Document ka9vr37m07K2qqwVD0xVX6ewq

r ..... ..-- . ... ` .? - DU PONT CONFIDENTIAL SPECIAL CONTROL *. , H. E. Hiestend i R. L. Wright P. M. Humanick/ --i- R. A. Shinn E. T. Fogg J. F. Scott F. J. Meadow S. L. Schenk IkV^ E. 0. WSA "j Lngere J. T* Chesser B. F. Gallowe R. E. Read J. A. Thorouc 22 June 1978 :: i . V To: T. C. Kuchler, Administration Building From: R. 0. R1chardsoivlg94 Building FLUOROSURFACTANTS COMMUNICATION WITH CHAMBERS WORKS EMPLOYEES - . The following schedule has b*een developed for the communication on the presenof organic fluorine substances In human blood plasma (copy attached) to Chambers Wo personnel who handle fluorosurfactants and their Intermediates: Day/Date Time Friday Before 6/23/78 4 p.m. ______________Action Inform Chambers Works Executive Staff that announcement to employees will be made at 10 a.m., 6/27/78. ' 'Responslbil R. D. Richar m .m Tuesday 6/27/78 Before Supervision will be provided with a communica- ' R. D. Richer 4 p.m. t1on message. . After Supervision will Inform Union Leaders 8 a.m. and local Union Representatives R. J. Lyng ChemicalsArea Development Manufacturing Area Jackson & Technical Laboratories R. J. Lyng L. J. Marcot E. 0. Langer Engineering Department)* Environmental & Service Department General Analytical Laboratory)* F. J, Meadow E. T. Fogg R. F. Stalzei 10 a.m. Supervision will inform all personnel who handle or may contact fluorosurfactants and their Intermediates in their assigned work. BEST COPY AVAILABLE Chemicals Area Development Manufacturing Area Jackson & Technical Laboratories (Engineering Department)* (Environmental & Service Department)* (General Analytical Laboratory)* R. J. Lyng oora031 L. J. Marcot E. 0. Langer I F. J. Meadow E. T. Fogg t~oo R. F. Stalze * Empioyees .who are not present at 10 a.m. 6/27/78 will be informed when they next EID 110651 report to work. .______ -_______________________ J *For information only. Employees in this group will not participate in the j Initial medical program. They should be advised of the program, however^ 000121 VERBAL COMMUNICATION TO CHAMBERS WORKS EMPLOYEES WHO HANDLE FLUOROSURFACTANTS AND THEIR INTERMEDIATES Through Information supplied by the 3M Company, Du Pont has become aware that elevated organic fluorine levels have b een.detected In the blood of 3M workers exposed to certain organic fluorinated surfactants and the intermediates associ ated with their manufacture. These specific fluorochemicals are not used on the Chambers Works, but we do m a n u f a c t u r e a .line of fl u o r o s u r f a c t a n t s '' The Chambers Works f1uorosurfactants are manufactured by different technology and have not been implicated. As a precautionary measure, however, we are reviewing handling procedures, medical records and toxicological information related to our fluorosurfactants. As a part of this program the organic fluorine level in the blood of Chambers Works employees who are working with these fluorosurfactants will be determined for comparison with the general population. This check will be made at the time of the employee's next regular plant physical examination, A preliminary report from the 3M Company indicated that they are not aware of any adverse health effects among affected employee 3M has manufactured fluorinated surfactants for over 20 years. Your supervision will see that any questions you may have are answered. RDR 6/22/78 E1D110652 000122 BLD000I73 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SUPERVIS10N A 1976 report(a) Indicates that the blood serum of the general p o p u l a t i o n 1n the U.S. contains trace quantities of fluorine in both or and tnorganlc form. The concentration of Inorganic fluorine has been s to be related to fluoride 1on in water supplies (natural and added). T h e r e 1s no r e a d y e x p l a n a t i o n for the presence of organic fluorine. A recent study by the 3M Company of their workers who manufacture and handle fluorosurfactants and their intermediates has revealed organ f l u o r i n e levels In their blood plasma in excess of those not engaged 1r these operations. 3M reported that a preliminary review of the medical histories and current health status of affected employees has not revee any unusual health conditions. A more detailed epidemiological study c 3M workers has been initiated. 