now in force to 10 parts per million, effec tive October 1377. But Seliknff argued that "the only, prudent course tor the WASHINGTON (AP) -- The plastics industry warns that pro prevention of angiosarcoma ... is lo provide a work environ posed government rules lo drastically reduce workers' expo ment with no rietcclabie levels of vinyl chloride." sure to a cancer-causing chemical could mean the luss of 1.8 million jobs. This was one of the points to be made by lhe industry during Dr. Marcus M. Key, director of the National Institute for Oc cupational Safety and Health, said the finding of 19 cases of an giosarcoma -- 13 of them m the United States -- among vinyl a week-long public hearing opening Tuesday at the Labor chloride workers between January and May "indicates that we Department. arc observing a newly recognized occupational disease as The department's Occupational Safety and Health Adminis sociated with exposure" to vinyl chloride. tration has pressed permanent restrictions that would limit He said that previously about 20 in 30 cases of the disease ar levels of vinyl chloride in plants to less than one part per had been reported annually in the United Stales. million, or too small lo be delected. The current emergency About fi,500 U.S, workers are involved in making vinyl chlo standard is 5(1 parts per nullum. ride and turning it into polyvinyl chloride a solid plastic used Vinyl chloride, the foundation for much of the mndern plas in countless products including paints, pipes, floor tiles, toys, ties industry, is the center of a growing worldwide controversy food packaging, phonograph records and clothing. over its potential health hazard to workers and possibly con At firsl it was thought Ihe danger involved only the workers sumers. at the first stage of the manufacturing process but scientists The government imposed the temporary emergency standard have now turned up evidence indicating that as many as 700, after the discovery earlier this year that exposure to vinyl chlo 00(1 workers could he exposed to the danger. ride may be a cause of a rare form of liver cancer known as A total of 95 witnesses, representing government, the medi angiosarcoma. cal community and the big plastics and chemical manufactur X The B. F. Goodrich Co. disclosed in January that four Work ers. have asked to testify at the hearings. 'S ers at its vinyl (blonde conversion planl in Louisville. Ky., The Soeiety'oL.Uvg PLrsticsindustry Inc. contends that if Ihe died from the disease. Since Ihcn. 211 rases world-wide have government's proposed "no detectable level" is adopted, been linked to workers at plants where the vinyl chloride gas is scores of plants will be forced to close immediately, resulting produced or converled into polyvinyl chloride. in Ihe loss of 1.6 million jobs at a cost to the economy of $65 A study of vinyl chloride workers al fhe Goodyear plant in billion. Niagara Falls. N.Y.. found lhal three of 2d deaths were due to Labor Secretary Peter J Brennan, in a statement issued be the cancer, angiosarcoma fore the hearing, did not cummenl on the industry's claim of Dr. Irving ,1. Seliknff. direelor of Ihe Fnvironmenlul Sciences lust jubs. Laboratory of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, cited the "The purpose of this hearing this week is to elicit additional study. He emphasized the critical importance of reducing the information from those in the industry -- employers and emj amount of vinyl chloride workers are exposed lo, to a "no plnyes -- and others concerning the hazards from exposure to detectable loir)'' as proposed by the Labor Department. vinyl chloride, the host means of protection and the impact ol Seliknff was among dozens of witnesses Tuesday at a hearing the proposed standard," Brennan said. on the Labor Department's proposed standards for regulating The industry argues that while it favors reducing workers' vinyl chloride use. exposure "to as low a level as possible," the proposed standard "The proposed permanent standard is not technologically is impossible to achieve with today's engineering technology. easible and. if adopted, would shut down the industry," Industry sources indicated that the industry will propose an warned Anton Vitteiie. president of Ihe B. F. Goodrich Chemi exposure level below the current temporary level of 50.parts cal Co. per million, but somewhat above the government's proposed Vutone, reprrst ntmg I lie plastic industry trade associa'ion. zero level. i 23217118 T II ILL and KN'OWLTON, Ixc. r-M|f .I\r SUN-TIMEy. 1. is-:,s-j::. JUN 2 6 1974 ,\A Industry hits cost of anticancer rules By' Tim O'Brien -- has been linked to a rare and Health Administration ' billion annually." Washington Post Special form of cancer called angio concluded: "Our present judg Vinyl chleride goes into th 'Washington - The plas tics industry warned Tuesday I h a t proposed government sarcoma of the liver. The evi dence has been accumulating rapidly. ment is that vinyl chloride is a carcinogenic agent." In April, the agency issued manufacture of such products as sporting goods, packages, phonograph records, electric rules to slash vinyl chloride Dr. Marcus M. Key of the an emergency standard limit insulation, floor tiles, clothing levels in factories to minimize National Institute for Occupa ing vinyl chloride air levels to and paints. the danger of cancer could tional Safety and Health testi 50 parts per million. While fewer than 7,000 U.S. cost the nation up to 2.2 million fied that in the past two weeks, A key objection from the workers are directly involved jobs and J90 billion in annual "We have identified two plastics and chemical Industry in making vinyl chloride and production. deaths from angiosarcoma of is the feasibility of meeting the turning it into polyvinyl chlo Anton Vittone, president of the liver in men employed at "no detectable level" stand ride. scientists suspect that the B.F. (foodrich Chemical plants utilizing polyvinyl chlo ard that would result from the hundreds of thousands of asso Co. and an official of the ride to_ fabricate other prod minimum vinyl chloride level ciated workers may be ex Society of the Plastics In- ucts." of one part per milion now posed to the danger. dustrv,""said "the rules -cou^ Key said seven cases have proposed by the agency. Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO virtually shut down his in been reported at a B.F. Good The plastics association also called the industry's economic dustry. rich plant in Kentucky, three at cited a study by the Arthur D. warning a form of blackmail Vittone appeared at a a Goodyeaj'.plant in New York, Little Co. of Cambridge, and charged that the chemical public hearing with scores of other industry representatives to oppose new regulations that * would limit factory air levels two at a Union Carbide plant in West Virginia and one at a Firestone plant in Pennsylva nia. Of the 13. only three vic Mass.: "An Immediate shut down of all polyvinyl chloride resin plants in the United States and the subsequent una companies have ignored "overwhelming medical evi dence" about the vinyl chlo ride danger, s of vinyl chloride to less than tims remain alive, he said. vailability of PYC resin could one part per million -- so Based on laboratory ex- result in a los of 1.7 million small as to be undetectable. ptrimenls and the known to 2.2 million jobs In con In recent months, vinyl chlo cases of liver cancer in hu suming and related industries ride -- a key chemical in the mans exposed to vinyl chlo and a loss of domestic product manufacture of many plastics ride, the 5ccupational Safety ion value o' Sfo billion to Sai 23217119 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBR. STAR-HERALD D. 15,500 JUN 2 6 1974 2 2 Million Plastic Jobs Loss Disputed WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government Anton Vittone, chairman of the B.F. and labor witnesses disputed claims by Goodrich Chemical Co. and an official the plastic industry Tuesday that as of the Society of the Plastics Industry many as 2.2 million jobs would be Inc. testified that-lhe~"no delectable eliminated by further restrictions on -TevT' is impossible to achieve and. if vinyl chloride. adopted, would shut down the industry. The AFL-CIO called the warning Vittone offered a proposal to reduce blackmail and accused the industry of by October 1977, worker exposure to the "ignoring the overwhelming medical chemical of 10 parts per million. evidence'' linking vinyl chloride to The industry submitted an .cancer among workers handling the independent study showing that an im chemical. mediate shutdown of all polyvinyl Vinyl chloride, a gas, is converted into^ chloride plants could result in the loss of polyvinyl chloride, a white powdery j between 1.7 and 2.2 million jobs in the chemical resembling sugar, which is 1 plastics industry and other industries used in the manufacture of plastic; dependent on plastics products;____ _ products ranging from toys, food packaging, floor tiles, pipes, auto parts and phonograph records. UNITED RUBBER WORKERS President Peter Bommarito said the AFL-CIO supports at the risk of losing , jobs, proposed federal regulations that! would reduce worker exposure to vinyl ; chloride in plants to "no detectable' level." He represented the AFL-CIO as chairman of its health and safety com mittee at the opening of Labor Department hearings on the planned regulations. Current standards limit worker exposure to vinyl chloride to 50 parts per million, a sharp reduction from the previous 500 parts per million. "THIS COUNTRY survived for nearly 200 years without polyvinyl chloride and we can survive in the future without it," Bommarito declared. The industry had asserted that factories would be forced to close if the new regulations were adopted. "This is not an easy position to take, but there is no alternative." Bommarito added. "We have both our jobs and our lives at risk." ____ OZTlTZZ T HILL AND KN'OWLTON, I\c. THOMASVILLE. n c TIMES D. 6,000 JUN 26 1974 astic ; a . testimony ; WASHINGTON (AP) Government and labor witnesses disputed claims by the plastic industry Tuesday that as many as 2.2 million jobs would be eliminated by further restrictions on vinyl chloride. The AFL-CIO called the warning blackmail and ac cused the industry of "ignor ing the overwhelming .`medical ..evidence" linking fvinyl chloride to cancer i among workers handling the I chemical. ' ' { Vinyl chloride, a gas, is . converted into polyvinyl chloride, a white powdery chemical resembling sugar, which is used in the manufac ture of plastic products ranging from toys, food packaging, floor tiles, pipes, auto parts, and phonograph records. ' United Rubber Workers President Peter Bommarito said the AFL-CIO supports at the risk of losing jobs, proposed federal regulations that would reduce worker ex posure to vinyl chloride in Society of the Plastics In the proposed regulations plants to, "no detectable dustry Inc, testitied that Ihe would stop vinyl chloride level." "nOet&'irable level" is im production and use. It added, He represented the AFL- possible to achieve and, if however, that the existence CIO as chairman of its health adopted, would shut down the of some marginal firms and safety committee at the industry. might be threatened if they opening of Labor Depart Vittone offered a proposal are forced to raise prices to ment hearings on the planned .to reduce by October, 1977, pay for safety measures. regulations. Temporary stan dards now in effect lmit worker exposure to vinyl chloride to 50 parts per million, a sharp reduction from the previous 500 parts per million. "This country survived for nearly 200 years without polyvinyl chloride ' and we can survive in the future worker exposure to the chemical of 10 parts per .million. The industry submitted an independent study showing that an immediate shutdown of all polyvinyl chloride plants could result in the loss of between 1.7 and 2.2 million jobs in the plastics industry and other industries depen- . ' Vinyl chloride has been used by the plastic industry since World War II. The government imposed the temporary emergency stan dard after the discovery earlier this year that ex posure to the chemical may be a cause of angiosarcoma, a rare form of liver cancer. without it," Bommarito dent on plastics products. Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, who declared. The industry had This would result in lost has been doing extensive re asserted that factories would production valued at be-1 search into the. potential be forced to close if the new tween $65 and $90 billion a :. health hazard of- vinyl regulations were adopted. year, the study said. chloride at the Mount Sinai "This is not an easy posi- . This was disputed by the School of Medicine in New tion to take,' but there is no - Labor Department's Oc York, testified that "the only alternative," Bommarito , cupational Safety and Health prudent course" for pre added. "We have both our Administration in an en venting liver cancer among jobs and our lives at risk." vironmental impact plastic industry workers is to Anton Vittone, chairman of statement. reduce exposure to the no de the B. F. Goodrich Chemical The report said there was tectable level proposed by Co. and an official of the .no evidence that adoption of the government. . r'f T2T/.TZS2 T HILL a.vd KNOWLTON, Inc. OGDEN, UTAH STANDARD-EXAMINER D. M.SOO JUN 2 5 1974 ffcS. p f . ; r\ I Ii h M Cut in WASHINGTON (AP) - The 'Since then, 20 cases world-wide to 'close immediately,' resulting plastics industry warns that have been linked to workers at ;in the loss of 1.6 million jobs at proposed government rules to, plants where the vinyl chloride a cost to the economy of $65 drastically reduce workers' ex-, gas is produced or converted -billion. ... .p - i' ppsure to a cancer-causing into polyvinyl chloride. Labor Secretary Peter J. chemical could mean the loss About 6,500 U.S. workers are Brennan, in a statement issued of L6 million jobs. ; ' 1 involved in making vinyl chlo- before the -hearing, did not I This was one of the points to '] ride and turning it into . poly- I.be made by the industry during I vinyl chloride, a solid plastic a week-long public hearing {used in countless products in opening today at the Labor De cluding paints, pipes, floor partment. tiles, toys, food packaging, The department's Occupation phonograph records and cloth al Safety andAHealth Adminis- ing. - i V- trafion has proposed permanent; restrictions, that would limit air levels of vinyl chloride in plants to less than one part per million, or too small to be de tected. The current emergency standard is 50 parts per mil lion. - At .first It was thought the danger involved only the work ers at the first stage of the manufacturing process but sci entists have now turned up evi dence indicating that as many as 700,000 workers could be ex posed'to the danger. fj ' Vinyl chloride, the foundation ' MANY TO TESTIFY-. 1 comment on the ^industry'sclaim of lost jobs. "The purpose of this hearing this week is to elicit additional information from those inj'the industry -- employers and'em-, ployes -- and others concerning, the hazards from exposure tovinyl chloride, the best means of protection and the impaot of the proposed standard," Bren nan said. CALLED UNREALISTIC The' industry argues that while it favors reducing work ers' exposure "to as low a level for much of the modem plas tics industry, is the center of a growing worldwide controversy over its potential health hazard to workers and possibly con sumers. ` ' .- A total of 95 witnesses,'repre senting government,- the' medi cal ` community and the bigplastics and chemical manufac turers; have asked to testify at the hearings. -i as possible," the proposed standard is impossible to achieve with today's engineer ing technology. Industry '' sources indicated that the industry will propose .. CANCER CAUSE The government imposed the temporary emergency standard after the discovery earlier this year that exposure to vinyl The _SocietyofthePlastics Industry Inc" contends That if! TM guvymment's proposed "no1 detectable level" is adopted., scores of plants will be forced an. exposure level below the current temporary level of 50 parts per million, but some what above the government's proposed zero level. chloride may be a cause of a rare form of liver cancer known as angiosarcoma. j The B. F.'Goodrich Co. dis'4 closed in January that four I jworkers at its vinyl chloride! (conversion plant in Louisville,* from the disease.! 23217122 T LL AXD KNOWLTOK, Ixc. Plastic Ban Poses :' ;? %' Job Loss Threat 'WASHINGTON '' - The victims remain alive, he After 49 weeks of dosage, he' American plastics industry said. said, "we have observed nine warned that proposed government rules to slash vinyl chloride levels in factories to minimize the danger of cancer could cost In addition, experimental studies conducted by Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories of Northbrook, III., and by Prof. Cesare 'Maltoni of Bologna, Italy, mammary carcinomas, two liver fibro - angiomas, and two subcutaneous angiomas." Based on the Maltoni and B i 0 - T e s t Laboratory ex the nation up to 2.2 million have strengthened the belief jobs and $90 billion in annual production. Anton Vittone, president of that vinyl chloride causes cancer.5: J < 5 ' { ' In a just - released telegram to John Stender, B.F. Goddrich Chemical Co. head of the Occupational and an official of the Society Safety Health Administration of the Plastics Industry, said in the Department of Labor, 'the proposed "' health'rules' Maltoni reported that vinyl could virtually shut down his chloride produced "zymbal industry. gland carcinomas Vittone appeared at a public hearing with scores of other industry represent a t i v e s to oppose implementation of new nephroblastomas, angiosarco mas of liver and other sites, skin narinomas and probably heptatomas and neuroblasto mas,' in rats. regulations, which would In another experiment, limit factory air levels of Maltoni said, more than 60 vinyl chloride to less than mice were exposed to 50 one part per million -- so parts - per - million of vinyl small as to be undetectable. chloride for seven months. periments, plus the known cases of liver cancers in humans exposed to vinyl chloride, the Occupational Safety and Health Ad ministration concluded that "our present judgment is that vinyl chloride is a carcinogenic agent." In April, the agency issued a n emergency standard limiting vinyl chloride air levels to 50 parts - per million -- the same daily dosage administered to Maltoni's mice. Now the agency propses to reduce allowable vinyl chloride air levels to less than one part per million, the so-called "no detectable level" standard, 1 ...