Document mByrGDZkwdQkbnQE3vM06V2D0

TO: plant File W E S T V IR G IN IA STATE H E A LT H DEPT. Memorandum D A T E : July 13, 19A9 f r o m : pau2 D* Halley, Industrial I^ygienist Acting Director RE: Conference with U. M. V. District #30 representatives and union representatives from Monsanto Chemical Company, Hitro, Vest Virginia regarding outbreak of chloracne at this plant. On July 8, 1919, Hr, Michael Vidman, local representative of U. M, V. District #50 called at the office together with several employees of the Monsanto Chemical Company, Kitro, V3 t Virginia. They reported that cn March 8, 1919, a process at this plant got out of control and blew up. This resulted in the operators being showered with the material in the autoclave plus exposure to additional persons engaged in tbs cleaning up and investigating of the explosion. Approximately a week after this happened the men became afflicted with chloracne on the face particularly, vith some being affected cn the entire body. In one case the employee apparently carried the material home cn his clothing, thereby exposing his child to the same material vith resulting chloracne. In all, 10 persons have had varying degrees of chloracne. The man were examined fcy Dr, Kelson, the plant physician and later sent to Dr. Hunter Boggs in Charleston for treatment. In addition, Dr. Louis Schwarts, Dermatologist formerly of the U. S. P. H. S. vas called in for consultation by the ocmpany and diagnosed the affliction as chloracne and prescribed treatment which consisted of opening and cleaning the pustules twice weekly. ... _ Vith the onset of hot weather this condition hs.3 -been aggravated somewhat. The question vas raised by Mr. Vidman as to whether the employees were being re-exp: daily or whether their entire trouble vas due to the original exposure. He stn* that the employees were forced to go back into the contaminated area and that o: in the past few days has the company taken any definite Bteps to decontaminate the area and paint the building and equipment vith aluminum paint. Decontanir.a' consisted of steaming, washing vith sodium hypochloride solution and mechanical removal of the material. He requested that the State Health Department investigate to determine whether or not it vas safe for the workers to go back into this area as they did not fethat the men should be exposed again to such material. Mr. Michael Vidnan, 20 Morison Building, Charleston V. Va., Fhone 21-025. Note-- Called Hr. Vidman July 13, 1949 and he reports that operators in Edjoinir. part of building are also affected and that they had no part in clean-up work and exposure must be air borne. ( Paul D. Halley, Industrial Hygienist Acting Director PDHil*