Document jBmr93V8NG7OgLrDvjEv4bzDR

. . ,1H WASHJXCTOS POST- ----.-- " vsiatsa^^assisscss^ A13 JOT* ' ladyear. n s, '- By Morten hfiatz WcifilacKO ?* 5V*fi wTSW Prelimlnar? ssonltcciog around irrfiu*ltial plants that produce toxic viayi chloride --? Worldwide. 13 cases of an* ; or iSat cotisbrt lie gas to T_r^ cosarcoma oi tbs liver nave ia oc-susod clastic, found co :.:V-^ bees confirmed st acclisics scientific evidence ol tta> ^ producing polyvinyl chlorine s cr-s in the atmosphere which 'i-r:; for pooao^raah records, ficor ; > pc-w tarn lainicect hazard'' to : ^ tiles, elocL^cal insulation ftbd i people living la lie vicinity, i-miny other use*. - the Environmental Protection . l.*t eaco case v:ctifn bad Asency said yesterday. : -However, prudence dictate# ttaat reasonable steps should /: be proapilr taken to reduce }TnyI chloride emission* to the ! lowest practical level.'' ZPA I Administrator Rosseil . ; Train said. ; He tjiet with senior execo- 1 lives of the 23 corepanies that itaazttlaciufe the ess r:*i the^ f plastic. polyvinyl eblende. to'- ssKr.g^;--'1 RtSSSLL TRAIN . . . called aseetrag -. been rorvatec*y wcoseo ot? vuitz*ny years to fcigh esceentra- -^tjeos o the ga.%. Tee cosaifeii:-:Jiiy that the jaa figured m the deata from 1ms- canrer c?{ sev^ X--2 eral noE-worsars is being in-.^vesticated. :\i Tram, at 7i-< meet?n^ with rr^the executive?, c-mphaaized the : '^1 preliminary catare cf the ffcni^jiass, saying thst only a 2is> !yre a strp-v? in efforts to* -| i B3ttse viayi chloride has."^sted lOTsber of ?ampies -s-aa ! | raoaitaite discharge of the ?*? i vj ;beea siruagty implicated aaf : joto the environment He said *- =.* the cans* of a rare bat latai: $ taasa at evb faclits'.'nnd that seteofrtbgeal acd tompem- j i i afterward that they bad a**t ; form of cancer, angiosarcoma ;'tart condrtioss suriog ] \ sored their cooperation* ? j -of the S?, the Occspau&nal: j monitoring varied. j Train called the ranting &f*; i ;Sessth and Safer? AdEsicisL-n- Hs ev& lost the levels cf vj- Iter reviewing a summary of-; '?*tion has act an eers?ccy Jnyl chloride ia'the air findu- > : the preHmirsry monitoring re- ? ': -temporary standard lor wortc*; ::3te sbarpsv wnb seta, astepia J : suits in the teizhborboods of ] 5places of 50 ppm, but has pro- " as the periodic opening cf r?- ? 12 plants grouped in seven!: r-t: poeed to Iowa* the standard actor kettle*, accidental oiaa* \ 1 chemical complexes. j? ^ ior soB-sHts to whatever lew!; `'discharge* and changes in pro- i j Mof^e than Sopes* cent ef 12ms; - j at whtcb the gas' can bo se- . dactioa processes ! samples collected within a ^Itscted. ...,,-' ft EPA moniloring l tea* ^ idius cf a half-mile of the* checked watar Cischarges and \ ,?plants' property lice* cop-? - sludge from loe plants fa the if tailed vinyl chiwide at a level ^ survey, but found c-O fca*i at > !of te&j than 1 part per million,: this time for ccnsjdsrfcs* that : the accsey reported. In one: :7I tb* vinyl chloride leveu ; jce. 2.6 ppzo was recorded? X handled properly 2r hazard- ! i three miles away although *ev-: i.i ouj> to human hcsdtb cr aqsat- v Ural readings averaged only ^ .- le 2>ie*." Tram said :05ppm. I At font* of the complexes--j Tram ba* cited tbs difficul- r .: .tie* incurred m setting hard - ! at Lopisville. Ky., Less Bosch, `Calif., Painesrtlie, Ohio. and; Piaqufemine, La.--s number ci'r . ; data oa vmyl ch'eside ss sa -. ^largest argument ior gtrln? ? ' th 5 ' samples showed more than Ji- - proposed w^*r toxic ecb- : ppm. At the 5.5". Goodtica plant at Louisville, wbes-e the . stan-ces imis.'stjoa. which h,*s .been languishing 13 a Houso- average ranged between 0-5:ar.d 1 ppm. so apparent &ae-f . Senate oonfersr.ee committve. lime hish of 33 pptn was rec*v- forded. The other sites room-;, zorod were at Ueisware Cjty. ;* r DeL> Hemic jrtoa. N4., esd Lo- ;'nr>:r:.t*r _- .:2,4 1>> 5 9 0. 0 r1 USITCD STATES SUl'mOMWE.tTAl. PS0TECT1OH agmct ' MMWOH, D.C, o PPTASC (! PA'D M.. tA>tAf,KAiAa T`L pmOTrc tloM ACCttfT ..,-iS3 Arht {202} 755-0720 O'lhf-ill {203} 755-0344 FOB 5-ELSAS5 AFTER 6 P.M. , E.5.T., TDESSAY, JURE 11, 1574 epa urges pkohft steps sy chemical xmasruv to reduce vxim. mmtm~sm~&iissiam ' " : Russell S. Train, E?A Administrator, mot today with senior executives of the 29 companies which manufacture vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride, rosin to urge accelerated efforts to minimise the discharge of vinyl chloride gas into the environ ment. Train recommended prompt tightening 2nd improvement of operating procedures in the manufacturing plants ar.d suggested early consideration of longer-term process modifications. Train requested that each company begin or continue . ' monitoring emissions from