____ Woihlngfon Poif Strvic*/ 1 In recent "months, vinyl chloride -- a key chemical in the manufacture of many plastics -- has been linked to a rare form of cancer called angiosarcoma of the liver. The evidence has been lilt SPRINGFIELD UNION rapidly accumulating. SPEINGEIELD, MASS. Within the past two weeks, testified Dr. Marcus M. Key D. 83,061 of the National Institute for Uccupational Safety and Health, "We have identified JUN 2 6 1974 c4 two deaths from angiosar coma of the liver in men employed at plants utilizing polyvinyl chloride to fabricate other products." Key said seven cases have been reported at a B.F. Goddrich plant in Kentucky, three cases at a Goodyear plant in New York, two cases in a Union' Carbide plant in West Virginia and one case in a Firestone plant in Pennsylvania. Of the thirteen reported cancer cases linked to vinyl chloride, only three : j | 23217123 T HILL axd KNOWLTOX, In-c. UTICA DAILY PRESS UTICA. R. Y. D. 28,782 JUN 26 1974 Government, Vinyl Chloride Restrictions I WASHINGTON (AP) - reduce by October, 1977, worker This was disputed, by the Government and labor wit exposure to the chemical of 10 Labor Department's nesses disputed claims by the;, parts per million. Occupational Safety and Health plastic industry Tuesday that as *; The industry submitted an Administration in an. en-i many as 2.2 million jobs would - independent study showing that yironmental impact statement.' be eliminated by further an immediate shutdown of all T restrictions`on vinyl chloride.' polyvinyl chloride plants could The report said there was no; TThe AFL-CIO called the,, result in the loss of between 1.7 evidence that adoption of the warning blackmail and accused - and 2.2 million jobs in the proposed regulations would stop the industry of "ignoring the plastics industry and other vinyl chloride production and overwhelming medical v industries dependent on plastics use. It added, however, that the evidence" linking vinyl chloride products. This would result in existence of some marginal, to cancer among workers lost production valued at bet firms might be threatened if j handling the chemical. ween $65 and $90 billion a year, they are forced to raise pripes to i Vinyl chloride, a gas, is the study said. pay for safety measures. converted into polyvinyl chloride, a white powdery chemical resembling sugar,' which is used 1 in the manufacture of plastic products ranging . from ' toys,' food tpackaging^floor Jjles, pipes,j [auto parts and " phonograph: records. United Rubber Workers President Peter Bommarito said the AFL-CIO supports at the risk of losing jobs, proposed federal regulations that would ^reduce worker exposure to vinyl 'chloride in plants.- to "no. "detectable'\eve." ' i He represented the AFL-CIO as chairman of its health and safety committee at the opening of Labor Department hearings on the planned regulatins. Temporary standards now in effect limit worker exposure to vinyl chloride to 50 parts per million, a sharp reduction from the previous 300 parts per million. Anton Vittone, chairman of the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. and an official of thejjociety.of. the Plastics Industry Inc. testified that'the "no detectable level" is impossible to achieve and, if adopted, would shut down the industry. Vittone offered a proposal to 23217124 T' HIJ.L and KNOWLTON, Inc. Vinyl Chloride Costs On Safety Seen High By Richard E. Rotman W**hlrton Port Wriwr A vice president of Tcnneco, j "This is no easy position to Inc., a huge vinyl chloride take," Bommanto said, "but manufacturer, predicted yes there is no alternative. "We terday that it would take two [have both our jobs and our to three years and at least SIO lives at risk." million to roach safety levels The Labor Department also live times that of proposed 'disputed the industry's conten- government standards. ; tion that new standards would Testifying at Occupational siod vinyl chloride production Safety and Health Administra and use. However, some mar- tion hearings. Joseph Fath jstinal firms, the department called the government's at admitted, might be threatened tempt to eliminate detectable if forced to laisc prices to pay traces of vinyl chloride for salcty standards. "unrealistic and impossible." In New York, an AFL-CIO Evidence has been mounting meat cutters union official re- recently to link vinyl chloride ; veaied that cutting meat wrap --a key chemical used in. the manufacture of many plastics --with angiosarcoma, a rare cancer of the liver. Of 13 known cases of workers con tracting the disease, only three workers remain alive. ! ping with hot wires releases lumes which cause dizziness, wheezing and a lack of breath. The official, Ralph Quatroc- chi. said, "Occupational ill nesses which result in cancer and ultimately death is a price no worker should have to pay Taking a position identical for his protection." to vinyl manufacturers and processors. Tennoco represent-: atives called workers' deaths! "tragic" but denied any had! had the disease m their em-j ploy. Twenty workers con-f reeled with Tenneco's vinyl j chloride processing have died, in the last 1? years, although1 none, the company said, have; had angiosarcoma. ; One possible solution for re-, ducing the effects of harmful -A26 .. Friday. Jun* 2t, 1974 * levels of the chemical is the use of respirators and other artificial air sources. Before April 5, the government had allowed 500 parts of vinyl, chloride per million of air until the suspicious deaths! had changed standards to 50 parts per million. The "no) detectable level'' is 1 or 21 pans per million. j In some stages of the zas'' formation into records, srntj covers, electrical insulation: and paint, workers reduce its presence to 25 to 50 parts per. million with gas masks. But; artificial air can only be used for short periods of time with out causing harm to lungs and nostrils so something else must be devised, the industry and government have azreed Ventilation, outdoor manu facturing. and improved valves, flanges and hne con nectors can ro-iurc harmful levels. But mOrecrirC com pletely air'Trhr connections is so difficult th.v the mduciry. now* jncpq 5 per cent, of its; product. F.vb sa d. The inri -i.-' ; > has predicted that if the n mi hen pound fa brication of v; i \. 1 riilnride were shut down. 22 million jobs and as murn as Sti'i bilnon In production would be lost. A labor lender has ended the statistics "MnrKmait." In carlic" testimony. United Rub ber W.-rkrr* JYc'irJent lYte Bommarito, supported the covernmcM's efforts despite ih*; poaaible ioss in jobs. TIIE WASHINGTON POST 23217125 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. imrmm G8 p*1 -S3 0 F=b< tod 5** fed C> Sh Sh . o fed fed CJ fed C/D CsD FSi* -- r=d r3 a pFfej in in C O i- 5* fed c iCTt> 7fT-* 03 to feM 03 C^J l^iS< z cm" |S|Icl!g.5?sll iitliiiililill y: iC-ElE: Ss.cs ->=ii-3t ^i i i;^ oo S- r>ot *o5-s- **S5 .2-.l~5l Ji' Hfllia - " "c'-si;lTMjsr ac"? so--^jS 7 . - c slilrllllsl^ flillls! iII him** Jri PP-yp itpc s'i-f" 3 " -i-S" " ^2a?->--=s3 J"c^= S'-I >". ;i =n ;-'--o |S>.,, -e=slsss'ilirsffl Mil , g;i"-s= %" Jf =i?: n*\\ fii|f^ S "io;5c55>E.:=*--= 3sSsHs.- m*i'K L * , n = S - =.i !ifl = s 5 ^ 's. Isis Illgs-SI -i2 S^-3-?Ii.l3.2 2. ,3 .|2gf SwSIi'-. .3 * Si! PIi: = 5 3-'"=-E S'! 31 a1 Itilsiliilnv o a-- "H = =: r|Et Loss yaffil :; ji*;-^i=i; = - = :c.iSE r g- ^ S_i 2 . ;I =~ ."oXM; -= Lnt 3L O C=j=n^:-.c=r-h"i 5- /i-ic.i=-- iil<ise'Isl'i> Si E^lgi S" --Ctsc3 1?^ ?7 rt^:j If-''s 5 >. E '5^E'-SC --_..-;:Sc =rir2'Lt t.z ? >- Eioi'hi?! " ?e*** a' . ? = ==.sS" -=8sF= :&f.28 I f lipliili PiPiiiPPu. >- 51 C>Os r3 -* ^tr-S- 2' =c'XP-~' ""^rccts 7--v ^3s^: 5 1^TM= J ^C*' SS S? CI--2 | o c i: -c EE -- JC |c=|:r ;-lt = sf I i T "i-F S-sl-a alim-f? - n j; > .3 ^ c -ipst v .. . l! *" in ts -ir i- 3 Si? Eici 2ttS5Sifii l. Ss-^?^s; 1 - - n = 2 ~ = E O -SJT4/ >r cESi^ :i i -s>.'"^5. j'ii . 5 = 0 5c r?i L' ' n o57^-- f" s .^ 'V s s t.dEj.E!;5tc; 03 H> N> 03 T HILL AND KNOWLTOX, Ixc. Further Vinyl Chloride Restrictions May Cost Over Two Million Jobs WASHINGTON (AP) - Government find labor witnesses disputed claims by the plastic industry Tuesday that as many as 2.2 million jobs would be eliminated by further restrictions on vinyl chloride. The AFL-CIO called the warning blackmail and accused the industry of "ignoring the overwhelming medical evidence" linking vinyl chloride to cancer among workers handling the chemical. Vinyl cliloride, a gas, is converted into polyvinyl chloride, a white powdery chemical resembling sugar, wliich is used in the manufacture of plastic products ranging from toys, food packaging, floor tiles, pipes, auto parts and phonograph records. United Rubber Workers President Peter Bormnarito said the AFL-CIO supports at the risk of losing jobs, proposed federal regulations Hint would reduce worker exposure to vinyl chlo ride in plants to "no detectable level." lie rt.pi estuied uiv AIT -CIO -is chniiinan of its health and safety committee at the opening of Labor Department hearings on the planned regulations. Current standards limit worker exposure to vinyl chloride tc 50 parts per million a sharp reduction from the previous 500 pa ls per million. "This country survived for nearly 200 years without polyvinyl chloride and we can survive in the future without it," Bornmarito declared. The industry had asserted that factories would he forced to close if the new regulations were adopted. "This is not an easy position to take, hut there is no alternative." Bommarito added. "We have both our jobs and our lives at risk." Anton Vittone, chairman of the B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. and an official of the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. tostifiod that the "no delectable level" is impossible lo achieve arid, if adopted, would shut down trie industry. Vittone offered a proposal to reduce by October 1577, worker exposure to the chemical of R) parts per million. The industry submitted an in dependent study showing that an im mediate shutdown of all polyvinyl chloride plants could result in the loss of between 1.7 and 2.2 million lobs in the plastics industry and other industries dependent on plastics products. This would result in lost production valued at between $65 and $9U billion a year, the study said. This was disputed by the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration in an en vironmental impact statement. The report said there was no evidence that adoption of the proposed regulations would, stop vinyl chloride production and use. It added, however, that the existence of some marginal firms might be threatened if they are forced to raise prices to pay for safety measures. Vinyl chloride has been used by the plastic industry since World War II. Since January, 20 cases world-wide of liver cancer have been linked to workers at plants where the vinyl chloride gas is used. rrr*;rff couff. n:.'iiF:T!N 0. 31.550 S. 23.CCJ JUN 2 6 1974 23217127 T HILL and KNOW'LTON, Inc. WllfNGBOF.O, .J. 1. BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES D. 35,000 j.' f.................. 4 \ ". ? WASHINGTON--An official of Tenneco1 "V municate and cooperate, toward the Chemicals, Inc., said yesterday that pro- important goal of minimizing vinyl chlo- : posed government regulations to^slash -ride exposure to the maximum, extent : worker exposure to vinyl chloride would j ' feasible, without causing the severe .force it to halt production of the chemical. economic consequences that could attend which is used in the manufacture of plastics. application of unrealistic and imoossihle Tenneco Chemical operates a plant in standards" proposed by the government. ! Burlington Township where liquid vinyl Fath said. - chloride is processed into PVC resin. A plant ' The .Wipty pf the pi^tii-g Industry spokesman has said workers there are pro- warned Tuesday that imposition of the tected by elaborate safety precautions, and government standards would force plants .that emissions from the plant were minimal. 1 shut down and result in the loss of as I Joseph Fath, a company vice president, .. rnanV as 2.2 million jobs. / said the , alternative; if the planned ,, standards were adopted, would be to require workers to wear respirators full time. This, he added, is `.`neither safe nor feasible." y- "However, given the serious nature of available scientific and medical evidence ~ regarding potential human health effects .5 of vinyl chloride inhalation ... the only conceivable course of action for industry is the jnaximum; feasible-reduction of.--. /human exposure'to airborne concen- ` trations of vinyl chloride monomer," he ' , said. ,,.s ... . ' Fath was one of dozens of witnesses testifying at a continuing Labor Depart ment hearing on the controversial chemical which is suspected of causing angiosarcoma, a rare, fatal form of liver cancer found with increasing incidence in vinyl chloride plants. The Labor Department has proposed regulations that would require chemical companies to eliminate leakage of vinyl chloride in the plants. Tenneco, which annually manufactures 240 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride at plants in New Jersey and Texas, sup ported a proposal offered earlier this week by the plastics industry calling for reduction of vinyl chloride levels to 10 parts per million of air by October 1975. Fath said it would cost Tenneco more than $10 million to make the engineering changes required to meet the industry's standards. "We hope that reason will prevail and that all interested parties including the federal government, labor, the medical community and the management of the polyvinyl chloride industry can com- ------------------------------- T 23217128 HILL akd KN'OW'LTON, Inc. home FURNISHINGS DAILY NEW YORK, N. Y. D. 39,000 JUN 2 7 '974 Plastics Industry Hits VC Code, Offers Own `Workable' Proposal '*1 /By RICHARD WIGHTMAN ' ' technical resources to the date when the emergency standard WASHINGTON (FNS) -- The maximum and involve, heavy costs , expires and, under OSHA's statute, .giant plastics-chemicals complex and reduced capacity. its life cannot be extended. Wednesday staged a daylong effort -`Many, companies will probably ' SPI produced ammunition from ! to ' convince the Federal require' variances of time or Arthur Little, Ipc., the Government its proposed vinyl ^ methods, therefore provisions for international consulting? fiym, that chloride health standards would be Such variances should be made in . any shutdown of PVC production an unmitigated disaster to the' the permanent, standard,Vittone would have serious repercussions (economy. ' . stressed.., .. on many user industries. Instead of taking a merely , ; rMPujci7irn .h In an acconvpanying negative stance, the industry' HE ALSO EMPHASIZED that presentation, the company singled proffered an alternative much of the needed technology to out apparel and household " "workable" standard which might accomplish the phasedown still has /urnishings, motor vehicles, i lead to a satisfactory compromise to pe developed. , construction, specialty and one which would protect The commitment cannot be miscellaneous products as the main : workers from the chemical s- accomplished overmght, he told pvc users i alleged cancer-inducing properties. The industry proposal, outlined c. It noted that elimination of PVC *"e "Pi proposal, in any case. from mar^et WOuld have the at hie a rings held by the * ma>' Provide a Pragmatic base on most serious impact on autos and Occupational Safety and Health - which a permanent standard may construction but added that Administration, is a far cry from . be developed. OSHA is anxious this bottlenecks would show up in' . the "no detectable level" of VC permanent standard may be supplies of flooring, upholstery and ! atmospheric incidence proposed by developed., OSHA is anxious this jnsuiated wire and cable. ! ' OSHA for exposed workers. permenent version should be in ..AN IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN I /THE PLAN, presented by the ' P'ace by Oct. 5, since that is the ^ ajj pyQ resjn piants jn the u.S. society or tnp ~Pl.a..s..t.i.c.s...m....i.n..i.s.try, ana' ' ~ " ................ ... [explained by Anton Vittone, , president, B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co., would phase down the air content of vinyl chloride to minimum levels starting Oct. 5^ -1977. ' . ; By that date, a ceiling of 10 parts per million would be set for plants making vinyl chloride monomer and 25 parts per million for those producing polyvinyl chloride resins. (The present emergency standard sets the level at 50 parts per million.) Vittone insisted that this effort, in itself, would tax the industry's would generate an economic hardship of large magnitude that : would create severe economic dislocations in many local areas/' . Arthur Little predicted. It also noted that some PVC- using products would need a long : lead time in order to switch to ' substitute materials and described auto upholstery and "related soft trim" items as particularly prone to this problem. ' The firm claimed that an immediate shutdown of all PVC resin plants could result in a loss of; up to 2.2 million jobs and up to $90 billion in lost production annually. 23217129 T HILL ant) KNOWLTON, Inc. LAWTON, DKLfU PRESS D.11.000 JUN 26 197-4 Vinyl Job a Loss Claim Is Disputed WASHINGTON (AP) - Gov. emment and labor witnesses disputed claims by the plastic industry Tuesday that as many as 2.2 million jobs would be eliminated by fur ther restrictions on vinyl chlo ride. The AFL-CIO called the ; warning blackmail and ac cused the industry of "ignor ing the overwhelming medical evidence" linking vinyl chlo- ' ride to cancer among workers ' handling the chemical. Vinyl chloride, a gas, is con verted into polyvinyl chloride, a white powdery chemical re sembling sugar, which is used in the manufacture of plastic products ranging from toys, food packaging, floor tiles, pipes, auto parts and phono- graph records. United Rubber Workers President Peter Bommarito said the AFL-CIO supports at the risk of losing jobs, pro posed federal regulations that would reduce worker exposure to vinyl chloride in plants to . "no detectable level." He represented the AFL-CIO as chairman of its health and : safety committee at the open ing of Labor - Department * I hearings on the planned regu- f | latins. Temporary standards j ^ now in effect limit worker ex- rj 1 posure to vinyl chloride to 50 ! j parts per million, a sharp re- j ductlon from the previous 500 , t parts per million. "This country survived for r nearly 200 years without poly- ', j vinyl chloride and we can sur- [ vive in the future without it," . | Bommarito declared. The in- , | dustry had asserted that fac- i lories would be forced to close ` if the new regulations were ' adopted. "This is not an easy position i to take, but there is no al-'! | tentative," Bommarito added. ' ! "We have both our jobs and .! , our lives at risk." ! Anton Vittone, chairman of j the B. F. Goodrich Chemical 1 Co. and an official of the^So- riety of the PlasUcs Industry - Inc. testified that the "no de- tectable level" is impossible to achieve and, if adopted, ! would shut down the industry. Vittone offered a proposal to reduce by October, 1977, work er exposure to the chemical of , 10 parts per million. ' ,^ The industry submitted an , independent study showing that an immediate shutdown of all polyvinyl chloride plants could result in the loss of be tween 1.7 and 2.2 million jobs in the plastics industry and other industries dependent on plastics products. This would result in lost production val ued at between 565 and }90 billion a year, the study said. 23217130 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. ^00 2M ?E *!" 