Document gbQryjpm6xokaK6bJJOe79959

A Historical Account of Dows INTRODUCTION liulustry is often accused of doing nothing to pmteet the public from the hazards of its pioducts unless rct;iiircd I1' law to do iO. While a fev. com Environmental panies may he guilty ;i- charged.. this is simply not true of the great ntajonty. T he people who down Stewardship grade the conscience of industry have little concep tion of the comprehensive and continuing testing and evaluation programs--often begun decades ago -- which many companies carry out to ascertain the EUGENE E. KENAGA health and environmental effect' of their products and to meet their moral responsibilities. Indeed much of the data on w hich safety laws are based was From on internal report, Dow Chemical U.S.A.. Jane. 1976 first developed hv private industry, and industty scientists have often served on committees drawing up laws and regulations. Dow's own program of testing and evaluating the safety of its products began a futlf-ceniury ago. As our knowledge grew, our arsenal of safety tests increased, many of the additions being specia1 tests for special situations. These early toxicological dis coveries were paralleled by new developments in industrial hygiene, plant engineering and operational procedure*, occupational medicine, analytical chemistry, and other disciplines supporting enviion- mcRtuI evaluation. Collectively, a philosophy of responsibility toward the well-being of employees, customers, and the general public has evolved and grown stronger. This paper summarizes some of Dow's more note worthy pioneering achievements in the field of prod uct safety and identifies the individuals responsible for them. The contributions ofthesc individuals and others like them extend far beyond the examples cited. They have, for example, exerted an important influence upon public policy regarding health and the environment, upon industrial and university re searchers. and upon government scientists and reg ulators. In addition, many of these same people have held key posts in a variety of professional organiza tions concerned with environmental and product safety, often contributing significantly to fh: de velopment by these organizations of test methods for product evaluation. Dow scientists and administra tors take pride in the fact that responsible people it* a stimulating environment can accomplish a great deal--and without government intervention. The dales in this paper usuaiiy indicate when each effort was first undertaken rather than when it was described in a report. A study of the Dow reports provides an interesting insight into the dedication of the early workers. Reports are preceded by months of work and in some eases by as much as It) veins ot 'ft. effort. 921001 RoyvVerK t l/i\li)ruti/ t crown <>f I)ok\ I'nuiiisi s,, HI /,./' THE 1920's 1927. Dow had been selling inorganic insecticide* for years, hut now. at the institution of President Herbert !!. Dow. established quality control in in secticide packaging. THE 1930's 1933. A Biochemical Research Laboratory headed by Dr. Don D. Irish ;is established at the instigation of President Willard H. Dow to investigate the potential effects of chemicals on human beings and organisms. 1934. Dow and the United States Public Health Service signed an agreement concerning the use of toxicity warning labels for carbon disulfide and aniline. Lcland 1 Doan represented the company in this matter. During the same year, the company formed a Safety Department to implement improved engineering and work practices resulting ir. greater safety. Department members included Clarence E. Rice and Samuel R. MacCutcheon. 1934-1935. A mammalian toxicity laboratory was established to study the possible deleterious effects of chemicals and chemical intermediates. The labo ratory carried out skin absorption, skin irritation, andacuieoral toxicity studies. It ikewisc conducted industrial hygiene investigations aimed at leeognizing. evaluating, and controlling industrial hazards, and at anticipating hazards related to chemical han dling and exposures. 1935. George E. Lynn and Thomas J. Powers began to investigate ways of reducing the discharge of loxic effluents into the Tittabawassee River in Midland. The lirst industrial use of bacteria to de grade phenolic w astes was begun, and fish were first used for bioassay purposes. Effluent samples from chemical waste lines were collected and analyzed in an attempt to locate the sources of effluents and to define methods of waste treatment. 1935. Coded experimental chemicals were submit ted to J. Franklin Kagv. a graduate student at Iowa State University. wIhj evaluated them a> insec ticides. The samples were designated as K-l. K.-2. etc. This system.developed by Edgar C. Britton. D. D. Irish, and William W. Allen, is still utilized as a simplified method of indexing chemicals. 