Document bOyE0qk6vZEpVQnn50wjqodgZ

INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE SOLVENTS & COATING MATERIALS DIVISION P. O. BOX 471, TEXAS CITY, TEXAS 77390 /n-n] November 10, 1982 i-iOV 1 6 1982 To: Susan G, Austin HS&EA P2586 DANBURY - Loc 500 S. G. AUSTIN, Sc.D. I Subject: Departmental Codes ft Attached is the letter to Dr. Hibbard and the departmental code listing as changed January 1, 1954. As I told you on the phone the selection process began by reviewing shift schedules dating back to 1947 of those operators who were scheduled to work in specific vinyl chloride buildings. There was a department code listing for each of the buildings; however, they were never utilized. Product handlers, lab analysts, and laborers were selected by supervision and management using internal list kept in their respective departments and relying heavily on memory. On October 18, 1982, listing by Susan Hart: Ethyleneamines and the Chemicals Laboratory should be deleted as their exposures to vinyl chloride were below the action level. DHG:mm Attachment \ David H. Glenn, M.D. Divisional Medical Director PRIVILEGED AND "CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" ucc 054698 Daniel J. Ross, et ux v. Conoco, Inc., et al cross references: 1 of 3 File NO.: 1395-0128 Phase I (formally Phase II) Box 28 MALIKO, EUGENE ET AL THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL ATTACHEMENT "A" ' TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS CONFERENCE TO OF VINYLCHLORIDE,- POLYVINYLCHLORIDE AND ST MALIKO, ET AL V UCC 51 OF THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL OSHA HEARINGS ON PVC BOX 471 ARTICLES ON VINYL CHLORIDE MONOMER BOX 4 INFO RE: ANSWERS TO INTERROGATORIES BOX PRIVILEGED AND "CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" UCC 054747 4^5 *7^' 6 t'i i tC-'v<, v. b C lc Str'c-^ 6z^?-Sr-r< t-vdec'ffd Icr p/-1 c r C' --x (/kgk -7Ve /, ]c i~) . /je,,k tL*. (ej> -r Y ly i tl-'i. C<_X -'tj &;- ( 2. repC ^ S /^v^5t X- t' / re csr PRIVILEGED AND "CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" ucc 054748 November 16, 1978 Hr. R. L. Hollingshead, Esq. Pitney, Hardin & Kipp 163 Madison Avenue Morristown, NJ 07960 Subject: Maliko et al versus Union Carbide Corporation - Recent Rtiearch on VC/PVC Oear Bob: The following items have been made available to me through the courtesy of Dr. John Stafford, Plastics Division Manager of Health and Environmental Protection, Imperial Chenical Industries. 1. Lewis, Trent et al, "PVC Chronic Inhalation Toxicology Study", National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health", 1977. Stafford, John; Imperial Chemical Industries, Letter with attachments to R. N. Wheeler and others dated October 17, 1978. The subject study of chronic inhalation of dispersion process PVC resin dust showed no evidence of carcinogenicity or pneumoconiosis in monkeys, guinea pigs or rats. This is a poor study in that Geon 121 containing approximately 32 by weight surfactant was used in the test. There is considerable likelihood that if effects had been noted it could have been the result of the surfactant contained in the resin. Since the resin particle size is small enough to assure that the dust was respirable and it was contaminated with surfactant, the absence of serious response is reassuring. Dr. Lewis denies that this was a study of carcinogenicity yet the one year exposure for the rats and guinea pigs certainly would show evidence of carcinogenicity if It were there. 2. Agarwal, D. K. et al, "Some Biochemical and Histopathological Changes Induced by Polyvinyl Chloride Dust in Rat Lung", Environmental Research. 16 pp. 333-341, 1978. Stafford, John; I.C.I., .etter with attachments to R. N. Wheeler and others dated October 17, 1978. PRIVILEGED AND "CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" ucc 056867 Mr. R. L. Hollingshead, Esq. Page 2 November 16, 1978 Dr. G. H. Pigott, in reviewing this paper, states it is confusing and adds little to knowledge on the subject. The data is consistent with a mildly reactive dust and is insufficient to warrant any further conclusions, particularly when the massive dosage is taken into consideration. Intra-trachial Injection of a saline resin slurry cannot be considered a normal mode of ingestion. The small particle size of the resin (5 micron or ) makes it obviously a dispersion PVC resin complete with surfactant content of possibly 3%. 3. Arnaud, A. et al, "Polyvinyl Chloride Pneumoconiosis", Thorax, Vol. 33; pp. 19-25, 1978. This is a clinical study of a 53-year old man who had worked 23 years in the PVC bagging area of a vinyl chloride polymerization factory. He had had a productive chronic morning cough for three years and had begun to notice mild weakness and dysponea. He had smoked cigarettes since age 22. Radiograph showed a diffuse micronodular infiltrate in his chest. Lung tissue obtained via biopsy showed diffuse infiltration with histiocytes and multanucleated giant cells with some collogen formation. Ultrastructural studies showed foreign particles in the macrophages. These foreign particles had the same appearance as PVC powder viewed under the microscope. The particles were 0.3 to 0.4 microns. This is a single case of pneumoconiosis which may be related to PVC dispersion resin dust exposure. 4. Frongia, N. et al, "Experimental Pulmonary Lesions from Prolonged Inhalation of PVC Powders in the Working Environment", La Medicina del Lavoro, Vol. 65, No. 9-10, 1974; (Translated to English 10-20-75 by K. L. Perris). Guinea pigs and rats were continuously exposed 24 hours per day for two to seven months in a PVC bagging operation involving resin with a grain-size of approximately one micron. Atmospheric dust was 7.3 mg/m. Within two months exposure, the guinea pig lungs lobular alveoli were altered by the presence of macrophagic cells. At four months these findings were accentuated. The epithelium lining the bronchial mucosa occasionally appeared flattened. At seven months granulomatose-like foci of histiomacrophagic elements were observed. Frongia concludes that this is a new type of pneumoconiosis. He notes that it would be interesting to see if suspension of the "treatment" would lead to recovery frestitudo ad integrum) or the condition would be unaltered. Frongia's work with animals continuously exposed to a dispersion process PVC does not reflect the normal work conditions even where the dust is 1 micron particle size (this work was noted in The New Scientist, Vol. 26, June, 1975). PRIVILEGED AND "CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" ucc 056868 Mr. R. L. Hoillngshead, Esq. Page 3 November 16, 1978 i The foregoing papers provide considerable support for the theory that respirable PVC dust can cause pulmonary disability and/or pneumoconiosis. Not one study considers the possible synergistic effect of a surfactant and a foreign body In the lungs alveoli. In the Maliko et al case the resin particles are clearly not respirable due to their large size. They also do not contain surfactants. The usefulness of these studies in the Maliko case is limited unless they are referenced by the plaintiffs. I also have In my possession two poorly translated epidemiologic studies, one Italian (1978) and one German (1977) that indict vinyl chloride as a causative agent for many human ills in the PVC industry. The study parameters are not clear and they most certainly do not represent conditions at Amboy Terminallng Company, therefore, I have not attempted to note and discuss them. They can be made available If the need arises. Sincerely, RNWJr:ke Ext. 2164 Attachments (4) cc: Ms. Mary Manetti Mr. J. W. Whittlesey Mr. N. W. Gaines R. N. Wheeler, Jr. PRIVILEGED AND "CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL SUBJECT TO PROTECTIVE ORDER" ucc 056869