Document omgVLdz45Nj3BkzjrEareBevw

V Mercanto January 24, 1979 EXPOSURE TO DIOXINS NITRO Adverse Publicity J. T. Garrett F. C. Meyer RS Nelson/JR Condray L. L. Watkins A2SG A2SA B3NJ B2NB Callis Harbison Miller This memo rummarizes a situation developing at TJitro that promises to resuit in averse publicity, and suggests a course of action which nay mitigate that adverse publicit I have discussed this situation with Messrs. Meyer and Garrett of DMEH and Callis and Condray of M1CC. Messrs. Meyer and Callis have passed the suggestion along to Dr. Roush, who has indicated that he needs some expression of MICC's interest and concern. The compound 2,4,5 Trichloropher.ol was made in the plant at Nitro by the alkaline hydrolysis of the appropriate chloro benzene. Our's was a "dirty" process and ve were plagued with chloroacr.e problems. Wc- had one accident involving the discharge of the reactor contents through a blown ruptu:. disc, exposing numbers of our people to the reactor contents. We now know that Dioxins were produced as byproducts. These are know-n hazards to human health. AJbout two weeks ago, our union requested seniority lists covering the period during which \.o made 2 ,t ,5 T. (They arc entitled to such lists under our contract and vc have provided them in the past.) Off the record, the local repre sentative of the Stcrtslworker s Xu Liz ticLionel indicated that the Steelworkers planned to reta. Dr. Selikoff of Mt. Sinai to make a study of worker exposure to 2,4,5 T -- ostensibly for use in their dealings with Dow who still manufacture this material. Dr. Selikoff is known as an anti-business sensa tionalist prone to publication in the rotagravure section. On Monday (1/22), our union requested that wc provide room and allow a Dr. Moses (associated with Selikoff) view certain of our people. We refused this request. At the same time. Dr. Meyer of DMD11 received a phone call fron Dr."Suskind of Xettering Institute, indicating that he had been requested by Selikoff to help in the study. Dr. Suskind is known to be fair, objective and not anti business. He had been involved in examining those Nitro people exposed during our reactor incident. In discussion with Dr. Meyer and Mr. Garrett, we conceived the idea of giving Dr. Suskind access to our records and people (with their permission) so that he might make an objective study and be permitted to publish the results. I recommend that you and'Dr. Roush consider this problem and this suggestion at the .ailiest opportunity. FJH/cp F. J. Holzapfel ' .. *1t t t v * ri , i . A ^ A: 236181 .JP SjjjSSg fe lla s;