1936. The company hired its first medical doctor. Harold H. Gay. and began studying the clinical symptoms caused by exposure to lead. 1937. E. M. Adams. Howard C. Spencer, and Vcrald K. Rowe began studying the elToctsof chlogiqaled hydrocarbons and insect fumigants upon mammals in order to set early threshold levels for safe human exposures 1938. V. K. Rowe and H. C. Spencer obtained toxicology dal.ion Dow pioductsand then discussed the data with the Food and Drug Administration, even though the company was not required todo so. During this same year. Dow toxicologists first tested materials for their cancer-producing potential on susceptible mice over a period of six months, and likewise studied the effects of various compounds on the metabolism of the animals. H. C. Spencer and Dorses R. Mussed were the individuals involved in the latter programs. THE 1940's 1941. D. D. Irish. E. M. Adams. V. K. Rowe, and H. C. Spencer carried out the first metabolism studies with fumigants on animals. 1941-1942. Investigations were begun to ascertain the effect of chronic (6-month) industrial exposures to lead arsenate and other lead compounds. These investigations involved studies of blood and urine, including analyses of urine for its lead content, investigators included H. H. Gay and D. R. Mussed. 1945. W. J. Hansen began soil residue studies with pesticides. 1946. The company replaced its "First Aid" de partment w'ith a full-scale Medical Department staffed by Drs. H. H. Gay and H. R. Gordon. W. H. Beamer prepared the first uC-labeled pesticide C4CCU for use in animal metabolism studies, while V. K. Rowe and H. C. Spencer carried out the first Dow two-year feeding study. This study, on SARAN' film and SARAN molding powder, may have been one of the first two-year feeding studies anywhere. During this same year. Dow built its First rotary kiln incinerator for wastes. 1948. Harold R. Hoyle. Dow's first full-time indus trial hygienist, was hired to study the effects of exposing humans to chemicals under working conditions. Late in the year, the company first began the continuous monitoring ofair jwlluia/ils in a produc tion plant by use of instrumentation. This instrumen tation. developed by Ormond E. Barstow. H. R. Hoyle. R. F.. Schneider, and Parke B. Brown, and used to monitor CClt vapors in the aspirin plant, may have Iteen the first continuous monitoring instru mentation employed anywhere. Also in 1948. William C. Bauman informed Dow management that production work with chloromcthyl ether should be carried out in a complete enclosure and by remote control. This recommenda tion predated by jears the knowledge of the car cinogenic nature of this product. ri.iticm.uk ol l lie IXh\ t hernial Company .ihmuJ. 92100' R c vv V er i< 173 I.anit l)'\po\ct of Solid VVViife 174 THE 1950's A >i\-monih inhalation study on vinyl chloride, 1951. W. J. Hansen studied the persistence of pesticides in soil, and K. C. Uarrons the persistence of herbicides in water. G. E. Lynn and VV. J. Hansen conducted plant residue studies involving pesticides. 1951-1953. Arthur W. Winston. Jr., began to con duct LC-,,i acute fish toxicity studies involving effluent and pesticide chemicals. 1952. V. K. Rowe. D. D. McCollister. H. C. Spencer. C. M. Adams and D. D. Irish began carry ing out the first inhalation toxicity studies on humans. 1954-1956. The company formed a hearing conser vation committee, instituted an annual audiometric testing program for employees, and began monitor ing the duration. intensity, and frequency of in-plant noise. These activities were carried out *by E. J. Schneider. Howard E. Ode. and representatives of the Safety and Engineering Department. 1950-1957. Dow began monitoring the gases in the air breathed by individuals fumigating for soil, grain, and household pests. This program, conducted by H. R. Hoyle, J. E. Peterson. E. J. Schneider, and Larry Maxwell. affords an excellent illustration of the company's concern for the health and safety of customers using its products. 1957-1958. The company built a high-tempcrature, water-scrubbed incinerator to burn industrial wastes and plastics. Construction of the incinerator, the largest in the world, was under the direction of Charles Sercu. The unit made it possible to com pletely destroy highly toxic, stable materials other wise difficult to dispose of. 1959. Human exposure studies were undertaken to determine the effectsof solvent vapors at concentra tions below the accepted threshold limits of toxicity. Exposed air and blood were chemically analyzed and the results utilized as indicators of the extent of exposure. Dow personnel responsible for the pro gram included Ben B. Holder. Richard Stewart. Ted R. Torkelson, Duncan Early, H. H. Gay. Arnold W. Schaffer, and Carl L. Hake. conducted by T R. lorkelson. V. K. Rowe and H. R. Hoyle, caused Dow to lower its indust rial hygiene guideline for the produet to 50 ppm and to eontrol vapors in production plants. 