5 & U O 53 a 2f8 a* a S' P8 ISSs U 8 i.2 p o ^ P 5 eii-n: ? t --- * jS M >g j `^3l <3 i (d c jz 4>>> g jjj -- J! . I " I" s 3 %_ ^3 bdfi 5 *_ o .5 s-SS* g5S Sj Jjs-f33*"* --.**--xj M 2* ills?=' 8Sl- = .3|a* a"8i ,gU o ?S hmS-. f e "I Z g e^-s'gS'S l S8 1 ^SS51 Srt ' oi 2P .2 ~ -a 5j_ : 5 a * d j- M S s- icd l'"'O=p!Pi &C. <aSS5ln| g ias M> 5^ i o .t; o in P' 212 ,a g v o--g o`c 5 "|l5 .- t . 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Debating Health vs. Jobs ' ' Plastics Industry Mobilizes to Thwart Tough Rules on Handling Vinyl Chloride By Walter Mossber/} with the highly sophisticated methods of in- the standards forced PVC production to end. Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal plant control that have been developed by "our industry would be forced out of busi WASHINGTON -- As the federal govern tne industry over the years. It the proposed,1 ness." ment moves closer to adopting stringent 'no-detectable-levef standard is adopted,! The National Association of Home Build-1 controls over handling of the ubiquitous In the vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chlondej era said the standards could drive the r.iirg 1 dustrial chemical vinyl chloride, manufac resin producing industries will be forced to| costa of housing even higher by forcing | turers who use tt are mobilizing to try to close down immediately." ! builders to abandon economical PVC hous-1 show that the controls would prove economi A number of labor-union an occupation-: ins components. It warned that such a de-i cally disastrous. al-health experts are exoected to dispute thei velopment could mean "sorely needed hous-t The rules would be utterly unworkable, society's claim at the hearings. They eon-* Ing would be beyond the reach of an in-? the companies say, and Industry would lose lend that it is possible to meet the standard creasingly large segment of the public." f an essential manufacturing material. Jn without closing the industry. Norton Co.'s plastics and synthetics dhl- < consequence, they add, makers of plastic pipe, auto parts, phonograph records and many more products would be driven to the wall. And, they contend, thousands of jobs would vanish. This gloomy picture Is likely to dominate Labor Department hearings, beginning today, on planned standards for eliminating the exposure of plastics-lndustry workers to the chemical, which is suspected of causing eoncar. . Exposure to vinyl chloride, a gas, has sion. which makes tubing for medical uses. * But harsh predictions are contained In many of the more than 125 letters from plas warned that if the new rules of PVC. desperately needed curbed aupphes equipment used ; tics firms already on file with the Labor De In kidney dialysis and heart surgery might partment. The letters, representing the wril-j become unavailable. And Graniteville Co. of ers'' formal "comments" on the- planned! Grnnileville, S.C., a maker of fire-retardant rules, give an indication of the probable tents and tent material, called PVC "the tone of this week's hearings. Although moat mest important component" in Us products. 1 letters concede that some controls are What's more. Arthur Culbertson, a Flor- needed on vinyl chlorid-\ moat contend thal Ida plastics executive, and Gerald Kessler, the proposed measures would mean nothing an officer of an Ohio plastics company. . less than the collapse of their Industry. i urged modification of the proposed stan- . been linked by researchers to 18 cases of a rare liver cancer, angiosarcoma, among workers handling it In the U-S. and other countries; In 16 of these cases, Almost all the letters come from users of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, and not compa nies directly handling vinyl chloride itself or those turning it Into PVC. In moet cases, dnrds on the grounds that "they themselves had had long personal exposure to vinyl chloride without ill effects. Most of the letter writers acknowledged death .resulted. In addition, angiosarcoma has recently been blamed for the death of two employes In U.S. plants handling they explain that their suppliers of PVC have told them the standards will make it impossible for them to continue producing the need to protect workers from the possi bility of liver cancer. But they urged delay ` in imposing such harsh restrictions, both to ` polyvinyl chloride, the powdered derivative the raw plastic. Urged to write to the gov give scientists time for further research and , of vinyl chloride that is fabricated Into a wide range o? pl?st*c pre-ducts (Two o,her deaths from angiosarcoma have been dis ernment. the PVC users have casting their financial ruin. Dire Predictions done so, fore to allow the businesses to phase in the new controls. But one writer took a decidedly less sym- covered among pcople*livlng In the vicinity of plants using polyvinyl chloride.) In April, the Labor Department's occu pational safety and health administration imposed a temporary emergency standard limiting workers' exposure to vinyl-chloridc gas to M parts per million In the air they breathe, a sharp reduction from the previous "Unless a reasonable approach is taken." wrote Frank G-oeneveld Jr., presi dent of a plastlc-pipe-extruding firm in Flor-i Ida. "it could mean the destruction of many small businesses such as ours where we have Invested our life savings.*' j R J. Clayton,* chairman of Louver Drape! Inc., a California maker of PVC window pathetic view o( the dangers of death from vinyl chlonde. Jameson Crane, of Crane Piastres Inc., in Cohimbus. Ohio, wrote. "We continue to be impressed with the com parison of the number of deaths annuallydue to suicide prompted by loss of jobs, ver-i sus the 19 angtosarcomu deaths world-wade* over 35 years of PVC production." limit of NYi parts. Now, the agency is pro blinds and folding doors, wrote thal "37 posing--and witnesses at this week's hear years ago. at the depth of the depression. I ings will debate -- a standard cutting ex- started a one-man business which has poeure permanently to "no detectable" level grown today where we do approximately 17 at all. million worth of business and employ over Although the plastics Industry opposed 250 people." If the new rules ore imposed, the emergency ruling, its voice has so far he said, "we'd be back to a one-man busi been weaker than that of organized labor ness overnight." and various scientific groups, which back One firm. Custom Trim Products Inc., the tough rules. which makes plastic trim for several bi,j Doom for the Industry? auto makers, warned that the new rules At this week's hearings, however, the in could cut off Its supply of PVC resins, enddustry is expected to argue strongly that the ng its production and causing it to risk law no-detectable" exposure plan would spell suits by Detroit for failure to fulfill supply doom for the several dozen plants that make contracts. The firm, an officer wrote, vinyl chloride gis or turn it into polyvinyl "would undoubtedly be forced into bank chlonde powder or resin, and for mont of ruptcy." the hundreds of plants that turn polyvinyl Hubbard Apiaries, a beekeeping com WALL STRrr.T JOURNAL NiV YOhh. N. Y. chloride Into plastic products. pany in Onsted, Mich., wrote to declare that D, 518,0G5 The standard would require that most it couldn't remain In business it PVC sup- operations In the prvduetion of vuiyl chlor- plies were threatened because its honey ide and polyvinyl chloride, which employ sold in PVC bottles and glass bottles are an estimated 6,500 workers, be conducted in scarce as a result of a soda-ash shortage. -JUN 25 1974 clooed-off, regulated areas where exposure In fact, many of the letters contended can be controlled by ventilation devices or that PVC Is already In short supply, highly other methods. In Addition, some operations versatile and absolutely necessary for a va of plants turning polyvinyl chloride into riety of Important uses. products, which arc said to employ up to Lpoxesmen lor the record industry In700,000 workers, would bo subjected to Simi 3isted that the plastic ie vital to its opera lar stringent engineering rules if those oper tions. MCA P.ecords Inc, contended that if ations could cause the polyvinyl chloride1 powder or resin to release trapped quanti ties of raw vinyl chloride ga^ Lost week the Society of the Plastic? In dustry. a trade group, Asserted that suffi cient technology doesn't exist to meet tht proposed atandend and warned that much of, the vinyl and polyvinyl chloride industry I might l*ve to dose If the standard pxs into | effect. The society predicted that 1.6 million! jobs and "at least 165 billion" in sales and1 production could be lost. j Ralph Handing Jr., president of the s-xl-j ety, said that tne proposed standard "La' technologically Infeasible to achieve, even) 23217132 T .1 CO CO 3 8 13 Sl'4 = =^i=; u------= " * -; b; U 1ig O 5 7'-^i -c. ; g i -2 = - = ~-- 7 " _; - ? ;=2 - = = .^ = = ' - 5 |jES/jjy^ ^ -- r: " ~ -- " x. = *= =I5 _i. -C =_ 1. c-. ~11 c-. u- i * -; C; r' "-- | nf I" 2 y" " 5' " " - 5 - S -5 Z f -g. :- I 5 2 i 3 | if- "3 " A w ~ tf - rs ~ i-Ei5==: : " * ; -:O -_ .?= _ x u ~ .i, - 3 i.=n- >.r5 .t--N= ti 5 , M=f,-i-26-S^ ? - = -s 2 =^i =1 =J ;i g-Ti i I =]ir s.--p =.1 =iti- u -gill | til I.; eg v = d f=* O iteta .^ os=a *= elim pM= li!-52| Sgi3 i:itllLipi i:rIl|fJJ|gPfi|f I!:l pif i flpp'^1 2 n ^ - F = * ~ P H .-.r-.' Pli fMiiPIP ppppgigj-slilli~ii 2 isIsS /, r- -- -- T3; e. 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ADVERTISER 0. 17,000 JUL 12 1974 % WASHINGTON (AP)-New' .Vinyl chloride, which is used eration he would order the federal regulations to protect in the manufacture of a wide chemical banned."gut he added workers against .exposure to 7range of everyday plastic prod that technological and econom vinyl chloride will not be so ucts. has been linked to a rare ic considerations must be ; tough as to put the chemical form of liver cancer among weighed as well as "political and plastic industries out of workers exposed to it. There is inputs." business, says a Labor Depart- still some dispute whether the -ment official. . chemical is the cause or how. Court decisions have indicat . "That is not the intention of ; great the danger may be. the Labor Department." said Boyd said that if the health ed it is proper for the Labor Department to consider the the official. Daniel P. Boyd. standpoint was the sole consid economic impact in setting industrial health and safety .standards.; ;; Claims Conflict On Vinyl Chloride "There is no likelihood in my mind that we're going to put industry out of business." Boyd told newsmen Thursdayafter nine days of hearings on proposed permanent restric tions on vinyl chloride. ..... H'1UW......,,,. u7 n.lt't SU'*- ' o7A sy^ 37 ' WASHINGTON (AP) - A medical study has produced new evidence suggesting a high incidence of death from a rare liver cancer among factory em ployes working with vinyl chlo ride, a chemical widely used in the plastics industry. A study of vinyl chloride workers at the Goodyear plant in Niagara Falls, N.Y., found flint three of 24 deaths were due tolhc cancer angiosarcoma. Dr. li ving J. Seliknff, director of the Environmental Sciences Laboratory of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, cited the study. lie emphasized the critical importance of reducing Die amount of vinyl chloride workers are exposed to, to a "no detectable level" as proposed by the I.abof Department. WITNESSES Selikuff was among dozens of / witnesses Tuesday at a hearing on the Labor Department's pro ^ jxised standards for regulating its use. Representatives of the ynej,.|v of the Pl.-istir^laduslo^ . "inf.,, ?. trade r'coctalion. ar gued that the medical evidence was too inconclusive to require banning worker exposure to the chemical. "The proposed permanent standard is not technologically feasible and, if adopted, would shut down the industry," warn ed Anton Vittone, president of the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. PROPOSAL Vittone, representing the trade association, proposed in prepared testimony a different standard--reducing worker ex posure to vinyl chloride from 50 parts per million of air now in force to 10 parls per million, ef fective October 1977. But Sclikoff argued that "the only prudent course for the pre vention of angiosarcoma ... is to provide a work environment with no detectable levels of vin yl chloride." Dr. Marcus M. Key. director of the National Institute for Oc cupational .Safety and Health, said the finding of 19 cases of angiosarcoma--13 in the United States--among vinyl chloride workers between January and May "indicates that we are ob serving a newly recognized oc cupational disease associated with exposure" to vinyl chlo ride. ____ United Rubber Workers Pres ident Peter Bommarilo, repre-- senting the AFL-CIO, said or ganized labor supported the stringent controls proposed by the government even at the risk of losing jobs. Bovd. director of standards development for the depart ment's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, --said he expected the new.rules . to be issued bv Oct. 5. In promulgating the new rules. Boyd's staff will study , more than 35 hours of direct ; testimony from more than 40 ii witnesses. - - : Witnesses from the plastic 1 and chemical industries . warned during the hearings; that the proposed government: regulations for reducing work- 1 ers' exposure to less than 1 i part vinyl chloride per million parts of air. or "no detectable level." were either impossible or too expensive to meet. They said plants would be forced to close. Spokesmen for labor unions disputed these claims and de nounced as blackmail the in dustry's assertion that as many as 2.2 million jobs could be lost if the government's proposal was adopted. "The plastics industry ; knows that they have an occu pational health problem." said Anlhnnv Mazzocchi. an ollicial of Ihe Oil. Chemical and Atom ic Workers Union. ' The nnlv question in their minds is how i long can thev put oil' dealing I with the problem and how can the total expenditure of lund.s , be minimized." The Society of the Plastics .Industry-proposed that expo sure levels be reduced Irom i the present 50 parts per million to 25 parts per million bv Octo ber 1975. a level industry olli- jtials said that could be met by , most companies. j 23217134 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. STATEN ISLAND, N. Y. Vinyl folks sayD. 66,825 SUN. 65,718 'JUN 2 51974 ^w ban could cost PURCHASING NEW YORK, N. Y. E. 0. WEEK 37,000 T.6 million jobs JUL 9 1974 vUNEMPLOYMENT for at least l.b jmillion workers is predicted by _ : the Society of the__Plj^Xi-s | Industry, if proposed OSHA : stapHarcf regarding worker ; . f exposure to vinyl chloride is ! adopted. OSHA wants "no , detectable level" of the i material--suspected of caus mg liver cancer--in industrial plants. SPI claims this is impossible and would force a . ' shut-down of the industry. HOME FURNISHINGS DAILY NEW YORK, N. Y. D. 39,000 m 24 1974 \ Vinyl Chloride Guide Plan.; Decried by Plastics Society WASHINGTON (FNS) -- The ..STANDARD would cut- the air'; Society,ofJhe_Plastips_Iiidustry has content of vinyl chloride in plants ; . charged the Labor D'e'partment to "no detectable level. with threatening the loss of 1.6 "11 is infeasible to achieve, even j million jobs with the new with the highly sophisticated j guidelines on vinyl chloride. methods of in-plant control that-i The society said, in rebuttal to - have been developed by the ; new Federal inspection guidelines for plants using the chemical, that over a million and a half employes would be thrown out of work and $65 billion losf in sales and production. THE PROPOSED NEW industry,'' SPI insisted. ; The new standard will be the-i subject of hearings starting ; Tuesday. ,j Many other user industries are expected to echo SPI's warnings , that ``The vinyl chloride and^ polyvinyl chloride resin-producipg j industries will be forced to close down immediately" if the standard is adopted. Nearly 80 organizations, already have said they will testify. ; By ROBERT A. D0BKIN tiles, toys, food packaging, L phonograph records and cloth 'WASHINGTON (AP) - Th ing. plastics industry warns that proposed government rules to At first it was thought the drastically reduce workers' ex danger involved only the worx- posure to a cancer-causin ers at the first stage of' tnc chemical could mean the loss manufacturing process but sci of 1.8 million jobs. entists have now turned up evi This was one of the points to dence indicating that as many be a made by the industry during week-long public hearing as 700,000 workers could posed to the danger. be ex 1 opening today at the Labor De A total of 95 witnesses, repre partment. senting government, the medi The department's OccApation cal community and the big al Safety and Health Adminis plastics and chemical manufac tration has proposed permanent turers, have asked to testify it restrictions that would limit air the hearings. levels of vinyl chloride The Society of the Plastics plants to less than one part per Industry ~Inc. contends HTaPif million, or too small to be de The~gov5fnment's proposed "no tected. The current emergency detectable level" is adopted, standard is 50 parts per mil scores of plants will be forced lion. to close immediately, resulting Vinyl chloride, the foundation in the loss of 1.6 milliori jobs u< for much of the modern plas a cost"ttr the-ecomrniy'-of ~$G5 tics industry, is the center of a billion. growing worldwide controversy Labor Secretary Peter J. over its potential health hazard Brennan, in a statement issued to workers and possibly con before the hearing, did not sumers. comment on the industry's DANGER TO LIVER claim of lost jobs. The purpose of this hearing The government imposed the this week is to elicit additional temporary emergency standard information from those in the after the discovery earlier this industry -- employers and em year that exposure to vinyl ployes -- and others concerning chloride may be a cuase of a the hazards from exposure to rare form of liver cancer vinyl chloride, the best means known as angiosarcoma. of protection and the impact of The B. F. Goodrich Co. dis the proposed standard," Bren closed in January that four nan said. workers at its vinyl chloride The industry argues that, conversion plant in Louisville, while it favors reducing work i Kv.. died from the disease. ers' exposure "to as low a levil ' Since then, 20 cases world-wide as possible," the proposcJi] have been linked to workers ai standard is impossible to;' plants where the vinyl chloride achieve with today's engineer-; gas is produced or converg'd ing technology, into polyvinyl chloride. j Industry sources indicated About 6.500 U.S. workers are1 that the industry will propose involved in making vinyl chin an exposure level belnw the ride and turning it into poly current temporary level of 50 vinyl chioride, a solid plastic parts per million, but some used in countless products in what above the government's cluding paints, pipes, floor proposed zero level. 