Document jyp12rkpB2EvGVK9jXnZm3Ob2

InternCaolrrespondence -7 3M TO: From: SUBJECT: DATE: Clair Murphy - 116-1 - 01-064 Tom Pietrs 22-1 - 01/064 Dean Dworak 41-1 - 01/064 Cliff Ruschmeyer- 116-1 - 01/064 John Pilney- 47-1 - 01/064 Tom Christ - 110-1 - 01/064 Gordon Weum - 47-1 - 01/064 Glenn Damerell- 70-1-01 - 01/064 Larry R. Zobel,M.D., MPH, Sr. OCC Physician Chemolite Examinations,Fall, 1990 May 10, 1991 Four hundred twenty-sixpeople (426)were examinedin the fallof 1990 as part of the SACD surveillanceprogram and ongoingprograms in plant engineering,ISD ChemicalPlywood Plant, Support Services,Incinerator and the guards. The hazardouswaste and emergency response standard required most of the examinationsin the lattergroups. Seventy-six(76) individuals had physical examinationsdone between early Januaryand April of 1991. All examinationshave now been completed. In addition,blood fluoride levelswere done on one hundredtwenty-eight(128)people. This was done in conjunctionwith othertestsand an additionalpanel of hormone levels so that effectsof fluoro-chemicalsin the body could be assessedwith regardto hormnal function. This latterdata has not yet been analyzed. I would liketo give you some overallresults. Individualreportswere mailed last fall and earlythis year or followingtheirhazardouswaste physicalexw..to individualparticipants. Five hundredfive (505)individualswere invitedto participatein one of the examinationprograms. Four hundredtwenty-six(426)examinations were eventuallycompleted. This is a participationrate of 84%. This broke down to twqnty(20)peoplein administrativeservices(primalcily guacds),thirty-fi'v(e35)peoplefrom the SpecialtyChemicalPilot Plant, twenty-eight(28)peoplefrom the Incinerator,twenty-six(26)people from Ilk IndustrialSpecialtiesDivision,one hundredtwenty-one(121)people in Plant Engineeringtone hundred seventy-two(172)people in SpecialtyAdhesives and ChemicalsDivisionand eighteen (18)people in Support Services. Forty-eight (48) femalesand threehundredseventy-eight(378)males participated. Demographicvariablesof interestincludethe following. Overall,29% of all participantswere cigarettesmokers, 29% were ex-c-umkers.Among males, 27% were current smokers,as opposed to 42% of female participants being currentawkers. The averagecholesterollevelfor the plant was 214. The averageLDL cholesterol(the bad cholesterol)was 136. The average ..-HDL,or good cholesterol,was 47. For men the correspondingnumbers are 216, 139 and 46. For women the numbers are 201, 120, and 56. The National Instituteof Health recommendsthat the populationas a whole should attempt to achievetotal cholesterollevelof under 200, and LDL levelsof under 130. The higherthe HDL level is, the more desirableit is. Women tend to have higher HDL levels than men, as evidenced from our data. Five per cent (5%) of both men and women had diastolic blood pressures over ninety (90). This is the number below the line, and people above the level of ninety (90) have been advised to follow up with the nurse and participate in a blood pressure monitoring program. Body mass index, a way of looking at weight in relationship to height, used by the National Institute of Health, has been correlated with health effects. This parameter is defined as body weight in kilograms divided by height in treterssquared. Values over 27.8 in men or 27.3 in women have been associated with adverse health outcomes by the National institute of Health. The average body mass index for men at Chemolite is 27.5 and for women is 25.9. This mean that# according to National Institute of Health data, a significant number of men at Chemolite are overweight to the extent that it may produce adverse medical consequences. Abnormal liver-function tests were defined in thirty (30) people. The total population who had complete liver function tests available was four hundred twenty (420) individuals. Statistical analysis of the distribution of these liver function tests among participating groups indicates no significc-int unexpected numbers in any of the groups studied. Chest x-rays were reported as normal, abnormal, abnormal with no current significance, and, finally, as containing a finding possibly related to past asbestos exposure. Two hundred forty (240) individuals overall had chest x-cays. One hundred thirty (130) were normal, ten (10) were abnormal, sixty-eight (68) contained abnormal findings with no current medical significance, and thirty-two (32) had findings pos@ibly related