Document mBLK3YEKjJY9XmEwva0bENE7B

CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION GERALDINE V. COX. Ph.O. Vice President Technical Oirector September 11, 1986 HAND-DELIVERY Document Control Officer TS-790 Office of Toxic Substances Room 220, East Tower U.S. Environmental Protection Agency '^.401 M Street,. SW Washington, D.C. 20460 '-O CT3 "O RE: For Your Information Submission: Summary of Draft Results of an Epidemiology Study of Vinyl Chloride Workers rvj C3 Dear Sir/Madam: The Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) has just learned of the draft results of an epidemiology study of vinyl chloride workers conducted by Environmental Health Associates. The study was sponsored by the Vinyl Chloride Program Panel (''the Panel") of CMA. The significant findings from this study are reported here for your information on behalf of the Panel. The member companies of the Panel are listed on Attachment I. The current study is an update of an earlier mortality study of vinyl, chloride workers. The draft report received by CMA on the current study shows an excess mortality from three causes not previously associated with vinyl chloride exposure. The study showed an excess.of liver and biliary cancer over and above the observed mortality from angiosarcoma of the liver. Without the known angiosarcomas, there were 22 observed deaths from.liver and biliary cancer versus 6 expected. Because some of the deaths from liver and biliary cancer may, in fact, be undiagnosed deaths from angiosarcoma, it is not certain at this time that there is, in fact, a vinyl chloride related excess in these cancers. iiU lluJuJ 33 rjD O Formerly Manufacturing Chemists Association--Serving the Chemical Industry Since 1872. 2501 M Street. NW Washington. DC 20037 Telephone 2027887-1260 Telex 89617 (CMA WSh) 2 In addition, the study showed an excess mortality from emphysema, which includes bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the dose-response relationship is not consistent with vinyl chloride as a causal agent. If it were, one would expect that the excess would become greater with increasing duration of exposure when, in fact, the opposite is observed in the study. Also, one would expect that the excess would be greatest in those hired at the youngest ages. Again, the reverse is true. Finally, one would expect that persons whose exposure began a long time ago would have more emphysema than those whose exposure began recently, which was also not observed in the study. Therefore, although the excess deaths due to emphysema appear to be real, their relationship to vinyl chloride is questionable. A final report is expected from the contractor in four to six weeks and will be submitted to the Agency for its detailed review. Meanwhile, please call Dr. Has Shah, Program Manager, of my staff at 887-1192, if you have specific questions. .j* Sincerely yours. Geraldine V. Cox, Ph.D. Vice President-Technical Director cc: Vinyl Chloride Program Panel URL 14791 3 ATTACHMENT I Participating Companies of the Chemical Manufacturers Association's Vinyl Chloride Program Panel Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. BFGoodrich Company Borden, Inc. Certain Teed Corporation Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Company DiversiTech General Dow Chemical USA Ethyl Corporation Exxon Chemical Company The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Gulf Oil Products Company Monsanto Company Occidental Chemical Corporation PPG Industries, Inc. Stauffer Chemical Company Shell Oil Company Union Carbide Corporation Uniroyal Chemical Company Vista Chemical Company zfimian