23217135 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. INDUSTRY WEEK CLEVELAHn OHIO. W. 81,000 JUL 1 1974 i news Ahead for vinyl chloride... High-stakes dlecisions on job safety By Kenneth A. Kovaly HOW do you weigh the loss of 1.6 million jobs against 19 deaths? That's an unanswerable question. Yet that's the nub of the issue facing the Labor Dept, in its efforts to protect workers from the potential dangers of vinyl chloride. Certain to be affected by the decision are workers involved in converting vinyl chloride mono mer into its main product: poly vinyl chloride (PVC). Last week, vinyl chloride mak ers and users urged the Dept, of Labor at a Washington hear ing to avoid imposing strict controls on the industry before all the facts were in. Some scientists, however, urged that strict controls be imposed now, stating that enough facts were in to make such a decision. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) proposed on May 10 that vinyl chloride levels in a plant's at mosphere be set at "no detect able" limit, effectively one part per miliion (ppm) with the in struments that would be used. Right now the PVC makers are living with a 50 ppm expo sure limit imposed after several cases of liver cancer were dis covered early this year in work ers at plants making PVC. The Society of the Plastics In dustry. (SPI), New York, along with individual producers of PVC, claims the new limit can't be met with today's technology. SPI is proposing a maximum exposure level of 40 ppm and a maximum daily time-weighted average level of 25 ppm, to be effective Oct. 5, in PVC plants. Exposure levels would drop in stages over two years to a 25 ppm ceiling and a 10 ppm average. Plants making vinyl chloride "ndustry Week / July 1, 1974 A safety inspector uses a portable organic vapor analyzer to check a poly merization vat at B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co.'s PVC plant in Louisville. itself would face a ceiling of 25 ppm and an average of 10 ppm this October, and have three years to lower these to 10 and 5 ppm respectively. The industry claims a no detectable limit would put it out of business, a claim which a La bor Dept, environmental impact study of the proposed limit, re leased at last week's hearings, contradicts. Massive impact--SPI has com missioned Arthur D. Little Inc. (ADL), Cambridge, Mass., to study the impact of that limit. Early results from that study show that at least 1.6 million workers would lose their jobs if the no detectable limit were imposed. In addition, the cost in lost sales and production would amount to at least $65 billion, the study says. The study used an input/out put economic model to analyze the effects. It found that the automotive industry would feel the greatest impact if PVC be came unavailable. Right now, PVC goes into insulated wire and cable, component parts, uphol stery, and other products used in autos. At least 600,000 jobs would be lost in the automotive industry and the sales loss would come to $35 billion. The con struction industry would also be hard hit, with a loss of at least 500,000 jobs and $14 billion in sales. The final results of the ADL study are expected to show that more than 2 million jobs will be lost if the industry is forced to shut down. And Ralph L, Hard ing Jr., president of SPI, makes it clear that if the no detectable level is adopted, "the vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride resin producing industries will 23217136 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. Hearings show need for more data on PVC f By Bob Benchley,__' ' Associate Editor Washington -- The mur muring of hundreds of simul taneous conversations, audi ble as soon as you enter the building, grows louder as von step into the cathedral-like auditorium. The sound bounces off the domed ceil ing and the rows of columns that line'cither side of the room, and you arc enveloped in a confusion of suits and clicking briefcases. Techni cians make last-minute light ing adjustments while TV camera crews and soundmen set up their equipment. Re porters scurry about, note pads and tape recorders in hand, trying to get comments before the proceedings begin. Everywhere papers are being shuffled. .- * Then, all eyes turn to the murmuring into silence, and dustry regardless of the outfront of the room as the those in the audience sotth- eonu--have begun. bright young men of the reg into their seats for the long That was the atmosphere ulatory agencies flic onto the stage. Judge Cordon J. Myatt, who at first glance seems to be the only black man among the 1,200 present, gavels the wait. The Department of La bor's hearings on vinyl chlo ride production and worker safety--certain to hast- a ma jor effect on the plasties in in Labor's Departmental Auditorium here oif June 25 as the opening ti'stimonics wire presented. The subject of debate was the perma- nent worker exposure stand ard of "no detectable level' proposed by the Depart ments Occupational Safety and Health Administration fOSHA) May 10 (FDP. ff-fi- 7-f; p. J). Inhalation of fumes created during production of PVC has been linked with angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare, fatal cancer. Other re lated effects arc bring investi gated. In addition, three deaths base now- been re ported among workers in plants where PYC resin is fabricated into many house hold and industrial products. Fabricators are covered under FOOD AND'DRUG PACKAGING NEW YORK, N. Y. W. 35,000 some sections of the proposed standard. PYC produeers have al ready Ix-cn subject to an en forced emergency exposure standard of 50 parts per mil lion in air. but recent tests at even this level have produced JUL 18 1974 liver cancers and other dis orders in rats. OSIlA's strict projyrsal for a permanent standard is based on the fact That no exposure level has been proven safe and that the emergency standard expires . OitoU r 5. The plasties industrv. call- ini' the standard technologi cally impossible and econom ically unfeasible, has pre dicted dire results ranging from tremendous hikes in tin- price of PYC' resin to a com plete shutdown of product is due to compliance difficulties. The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPP lias also re leased preliminary resul's of n studs' that it says predicts disastrous effects to the U.S. economy if the producers are forced to shut down. 23217137 T HILL .vxr> KNOWLTON, Inc. With the emotional issue of cancer in the air, the gov< rnim-nt. industry and labor representatives showed up in force, each with teams of medical and technical experts to back up their contentions, bather than degenerating in to a shouting match, how ever, the proceedings were generally characterized by determination on all sides. Those presenting testimony were thoroughly prepared, ready to take their best shot, with the knowledge that it micht l>c their only chance. Although only two days of hearings were completed by press time, the principal spokesmen for all three fac tions had been heard from, with subsequent testimony expected to consist of sup portive statements or to deal with areas of special interest. Daniel P. Boyd. OSIlA's director of the Office of Standards Development, led off by cautioning that the proposed standard is "just that--a proposal. It represents our best judgment based on the information available to us on May 10." lb: added, however, that "our present judgment is that vinyl chlo ride is a carcinogenic agent," and that the hearings were convened to determine what the permanent standard should be--not whether there was any question of danger from exposure to high levels of the substance. Tlie government's admitted difficulty in devising a per manent standard was backe d up by l)r. Marcus M. Key, director of the National In stitute for Occupational Safe ty and Health (NIOSII). NIOSII is an arm of the Center fo, Disease Control in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the agency that received the reports of the initial cancer deaths in B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co.'s Louisville plant. Dr. Key described his Institute's "inability to de scribe a 'safe' exposure level, hence our recommendation was that where any employee is exposed to mensurable concentrations of VC ... he shall be afforded respiratory protection." PVC is widely used in packaging, and Dr. Key out lined NIOSH's preliminary investigations into extrusion, thermoforming, calendering and plastisol processing oper ations at seven fabrication plants. lie reported that peak levels of at least 300 paits per million were measure^ in these plants, although' ex tended exposure to such con centrations Is improbable. "In view- of the finding of appre ciable concentrations," he concluded, . . we recom mend that exposure to this carcinogen be controlled whenever it is encountered in the workplace." Dr. Irving J. Schkoff, Pro fessor of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a, noted occupational health expert, also expressed con cern over possible dangers to workers at all stages of vinyl chloride production and usage. These hazards, he said, may he posed not only to w orkers in resin plants, but also to "conceivably many hundreds of thousands of polyvinyl chloride produc tion workers, fashioning this useful plastic into thousands of products--and possibly c*-- 23217138 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. V.UL0UGH3Y. 0:YU Nr.VS-HERALD 0. 15.000 JUL 2 4 1974 Vinyl Chloride Limits' Criticized By TIM O'BRIEN Washington Post I WASHINGTON* --The American plastics industry has warned that proposed government rules to slash vinyl chloride levels in factories to minimize the danger of cancer could cost the nation up to 2.2 million jobs and $90 billion in annual production. Anton Vittone, president of B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. and an official of the Society of the Plasics Industry, said the proposed health rules could virtually shut down his industry. Vittone appeared at a public hearing with scores of other Industry representatives to oppose implementation of new regulations, which would limit factory air levels of vinyl cldoride to less than one part per million -- so small as to be undetectable. Meanwhile spokesmen for two Painesville Twp. plants in volved in the production of plastics have also warned that enforcemcnLs of "zcxo" standards would put them out of business. The two plants are Uniroyal Inc., 720 Falrport-Nursery Rd., and Robintccb Inc., 786 Hardy Rd. Both plants have been involved in government studies to determine whether any of their employes may be in danger from exposure to vinyl and polyvinyl at the plants. So far no workers have shown any signs of the disease and both plants have initiated more stringent safety regulations to protect workers. In recent months, vinyl chloride -- a key chemical in the manufacture of many plastics -- has been linked to a rare form of cancer called angiosarcoma of the liver. The evidence has been rapidly accumulating. Within the past two weeks, testified Dr. Marcus M. Key of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, "we have identified two deaths from angiosaconia of the liver in men employed at plants utilizing polyvinyl chloride to fabricate other products." Key said seven cases have been reported at a B.F. Goodrich plant in Kentucky, three cases at a Goodyear plant in New York, two cases in a Union Carbide plant in West Virginia and one case in a Firestone plant in Pennsylvania. Of the thirteen reported cancer cases linked to vinyl chloride, only three victims remain alive, he said. In addition, experimental studies conducted by Industrial BioTest Laboratories of Northbrook, III., and by Prof. Ces4re Maltoni of Bologna, Italy, have strengthened the belief that vinyl chloride causes cancer. In a just released telegram to John Stcnder. head of the Occupational Safety Health Administration in the Department of Labor, .Maltoni reported that vinyl chloride produced "zymbal Mand carcinomas, nephroblastomas, angiosacrcomas of liver and other sites, skm carcinomas and probably hepatomas and neuroblastomas" in rats. In another experiment, Maltoni said, more than 60 mice were exposed to 50 parts-pcr-million of vinyl chloride for seven mooths. After 43 weeks of dosage, he said, "we have observed nine mammary carcinomas, two liver fibro-angiomas, and two subcutaneous angiomas." Based on the Maltoni and Er-Tcst Laboratory experiments, plus the known cases of liver careers in humans exposed to vinyl chloride, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration concluded that "our present judgment is that vinyl chloride is a carcinogenic agent." In April, the agency issued an emergency standard limiting vinyl chloride air levels to 50 parts-per-million -- the same daily dosage administered to Maltcni's mice. Now the agency proposes to reduce allowable vinyl chloride air levels to lc.< than one part per million, the so-called "no detectable level" standard. A key objection from the plastics and chemical industry is the feasibility of meeting the "no detectable level" standard. "Such a commitment cannot be accomplished overnight since, in certain areas, the technology for accomplishing it is. as yet, not developed, and when developed, facilities must be in stalled requiring time for engineering, procurement and in stallation," Vittone said. Ralph L. Harding, Jr., president of the plastics association, said the companies "are sincerely concerned with providing aii appropriate and necessary safeguards. They have already achieved substantial improvement in their operations...Nobody has to remind them of their responsibilities to their fellow workers." The plastics association cited a study by the Arthur D. I iHls company of Cambridge, Mass.: "An immediate shutdown of all polyvinyl chloride resin plants in the United States and the subsequent unavailability of PVC resin could result in a loss of 1.7 to 2.2 million jobs m consuming and related industries and a loss of domestic production value of $65 to 190 biTiion annuall- " Vinyl chloride goes into the manufacture of such diverse products as sporting goods, packages, phonograph records, electric insulation, floor tiles, clothing and paints. While fewer than 7.000 American workers are directly irv volved in making vinyl chloride and turning it into polyvinyl chloride, scientists suspect that hundreds of thousands of associated workers may be exposed to the danger. Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, who was instrumental in linking asbestos to cancer, said "the hazard might not stop at the factory cate hut...might invade workers' homes and the neighborhoods about vinyl chloride-polyvinyl facilities, fand) that transport and storage might present unsuspected risks." .Scilkoff lauded both chemical companies and their labor colons for working together to resolve a problem that is "central to major U.S. industry." Earle F. Webster, representing five companies that use the ' chemical to produce conveyor belts, warned of a "serious economic disaster" in the event the rule is implemented. He urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to "temper your decision." A Labor Department environmental impact statement disputed the industry prediction of massive economic dislocations. While noting that some marginal firms may be affected, the report said there is no evidence that the health rules will eliminate the production or use of vinyl chloride. And the AFL-CIO called the industry's economic warning a form of blackmail, charging that the chemical companies have ignored "overwhelming medical evidence" about the vinyl chloride danger. United Rubber workers President Peter Bommarito said the AFL-CIO supports the "no detectable level" standard, even at risk of losing some jobs. The plastics industry is proposing exposure standards that become gradually toucher over time, but which would still remain more lenient than the government's "no aetectabla level" requirement. The public hearings resume today at tr.e Labor Department. 23217139 T HII.L AND KNOWLTON, INC. G33 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK, N. Y. 10017 212.007.5000 Memo to: Ralph L. Harding, Jr. Date: June 18 , 1974 From: Martin R. Haley Subject: VCM Support Program Copies: Messrs: Thomas J. McGrath E. S. Nuspliger John Lawrence Jerome Heckman Cleveland Lane Fred Sutro Donald H . Bryan William A. Durbin James M. Kiss Jerald Blizin Matt Swetonic 1/ James H. Moore Donald W. White We enclose the final drafts of the Action Memorandum and Backgrounder which are being delivered to the lead persons in each of the VCM and PVC companies on Wednesday morning, the nineteenth. Telephone follow-ups will begin that afternoon to each company. One of the most experienced and veteran support system managers in the country, Paul Andrews, our Northeast government relations specialist, is in charge of the follow-ups. He will build the bridge between the VC man and the political activator in each company, learn and assess what they have done so far, and discuss in detail each support possibility on the checklist, to obtain commitments of what they will be doing. Paul will then check back as necessary and advise whichever contact develops in each company of ways to intensify their support operation. Throughout, the program is directed at Congress in order to get a double benefit: stimulating the Congressman, who will certainly send each com munication immediately to OSHA as an inquiry from his office. 