Document dYb1enzR4v6DZVpexRYJ75Y00

ST0I6I550 R&s 020382 THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY February 9, 1987 MIDLAND, MICHIGAN 48674 TO: R. Axe (Pittsbura, CA) * L. Bollinaer (2020 BTda) K. L. Burgess (1803 Bldg) D. Calvin (566 Blda) R. R. Cook (1803 Bldg) M. F. Currier (Plaquemine, LA) R. L. Daniel (Freeport, TX) S. L, Dombrowski (2020 Bldg) R. D. Egedahl (Sarnia) R. J. Fike (1803 Bldq) P. J. Gehring (2030 Bldg) M. R. Gondek (Pittsburg, CA) J. Gootee (Legal - WSB) S. Gorgacz (474 Bldg) E. A. Gresch (WSB) R. L. Haaerman (1803 Blda) F. D. Hoerger (1803 Bldg) H. Kaipert (Horgen) J. M. Lanham (1803 Blda)* J. E. LeBeau (1803 Bldg) F. R. Lehman (47 Bldg) T. E. Lipps (607 Blda) M. A. Makulski (Leaal WSB) J. Mann (1602 Bldg)* J, B, Martin (2030 Blda)* D. D. McCollister (1803 Bldg) E. A. McLaren (1803 Bldg) J. Mier (47 Blda) B. H. Miller (1803 Bldg) R. J. Moolenaar (1803 Blda) G. W. Olsen (1803 Bldg) P. M. Pankratz (2020 Blda) C. N. Park (1803 Blda) L. W. Rampy (1803 Blda) D. A. Rausch (1803 Blda) L. W. Reeves (433 BldaJ F. L. Sabel (258 Bldg) J. H. Saunders (Freeport, TX) H. Schumacher (Horgen) R. J. Shellenberger (Freeport, TX) W. Sobel (1803 Bldg) P. G. Watanabe (1803 Blda) B. A. Weaver (2020 Bldg) SOBJECT: AN UPDATE OF MORTALITY AMONG CHEMICAL WORKERS EXPOSED to vinyl chloride----------------------------------------- Attached is a copy of the abstract for a protocol "AN UPDATE OF MORTALITY AMONG CHEMICAL WORKERS EXPOSED TO VINYL CHLORIDE". This protocol has received final clearance and the study is now underway. If you have need for a copy of the complete protocol, please contact me. ^ Gregory G. Bond Epidemioloay, H&ES Phone: 6-9063 ^Member of the EPIDEMIOLOGY INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD aag RESTRICTED FOR USE WITHIN THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY ABSTRACT An Update of Mortality Among Chemical Workers Exposed to Vinyl Chloride Protocol No. EPI-DR-9999-9999-2386 Bond GG, McLaren EA, Sobel W, Sabel FL, Lipps TE, and Cook RR We propose to update an earlier study by Ott et al^ of Michigan Division employees potentially exposed to vinyl chloride (VC/PVC) with an additional nine years of mortality follow-up through 1982. Included for study are 594 male employees identified as having worked in monomer, homopolymer, or copolymer VC/PVC operations between 1942 and 1960. Comparisons of observed cause-specific mortality in the cohort will be made with expected levels based on 1) the U.S. male population, adjusted for race, age, and calendar year, and 2) all other Michigan Division male employees, adjusted for race, age, interval since entry into follow-up, and pay status (hourly or salary). Special focus will be directed at deaths from cancers of liver (specifically angiosarcoma), biliary system, and brain, as well as from emphysema, because prior toxicology or epidemiology studies suggest associations between these conditions and VC/PVC exposure. We anticipate separating subjects into subgroups defined by exposure intensity and duration for testing dose-response relationships. Potential limitations of the study include a relatively low statistical power to rule-out moderately sized increased risks for the diseases of interest, and potential confounding by cigarette smoking. Nevertheless, the study should provide useful information for placing the possible risks faced by these workers into better perspective. R&s 020383 o c c c c