1963. Dow became the first company to store activated waste sludge in underground formations of porous rock. These formations -- 3800 feet below the surface -- served as sites for the anaerobic diges tion of organic compounds. James L. Teal and Edwin S. Shannon developed and instituted the procedure. 1964. T. R. Tot kelson studied animals to determine the effects of exposure to vapors of known muta genic agents. E. E. Kenaga and A. E. Doty con ducted the company's first simulated-premise studies, measuring the effects, upon the cho linesterase levels in rats, of vapors from insec ticide-treated surfaces simulating house treatments. E. E. Kenaga. John L. Hardy, and JohnC. Ramsey carried out the first fish and Daphnia reproduction tests and the first picloram bioconcentration test with fish and Daphnia in water. 1965. B. Madsen anJ W. B. Crummett determined the /i-octanal-water partition coefficients of various pesticides and compared (he results with the biomag nification of pesticides in the fatty tissues ofexposed animals. The results indicated that partition coeffi cients proved a valid indication of the extent to which biomagnification occurred with stable organochlorine compounds. Virgil B. Robinson and Joseph Molello conducted mammalian teratology and reproduction studies with COYDEN* coccidiostat. These were the firsrsuch tests carried out within Dow. 1966. This year marked the assignment in Dow of the first full-time fish, wildlife, and environmental ecologist. E. E. Kenaga developed an integrated approach to matching the toxicology. environmental residues, and physical and chemical properties of pesticides, while Ronald F. Wukasch. Allen Prince. Don Graham, and Stacy Daniels developed an effi cient phosphate- ;:r.d nitrate-removal process for reconstituting waste water and decreasing algae growth and eutrophication in natural waters. THE 1960's 1967. Charles J. Kramer and John Mutchler correl 1960. Milton E. Getzendancr conducted the com pany's first pesticide residue study on fish. D. Jack Kilian made the first vegetative chromosome muta genic tests, while Wallace V. Seiler and A. W. Schaffer first monitored the air in a commercial dryclcaning establishment for solvent vapors. The latter program provides another example ol Dow s ated the health data of plant employees with airexposure levels of vinyl chloride. E. S. Shannon and Rudy G. Novak were responsible for the first chlori nated liquid organic waste burner built to meet all current applicable air-pollution standards. 1968. Gerald M. Oil. H. L. Gordon, and B. B. Holder instituted a program of computerizing data concern for the well-being of its customers. Trademark of The IXiw Chemical Company. 06UU I Hi\luntnl Aicotmr of t>,,n A Produa S(t iwm!\h '!< on employee dcat.lj in orilcr to determine possible correlations between causes of death and exposure to specific chemicals. This wotk led to the discovery of the carcinogenic potential of arsenic. 1969. Dow's Board of Directors voted to form a corporate Ecology Council under the direction of Chester E. Otis This Council was charged with accelerating and expanding the company's environ mental cfTorts. establishing corporate policies and guidelines, and communicating matters of environ mental importance to all parts of the Company, worldwide. 1969 also saw construction of the first liquid-tar furnace for phenolic-styrene waste dis posal. This furnace, constructed under the direction of Charles Sercu. made it possible to burn such wastes instead of burying them. It had a Venturi scrubber and produced no ashes. TIDE 1970's 1968-197!. F. A. Farbcr. D. A. Rausch. W. L. Dilling. and J. C. Safranski carried out studies on the photodecomposition, hydrolysis, and evaporation from water of trichloroethylene. 1969-1970. Under the direction of Frank Brower. Dow developed a phenoiic-brine treatment process usi -gcarbon adsorption to remove organic materials from sodium chloride brine. The first unit utilizing the process was built as a demonstration model for. and in cooperation with, the Environmental Protec tion Agency. 1970. During 1970. D. J. Kilian conducted the first dominant-lethal mutagenic test carried out in Dow. an analytical met hod for mercury was developed and made public, and C. E. Otis compiled a two-volume literature index-bibliography designed to improve undcrslanoing of the environmental hazards posed by mercury'. Also in 1970. the company announced a goal of designing industrial plants so that air and water contamination would be contained in a closed cycle. This concept--originated by Earle Bai nes -- was first put into practice in 1971. when a plant utilizing cioscd-cycle containment of water went on stream in Dalton. Georgia. 