23217140 Page 2 About 4:00 p.m. each afternoon, that day's contacts and results will be^ summarized and a report sent to you and those receiving a copy of this memorandum. A side benefit - but an important one - will be the inevitable further develop ment of the Support System. This operation will probably continue until the twenty-sixth or twenty-seventh, or as long as need be to obtain maximum results. Congress and OSHA should begin feeling it on Thursday the twentieth and, with a little luck, it should peak by Monday the twenty-fourth. Best regards. MRH/pc Attachments T 23217141 THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY. INC. 250 PARK AVENUE NEW YORK. NEW YORK 10017 212/687-2675 June 17, 1974 URGENT MEMORANDUM TO: Vinyl Monomers and PVC Producers Committee We all understand the absolute urgency of putting into effect, immediately the strongest program possible to present the industry's position on a standard for exposure to vinyl chloride monomer. As you well know, the OSHA hearings begin next Tuesday. This memorandum recommends practical steps which you can take immediately to strengthen your position before OSHA. It is imperative that each company tell its story directly to its representatives in Congress, so that they will communicate their concern to OSHA and related federal bodies. (Members of the Senate and House with whom you communicate may very well have different ways of helping to strengthen our position. It is best simply to ask their help and leave the method and government targets up to them.) A second but vitally important reason for acting immediately is to counteract positions favoring an unreasonable standard, being advocated by others. Our position is clear: optimum practical engineering solutions to assure optimum worker safety. We enclose a basic information piece which states the problem and the industry's policy. This material should be useful for all public affairs efforts. We urge you to take the following steps within 24 hours after receiving this communication: T 23217142 Page 2 (1) Write and telephone the members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives whom you are best able to contact. (2) Especially in areas which will suffer economically, ask the following organizations to communicate their concern to House and Senate members: (a) Governors' offices. (b) State political parties. (c) State industrial development agencies . (d) State chambers of commerce and manufacturers' associations. (e) Local chambers of commerce. (f) Mayors and city councils. You may be sure that members of the Senate and House will make very effective use of these communications. You may wish to ask your public affairs or government relations department to implement this program. You will receive a call very soon from a repre sentative of SPI; please feel free to refer him to whomever is executing this program in your organization. Speed is essential, and our representative who calls you may be able to help. And to the extent possible, we would appreciate learning what steps you may have taken already. You may be sure your efforts are of the highest importance to doing every thing possible in this critical moment for the industry. Ralph L. Harding, Jr. President VINYL CHLORIDE HEARING OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ON PROPOSED PERMANENT STANDARD OF VCM EXPOSURE LEVEL TO WORKERS BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM 1 In January of this year, it was found that angiosarcoma -- a rare cancer of the liver -- had been discovered as the cause of death among several workers in the U.S. and Europe involved in processing vinyl chloride (VCM), the monomer that is converted into polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used in'countless consumer and industrial products such as electrical insulation, transportation, furniture, floor tiles, construc tion, pipes, paint, packaging, and phonograph records. Earlier this year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), of the U.S. Department of Labor proposed an emergency standard to be effective April 5, setting an exposure level of 50 parts per million of VCM in air. In May, OSHA proposed a permanent standard to reduce the exposure level of VCM to workers to a "no detectable level. " Since such a standard would threaten the very existence of the industry, SPI urged OSHA to hold hearings so that industry could present its plans to assure worker safety and still permit a vital industry to continue operating. OSHA HEARING Beginning on Tuesday, June 25, and continuing most probably for the rest of that week, OSHA will hold a public hearing at Washington on its proposed permanent occupational standard for exposure to VCM. Both OSHA and The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health`(NIOSH) have recommended a "no detectable level" standard. 23217144 OSHA's proposed permanent standard will be supported, in all likelihood, by organized labor, segments of the medical community, and by various consumer and environmentalist groups. It can be expected that organized labor and its supporters will actively undertake -- both prior to and during the hearing -- to elicit public and possibly governmental support for its position. THE INDUSTRY'S POSITION SPI and several SPI member companies involved in VCM and/or PVC production will appear on behalf of the industry at the OSH/r hearing. SPI's position can be summarized as follows: It is not technically feasible to reduce occupational levels of VCM to a zero level of exposure -- the standards recommended by OSHA and NIOSH. SPI will propose to OSHA that a stepped reduction in VCM exposure levels be effected over the course of the next several years as a continuation of what the industry has already accomplished technologically. It has not been demonstrated that a health hazard exists to VCM and PVC workers at the levels recommended by SPI. Notwithstanding, the industry has an acute sense of its responsibility and obligation to the health of its workers and will take all practical measures necessary and possible to preserve such health. PVC products play an important economic and sociological role in our society. Any unrealistically strict standards imposed by OSHA would deprive our nation and its economy of many valuable and beneficial products. Should PVC be eliminated, the economic and social hardships would be extremely severe in terms of lost production and lost jobs. In a study completed recently by Arthur D. Little -- the well-known research firm -- it is estimated that minimal losses to the American economy could amount to at least 1. 6 million jobs and $G5 billion in production and sales, 23217145 ### T VINYL CHLORIDE HEARING OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ON PROPOSED PERMANENT STANDARD OF VCM EXPOSURE LEVEL TO WORKERS BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM 1 In January of this year, it was found that angiosarcoma -- a rare cancer of the liver -- had been discovered as the cause of death among several workers in the U.S. and Europe involved in processing vinyl chloride (VCM), the monomer that is converted into polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used in'countless consumer and industrial products such as electrical insulation, transportation, furniture, floor tiles, construc tion, pipes, paint, packaging, and phonograph records. Earlier this year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), of the U.S. Department of Labor proposed an emergency standard to be effective April 5, setting an exposure level of 50 parts per million of VCM in air. In May, OSHA proposed a permanent standard to reduce the exposure level of VCM to workers to a "no detectable level. " Since such a standard would threaten the very existence of the industry, SPI urged OSHA to hold hearings so that industry could present its plans to assure worker safety and still permit a vital industry to continue operating. OSHA HEARING Beginning on Tuesday, June 25, and continuing most probably for the rest of that week, OSHA will hold a public hearing at Washington on its proposed permanent occupational standard for exposure to VCM. Both OSHA and The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health`(NIOSH) have recommended a "no detectable level" standard. 23217144 OSHA's proposed permanent standard will be supported, in all likelihood, by organized labor, segments of the medical community, and by various consumer and environmentalist groups. It can be expected that organized labor and its supporters will actively undertake -- both prior to and during the hearing -- to elicit public and possibly governmental support for its position. THE INDUSTRY'S POSITION1 SPI and several SPI member companies involved in VCM and/or PVC production will appear on behalf of the industry at the OSHA hearing. SPI's position can be summarized as follows: It is not technically feasible to reduce occupational levels of VCM to a zero level of exposure -- the standards recommended by OSHA and NIOSH. SPI will propose to OSHA that a stepped reduction in VCM exposure levels be effected over die course of the next several years as a continuation of what the industry has already accomplished technologically. It has not been demonstrated that a health hazard exists to VCM and PVC workers at the levels recommended by SPI. Notwithstanding, the industry has an acute sense of its responsibility and obligation to the health of its workers and will take all practical measures necessary and possible to preserve such health. PVC products play an important economic and sociological role in our society. Any unrealistically strict standards imposed by OSHA would deprive our nation and its economy of many valuable and beneficial products. Should PVC be eliminated, the economic and social hardships would be extremely severe in terms of lost production and lost jobs. In a study completed recently by Arthur D. Little -- the well-known research firm -- it is estimated that minimal losses to the American economy could amount to at least I. G million jobs and $G5 billion in production and sales. ### 23217145 HILL AND KNOWLTOK, INC. 633 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK, N. Y. 10017 212-097.3000 Memo to: Ralph L. Harding, Jr. Date: june 19/1974 From: Martin R. Haley/Paul Andrews Subject: VC Support Activities - Status Report No. 1 Copies: Messrs: Thomas J. McGrath E. S. Nuspliger John Lawrence Jerome Heckman Cleveland Lane Fred Sutro Donald H. Bryan William A. Durbin James M. Kiss Jerald Blizin Matt Swetonic / James H . Moore Donald W. Wnite Following are the results of our initial survey on support activities. An additional recommendation was made to all persons contacted, that they bear in mind what their payrolls mean to local banks. This suggestion was well received. (We are certain that you already know the information about witnesses and testimony but since it is an integral part of the reports given us by telephone, we include it in the material below.) Company: Location: Contact: B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. Cleveland, Ohio Mr. Tony Vittone Goodrich is very much aware of the problem. They will be represented in Washington and will testify for their own company as well as for SPI. Goodrich has done practically everything on the list, and Mr. Vittone was very cordial and pleased that this program is being given systematic, personal follow-up. 23217146 Page 2 Company: Location: Contact: Diamond Shamrock.Chemical Co. Cleveland, Ohio Mr. Harry E. Connors V Diamond had written to all of their customers some time ago, asking them to write letters. They will have six representatives at the hearing in Washington on Tuesday. They are definitely very active and interested in the support recommendations. Company: Location: Contact: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Niagara Falls, New York Mr. John Gilmore, Plant Manager Goodyear has filed objections and will testify. They are supplying one of their best witnesses to SPI and have contacted all customers. They are going to prudently work on the other suggestions. Company: Hooker Chemical Corporation Location: Burlington, New Jersey Contact: Mr. R. J. Abramowitz They are just in the process of having an industrial relations meeting with their people, and will follow through. Copies of the suggestions are being distributed for their people to act on. Hooker has written to all customers and asked them to contact their Representatives and Senators. Mr. Abramowitz will testify. He thought the suggestion regarding the banks was a good one. Company: Olin Corporation Location: Stamford, Connecticut Contact: Mr. Henry Bialecki Mr. Bialecki reported that Olin will have two representatives, and will offer written and oral testimony.' Mr. Bialecki is very aware of the problem and is very active on it. It was suggested to him that he talk with Mr. Joe Fahey of State National Bank, which has a branch in Stamford. 23217147 Page 3 Company: Stauffer Chemical Co. Location: Westport, Connecticut Contact: Mr. Lee B. Kuhn % They are deeply involved. Stauffer will not have verbal witnesses but will present written testimony. Through their written presentation they will be testifying both for themselves and for the industry. Company: Location: Contact: Uniroyal Chemical Naugatuck, Connecticut Mr. Jerry Twomey They will have several representatives, one of whom will speak. Uniroyal has written a general letter to all customers; so far, they have received 170 replies from customers who have contacted Washington. It was mentioned that an Indiana Congressman is trying to repeal the function of OSHA. Uniroyal estimates that more than half of the House and Senate have been contacted by their customers. On a confidential basis, with no name of company given, we were informed that one of the major manufacturing companies in America is using their top lobbyist to appear in opposition to the proposed regulations, not speaking for SPI or any association but only for their own business. They may tell the committee that they may be forced to close down if this goes through. MRH/PA/pc I V 23217148 HII.L and KNOFLTON, INC. 633 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK, N. Y. 10017 212.097.3000 Memo to: Mr. Ralph L. Harding, Jr. Date: June 20, 1974 From: Martin R. Haley/Paul Andrews Subject: VC Support Activities - Status Report No. 2 , Copies: Messrs. Thomas J. McGrath E. S. Nuspliger John Lawrence Jerome Heckman Cleveland Lane Fred Sutro Donald H. Bryan William A. Durbin James M. Kiss Jerald Blizin JMatt Swetonic James H . Moore Donald W. White Company: General Tire & Rubber Co. Location: Akron, Ohio Contact: Mr. Robert W. Laundrie Mr. Laundrie referred the Harding memorandum to his public relations people. They will be present at the hearing and will present a paper for the record. Mr. Laundrie felt certain that when the public relations man receives the memorandum, he will act on it. (We plan to go back to the Public Relations Department.) Company: Location: Contact: Great American Chemical Fitchburg, Massachusetts Mr. A. W. Fuhrman Mr. Mel Rosensaft, the company president, is sending letters to every group mentioned in the memorandum (senators, representatives, chambers of commerce, banks). He will be present at the hearing in Washington and will be there Sunday night at the meeting. Great American has sent about 200 to 300 letters to customers as well as to such groups as shoe and rubber manufacturers associations, asking that they write letters also. 23217149 T Page 2 One of their customers wrote to OSHA "raising hell". OSHA answered V (which appears to be most unusual), in terms of saying "we will certainly give attention to the economic impact of this situation. " Company: Location: Contact: PPG Industries Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Secretary to Mr. Zeb G. Bell, Jr. Mr. Bell is scheduled to make a presentation at the hearing. He has received the Harding memorandum. (We will give this further follow-up.) Company: Location: Contact: Tenneco, Inc. Piscataway, New Jersey Mr. Joseph Fath Mr. Fath will appear at the hearing and will be accompanied by Dr. Lobo and Mr. Phil Scarito, his works manager. Mr. Fath is in almost daily contact with Mr. Harding and Mr. McGrath. He has had letters sent to customers and is generally following the pattern outlined in the memorandum. Company: Air Products & Chemicals Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania Contact: Mr. A. Ross Adams Mr. Adams will be in Washington Saturday evening at the meeting, and will testify at the hearing. He will try to make his presentation on Thursday and have with him a medical consultant, Dr. Paul Kotin. He has contacted customers, senators and representatives. Letters from his customers have been "going like mad" to Congress. He expects to meet with Mr. Harding this weekend. 23217150 Page 3 Company: Firestone Plastics Co. Location: Pottstown, Pennsylvania Contact: Secretary to Mr. Todd C. Walker Mr. Walker will be in Washington at the meeting with Mr. Harding on Saturday. He will also speak Tuesday at the hearing. They have sent letters to all customers. Company: Location: Contact: Borden Chemical Co. Leominster, Massachusetts Mr. H. A. Peed Mr. Peed was very courteous. All of their activities are handled by James McCorry, director of Public Relations, in Washington. Everything in regard to the hearing would be handled by Mr. McCorry. Locally, Mr. Peed has contacted all representatives and senators. (We will follow up with Mr. McCorry.) Company: Dow Chemical Co. Location: Midland, Michigan Contact: Mr. G. J. Williams Mr. Williams has sent the Harding memorandum to their Washington office manager, Mr. C. T. Marck, who handles all of Dow's affairs in Washington. (We will follow up with Mr. Marck.) Company: Continental Oil Co . Location: Saddle Brook, New Jersey Contact: Dr. Kennedy Two people will attend the hearing. Dr. Kennedy was in the process of preparing a position paper to be presented. They have contacted customers extensively, and recently sent three men to an American Footwear meeting. This matter is evidently of vital interest to American Footwear. He agreed to contact representatives and senators, and was extremely cooperative and helpful. 