Document k63wDjKvXaMYjbp6rqK4x42qb

UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS P. O. BOX 471. TFXASCITY, TtiAS 71 `JO February 13, 1979 TO ALL TEXAS CITY UNION CARBIDE EMPLOYEES This letter is being sent to you in keeping with our policy to advise you of note worthy activities at this plant. It is not intended to alarm you nor do we believe there is a cause for immediate, undue concern. On December 13, 1978 and January 8, 1979, representatives of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) visited the Texas City Plant to investigate our loading of tank cars and 55-gallon drums. In addition, they took air samples and questioned some employees. To date, OSHA has not informed us of the results of their Inspections. The visits were in response to a request from a former employee who was concerned about what he thought was an excessive number of brain tumors in the Chemical Shipping Area. There is no evidence at this time that any brain tumors have been the result f onthe-job exposures. We have begun our own investigation and have made a preliminary examination of the available death certificates for former employees, including retirees, tfe have found 10 instances where a brain tumor was listed as the immediate cause of death out of 455 known deaths since 1941. We have also learned of one current employee who has a diagnosis of a primary brain tumor. To establish whether there is an unusual incidence of brain tumors, a great deal more in the way of analysis must be done. For example, we must (1) verify the diagnosis on the death certificates; whether it was by autopsy or surgical biopsy; (2) determine whether the brain was the primary site or whether the cancer spread to it from some other part of the body; (3) trace former employees; and (4) compare all the researched data with national, state and county incidence figures. This will require a full-scale epidemiology study, which is an attempt to correlate causes of death and employee work histories to see if certain exposures give rise to any unusual incidence of death from cancer or any other cause. Our preliminary analysis of the work histories of employees who reportedly died from brain tumor shows no common Job assignment or exposure. An epidemiology study will be undertaken either by us, using an outside contractor expert in these matters, or possibly by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health,the technical arm of OSHA. Representatives of this agency will be at our plant today for some preliminary discussions. In the interim, we will continue to operate in full compliance with all Federal and State regulations, as well as our own health and safety standards which are more stringent than those imposed by government agencies. We intend to keep you advised as the epidemiology study plans develop, and of any significant data resulting from the study as it progresses. /gt UCC 053563 To C&P Plant Managers Mr. J. G. Beckman Mr. A. W. Boyd Mr. D. L. Goris Mr. J. A. Grady Mr. H. K. Karavan Mr. W. W. McManus Mr. P. Granger Mr. T. L. Rapp C&P Engineering Directors Mr. C. D. Aikman Mr. L. L. BisseCt Mr. R. S. Greeson Mr. R. D. Stief cc: Mr. J. M. Fallon Dr. D. H. Glenn Dr. E. Q. Hull Mr. B. G. Perry Mr. A. G. Voress UCC 053564