Document n97aGKwnwbL6Rjx2xa05a0GYz

i MAR ^4 I SVlonsanto MONSAMT3 IM8U^TUL CHEMICALS CO. 000 R. Lindbergh Soulevsrd Si. leul*. Missouri 03168 Phn: 0144 084 = 1000 March 18, 1975 moasa eaw^ e fcsMr.. l ,7. -1 : Mr. Dan A. Albert Staff Supervisor Personnel Relations Westinghouse Electric Corporation ' Highway 58 West South Bos ton* Virginia 24592 . Dear Mr, Albert? Attached are response* to the questions listed in your letter dated February 3 1975. In addition to the industrial hygiene practices described in our responses to your questions, I cannot'overemphasize the need to properly control the use and handling f Inerteens to prevent their escape into the environment. Also, in discussing this information with your employees, I strongly reeesaaend that the perspective gained fro ever 40 years of experience in which no human harm has resulted, ` be emphasized. In summary, the proper handling of Inerteens should pose no environmental or human health problems, ' permitting society's continued use of I very valuable material. ' i' I hope the above information is useful to you. If I ean ' be f further service please let'me know. _ , Sincerely, ' WBP:pd W. B. Papageorge . Manager, Product Acceptability Specialty & Process Chemicals STLCOPCB4029440 (. ( x Question: Does Xnerteen have permanent effects on the human body? If so, what type of permanent damage and how long a period of.time does it take for this to develop? If not, explain why, if possible. The polychlorinated biphenyls in Xnerteen can have permanent effects on the human body. The length of time or period of exposure necessary to develop symptoms depends on the degree or amount of exposure. In general a single exposure for a few minutes to atmospheric concentrations that cause irritation to the eyes and/or respiratory tract would not be expected to cause either the skin eruptions or demonstrahl liver injury. The problem arises from repeated and prolonged exposure to atmospheric concentrations in excess of the accepted Threshold Limit Levels or repeated and prolonged skin contact. The polychlorinated biphenyls have net been recognized as skin "irritants" in the same sense that caustic materials or many organic chemicals are irritants. Because of their "solvent action in removing the natural fats and oils from the skin leadin to drying and chapping, repeated and prolonged skin contact should be avoided When the polychlorinated biphenyls are mixed with other chlori nated hydrocarbons/ the mixture may be classified as a skin irritant Th potential toxic effects in humans from excessive exposure . to polychlorinated biphenyls include injury to the liver and chloracne. In animals, the liver effect is demonstrated by increased liver weights and injury to cellular tissue. Although chloracne is difficult to evaluate in animals, in humans, this takes the form of comedones (large blackheads with typical, acne pustules) and may be an external syrapton of over exposure pre ceding serious liver injury. _ ' Animal data and human experience indicate that the toxic effects are similar whether exposure results from ingestion, inhalation of vapors, r absorption of the liquid material through the un broken skin. 1 ; (See AIHA Hygienic Guide Series - "Chlorodiphenyls attached.) 2. Question: Several hourly employees have mentioned recently that many chemicals such as Xnerteen cause sterilization . after prolonged use. Is this true? There is no evidence that polychlorinated biphenyls cause "sterilization" in humans. 100738 STLCOPCB4029441 Questions Sine Inerteea Effects tirds and other animals, * if there is no real effect to human beings, how do ' you explain it to employees in such a way that they will understand why it can kill a bird and not a human? There is a potential real affect to hun&as - including death - as discussed in the answer to Question 1, * . Due t differences in metabolism of food (and food eoafcami- ' n&nts) in birds and humans (and particularly the difference " in the reproduction process la birds and aamaals - including humans), birds are partil&rly sensitive to many chlorinated hydrocarbons including polychlorinated biphenyls. . ' Questioni If an employee spills Xnerfeen a Ms elothing and later takes -the clothing home to be washed with' other clothes, will this hme any ffct a him or his family and. should he carry Ms clothes home to be washed? ' ' -There should not b.any effect on an employee or Ms family _ from home laundering of work clothing. If washed with other clothing, there may be residual odor f the chlorinated hydrocarbons in the clothing. . Question; &tpXyees carry Xnerteen home on the soles of their ghees and complain quite a bit about the effect laexteea has on wearing out of their shoes. Is this serious problem? Will Inerteen in the soles and leather f shoes, over a long period of time, have an effect a the feet and - skin since the shoe is the. only protective equipment we' wear on' our feet and the Xnerteen penetrates through the ! leather. .. There should not he polyAXoriaated biphenyl a the floor for workmen t contaminate their shoes t carry hose. The plasti cizer or solvent action will destroy or. shorten the life of .the shoes.- More importantly, the wearing of oataaiaeted shoes could lead to absorption the liquid through the soles the feet as through sy other unbroken skis surface. * Question* There is one employee in our plant who had no pro blem whatsoever with Xaerteen years ago. After fix year# f using, aw when he uokks in leerteen (which is a part ' f hi job) he develops m swelling a the inner bleep of'his left ax, only in one location. Could this b fren 2n@rten or not? It goes away as soon as he gets out f the -Inerten. _ It is similar t the swelling sites taking an injection. STLCOPCB4029442 I We do not "believe there can be any association between "a swelling on the inner bicep" of the era and exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls. Question: Are there hand cleaning solvent materials that we should be using when working in Inerteen to coat our skin before working in it and to wash it off after we finish working in it? Please give your ' recommendation. Our employees working in Inerteen . are not able to use gloves since it is an assembly ' area. Even if they could, the Inerteen would destroy the protective glove. '" We assume the Question refers to the use of "Barrier Creams" rather than a ,fhand cleaning solvent" There'are a number of barrier creams available to protect workers against water insoluble solvents Probably the most effective include silicone-7'to provide an impenetrable shield" A problem with such creams is that they may offer a false sense of security. ; Proper use includes a discipline which requires liberal appli cation at the beginning of a work, shift and after each washing of the hands during the work day. 10072' 1 STLCOPCB4029443