its plants In order to provide more extensive information on tho quantities of vinyl chloride entering the environment. EPA will support additional moni toring in cooperation with State and local governments. Train indicated that a number of the companies-represented reported substantial efforts over a period of time to reduce vinyl chloride emissions, as well as monitoring activities,, end ha stated that the companies in general assured ?A of their desire to provide full and continuing cooperation in finding effective solutions to the problem. . Train called today13 masting after reviewing a summary pf EPA's preliminary monitoring result* at seven chemical com plexes, including two vinyl chloride and ten polyvinyl chloride plants. 1 {pore} N k-h fset >V*- V yr*> CPA rOfiM 55I).| JSSi/, &-72J U fw***#!* Cfcjwsjp, o o Ni -2- Train stated, "There is no scientific evidence to indicate that these emissions posa an iKc.ir.cnt hazard to people living near these plants, However, prudence dictates that reasonable steps should ha promptly taken to reduce vinyl chloride amissions to the lowest practical level." ._ lit today's treating. Train briefly summarized the results of the SPA1 c recent monitoring efforts. Be stressed the pre liminary nature of the findings. "Only a limited number cf saiftples Ware tsxen st each facility under varying meteorological and temperature conditions," Train said. "While we are rea sonably confident that our monitoring methods Were sound, it -is difficult to generalise about ambient conditions from our samples which ware limited in tine end distribution. Also there were many opportunities for error in the individual measurements made in this pioneering effort. It is clear that considerable additional work is required before we have an ' accurate aicturc of the_v-inyI...oh1-pride levels in the ambient air." ' On May 31, ERA requested the manufacturers to provide detailed technical and economic information concerning steps that have been and could be taken to reduce vinyl chloride - emissions. The information, due June 14, is being sought under Section 114 of toe Clean Air Act for possible, use by EPA in sotting an air pollution control standard for vinyl chloride. The preliminary monitoring results, which should be further verified by additional monitoring, indicate that the levels of vinyl chloride in the ambient air near the plants fluctuate sharply, apparently due to the periodic opening of polyvinyl chloride reactor kettles, accidental plant discharges, varia tions in the production process, and meteorological conditions. While almost all of the samples collected contained detectable . levels of vinyl chloride, more than 95 percent of the samples showed amounts lass than 1 part per million (ppm).. At several of the chemical complexes tested, a number of individual air samples showed more than 1 ppm vinyl chloride. one-time high of 33 ppm was obtained at one site although repeated sampling at this Site indicated that this level was unusual. The average at this site was in the range of 0,5 to 1 ppm. A {more) i . N K CoO o u -3- Host of the air sampling was done within one-half mile of the property lines Of the plants. In ons case a level of 3.4 pom was recorded at a distance of three milas itora the plant, yha average of several readings at this site was approximately 0.5 ppm. -, EPA also monitored water effluents, and levels varied considerably depending on the in-plant handling of wastes and treatment of wastewater. The highest level for wastewater leaving the plant site was Z0 ppa. More typically, levels of 2 to 3 ppm were found. There is no currently available evidence to indicate that vinyl chloride is present in detectable levels in drinking water. Not unexpectedly, the levels of vinyl chloride'entrapped in sludge and other solid wastes from the reactor kettles ranged from 100 to in one case 3,000 ppm. "At the present time," Train said, "there is no basis for considering that the levels of vinyl chloride detected in water discharges or in sludge if handled properly are hazardous to human health or to aquatic life." . As a precaution, EPA has initiated programs to gather fur ther information concerning vinyl.chloride levels in effluent water, drinking water, and sludgesj the persistence of vinyl chloride in water; and the effects, if any, of vinyl chloride On aquatic organisms. Vinyl chloride has been strongly implicated as a cause of a rare but fatal form Of cancer, angiosarcoma of the liver. _'i'o date, 19 cases of angiosarcoma have been confirmed worldwide in workers at polyvinyl chloride facilities. In all of these cases, the workers had been repeatedly exposed to high levels of the gas ovsf a substantial number of