1970- 1976. G. M. Oil. R. R. Holder, and Ralph M. Langner carried out a cohort mortality study of persons employed by Dow's Midland Division as of 1954, investigating possible correlations between mortality and chemical exposure or socioeconomic factors. Their work was the first of this nature published under industry auspices. 1971. Dow President C. B. Branch committed the Company to a "product stewardship" role which involves assessing the environmental impact of products and then taking appropriate steps to protect LI employee and public health and tho environment as a whole. This cumiiiitinoit was formalized by the Dow Ecology Council on May 2. 1972. and included specific product stewardship goals (see page 144 ). Further instructions to research and development, manufacturing and marketing personnel were ennunciated March |. '97?. 1971. R. W. Meikle. J. W. Hamaker. C. R. Youngson. R. T. Hcdlund. D. A. Laskowski. and N. H. Kurihara reported the first interrelated set of experi mental designs for determining the environmental fate and impact of chemicals in soil and water. 1971 (April 21). A corporate Dow Environmental Testing Advisory Board (ETAB) was formed by J. E. Johnson to advise all company functions and man agement levels of the possible environmental effects of products and of new or changed processes. ETAB collected standard test procedures, analyzed data for possible gaps, and trained product department personnel to evaluate the environmental effects of their chemicals. Charles W. Hinman. Ray A. Gaska. Charles G. Kramer. W. B. Crummett, and E. E. Kenaga served on the first executive committee. 1971 (September 3). C. E. Otis. Dan R. MacDougall. W. R. Crummett. Richard J. Koctba. Perry J. Gehring. and Donald R. Peterson issued a written statement entitled "Possible Environmental Con tamination from Chlorinated Organic Waste Prod ucts." warning industry and government of the potential hazards of hexachlorobcnzene and hexachlorobutadiene. 1971- 1972. John Zillich and HewtrilAlexandcr made the first Dow use of chronic fish toxicity tests in dynamic systems, studying toxicity of Dow effluents before they entered the river. P. J. Gehring. V. K. Rowe. B. A. Schwetz. and D. A. Rausch carried out inhalation teratology studies on CHLOROTHENE*. 1972. Dow issued a comprehensive compilation of Global Pollution Control Guidelines and Goais for internal usage. C. E. Otis had charge of this project. 1972- 1975. Dow was the first industry to conduct an extensive human health study as port of a prod uct-stewardship program carried out with a custom er. Burlington Industries. Two matched groups of 150 people, one exposed and one not exposed to CHLOROTHENE. were given medical health exams, and ait samples taken from industrial areas were analyzed in order to evaluate human safety. This program was carried out hy Charles M. Kramer. G. M. On. Jed E. Fulkerson, and Nancy Hicks. 1973. The Health and Environmental Research l<;ulcinurk of Ihc Dow (. hcmic.il ( twnpony. CWH I 175 Don 1'niicy and l'hiln\ophy 176 Department was formed October 22. 1972. under ing is controlled automatically by computer tcoal to Ktcyf H. Blair to investigate industrial and oilier oil). Edgar iTcd) M. Ilgcnlritz and Jack M. Brown hazards to man and (he environment from Dow s devised the system. chemicals. This was another step in implementing 1974. Dow became the first company to use terti strong product stewardship. P. J. Gehring and D. A. ary-stage w aste stabilization for water. This compu Rausch began metabolism studies which indicated ter-controlled operation, designed by S. Douglas vinyl chloride has a threshold level in causing Hall and E. S. Shannon, features upstream anil cancer. downstream monitoring of water pollutant levels. It 1974. At the fifth annual Environmental Honor eliminates residual BOD. TOC. thermal load. and Award Program for U.S. corporations, a jury of fish toxicity, producing water that exceeds the treat professional environmentalists awarded Dow top ment standards set by the 1977 EPA guidelines and honors for making product stewardship an environ those for NPES permits. mental way of life. 1974 (January 1). Dow broke ground for a two 1974. The company built the country's first supple million dollar expansion of its toxicology laboratory' mentary energy system for powerhouses. The com in Midland. This expansion was completed in 1975. puter-controlled system allows coal-burning 1975 (May 5). Dow participated in formation of the powerhouses to switch to oil whenever meteorologi Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (CUT) to cal conditions would otherwise result in excessive expedite testing of chemicals, complementing other stack emissions. With this system, stack emissions toxicology studies. Malcolm E. Pruitt represented meet ambient air standards at all times. The switch Dow in these activities. 921001 RowVerK (wa:.'