23217151 T Page 4 Company: Robintech , Inc. Location: Fort Worth, Texas Contact: Dr. John Ertel '? Dr. Ertel is a member of the SPI health subcommittee, and had just returned from the meeting held in Springfield, Massachusetts, chaired by Monsanto, for the purpose of lining up the medical side of the story for the hearing. He mentioned the presentation on the economic situation which is being prepared and will be presented. He is actively working on the points in the memorandum. MRH/PA/pc 23217152 HILL AM) KNOWLTON, INC. 633 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK, N. Y. 100)7 212-097.3000 Memo to: Mr. Ralph L. Harding, Jr. Date: June 21, 1974 From: Martin R. Haley/Paul Andrews Subject: VC Support Activities - Status Report No. 3 Copies: Messrs. Thomas J. McGrath E. S. Nuspliger John Lawrence Jerome Heckman Cleveland Lane Fred Sutro Donald H. Bryan William A. Durbin James M. Kiss Jerald Blizin . Matt Swetonic James H. Moore Donald W. White Company: Location: Contact: General Tire & Rubber Co. Akron, Ohio Mr. Carl Dangel, Dir. of Public Relations Mr. Dangel has received the Harding memorandum and is aware that Mr. Laundrie will appear at the hearing. Mr. Laundrie is now in the process of having a meeting with Mr. Markusson, the attorney for General Tire, in which they will be formulating more up-to-date plans of attack for the meeting. They are definitely going to activate the suggestions on page two of the memorandum, and have already attempted some of it. They have very definite and important contacts with Congress. The wife of their director of advertising is the office manager of Congressman Seiberling's office in Akron. Mr. Markusson will also attend the hearing. Company: Location: Contact: Borden, Inc. Washington, D.C. Mr. James McCorry Mr. McCorry has received the.Harding memorandum. He has already been in contact with Senator Taft, and has an appointment with Congressman 23217153 Page 2 Steiger on Thursday. Both of them are on the OSHA oversight committee. Mr. Steiger is also co-author of the bill which became law. They are going to see the other Senators and Representatives on the oversight com mittee'. They have sent letters to customers. Their customers are all on allocation of material because their output of the product has been reduced ten percent because of the 50 ppm present ruling. They have contacted and have had many calls from fabricators who are working on this. The recording people are very active and are lobbying and working on the problem. Company: Location: Contact: Dow Chemical Co. Washington, D.C. Mr. C. T. Marck They are affirmative on contacting Congress; however, their approach is to inform and educate rather than pressure. They are preparing a memo randum for Congress on this basis. They are moving slowly until they know what may happen regarding a new standard. They are definitely working and using a little different approach. Company: Location: Contact: Ethyl Corporation Baton Rouge, La. Mr. Palmer Brown Ethyl plans to do nothing at the meeting but does intend to send a letter after the hearing on the basis that they question what effectiveness any general action would be prior to the knowledge of what the results of the hearing are going to be. They are considering and probably will contact Senators and Representatives. They have a Washington lobbyist, David Batson, who will be the one to contact Congress after the hearing. A Er. Rinehart will be at the hearing. Company: Location: Contact: Union Carbide Corporation New York , New York Mr. Arthur B. Steele He is more involved personally. He will be in Washington Sunday, and will meet with Mr. Heckman Monday to help plan the approach. UCC will make an oral presentation,- probably on Tuesday. They have written 23217154 T Page 3 1,200 customers asking them to write to Mr. Stender of OSHA stating'-! their concern. They have received stacks of copies of letters sent out. They are not intested in contacting members of Congress until results of the'hearing are known. They feel it is premature to stir up Washington ahead of specific knowledge. (This is in line with our discussion with Vern Larson yesterday in Pittsburgh. Their Wa shington operation is sophisticated and can provide good post-hearing follow-up.) Company: Location: Contact: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Akron, Ohio Mr. D. H. Francis They feel they will be more effective after the hearing, regarding people to be contacted. Their government relations people are looking at the problem very carefully. Mr. Francis will attend the hearing and make an oral presentation from Goodyear's point of view. Mr. Beebe will make a presentation directed toward SPI's position. They are very cooperative and very well tuned in on the matter. Company: Location: Contact: Pantasote Co. of New York Passaic, New Jersey Mr. Jack Jaglom Mr. Jaglom has contacted both New Jersey Senators. He is planning to talk with Mr. Heckman on Sunday. He has talked to New Jersey state senators and local Congressmen. He will appear at the hearing but is not sure if he will speak. He has also contacted the local Chember of Commerce. Company: Location: Contact: PPG Industries Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Zeb G. Bell, Jr. Dr. Bell is going to make a ten minute presentation along the lines of the number of people they employ, technical information, etc. Their position is slightly different because they believe there should be separate 23217155 T Page 4 standards for various parts of the industry, not just one standard. They have had very slight contact with customers regarding this because most of their customers are members of SPI and have their own g.r. operation. At some point he would be in contact with Senators and Representatives who are directly concerned with the problem. He knows every member of the OSHA group on a first name basis. He has had two phone calls from them recently requesting information on some technical matters. He is hoping that when standards are developed he will be called in for consul tation to help write them. His follow-up from the g.r. point of view would be directed to the ones he feels need information. He intends to meet with John Stender, Deputy Secretary of Labor for OSHA. MRH/PA/pc T 23217156 HILL AND KKOWLTOK, INC. 633 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK, N. Y. 10017 212.067.5600 Memo to: Mr. Ralph L. Harding, Jr. Date: July 1, 1974 From: Martin R. Haley Subject: Interim Report on VCM Support Program Copies: Messrs: Thomas J. McGrath E. S. Nuspliger John Lawrence Jerome Heckman Cleveland Lane Fred Sutro Donald H. Bryan William A. Durbin James M. Kiss Jerald Blizin Matt Swetonic James H. Moore Donald W. White With your receipt of Report No. 3 on this support operation, all the rounds of the companies were made and the telephone work completed. Paul Andrews commented that in all his years of activating support programs he had rarely seen such a cooperative and active response. We may be absolutely certain that a level of activity (part of which already existed, of course) far above average was generated. Partly for this very reason and also for reason of the apparent length of the hearings, we have now halted the stimulation of support. Its effect will be felt over the next four to six weeks. The machinery is in place and the system is functioning. At the end of the OSHA hearings we should all assess the situation and then decide whether to make a second round of the companies for additional activity, if it seems necessary and wise at that time. Best regards. MRH/pc 23217157 the society of the PLASTICS INDUSTRY. INC. 250 PARK AVENUE * NEW YORK. NEW YORK 10017 212/687-2675 For Release: August 21, 1974 Contact: Jerry Blizin (202) 638-2800 SPI URGES FACTS NOT PASSION IN FEDERAL EVALUATION OF VINYL CHLORIDE Washington-The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) today urged that facts not passion be the guiding factor in determining government reaction toward vinyl chloride, an industrial chemical recently linked with angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare cancer, among previously heavily exposed workers. In testimony prepared for presentation at a hearing of the Subcommittee on the Environment of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ralph L. Harding, President of SPI, said that "decisions and policy judgements with regard to chemical sub stances must be made on the best available fact-finding basis. Supposition and conjecture cannot be relied upon to make these decisions. " Mr. Harding further asked that "all involved should approach this task in a manner that permits us to make laws and regulations which fit Aristotle's description: "The law is reason free from passion." : In the body of his presentation, Mr. Harding outlined the genesis of the problem, pointing out that "the nation's awareness of the vinyl chloride problem followed the voluntary disclosure in January of this year by the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company that four vinyl chloride workers" in one of that company's plants had died of the dise=--;r "Certainly, the plastics industry has not shrunk from its worker and environ mental responsibilities to date nor does it intend to," he said. ! 23217158 T - L- Among the major points raised by Mr. Harding in his testimony were the following: --All of the 13 worker deaths in the U. S. from angiosarcoma of the liver occurred in plants more than 20 years old, where "the levels of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today. " --The Environmental Protection Agency, on June 11, stated that there is no scientific evidence to indicate that emissions from vinyl chloride plants "pose an imminent hazard to people living near these plants. " --The direct applicability of animal test results to the human condition is questionable and must be viewed with caution. "For example, " Mr. Harding stated, "it is known that some of the test animals used to date are significantly more sensitive to the development of angiosarcomas than humans. " --In the only study to date that has compared past exposure levels with disease, the results show a general cancer increase among heavily exposed workers (above 200 parts-per-million on a time-weighted-average for an eight hour day) but none among workers below that level. This study, Mr. Harding explained, "tends to show that low levels of VCM (vinyl chloride monomer) exposure do not result in an excess of disease." --If the vinyl chloride industry were forced to shut down because of an inability to meet government regulations, it could cost the nation's economy 1.7 to 2.2 million jobs and $65 to $90 billion annually in lost production. "Even these figures may be conservative, " Mr. Harding said. General Motors Corporation recently stated that "a severe reduction in the production of vinyl chloride would directly affect 50, 000 GM employees and that the 'ripple effect' in GM-related layoffs could possibly reach 1. 8 million workers. " h*- cn CD T -3- Vinyl chloride^s used primarily to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely used plastic resin, which is in turn fabricated into a wide variety of products, !1 ' including flooring, pipe, curtains, upholstery, phonograph records, telephone equipment, insulated wire, bottles, packaging, luggage, sporting goods and many others. -30- 23217160 T STATEMENT OF RALPH L. HARDING JR. PRESIDENT, THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, INC. BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AUGUST 21, 1974 ' Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, my name is Ralph L. Harding, Jr. , president of The Society of the Plastics Industry,Inc. Accom panying me today is Jerome Heckman, of the Washington law firm of Keller & Heckman who serves as general counsel of SPI, and who will assist me in responding to any questions which you and members of the subcommittee may have. The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. is the principal trade association and spokesman for the plastics industry, representing approximately 1,400 member companies who supply raw materials, process or manufacture plastics or plastics products, engineer or construct mo2ds or similar equipment used by the plastics industry, or engage in the manufacture of machinery needed to manufacture plastics products or materials. The membership of SPI is responsible for the sale of approximately 75 percent of the total dollar volume of U. S. plastics sales, according to industry estimates. Additionally, the Society's Vinyl Chloride and Polyvinyl Chloride Resin Producers Committee represents more than 90 percent of United States capacity for the production of vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride resins. To summarize briefly, vinyl chloride is a chemical which is the raw materia from which polyvinyl chloride, the nation's most versatile thermoplastic polymer, is formulated. The estimated-total PVC production for 1974 is approximately five 23217161 T -v billion pounds, which is the second largest volume of any plastic produced in this country. Becam e of its versatility, PVC has important end use applications in building and construction, the motor vehicle industry, apparel and home furnishings, phonograph records and communications equipment, as well as miscellaneous products which may vary from baby bottles to supermarket meat wrapping and from credit cards to medical tubing. It should be emphasized that vinyl chloride and PVC cannot by any, stretch of the imagination be called a new and unknown chemical substance, for manufacture of vinyl chloride in this country began in 1939 and vinyl chloride and the products made from it have, in the main, been in use for more than 30 years. The largest use of PVC is by the building and construction industry, which accounts for 43% of consumption. Ten percent of PVC production goes into wire and cable which in turn is used in construction of building, automobiles, ships and planes. Factors of safety and electrical properties as well as cost have made PVC a prime material for use in production of insulated wire and cable. Without PVC, it would take a minimum of three to five years to come up with a replacement insulating material. Twenty-five percent of the PVC production in the U. S. goes into the manufacture of pipe. Again, no immediately available and feasible substitute materials are known. 15% of the PVC produced goes into film and sheet for packaging and coated fabrics. T Z9TZ.T ZSZ -3- Another 10% goes into flooring, and 5% is consumed by the phonograph record industry. PVC is regarded as having no known equal as a sealant for bridge l and airport construction. The U. S. footwear industry states that it has no substitute for PVC in the manufacture of shoes. The PVC belting industry has similarly said that there is no known substitute for conveyor belting made from PVC--which would affect industries that range from coal mining to grain and processed food handling. Without further burdening the subcommittee with a recitation of such facts, suffice it to say that PVC is a ubiquitous and critically important material in the industrial and consumer sectors of our economy. That is why representatives of Arthur D. Little,Inc. testified in July at the hearings conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that an immediate shutdown of the PVC industry could result in the loss of 1. 7 to E.iL million jobs and a loss of domestic production of $65 to $90 billion annually. Even these estimates may be conservative. General Motors Corporation submitted a statement for the OSHA hearing record which states that a "severe reduction in the production of vinyl chloride" would directly affect 45p, 000 GM employees and that the "ripple effect" in. GM-related layoffs could possibly reach 1. 8 million workers. It is not our purpose today to elaborate further on questions of economic impact. Wc believe that such questions have relevance in the OSHA proceedings with regard to establishing standards for worker safety and SP1 comments to these issues are on record before that body. It is a fact, however, that the nation's awareness of the vinyl chloride problem followed the voluntary disclosure in January of this year by the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company T 23217163 that four vinyl chloride workers in that company's Louisville, Ky. plant had died from angiosarcoma of the liver. . At the time of the OSHA hearings, 19 worker deaths from liver angiosarcoma had been linked to vinyl chloride exposure, 13 of them in this country. According to. Dr. Daniel P. Boyd, director of OSHA's Office of Standards Development, it was OSHA's judgment at the outset of these hearings, which began on June 26, that vinyl chloride is a carcinogenic agent. He based this statement on industrially-commissioned animal toxicological studies performed by Professor Cesare Maltoni of the Instituto di Oncologia, Bologna, Italy, and the Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories in this country, together with the 19 reported liver angiosarcoma deaths. In the ensuing months since January, many agencies of the Federal Government have also become involved in-the vinyl chloride problem consistent with their responsibilities. Thus, the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer Product Safety Commission, together with the appropriate health research agencies such as the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Center for Disease Control have undertaken both regulatory actions and research programs with regard to vinyl chloride and poly vinyl chloride. There seems to be no dispute at this time that vinyl chloride monomer is a carcinogen in both man and animals. However, it must be emphasized that the information developed thus far does not yet constitute a body of "hard data',' on the totality of the vinyl chloride hazard. It is apparent that the first signs of the biological effects of vinyl chloride inhalation do not become visible until after many years of exposure. With vinyl chloride, the latency period has averaged around 20 years. However, it has been difficult to pinpoint and correlate"the known cases of disease with past T '23217164 -5- levels of exposure, in part due to lack of past exposure data. The best evidence thus far indicates that the workers who died were exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride for long periods of time. The only study to date that has compared exposure levels with disease, or the lack of it, was conducted by the the Dow Chemical Company at its Midland division. The results show a general cancer increase among heavily exposed workers (above 200 parts per million on a time-weighted average for an eight-hour day) but none among workers below that level. No angiosarcomas were found. In general, the Dow study tends to show that low levels of VCM exposure do not result in an excess of disease. The OSIIA record also establishes that there are 36 vinyl chloride plants in-the United States and that the 13 known worker deaths occurred among the employees of four plants--seven at one plant, three at another, two at a third plant and one at a fourth. All four plants involved are more than 20 years old. Again, while it is not precisely known what the exact levels of past exposure were at these plants, testimony developed at the OSHA hearings indicates that the levels of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today. Four other vinyl chloride plants in the U. S. are more than 20 years old but had no angiosarcoma cases, which may indicate that operating levels were below the thrcshhold needed to cause the disease. Because of the difficulty in establishing the exact level of hazard, great importance has been placed on the animal studies conducted in Italy and the United States. The results of these tests thus far can be summarized as showing- 1. Angiosarcoma of the liver is both time and dose-related--the heavier the exposure the more animals become diseased; and the longer the exposure, the T 23217165 -6- I i greater chance for contracting the disease. !1 2. Angiosarcomas have been detected in old test animals (rats) at exposure levels of 50 parts per million. Deaths in mice have been reported at 50 ppm. 3. Other neoplasms in addition to angiosarcoma have been reported by ^ Dr. Maltoni in his animal test work as beirjg VCM-related. Great speculation has centered around this rather narrow body of test data, the critical point being whether the animal results are translatable to human experience and to what degree. For instance, it is known that some of the test animals used to date are significantly more sensitive to the development of angiosarcoma than humans. .The question of VCA1 hazard extending beyond those areas of maximum exposure in the polymerization process is also an open one. During the OSHA hearings, NIOSH included two "fabricator" angiosarcoma cases, one involving a worker who operated a wore-insulating machine and an accountant not directly employed in fabricating, but .whose work allegedly required frequent trips into the PVC plant where he was employed. Similarly, the Center for Disease Control published in its June 15 morbidity and mortality report, indications of two angiosarcoma cases occurring among longtime residents of the Bridgeport- Stratford area in Connecticut, neither of whom had any direct occupational exposure but lived for long periods of time in the vicinity of the electrical products and the PVC processing plants mentioned above. 