to asbestos exposure. individuals with findings related to asbestos exposure are currentl-y-bfing seen individually, and the vast majority alrebeing sent to a lung specialist for consultation at Medical DepaLrtment expense. I would now like to break the numbers down by organization within Chemolite that participated in the exam program. Administration This group is primalrily the guards. Among this group, 58% are smokers, 32% are ex-smokers, and only 11% never smoked. Average cholesterol is 220, average LDLecholesterol is 131, and HDL cholesterol is 59. Four individuals had either diastolic or systolic blood pressure elevated above ninety (90) or one hundred forty (140) respectively. one individual had a possible asbestos-related finding on chest x-ray. Imirierator This group consisted of twenty-eight (28) individuals. 59% were smokers, 11% are ex-smokers and 30% have never smoked. The average cholesterol for the group is 203. LDL cholesterol averages 131, and HDL cholesterol ..r-averag4e4s. Six individuals had chest x-ray findings that may possibly be related to asbestos. No individuals with abnormal blood pressure wereidentified. Suppc>rt Service Eighteen (IB) people from Support Services participated. 25% are current smokers, 25% are ex-smokers, and half have never smoked. Average cholesterol is 218. Average LDL cholesterol is 144; average HDL cholesterol is 46. Three (3) people had findings on their chest x-rays that were possibly related to asbestos. Three (3) individuals had abnormal systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Specialty Adhesives and Chemicals Division one hundred seventy-two (172) people participated. 23% are current smokers, 31% are ex-smokers and 43% have never smoked. Average cholesterol is'215. HDL cholesterol averages 48, and LDL cholesterol averages 137. Seven (7) people had chest x-ray findings possibly related to past asbestos exposure. Eight individuals had elevated systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Additionally, in this group liver function abnormalities were studied according to department number which best correlates with the building numbers for the main chemical production buildings. Specifically, Departments 3035, 3036, 3037, 3038 and 3060 were examined in a 5x2 table, according to number of liver function abnormalities. No statistically significant differences across these departrmnts were seen with regard to the occurrence of abnormal liver function amnq participants. Plant Engu-b,--wiN C)nehundred twenty-one (121) individuals from Plant Engineering participated in the examination program. 28% are current smokers, 33% have stopped smoking and 36% never smoked. Average cholesterol for the group is 216. LDL cholesterol averaged 139, and HDL cholesterol averaged 45. Thirteen (13) individuals had chest x-ray findings possibly related to past asbestos exposure. Thirteen (13) individuals were also identified who had abnormalities of either systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Specia.Ityammical Pilot Plant Thirty-five (35) individuals participated from this group. 15% are current smokers, 18% have stopped smoking and 59% have never smoked cigarettes. Average cholesterol is 204. LDL cholesterol average 132, and HDL cholesterol iverages 48. One individual had a chest x-ray result that was possibly related to past asbestos exposure. Two individuals were identified who had either abnormal systolic or abnormal diastolic blood pressure. Indwtrial Specialities Division ..--Twenty-six(26) people participated in the exarnination prc>gram. 39% smked cigarettes, 31% have stopped ar@d31% have never smoked cigarettes. Average cholesterol level is 215. LDL cholesterol level averages 127, and HDL cholesterol averages 46. One individual was found to have a chest x-ray finding possibly related to past asbestos exposure. No findings related to silica exposure were found on any q@est.x-rays. Three people had abnormalities of either systolic or diastolic blood pressure. This examinationinformation can be analyzed in other ways. Please talk with me if you wouldlike any otheranaylsisdone with regardto the overall site or a specificdivision. Thank you very much for your cooperation with this program. I am very interestedin obtainingfeedbackfrom any of you with regard to any aspect of the program that you may wish to comment on. Thank you again for your cooperation and encouraging your eaployees to participate. v:vv cc, n Ro ach John Hodgson Stan Sorenson