Document oJbokOgk70QwvjG6Brwyjx1g

.iAfCMirr* mocas exr*o<<j o>*$to MONSANTO INDUSTRIAL CHCMICALS CO. 600 N. lindbargh Boulavard St. Louli. Missouri 631B0 Phona: (314) B94-I000 March 18, 1975 Mr. Dan A. Albert Staff Supervisor Personnel Relations Westlnghouse Electric Corporation Highway 58 West South Boston, Virginia 24592 Dear Mr. Albert: Attached are responses 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 overemphasise the need to properly control the use and handling of Inerteens to prevent their escape Into the environment. Also, In discussing this Information with your employees, I strongly reconmend that the perspective gained from over 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 a very valuable roa terlal. I hope the above Information Is useful to you. If I can be of further service please let me know. Sincerely, WBP:pd W. B. Papageorge Manager, Product Acceptability Specialty & Process Chemicals KONS 7"a unit at Monsanto Company I 1. Question: Does Inerteen 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 Inerteen 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 demonstrable 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 not 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 leading 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. The 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 sympton 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, or absorption of the liquid material through the un broken skin. (See AIHA Hygienic Guide Series - "Chlorodiphenyls" attached.) 2. Question: Several hourly employees have mentioned recently that many chemicals such as Inerteen cause sterilization after prolonged use. Is this true? There is no evidence that polychlorinated biphenyls cause "sterilization" in humans. MONS 092749