3M has i d e n t i f i e d two p r o b a b l e key sources of e m p l o y e e e x p o s u r e li their operations. These are associated with (1) electrolytic cells 1n which key Intermediates are manufactured, and (2) packaging operations Involving powdered products. The specific products implicated in the 3M study are not manu factured nor used on the Chambers Works. Different fluorosurfactants m a n u f a c t u r e d on Chambers Works in the Chemicals and Development Manufa fng areas and are sold under the "Zonyl" trademark. The Chambers Work processes do not involve electrolytic fluorination and the products ar handled throughout in liquid forms and are also sold in liquid forms. Despite the disimilarity between the Du Pont and 3M technology, all ha 1ng procedures for fluorosurfactants and intermediates should be revie f o r adequacy. A s s i s t a n c e may be obta i n e d from R. J. H u b i a k (X3415). A s p e c i a l medical p rogram will be initiated for all employees currently engaged in fluorosurfactants operations. This program will not be extended to personnel who have previously worked with fluoro surfactants, but who are no longer involved, unless the results of the Initial program indicate that necessity. Similarly, Engineering Depar m nt, Environmental & Service Department and General Analytical Labora loyees will not be included in the initial program though they shou L. a d vised of the program. The initial special medical program will include Cl) a review nf .the medical records of the employee, and (2) special blood analy s e * at time of the employee's regular physical examination. This program is concerned only with fluorosurfactants and their Intermediates. Other fluorinated substances such as "Freon" fluorocar and f1uoropolymers (e.g., "Teflon", "Viton", etc.) are not implicated. (l) W. S. Guy, et.al:, Proceedings Amer. Chem. Soc., Fluorine and Biological Chemis Symposium, Chicago, 26 August 1975, Paper 7, page 117. EID110653 000123 cro1 O ooo -u CC: R. E. Putnam U j Pt\i 6/27 - 9:00 Division Superintendents 11:00 Line Supv'n .-TEFLON 2:00 Affected Wage Roll June 27, 1978 TO: FROM: ALL DIVISION SUPERINTENDENTS CHIEF CHEMIST C. H. FOSHEE PRODUCT SUPERINTENDENT , FLUOROSURFACTANTS ANNOUNCEMENT Attached is a communications package pertaining to the presence of organic fluorine in the blood of 3M workers. We plan to communicate this information on Tuesday, June 27. Information in the attached letter to TEFLON Supervision should be communicated to TEFLON, TEFLON Research and TEFLON Laboratory wage roll personnel. The Questions and Answers are to be used as reference material to respond to questions. A communications package is being transmitted to unaffected divisions for information. CHF:sc Attachments AJP001426 EID080241 000124 June 27, 1978 TO: TEFLON SUPERVISION FROM: C. H. FOSHEE FLUOROSURFACTANTS IN BLOOD Through information provided by the 2M Company, Du Pont has become aware that elevated organic fluorine levels have been detected in the blood of 3M workers exposed to certain fluorinated surfactants. Du Pont does not manufacture these fluorochemicals, but does purchase one of them for use in manufacturing TEFLON and FEP dispersions in the Fluorocarbons Division. The surfactant we use is perfluoro-octanoic acid ammonium salt and is commonly known as C - 8 . Du Pont does manufacture different fluorinated surfactants at Deepwater, N. J. and these have not been implicated with higher blood levels. Fluorinated surfactants are water soluble chemicals used for their marked ability to modify the wettability of materials. Our toxicological tests indicate that Du Pont's fluorinated surfactants have a low order of toxicity. No known ill effects which could be attributed to these chemicals or C-8 have been detected among employees in more than 20 years of experience with the products. Du Pont's handling procedures have been designed to minimize exposure of employees to these fluorinated surfactants. As a precautionary measure, however, Du Pont is reviewing its procedures, medical records, and toxicological information relating to these materials. C H F :sc 00012S EID080242 AJP001427 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. Q. What is the effect of elevated organic fluorine levels in blood? A. Although 3M has found elevated organic fluorine levels in the blood of workers exposed to certain fluorinated intermediates, they have identified no related health .effects in any of these workers or in those exposed to the surfactants but are continuing a broad investigation 2. Q. Does Du Pont have information about organic fluorine levels in the blood of its employees exposed to these materials? A. Not at this time. 2a. Q. A. Why not? We had no reason to believe any problem of this type existed and normal blood tests would not show this kind of information unless you were looking precisely for fluorine levels. While we have not specifically looked at fluorine content in the blood, we have been satisfied that no known health effects which could be attributed to these chemicals have been detected among employees. 