Document gDLmrN6OOnmVDzk5Qj2EezxrG

MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION 1825 CONNECTICUT AVENUE. N. W. WASHINGTON. D. C. 20009 (202) 483-6126 : OHC-36 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting Celanese Corporation Conference Room New York, April 7, 1970 New York MEMBERS PRESENT , E. M. Dixon, M. D., Chairman N. V. Hendricks, Vice Chairman E, E. Christofano i K. S. Lane, M. D. I G. J. Levinskas W. A. McClellan, M. D. I R. W. McNab ! F. L. Oglesby , J. A. Pendergrass ( J. H. Wolfsie, M. D. ' K. D. Johnson, Secretary I GUESTS PRESENT J. Hogan, M. D. 1 MEMBERS ABSENT I I Mac Roy Gasque, M. D. M. N. Johnson, M. D. W. j. Martin, M. D. W. E. McCormick G. J. Stopps, M. D. T. R. Torkelson Celanese Corporation Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) Hercules Incorporated Union Carbide Corporation American Cyanamid Company Gulf Oil Corporation Wyandotte Chemical Corporation ' Tennessee Eastman Corporation Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. Uniroyal, Inc. Manufacturing Chemists Association Gulf Oil Corporation Olin Corporation Monsanto Company Cyanamid of Canada Limited B. F. Goodrich Company E. I. duPont deNemours & Co. The Dow Chemical Company I* Minutes of the November 6, distributed. meeting were approved as 2. Membership The terms of memberships of M. N. Johnson and J. H. Wolfsie expired with the present meeting; there being no nominations Pending in the medical category, and as both individuals expressed a strong interest in continuing their Committee association, the Committee, by motion duly made, seconded, and carried OHC-37 approved the extension of their appointments: M. N. Johnson, M. D. to April 1974 J. H Wolfsie, M. D. to April 1974 Mr, Kenneth M. Morse, of United States Steel Corporation, whose appointment to the Committee as an industrial hygiene member is pending, sent his regrets that conflicting schedules precluded his attendance as a guest at this meeting. In as much as he is well known to the Committee, and as the next opening in the industrial hygiene category will occur next October, the Committee asked that his name be forwarded to the MCA Board for approval of his nomination without further delay occasioned by his absence from the present session. 3. Task Group Report on Fluorocarbon 113 Mr . Levir.skas summarized the considerations that led the task group to recommend that the contemplated study on chronic exposure of laboratory animals to fluorocarbon 113 be dropped. These included the costs (perhaps $250,000). and the availability of Dupont and Wright Patterson Aerospace human exposure data.. The Committee concurred in the decision not to proceed further at the present time, but asked that a report of the Ameticar, Co. ference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists discussions on this problem be presented at the next meeting. 4 Report on Acroosteolysis Study The Committee expressed approval of the case registry proposal submitted by the University of Michigan, and urged that it be contemplated as a continuing project. They deplored the one-year basis of the present proposal, although they recognized it as a budgetary expedient. The subcommittee was asked to begin preparation of a study proposal providing long-term continuity for the case registry activities at the end of the presently contemplated one-year period. The chairman named the following individuals as an epidemiology subcommittee to prepare the proposal: J H. Wolfsie, M,, D.. G. J. Stepps, M, D. J . A. Pendergrass T R. Torkelson chairman OHC-38 The Committee discussed briefly the drafts of the three technical papers on the project that are now being prepared f for publication. It asked that Mr. McCormick explore with Dr. Dinman the question of editorial revision to improve the clarity of presentation. It also asked that, if feasible, the acknowledgements of MCA and HEW support be made more explicit to identify the elements with which each sponsor was involved. 