Document jmzBGE8BK32OQn7KxJ1Ek87VZ

Monsanto Mentanto Company 800 M- Lindbargh Boulavard St. Louia. Missouri 63)68 Phont: (314) 664-1000 April 10, 1974 Dear Customers On April 5, 1974, the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis tration (OSHA), U. S* Department of Labor published in the Federal Register an "Emergency Temporary Standard for Exposure to Vinyl chloride" (see copy attached)* For the reasons ex plained in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this document, OSHA, by this emergency temporary standard, has lowered the ceiling for atmospheric concentrations of vinyl chloride monomer (VC) from 500 parts per million to a ceiling of 50 parts per million* This document also discusses the uncertainties that exist as to definitive medical and other scientific data to permit conclusive cause and effect relationships, particularly in terms of safe exposure levels for industrial workers While the attachment refers specifically to polyvinyl chloride polymers and co-polymers, the Monflex and polvin (Ethylene Vinyl chloride latices) you purchase from Monsanto are also polymers derived from VC and as such contain residual amounts of vinyl chloride monomer* The levels are such as to suggest the possibility of detectable vapor concentrations in closed storage or in some processing steps involved in the use of these products With the publication of the OSHA temporary standard, we be lieve this information should be brought to your attention* Since we are not entirely familiar with your operating or processing conditions, Monsanto is not in a position to evaluate potential exposure to your personnel* RSV 0021351 01 -2- Your attention ia invited to Section 1910.93 of "Vinyl Chlo ride" on page 12343 of the Federal Register (copy attached) This describes specifically the scope and application of the temporary standard, the necessity for workroom air sampling (monitoring)# record keeping# employee access to information and "compliance" requirements including control of worker exposure. In connection with air monitoring# there is enclosed the "Recommended Interim OSBA Sampling Data Sheet". We presume this has been distributed to OSHA field personnel for their sampling needs. Paragraph 2 (e) refers to the temporary nature of the emer gency standard and reads as follows; "(e) This standard will be in effect for a period of no longer than six months# during which time the whole question of possible safe exposure of humans to VC will be reconsidered more fully and in the light of more information# including experiments which are under way at this time." This indicates that the whole situation is a rapidly developing one and may be subject to change at any time. We think# there fore# that you will want to follow the matter closely and give prompt consideration to the establishment of appropriate moni toring procedures and protective measures that may be required. We wanted to get this information to you as soon as possible. If there are further questions# they should be addressed to either the undersigned or Nr. Fred Sutton# Product Manager# latex binders and we will be pleased to discuss them further. Sincerely yours# WBP/tall W. B. Papageorge RSV 0021352