23217166 T -7- Since angiosarcoma of the liver is known to result from other causes, the significance of these cases is at this point difficult to determine. The CDC report stated that additional studies would be needed to define the risk factors for PVC workers and that in the suspected community exposure cases, the findings established no causal connection. Because most PVC processing plants currently operate at extremely low exposure levels except in mixing, storage, or unloading areas, SPI is of the view that worker risk in such facilities is probably non-existent. The Environmental Protection Agency, on June 11, 1974, stated that based on preliminary monitoring results at seven chemical companies, including two vinyl chloride and 10 polyvinyl chloride plants, "there is no scientific evidence to indicate that these emissions pose an imminent hazard to people living near these plants. However, prudence dictates that reasonable steps should be promptly taken to reduce vinyl chloride emissions to the lowest practical level. " The Society of the Plastics Industry, Mr. Chairman, is certainly con cerned about protecting not only the health of workers directly employed in the industry but the public at large. We hold the opinion that the "environmental ethic" must be shared by all segments of society and the industry must carry out its responsibilities in this regard. However, our position is that decisions and policy judgments with regard to chemical substances must be made on the best available fact-finding basis. Supposition and conjecture cannot be relied upon to make these decisions. 23217167 -8- Thus, in the OSHA proceedings SPI has contended that while needless risk should not be countenanced, where the degree of that risk has or cannot be determined, time should be provided to permit technologically feasible improvements to minimize actual or potential health hazard. There is, of course, a debate over what constitutes feasible improve ments to be resolved before appropriate forums. SPI has proposed in the OSHA proceedings a permissible level standard for PVC resin plants as fbllows: 1. Effective October 5, 1974, a ceiling of 40 parts per million of VCM and a maximum daily time-weighted average of' 25 parts per million (levels above 40 ppm would require the use of respirator protection. ) 2. Effective October 5, 1975, a ceiling level of 25 ppm with no timeweighted average, (respirators to be worn at levels above 25 ppm. ) 3. Effective October 5, 1976, a ceiling of 25 ppm with a maximum timeweighted average of 10 ppm. (levels above 25 ppm require respirators. ) As regards worker safety, SPI believes this recommendation to be both feasible and capable of protecting employees. Further, SPI believes that adoption of a final workplace safety regulation must not require operational levels which tend to drive out the majority of independent producers and permit the continuance of only a few who, for varying reasons, can meet such levels. T 23217168 -9- The chairman, wearing his other hat as a member of the AntiTrust and Monopoly Subcommittee, is better equipped than I to evaluate this problem. Certainly, the plastics industry has not shrunk from its worker and environmental responsibilities to date nor does it intend to. The current vinyl chloride problem would not have been'^avoided even if passage of the Toxic Substances Control Act had been completed during the first session of the 93rd Congress. Nevertheless, SPI has no quarrel with legislation which attempts to reduce the future impact on human beings and the environment of new chemical substances, providing once again that such legislation recognizes that there are very substantial questions of feasibility involved. In that light, we believe that between the pending Senate-passed S. 426 and the Housepassed H. R. 5356, the House language more realistically addresses the problem of pre-market testing and the proper assessment of environmental and human health impact prior to the development of new technologies. In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, let me state that the plastics industry is no less a passenger on Space Ship Earth than any one else. As corporate and individual citizens we also want an environment which is not fraught with hazard. We therefore ask only that all involved should approach tins task in a manner that permits us to make laws and regulations which fit Aristotle's description: "That, law is reason free from passion. " T 23217169 I HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. CONTRACTOR PITTSFIELD, MASS. E. 0. W. 33,000 OCT 1 1974 Facts Sought in Evaluating Vinyl Chloride ^ Washington -- TheSocietyofthe ; Elastics Industry has urged that facts, r not passion, be the guiding factor in : determining government reaction toward vinyl chloride, an industrial chemical recently linked with an giosarcoma of the liver, a rare cancer, among previously heavily exposed workers. In testimony prepared for presenta tion at a hearing of the subcommittee on the environment of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ralph L. Harding, president of SPI, said "deci sions and policy judgments with re gard to chemical substances must be made on the best available fact finding basis. Supposition and conjec ture cannot be relied upon to make these decisions." Harding asked that all involved ap proach the task "in a manner that permits us to make laws and regula, lions which fit Aristotle's description: `The law is reason, free from pas sion."' Outlined the Problem Harding said the nation's awareness of the vinyl chloride problem fol lowed the voluntary disclosure last January by B.F. Goodrich Chemical Co. that four vinyl chloride workers in one of that company's plants had died of the disease. "Certainly, the plastics industry has not shrunk from its worker and environmental responsibilities to date nor does it intend to," he said. Among the major points raised by j Harding were the following: : All of the 13 worker deaths in the U.S. from angiosarcoma of the liver occurred in plants more than 20 years old, "where the levels of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today." , The Environmental Protec tion Agency on June 11 stated that there is no scientific evidence to indi cate that emissions from vinyl chlo ride plants "pose an imminent hazard to people living near these plants." "The direct applicability of animal test results to the human condi tion is questionable and must be viewed with caution [because] it is known that some of the test animals , used are significantly more sensitive to the development of angiosarcomas than humans." In the only study to date that has , compared past exposure levels with | disease, results show a general cancer increase among heavily exposed workers (above 200 parts-per-million on a time-weighted average for an eight-hour day) but none among workers below that level. This study tends to show that low levels of VCM (vinyl chloride monomer) exposure do not result in an excess of disease. "If the vinyl chloride industry were forced to shut down because of an inability to meet government regu lations, it could cost the nation's economy 1.7 to 2.2 million jobs and $65 to $90 billion annually in lost production. Even these figures may be conservative." Vinyl chloride is used primarily to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely used plastic resin, which is in turn fabricated into a wide variety of products, including pipe. 23217170 T HILL AN-n KNOWLTON, Inc. BUILDING NEWS' LOS ANGELES, CALIF. E. 0. WEEK 5,00(1 SEP 6 1974 _________________ SPI Asks That Facts be Used I To Decide Vinyl Chloride Fate "J- Washington, D.C. -- The Society of the plastics Indus- try (SPI) urged that facts not passion be the guiding factor in determining government reaction toward vinyl chloride, an industrial chemical recently linked with angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare cancer, among previously heavily exposed work ers. - In testimony prepared for pres entation at a hearing' of the Sub- 1 committee on the Environment of the Senate Commerce Committee, Ralph L. Harding, president of SPI, said that "decisions and pol icy judgments with regard to chem ical substances must be made on the best available fact-finding basis. Supposition and conjecture cannot be relied:.upon to make .these deci sions." - ' hazard to people living near these plants." --The direct applicability of animal test results to the human condition is questionable and must be viewed with caution. "For ex ample," Harding stated, "it is known that some of the test ani mals used to date are significantly more sensitive to the development of angiosarcomas than humans." Harding further asked that "all involved should approach this task in a manner that permits us to make laws and regulations which fit Aristotle's description: `The law is reason free from passion.' " In the body of his presentation, Harding outlined the genesis of the problem, pointing out that "the nation's awareness of the vinyl chloride problem followed the vol untary disclosure in January of I this year by the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. that four vinyl chlor ide workers" in one of that com pany's plants had died of the di sease. Environmental Responsibilties "Certainly, the plastics industry has not shrunk from its worker and environmental responsibilities to date nor does it intend to," he said. Among the major points raised by Harding in his testimony were the following: --All of the 13 worker deaths in the U.S. from angiosarcoma of the liver occurred in plants more than 20 years old, where "the lev els of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today." -' - --The Environmental Protection Agency, on June 11, stated that there is no scientific evidence to indicate that emissions from vinyl chloride plants "pdse an imminent Lower Levels --In the only study to date that has compared past exposure lev els with disease, the results show a general cancer increase among heavily exposed workers (above 200 parts-per million on a timeweighted average for an eight hour day) but none among workers be low that level. This study, Hard ing explained, "tends to show that low levels of VCM (vinyl chloride monomer) exposure do not result in an excess of disease." --If the vinyl chloride industry were forced to shut down because of an inability to meet government regulations, it could cost the na tion's economy 1.7 to 2.2 million jobs and $65 to $90 billion annually in lost production. ' "Even these figures may be conservative," Harding said. General Motors Corp. recently stated that "a se vere reduction in the production of vinyl chloride would directly affect 450,000 GM employees and that the `ripple effect' in GM-related layoffs could possibly reach 1.8 million workers." ' Vinyl chloride is used primarily to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely used plastic re sin, which is in turn fabricated into a wide' variety of products, in cluding flooring, pipe, curtains, up holstery, phonograph records, tele phone equipment, insulated wire, bottles, packaging, luggage, sport-j ing goods and many others. I 23217171 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. PACKASCOPE-USA PHILADELPHIA. PA. W. CIRC.N.AVA II. SEP 3 1974 Qt*- SPI TELLS VC INQUISITORS , TO COOL IT Ralph Harding, president of The Society of the Plastics Industry, told a Subcommittee on the Environment of the Senate Commerce Committee, that facts, not passion, should be the guiding factor in determining govt reaction toward vinyl chloride. Harding said, among other things: "Decisions and policy judgments with regard to chemical substances must be made on the best available fact-finding basis. Supposition and conjecture cannot be relied upon to make these de cisions." He made the following points: All of the 13 worker deaths in the US from angiosarcoma (why do all the dreadful diseases have such lyrical names? Ed.) of the liver oc curred in plants more than 2 0 years old, where the levels of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today The Environmental Protection Agency, on 11 June, stated that there is no scientific evidence to indicate that emissions from vinyl chloride plants pose an imminent hazard to people living near those plants. The direct application of animal test results to the human condition is questionable and must be viewed with caution. In the only study to date that has compared past exposure levels with disease, the results show a general cancer increase among heavily exposed workers (above 200 ppm on a time-weighted average for an eight-hour day) but none among workers below that level. If the VC industry were forced to shut down, it could cost 2.2 million jobs and $65 to $90 billion in lost production annually. 23217172 HILL AN-13 KNOWLTON, Inc. MILT NEWS RECORD NEW YORK, N. Y D. 25.000 AUS 23 1974 Plastic Group WarnsOn PVC Crackdown, WASHINGTON (FNS) An unnecessary crackdown on vinyl ^ -chloride output could cut the nation's over-all production by up to $90 ^ billion and could throw two million workers out of work. th&ocity J] of Plastics Industry, Inc . advised a Senate Commerce Subcommittee. \3 Ralph Harding, SfH president, told the subcommittee the plastics industry is concerned about protecting health of workers but decisions^- on chemical substances must be made on best.available facts,' not ; supposition or conjecture.' ' SPI has proposed rules to the occupational Safety and Health Administration for permissible levels of polyvinyl phloride resin f plants. '; 'r' `-n 1'' t-n ^ The subcommittee headed by Sen. John Tunney JD,-C.alif.) is.7 reviewing the polyvinyl situation. . : . Tunney conceded in an opening statement that "since vinyl chloride has been around for so long, it now would.cause drastic dislocation in the plastics industry." ' 1 '* Harding told the subcommittee PVC has important use in apparel, home furnishings, phonograph records, communications equipment, supermarket meat warppings and credit cards. ^' "The (J.S. footwear industry-states that it has not substitute for ' PVC in the manufacture of shoes," Harding testified, iEjartforb (Timra HARTFORD,. CONN, D. 123,376 SUN. 122,857 AUG 2 2 1974 &JL 'Chloride Ban ! 'WASHINGTON (AP) - Mil- ! lions of persons face unemploy' ment if vinyl chloride is banned because it had been linked to : cancer, the president of the Society of the Plastics Industry asserted. Testifying before a Senate panel. Ralph L. Harding Jr. said that though cancer-' caused deaths were recorded at four plants where the chemical is used, there are other plants were no such fatalities oc curred. crntlntt tamthto aTmtca TRENTON, N. J. D. 81,855 AUG 2 2 1974 Vinyl Chloride Ban Called Job Threat WASHINGTON (AP) Millions of ' persons face unemployment if vinyl chlo ride Is banned because it had,, been linked to cancer, the: president of the Society -of the Plastics Industry Assert ed. Testifying before a Senate panel, Ralph L. Harding Jr. said that though cancer- caused deaths were recorded at four plants where the chemical is used, there are other plants where no such .fatalities occurred. ______ THE EVENING SUN BALTIMORE, MD, D, 201,190 AUG 221974. Vinyl Chloride Ban, 'Jobs Loss Tied Washington (AV-Millions of persons face unemployment if yinyl chloride is banned be cause it had been linked to cancer, the president of the Society of the Plastics Industry asserfed.T _ _. 