5. Proposed Revision of 1970 TLV's The concern of the Committee with presently proposed values was that the bases for these values was not receiving adequate identificiation. The subcommittee on toxicology was asked to consider a proposal to prepare a manual for distribution to MCA members. In it, the Committee would offer its interpretation of the documentations provided by the ACGIH, in terms of the effects in the workers the designated levels are set to avoid. Dr. Dixon was asked to proceed immediately with establishing more effective liaison with Dr. Herbert E. Stokinger to secure better exchange of information between the ACGIH and the Committee. Among the proposed changes that motivated the concern over better identification of bases for control were those on formaldehyde (5 ppm, to be reduced to 2 ppm on the basis of eye irritation) and rosin pyrolysis products. The Committee asked that this question be placed on the agenda for the next meeting for further review and discussion. The following subcommittee on toxicology was named by the chairman to consider these problems: E. E. Christofano, J. A. Pendergrass G. J. Levinskas E. M. Dixon, M. D. chairman ^ Federal Legislative Liaison Mr. Christofano reported on a visit that Senator Williams i made to one of their plants at the instigation of the union, rather than in response to a previously offered invitation from management. He indicated a generally favorable response from both the Senator and the press. CMA 039834 | OHC-39 The Secretary was asked to distribute, copies of the present draft of the occupational health and safety bill to the legis lation subcommittee (E. M. Dixon, M. D., E. E. Christofano, and N V. Hendricks). The consensus of the Committee was that prospects for achieving an acceptable bill by further revision of this legislation were not favorable, and that MCA should continue to oppose the undesirable features of this bill as opportunities presented themselves. However, efforts to defeat the present bill, and subsequent introduction of an improved bill, were judged to be the best tactics. 7. Workshops The failure of the proposed March workshop m the Detroit area to attract registrants, and its consequent cancellation, were reported to the Committee. After discussion of the possible reasons for current lack of sufficient interest to bring out attendance, and of alternative methods to get these kinds of information out to those working on industrial health problems at the plant level, it was agreed to place this item on the agenda for the joint meetings of the Safety and Fire Protection and Occupational Health Committees next September, at which time the feasibility of joint workshops could be exp Lored. 8. Safety Data Sheets Dr. Dixon reported that the Safety Data Sheets on I. urochLoric acid, methanol and methyl chloride presented no problems to the Committee. The matter of the proper termihology lor the quaternary ammonium chloride used in treating hydrofluoric acid burns has not yet been resolved. Dr. Lane was reported as now preparing the medical management section on vinyl acetate, and Dr. Stopps as currently reviewing Dow's draft of the tolylr-ne d i - isocyanate write-up. Mr. Christofano requested Committee contributions to the nitrocellulose draft now in its hands. Dr. Dixon rounded the Committee that all members received Uie drafts of the safety data sheets in preparation or revision, and were responsible for submitting their comments to him, who would see that they were forwarded to MCA. A banality from exposure to 1,1,1 trichJoroethane was repotted to the Committee, with a probable etiology of sensitization the myocardium resulting in fatal ventricular fibri1lation. T h a is con j -red to be a rather general hazard from exposure CMA 039835 'i * i -i # OHC-40 to the halogenated hydrocarbons, and the Committee urged that industrial hygiene and occupational medicine practitioners be made more aware of this problem. The designation of any solvent as a "safety solvent" was deplored, as leading to excessive carelessness in use. 9. New Business Mr. Levinskas described the present status of the Toxicity Information Data project at the University of Pennsylvania under the aegis of the National Library of Medicine. He mentioned their present uncertainty as to the relative emphasis that should be placed on breadth versus depth of coverage, and on human, as opposed to environmental, responses. The Committee expressed interest in being kept informed on progress made by the project in resolving these questions. 10. Future Meetings Dr. Dixon announced the invitation that had been extended to the Committee to hold a joint meeting with the Safety and Fire Protection Committee on September 10 and 11 in Montreal, Canada. On motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Committee voted to meet with the Safety and Fire Protection Committee at that time and place. Respectfully submitted, Minutes subject to approval KDJ/ sg 4/13/70 Keriheth D. Johnsonj/Secretary Occupational Health Committee I