years. It has also been suggested that vinyl chloride may be implicated in several non-worker deaths from this liver cancer, whether vinyl chloride is the cause of these deaths is still being investi gated.. *. (more) 1 B. HUr O 8 . P.esult3 frcn animal studies, many of which ere still in progress, have shown that.prolonged exposures to levels of 50 pDE cause this same liver cancer in rats and mice, Train also noted today that the industry recently expanded its support of these studies or, the health implications o vinyl chloride at lower doses and urged continued efforts in- this regard. EPA is plashing to support epidemiological studiss in some neighborhoods near i'inyi chloride and polyvinyl chloride plants to further assess too implications of vinyl chloride emissions ..for the general public. . . The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (0SBA) of the Department of labor, responsible for worker safety, has determined that levels exceeding 50 ppm in the work place pre sent a hazard and has set an emergency -temporary standard at that level- To initiate the process for setting a permanent . standard, on liny 10, OSHA proposed lowering the standard to the level of detection. Public hearings to gather information for a permanent standard and to assist DSIia in mating a final judg ment as to the adverse effects of vinyl chloride and the appro priate levels of exposure to workers, have been scheduled by OSIfA for June 25-2S. Detailed reports oh EFA sampling activities at Leominster, Louisville, Plaqiicmine and Long Beach are av .liable today. Detailed reports concerning the other three complexes are in the final Stages of compilation and will be available Within several Ml _ N) cn C) C/1 VINYL CHLORIDE AND POLYVINYL CHLORIDE MANUFACTURING COMPLEXES MONITORED BY EPA REGIONAL OFFICES DURING NA~i 1S74 Louisville, xy. PVC Plant The B.P. Goodrich Company 3. P. Goodrich Chemical Company Leominster, Mass. PVC Plant Borden, Inc. Borden Chemical Division * Plaquenine, La. PVC Plant VC Plant The Goodyear Tire s Rubber Company Chemical Division Dow Chemical Company Long Beach, Calif. PVC Plant - The B. P. Goodrich Company B- F. Goodrich Chemical Company ' PVC plant VC Plant American Chemical Corporation American Chemical Corporation Painasville, Ohio PVC Plant PVC Plant Delaware, City Delaware pvc Plant PVC Plant Flemington, H.J. PVC Plant Uniroyal, Inc. Uniroyal Chemical Division Sobirtfcech, Inc. Stauffer Chemical Company Plastics Division Diamond Shamrock Corporation Diamond Shamrock Chemical Co. . Tenneco, Inc. Tennaco Chemicals, Inc- ROTES: Water effluent samples were also collected at the PVC plant o union Car bide Corporation, Chemical and Plastics Division, in__S. Charleston, K, Va. Sampling was attempted but was infeasible due to. limited time and equip ment difficulties at the PVC plants of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Com pany, Firestone-Plastics Company, in Perryville, Kd. and Poitstown, bo. Very limited air sampling was conducted in the Houston area in the vicinity of the plants listed"below. -However, in view of tha inadequacy of this activity, the sampling effort in this area is being continued. Deer Park, Tex., PVC Plant - Diamond Shamrock Corp., Diamond Shamrock chain. Deer Park, Tex., VC Plant - Shell Chemical Co., Industrial Chemicals Div. Houston, Texas, VC Plant - Tennecc, Inc., Tenneco Chemicals, Inc, Pa3aaenia, Texas, VC Plant - Ethyl Corporation >j 159008 VINYL CHLORIDE AND POLYVINYL CHLORIDE KANLTACTUKEF. CONTACTED 3Y EDA AIR PRODUCTS ASD CHEMICALS, INC. AMERICAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION BOKOES CHEMICAL, INC. CONTINENTAL OIL COMi'ANY DIAMOND SnftMROCS CHEMICAL COMPANY ETHYL CORPORATION FIRESTONE PLASTICS COMPANY GENERAL TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY B. F. GOODRICH CHEMICAL COMPANY GOODYEAR TIRE AND ROBBER COMPANY GREAT AMERICAN CKEiSrCAL COMPANY HOOKES CHEMICAL KEYSOJl-CESTURY CORPORATION MONSANTO COMPANY NATIONAL STARCH AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION OL1N CORPORATION TITS PANTASOTE CO. OP SEN YORK. INC. ROSlNTEda, INC. STAUFFER CHEMICAL COMPANY TENNECO CHEMICALS, INC. UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION UNIROYAL INCORPORATION UNIROYAL INCORPORATED ALLIED CHEMICAL CORPORATION DON CHEMICAL COMPANY MONOCHEM, INC. PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. SHELL CHEMICAL COMPANY GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION .CERTAIN-TEED PRODUCTS (PVC plant under construction) ~-,y vr.' >; Copies to: A. Vittone R. D. Scott J. L. Nelson E. W. Harrington H. Waltemate B. K. G. Zwicker G. Pow W. J, Wilcox P. J. Weaver R. B. Downey E. B. Osborne R. P. Kenney - A, L. Hatfield - C. R. Flynn