23217173 I HILL AND KNOWLTOK, Inc. Tied to Defects By William Greider firmed in the United States, sure to a substance which has dent of the Society of thej , | WAhlnrton Pott Writer which showed mutations when become a major ingredient of Plastic___Industry,k testified, Workers or consumers ex exposed to vinyl chloride. American manufacturing since However, that no re^larch has posed to vinyl chloride fumes Samplings of human experi World War II. yet established a broader dan may suffer genetic damage ence are fragmentary at this About 6,500 workers are In ger than the direct-exposure which will be passed on to point, he warned, but they volved in manufacturing vinyl by inhalation. That warning, their children in the form of also "give grounds for con- chloride and its conversion he noted, was first raised by physical defects, a Senate cern." ,, , , into polyvinyl chloride, but the industry itself when a doc Commerce subcommittee was At Mt. Sinai Medical School more than 1.5 million men and tor for B. F. Goodrich Co. dis-i warned yesterday. in New York, he said, exami women work in processing fac covered a recurring pattern of : Dr. Irving J. Selkoff, cancer nations of 11 vinyl chloride tories where the plastic is deaths among workers at the researcher and president of workers found "chromosome made into various articles-- Louisville, Ky., plant -- four the Society for Occupational changes to be present consid the area where the danger is victims of the rare liver ail and Environmental Health, erably more frequently than still in debate. ment. cited three recent studies expected." The Ohio Depart Selikoff said yesterday that Yesterday's hearing was which suggest that vinyl chlo ment of Health, Selikoff his study of a polyvinyl plant held by Sen. John V. Tunney's ride, used in thousands of added, found a pattern of in in Niagara Falls, N.Y., found subcommittee and, though hi* plastic products, may be not creased birth malformations significant impact on workers' staff aides denied it, the sub only a cancer-causing agent in three counties where vinyl health, a rate of death due t*> ject seemed aimed at influenc but "mutagenic" -- creating chloride plants are located. hemangiosarcoma of the liver ing legislation on "toxic sub mutations. Selikoff conceded that these which statistically was 1,000 stances" which has already ; Selkoffs assertion assigns a findings are preliminary and times greater then normally passed both House and Senate new element of hazard to the not conclusive, but said they expected. and is now before a confer Substance which is the basic add to the alarm over expo Ralph L. Harding Jr., presi ence committee. ingredient in a wide range of domestic products -- .JJrom plumbing pipes to phonograph records, from plastic wrap used for supermarket produce to upholstery In automobiles. Earlier thil year, it was es tablished that inhalation of vi nyl chloride fumes could, lead to a rare form of liver cancer among workers or neighbors of the factories. It might dven effect`consumers if they used certain aerosol spray cans that 3l]C Uaiiljtttgton T^ast were fueled with the substance. Research has not yet settled conclusively whether there is WASHINGTON, 0, 0. . P, 535.015 sm Z10.MS also a general danger from the variety of polyvinyl chloride products which are derived from vinyl chloride. AUG 2 2 1974 In the meantime, three gov ernment regulatory agencies have moved in various ways to restrict pollution from the vi nyl chloride plants and to pro hibit the use of the chemical In such. products as hair sprays and pesticide spray cans. An industry representative, Dr. Theodore It. Torkelson o( the Manufacturing Chemists Association, denied that nnv "mutagenic" effect on humnn beings has so far been estab lished by genetic side effects exists and is being studied. ' The research cited by Sell- koff yesterday included bacte ria studies In Sweden; con- 23217174 T HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. (0aklano.4i#&&ribmic .OAKLAND, CaLTf. D, 225,038 SUM. 251,534 AUG 22 1974, I*1On*Vinyl WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mil-y to shut down because of an r lions of persons ' would face inability to meet government unemployment if vinyl chor-.VJ regulations, it would cost the lide is banned because it caus- ; nation's economy 1.7 to 2.2 es cancer, a Senate panel was', million jobs and $165 billion to ..told yesterday. $90 billion annually in lost Appearing before the envi-,..pro<*uction' ' ronment subcommittee, Ralph Vinyl chloride is used in , L. Harding Jr., president of. making polyvinyl chloride, a the Society of the Plastics- widely used plastic resin/ IndusfryTriC-7'noted that 13 - which is fabricated in a varie- Vliiyl"t'lllUMB8' workers have "ty of products including floor- died at foui1 plants.1 But there -ing, pipes, curtains, phono- are other plants where no_ graph records, telephone such fatalities^have occurred, equipment, bottles, packaging he said. ' : S";'^and sporting goods. ' `There seems to be no dis ' Dr. Joseph Wagoner, of the pute at this time that vinyl Center for Disease Control, I Chloride ... is a carcinogen pointed out that from 1950 to in both man or animals," , he: 1973, a total 109 deaths were ' said. "However, it must be ' observed among vinyl chlor emphasized that the. informa- . ide workers. lion developed thus far does'; not yet constitute a body of "The number of deaths ; hard data on the totality of the ' from liver cancer in this pop , vinyl chloride hazard." ulation was almost 12 times Harding said dence indicates the best evi- ' the workers the number said. expected," . he ' ' were exposed to high levels of He said one worker who the chemical for long periods died from liver cancer caused of time. by the chemical was exposed He said the 13 workers died to it for only four years. Eigh- from liver cancer and had teen years later he was dead, worked in vinyl chloride he said. plants more than 20 years old "where the levels of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today." "This single case is consist ent with the tenants of carcinogisis--that when the carcino genic process, even in the absence of coninued exposure, He said that if the vinyl is irreversible," Dr. Wagoner chloride industry were forced said. 23217175 HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. (Hit? Atlanta fflmtrttal "COVERS DIXIE LIKE THE DEW" D. 253,721 AUG 221974. &&L iVinyliChloride^Hazard WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of persons would facejf;- 'y He said the 13 workers died from liver cancer and had i unemployment if vinyl chloride is banned because it causes) worked in vinyl chloride plants more than 20 years old | cancer, a Senate panel has been told. - ' ' * ``where the levels of exposure were substantially, higher than . _ A.-i* 'lifted mhi/*h nravoil in fhA in/iurirw tivlaw ,l' ' * ' and $165 billion to $90 billion annually in lost production. . . ,. , . ... .. .... !| Vinyl chloride is used in making polyvinyl chloride, a There seems to be no dispute at this time that vinyl i j '; widely used plastic resin, which is fabricated in a variety of chlonde. . . is a carcinogen in both man or animals, . ha^ . products including flooring, pipes, curthins, {Monograph aaid. f , records, telephone equipment, bottles, packaging and sporting ^ ' "However, it must be emphasized that the Information V. goids. .1 developed thus far does not yet constitute a body of hard data 7 , j.'' Dr. Joseph Wagoner of the CenterforDisease Control, ;on the totality of the vinyl chloride hazard." yT *?: v pointed out that from 1950 to 1973, a total 109 deaths were ob- $ ' Harding said the best evidence indicates the workers ^ served among vinyl chloride workers. ( were exposed to high levels of the chemical for long periods! i l*1, ."The number of deaths from livercancer in this popula te! time. :* ' >4- ' ' " ' '1 v;": vdi. tion was almost 12 times the number expected," he said. i3f|? lallan fHorntn0 Hruna DALLAS, TEXAS 0. 266,667 SUN. 310,530 AUG 22 1974 %jUL Vinyl Chloride Use Defended ' WASHINGTON (AP) --Millions of persons would face unemployment if vinyl chloride is banned because it causes cancer, a Senate panel was told Wednesday. a Appearing before the environment subcommittee, Ralph L. Harding Jr., president of the^_Society of the. Pla.stics_Jpdustxy^JnCT noted that 13 vinydchloide work- ers have died at four plants. But there are other plants where no such fatalities have occurred, he said. . '.-"There seems to be no dispute at this time that vi nyl chloride ... is a carcinogen in both man or ani mals," he said. "However, it must be emphasized that the information developed thus far does not yet consti tute a body of hard data on the totality -of the vinyl chloride hazard." ' He said that if the vinyl chloride industry were forced to shut down because of an inability to meet gov ernment regulations, it would cost the nation's economy 1.7 -to 2.2 million jobs and $165 billion to $90 billion an nually in lost production. ^ _____ - : 23217176 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. JOURNAL HERALD DAYTON, OHIO D. 111,867 AUG 22 1974 Ban/y/ould cause unemployment f\VWASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of persons would face unemployment if vinyl chorine is banned because it causes cancer, a Senate panel, was told Wednesday. r - - ' -J ' Appearing before the environment subcommit tee, Ralph L. Harding Jr., president of the Soci.ejy.oilhe,lastics. Industry Inc., noted that 13 vinyl chloride workers have died at four plants.' But 'there are other plants where no such fatalities have Occurred, he said.'' " "There seems to be no dispute at this time that vinyl chloride ... is a carcinogen in both man or animals," he said. "However, it must be empha sized that the information developed thus far does not yet constitute a body of hard data on the totality of the vinyl chloride hazard." ' Harding said the 13 workers died from liver cancer and had worked in vinyl chloride plants more than 20 years old "where the levels of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today." He said that if the vinyl chloride industry were . forced to shut down because of an inability to i meet government regulations, it would cost the nation's economy 1.7 to 2.2 million jobs and $165 billion to $90 billion annually in lost production. HOME FURNISHINGS DAILF NEW YORK, N. Y. a 39,000 AUG 26 1974 ^WASHINGTON ( FNS) prackdown on vinyl chloride output could cut the nation's production by as much as $90 billion and could eliminate the jobs of 2 million workers, the Society of Plastics In dustry. Inc., told a Senate Commerce Committee here. ' Ralph Harding. SPI vice presi dent. said the plastics industry is concerned about protecting the health of workers, but that decisions about chemical sub stances must be made on the best available facts, not on supposition or conjecture. -- ffinryua (HfjrtBlt Gullrc CORPUS CHRIST!, TEXAS. P. 68.322 AUG 22 1974 '-Chloride; io if . . WASHINGTON (AP) f -Millions of persons would face' ; unemployment if vinyl chloride is banned because it causes '*. cancer, a Senate panel was told ; -Wednesday. ' '"<*;* : >: Appearing before the' " -environment subcommittee, " Ralph L. Harding Jr.,president of the SocietyjofthgJ Plashes Industry Inc. noted: i'that 13 vinyrchlorldrworkers , have died at four plants. But there are other plants where no . .'such fatalities have occurred,. '' he said. Ll , - "There seems to be no > ! dispute at this time that vinyl j chloride ... is a carcinogen in , both man or animals," he said.i "However, it must be] emphasized that the; information developed thus far [does not yet constitute a body' ^ of hard data on the totality of1 ; "the vinyl chloride hazard." ] j Harding said the best ' 'evidence indicates the workers ` .`were exposed to high levels of ' ' the chemical for long periods of. time. He said the 13 workers died - from liver cancer and had: ' worked in vinyl chloride plants * Imore than 20 years old "where r the levels of exposure were ~ substantially higher than those ` which prevail in the industry; . today." > He said that if the vinyl chloride industry were forced, i-'Ito shut down because of an [" inability to meet government regulations, it would cost the nation's economy 1.7 to 2.2; ", million jobs and $165 billion tot - $190 billion annually in lost) - production. ' ' .X - T 23217177 HILL AND KNOWLTON, Inc. <AtliaxisA5'/V',\ (^nxc I Ic. LITTLE ROCK, ARK. D. 115,576 SUN. 141,175 Rocky Mountain News DENVER, COLO. D. 214,490 SUN. 236,903 AUG 2 21974 Job losses tied 1 to total ban offl* vinyl chloride WASHINGTON (AP) - Mil-, lions of persons would face .unemployment if vinyl ehlo-'i ride is banned because It =i causes cancer, a Senate, panel was told Wednesday. Appearing before the envi-' ronment subcommittee, Ralph - L. Harding Jr,, president of the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., noted that 13 vinyl chin-; ride workers have died at, four, plants. But there are' other plants where no such fatalities have occurred, he said. "There seems to be no dis pute at this time that vinyl chloride... is a carcinogen in both man or animals," he said. He said the 13 workers died from liver cancer and had worked in vinyl chloride plants more than 20 years old "where the levels of exposure were substantially higher than those which prevail in the industry * today." j He said that if the vinyl chlo- j ride industry were forced to j; shut down because of an inabil- ' ity to meet government regula- , lions, it would cost the nation's 1 economy 1.7 to 2.2 million jobs and $165 billion to $190 billion I annually in lost production. AUG 22 1974 *Proposed Vinyl Chloride Ban [., . ; .ivy! : "v '' ' i Described as Threat to Jobs WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of parsons would face unemployment if vinyl chloride were banned because it caused cancer, a Senate panel was told Wednesday. Appearing before the environ ment subcommittee, Ralph L. Harding Jr., president of the So pointed out that from. 1950 to ciety of the Plastics Industry 1973, total 109 deaths were ot>Jnc., noted that 13 vinyl'Chloride 'served among vinyl chloride workers had died at four plants, workers. but said there were other plants "The number of deaths from where no such fatalities had liver cancer in this population occurred. was almost 12 times the number, "There seems to be no dispute expected," he said). at this time that vinyl chloride He said one worker who died * is a carcinogen in both from liver cancer caused by the man or animals," he said. chemical was exposed to it for "However, it must be empha only four years. Eighteen years, sized that the information devel later he was dead, he said. oped thus far does not yet eon- "This single case Is consistent . stitute a body of hard data on with the tenants of carcinogisis1 the totality of the vinyl chloride -- that when the carcinogenic hazard." process, even in the absence df Harding said the best evi continued exposure, is irreversi dence indicated the workers ble," Dr. Wagoner s ' . were exposed to high levels of - . t- the chemical for long periods of time. He 6aid the 13 workers died from liver cancer and had worked in vinyl chloride plants more than 20 years old "where the levels of exposure were sub stantially higher than those which prevail in the industry today." , He said that if the vinyl chlo ride industry .were forced to shut down because of inability to meet government regulations, it would cost the nation's economy 1.7 to 2.2 million jobs and $90 ., billion to $165 billion annually in lost production. Vinyl chloride is used in mak ing polyvinyl chloride, a widely used plastic resin, which is fab ricated in a variety of products including flooring, pipes, cur tains, phonograph records, tele phone equipment, bottles, pack aging and sporting goods. Dr. Joseph Wagoner, of the Center for Disease Control, 23217178 T HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. /inyl Chloride Controversy -ends New Urgency to Interest Iln.Toxic Chemicals Legislation CHEMICAL MARKETING REPORTER NEW YORK, N. Y, C. 16,000 "" Congressional interest in tightening tics industry to renew its appeals that facts, AUG 26 1974 government controls over the intro duction of new toxic chemicals into the not passion, be the guilding factor in deter mining government reaction toward vinyl chloride. Ralph L. Harding, president of the" marketplace is on the rise, stimulated Society of the Plastics Industry, said that <* in large measure by the growing pub-, "decisions and policy judgments with re lie concern over the hazards of vinyl gard to chemical substances must be made chloride monomer contamination. on the best available fact-finding basis; supposition and conjecture cannot be relied A conference committee of the House upon to make these decisions." "and Senate met last week to resume its con Similarly, the Manufacturing Chemists sideration of the two differing versions of Association, in its statement, stressed that the Toxic Substances Control Act. No prog- - the facts concerning the chemical are not ress was reported in settling the differ all in, that many research studies are still ences, but the important fact is that the / in progress, and many more are under con committee held a meeting on the bill for the sideration. first time this year. The legislation has While admitting that the known potential been in conference since last Fall. of harm from vinyl chloride justifies strin Two days later the Senate Environmen gent precautions in its handling and instal tal Subcommittee held a hearing on vinyl lation of feasible control measures, Theo .chloride to review the actions being taken dore R. Torkebon, of Dow Chemical Com by the government to safeguard the public pany, chairman of a group of industry ex and industry workers from the hazards in perts who plan and monitor vinyl chloride volving the chemical, and to update public research programs under MCA's adminis information on the results of the many tration, said: tudies in progresss. "With the long completion times re It was no surprise that the hearing also quired for carcinogenic'and other research, became the sounding board for renewed Continued on Page 25 lands by some of the witnesses for Con- - -ss to get moving and pass a strong toxic substances control law without delay. But it also served as ajplace for the plas- `it is most important that'what is done is' :right rather than to advance the start of a.less than ideal experiment." [ Testimony that could prove damaging to the future of vinyl chloride was given the shearing by Dr. Joseph Wagoner, director of field studies and clinical investigations of the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, Department of Health,1 Education tc Welfare. Reporting on mortality and morbidity in vestigations among vinyl chloride workers at two vinyl chloride polymerization facili ties, Dr. Wagoner said the deaths of 109 workers between 1950 and 1973 were re viewed. This was slightly more deaths (four) than would have been expected, he said, and the deaths from specific causes, were not much different than expected in all but on disease category - cancer. Follow-up studies and tracing of other workers during this period at the facilities is still going on, he said, but at this stage of the research a "fifty-seven percent in-! crease in deaths due to cancer beyond what would have been expected has already been: observed. "When one looks at the make-up of these , excess cancer deaths, it is seen that theyt are not limited to any single organ system. An excess cancer mortality is observed for the respiratory system, the blood forming tissues, and the brain and central nervous system. * The number of deaths from liver cancer' in this population was almost twelve times the number expected. Strikingly, the ma jority of these excess cancer deaths did not occur until fifteen or more years after first exposure to vinyl chloride. This latent per iod is consistent with other observations on occupational cancer. "Three points in particular are notewor thy about this study. First of all, the overall mortality risk is at variance with an earlier reported industry-wide study of vinyl chlo ride employees which showed a deficit in total mortality because of a disproportion ate number of recently hired employees. Secondly, the results of this study are consistent with a mortality study by Mt. Sinai School of Medicine at nother vinyl chloride polymerization facility showing. excess cancer and excess total deaths using. the same study criteria. Finally, these results corroborate the an imal experimental findings of Dr. Maltoni showing multiple organ involvement.'' S U IL X Z S Z T