3. Q. Will Du Pont be conducting blood tests on employees at Washington Works who may have been exposed to the fluorinated surfactant purchased from 3M? A. We will check some employee blood levels to establish a background level for fluorinated compounds. 4. Q. Are employees being notified of findings reported by 3M? A. Yes. 5. Q. What products are manufactured by Du Pont using the fluorinated surfactants purchased from 3M? A. The material purchased from 3M is used in the polymerization process for making TEFLON fluorocarbon dispersions. These dispersions contain only about one tenth of one percent (.001) or 1000 parts per million of fluorinated surfactant. AJP001428 000126 EID080243 2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 6. Q. What are uses for the dispersions? A. TEFLON fluorocarbon dispersions are used to coat glass fibers and metals. In the coating operation the surfactants are destroyed by the sintering process which is used. The only application where the fluorosurfactants are not destroyed is packings and gaskets. 7. Q. Where are gaskets and packings used? A. We don't know all the places, however we can assume that any operations where liquids are being transported might use pump packings and gaskets. 8. Q. If packings and gaskets are used in systems to transport liquids, could they be coming into contact with liquids ingested by humans? A. It is possible. However, we believe most of the appli cations involving our dispersions in packings and gaskets are industrial operations. Du Pont does not sanction the use of unsintered TEFLON, such as that involved in packings and gaskets, and applications where the material would come in contact with food, beverages or potable water. 9. Q. Are any consumer products made and sold by Du Pont involved? A. No. All materials using fluorinated surfactants which could reach the consumer or general public are processed in such a way that the surfactant is burned off before it goes to the consumer. 10. Q. Is there any problem involved with cookware which has been coated with TEFLON? A. No. 11. Q. What is meant when you say that Du Pont's fluorinated surfactants have a low order of toxicity? A. By a "low order of toxicity" we mean that a lethal does would be about a cupful or eight fluid ounces of this material. EID080244 ' 000127 AJP001429 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Hto O In 3M's findings, what were the elevated levels of organic fluorine which they found in their workers? A. The highest level 3M detected was 45 parts per million of this material in a person's blood. This is equal to about one-tenth of a drop of the material in the total blood content of the average human being. 13. Q. Why aren't the fluorinated surfactants manufactured by Du Pont implicated by 3M's findings? A. The surfactants which Du Pont manufactures are made by a completely different process and are chemically different than those made by 3M. However, because of their similar functional activity, it is possible they may behave in a similar way but at this point we have no data to confirm or deny this. 14. Q. If Du Pont's fluorinated surfactants are not implicated, why not use these materials instead of purchasing them from 3M to make TEFLON? A. Chemically Du Pont's fluorinated surfactants behave differently and are not suited to the existing process for making TEFLON fluorocarbon resins. 15. Q. Are other companies involved and have they been alerted about 3M's findings? A. The 3M Company has notified its customers. To the best of our knowledge these are the only companies in the United States involved. d u Pont intends to share all of the information developed on this situation with any companies in the U.S. and worldwide who might be involved. 16. Q. Will Du Pont be notifying customers of the findings reported by 3M? A. We will share this information on a need-to-know basis. 17. Q. Will Du Pont be informing the appropriate regulatory agencies of this situation? A. At this point in time we see no significant risk associ ated with the fluorine content in the blood. The existence of fluorine in blood has been known for 10 years and is published in open literature. 000128 EID080245 4 QUESTIONS AND ASNWERS 18. Q. Are these fluorinated surfactants found in the blood persistent? A. Published literature indicates that fluorinated compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen are persistent. However, 3M has indicated that organic fluorinated compounds are secreted by the body as a waste product. Data are conflicting about the existence of organic fluorinated compounds in animals. AJP001431 6-26-78 . 0 0'*0*'*1. 29 EID080246 I1